There has been ongoing, worldwide interest in Open Educational Resources (OER) since the term was coined in the early 2000’s. Let’s take a look at some of the recent news coverage.
Beyond Free Materials: OER Advocates Push For Inclusiveness in Teaching Practices – The article addresses a key concept within OER (and higher education at large), diversity and inclusiveness. As Jess Mitchell, senior manager of research and design at the Ontario College of Art and Design, asks: “Nothing is neutral….How are technology decisions being made at our institutions?” Creating new, open course content may be the primary goal of OER, but it takes additional work to avoid replicating dynamics of power and representation that were present in the original.
Does OER Actually Improve Learning? (EdSurge) – This article explores the common question of why or how open materials might enhance learning, either through improvements on content, or indirectly by making information more accessible.
Single Project Earns Federal OER Pilot Grant (InsideHigherEd) – The University of California- Davis has been awarded the entirety of a $4.9 million federal grant designed as a boost to OER efforts. UC-Davis will use the funding towards “a collection of publications on STEM and career and technical topics,” leading to a zero-textbook-cost degree option in Chemistry.
OER Across CUNY
OER Support at CUNY – This post provides an overview of the efforts currently underway, and how to get involved. And in the event that you teach at multiple campuses, reach out to your OER Representative for more information.
