Benefits of Using OER - Penn State University

OERs give faculty the ability to customize course materials, creating the “perfect” course packet or textbook instead of being bound to a traditional one-size-fits-all model. Customization gives faculty control over the quality of their course materials as well as the type and timing of updates to textbooks and other resources.

https://oer.psu.edu/benefits-of-using-oer/

Journal of Open Educational Resources in Higher Education - JOERHE

The Journal of Open Educational Resources in Higher Education (JOERHE) is a Diamond Open Access journal. The journal features content concerned with OER, Open Pedagogy, Open Access, Open Data, and similar topics focusing specifically within the context of Higher Education in the United States and Canada.

https://journals.uwyo.edu/index.php/joerhe

The Homework Tax - Taylor Swaak, Chronicle of Higher Education

Total student spending on course materials in general has been in decline, dropping 44 percent between the 2011-12 and 2021-22 academic years, according to data from the research service Student Monitor. One key contributor is the number of professors who’ve replaced textbooks with low-cost or open educational resources. Another, researchers say, is the growth in student options: Buying a used textbook. Renting a textbook. Buying a digital version of a textbook.

https://www.chronicle.com/article/the-homework-tax

College professor creates free textbook for students to make higher education more affordable - Paige Barnes, WKRC

After having a tough time finding affordable textbooks on the market, Patty Goedl decided to make her own. It’s a digital textbook covering the principles of managerial accounting. Inside, there's text, video explainers, and interactive quizzes. The UC Clermont College accounting professor estimates it has saved all her students a combined $20,000 each semester. Goedl says she hopes this is one less burden preventing students from pursuing their degree. She knows college students’ financial obligations don’t stop at tuition. There’s room and board, textbooks, and other miscellaneous fees.

https://dayton247now.com/news/local/college-professor-creates-free-textbook-students-make-higher-education-more-affordable-uc-clermont-patty-goedl-digital-book-educational-material-managerial-accounting-marketing-course-class-publishers-batavia-ohio

RIC’S FIRST OPEN TEXTBOOK WRITTEN BY FACULTY MEMBERS DEBUTS - Jeff Theodore, Rhode Island College

Originally, the focus was on saving students money, Gill says. That focus has now expanded to include support of open textbook creation by RIC faculty.  Recently, RIC Professor of Sociology Mikaila Mariel Lemonik Arthur and RIC Professor Emeritus of Sociology Roger Clark wrote their first open textbook, titled, “Social Data Analysis: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches.”

https://www.ric.edu/news-events/news/rics-first-open-textbook-written-faculty-members-debuts

Why you should start using open educational resources in your teaching - Loleen Berdahl & Heather Ross, University Affairs

These learning materials can be freely shared and usually allow for the ability to adapt them to meet student needs. Your students don’t buy the textbook because it is too expensive. The textbook has the same errors as the last edition. The bookstore is still waiting for the textbook to come in. Many instructors have faced one or more of these problems — but they don’t have to. By using an open educational resource (OER) such as an open textbook, instructors can dramatically reduce costs for students, and easily fix any errors, and students always have access.

https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/the-skills-agenda/be-open-to-using-open-educational-resources-in-your-teaching/

Open education resource offered - the Mining Journal

Northern Michigan University has created an open educational resource Faculty Learning Community representing a broad range of academic departments as part of a two-year pilot program to increase OER use across campus and provide related professional development opportunities. The nine faculty members will be guided in adopting and adapting OER materials for their courses. SISU: The Innovation Institute is funding the pilot, which aligns with the administration’s commitment to make NMU more accessible.“The open education resource movement is another way that faculty can remove barriers and support students,” said Leslie Warren, interim associate provost and dean of Library and Instructional Support, in a statement.

https://www.miningjournal.net/news/local/2023/07/open-education-resource-offered/

Your students don’t buy the textbook because it is too expensive. - LOLEEN BERDAHL & HEATHER ROSS, University Affairs

Your students don’t buy the textbook because it is too expensive. The textbook has the same errors as the last edition. The bookstore is still waiting for the textbook to come in. Many instructors have faced one or more of these problems — but they don’t have to. By using an open educational resource (OER) such as an open textbook, instructors can dramatically reduce costs for students, and easily fix any errors, and students always have access.

https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/the-skills-agenda/be-open-to-using-open-educational-resources-in-your-teaching/

AAC&U Suggests Ways to Align Open Educational Resources and DEI Goals - Jon Edelman, Diverse Education

Open educational resources (OER)—learning materials, such as online textbooks, with licenses that allow them to be freely used, edited, and shared—are natural tools for achieving DEI goals. OER are free, demolishing the cost barrier that prevents some underserved students from getting more traditional textbooks. But the benefits go beyond the financial. OER can be revised and expanded, allowing students to incorporate their perspectives about subjects that affect them. Students can even make sure that the images in an OER represent them by contributing their own. However, although OER and DEI are aligned, the people responsible for their implementation on campus often aren’t.

https://www.diverseeducation.com/reports-data/article/15383710/aacu-suggests-ways-to-align-open-educational-resources-and-dei-goals

OER Resources - Umass Dartmouth

Key Benefits of OER

1. Increased Retention (Zao, Satyanarayana, and Cooney 2020)
2. Recruitment/Enrollment opportunity
3. Improved Student Performance (Colvard, Watson, et al. 2018)
4. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Lapum, Bailey, et al 2022)
5. Affordability (NBC's review of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data)
6. Faculty can customize course materials to their preferences and needs of the course (see permissions of Creative Commons Licenses)
7. Students maintain access to their materials beyond the class

https://www.umassd.edu/faculty/heoa-textbook/oer-resources/

Inclusive Initiatives: Equitable Access with OER - Macalester

A team of Macalester faculty and staff is focused on identifying solutions for this broad problem. They’ve learned that open educational resources (OER) could provide some relief—and help shape a more inclusive learning model. “Through our research so far, we’ve found that a number of faculty are already doing all sorts of things to mitigate costs for students,” says Angi Faiks, Library director. “OER can put the power back into the hands of the teacher and the students. It shifts the balance of power from ‘here is the textbook from which you must teach’ to piecing things together, creating new resources, rethinking materials. It offers a more co-created and inclusive way of teaching.” 

https://www.macalester.edu/news/2023/05/inclusive-initiatives-equitable-access-with-oer/

UA Cossatot Open Educational Resource Program - DeQueen Bee

UA Cossatot Educational Resources Director and OER Specialist Relinda Ruth reports that the college has saved students $3,197,081.25 in textbook costs since launching its Open Educational Resource program in 2015. Ruth, who chairs the ten member Arkansas OER Taskforce, has been instrumental in implementing the program at UAC. OER is defined as learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain, or are under copyright, that have been released under an open license that permit no-cost access, re-use, adaptation and redistribution by others.

https://www.dequeenbee.com/education/ua-cossatot-open-educational-resource-program/article_92cde11e-204e-11ee-a69b-3311661d3216.html

CC’s #BetterSharing Collection | July: Better Sharing For Brighter Future - Ony Anukem, Creative Commons

As part of our #20CC anniversary, last year we joined forces with Fine Acts to spark a global dialogue on what better sharing looks like in action. Our #BetterSharing collection of illustrations was the result — we gathered insights from 12 prominent open advocates around the world and tasked 12 renowned artists who embrace openness with transforming these perspectives into captivating visual pieces available under a CC license.

https://creativecommons.org/2023/07/04/ccs-bettersharing-collection-july-better-sharing-for-brighter-future/

How to Find Free College Textbooks - Cole Claybourn, US News

Finding no-cost options for all of the books on your list may not be possible, but even one or two free books can save students hundreds of dollars. For students looking for legitimate and legal avenues to find free textbooks, here are few places to start.

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/how-to-find-free-college-textbooks

The Paradoxes of Open Educational Resources - William Cope, CG Scholar

This paper focuses and OERs, while also ranging more widely to explore paradoxes in the idea and practices of “open.” On the one hand, the “open” movements make intellectual property freely accessible and reusable for all. On the other hand, this open-ness favours the Big Tech companies that base their search and artificial intelligence businesses on open content. When content is not open, they treat it is if it were, copying copyrighted material without permission. The paper explores the consequences of these developments for the economics of educational content development, contrasting such practices with traditional publishing models.

https://cgscholar.com/community/community_profiles/new-learning/community_updates/172684

ITF Director-General urges innovation in African Higher Education post-COVID-19 - Victoria Ojeme, Vanguard

“Open Educational Resources (OER) such as open textbooks and multimedia content can enhance accessibility and flexibility while reducing costs. Collaborative efforts can develop comprehensive OER repositories tailored to local contexts, languages, and curricula. “Establishing research and innovation hubs can foster collaboration between academia and industry, promoting knowledge transfer and technological advancements. These hubs can provide incubation support, funding opportunities, and access to state-of-the-art facilities to facilitate innovation-driven start-ups and commercialization of research outcomes.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/07/itf-director-general-urges-innovation-in-african-higher-education-post-covid-19/

Jhangiani elected to board of global open education organization - Tarryn Landman, Brock

Already a Canadian leader in open education, Rajiv Jhangiani is poised to broaden his impact by taking on a leadership role with an international advocacy organization. Brock’s Vice-Provost of Teaching and Learning was recently elected to the board of directors of Open Education Global (OEG), a member-based non-profit organization that supports the expansion of open education resources and practices. Jhangiani has also been invited to give the opening keynote address at the 20th annual Open Education Conference in November.

https://brocku.ca/brock-news/2023/07/jhangiani-elected-to-board-of-global-open-education-organization/

UNILORIN Centre For Distance Learning partners Commonwealth on OER - Eagle Online

The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Centre for Open and Distance Learning, has partnered with the Commonwealth of Learning, Vancouver, Canada, to organise a two-day workshop on Open Educational Resources (OER). Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, the University, explained at the workshop that the goal of the programme is to develop and enhance materials to ensure that they are accessible and of high quality.

https://theeagleonline.com.ng/unilorin-centre-for-distance-learning-partners-commonwealth-on-oer/

Wittenberg Accepted to AAC&U’s Institute on Open Educational Resources - Wittenberg University

The American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) recently announced that Wittenberg has been accepted into the organization’s Institute on Open Educational Resources (OER) for 2023-2024. The kickoff for the institute will take place in a remote learning environment, July 24-25. In addition to the kick-off and monthly meetings, a day-long event will be held on Monday, December 4, 2023, in preparation for the spring semester. The institute will conclude with a capstone closing event on June 10-11, 2024.

https://www.wittenberg.edu/news/07-3-23/fostering-growth-and-intellectual-inquiry

Open distance learning and online courses continue to rule the roost - Abhipsa Mohanty, Edex Live

In September 2022, the University Grants Commission (UGC) announced that the degrees obtained through online and distance modes of education would be on par with regular degrees. The nation was still reeling from the effects of COVID-19 then, and during the pandemic itself, regular education had radically shifted online. As a result, another new normal that people wake up to in 2023 is the growing demand for online and open distance learning (ODL) courses.

https://www.edexlive.com/news/2023/jul/03/open-distance-learning-and-online-courses-continue-to-rule-the-roost-36180.html

UNO Magazine: The Future of Education is Open - Greg Kozol - University of Nebraska Omaha

Student access and success are amplified with free and low-cost digital course materials. For Moore and other students, that meant joining a book exchange group on social media, searching for used materials online or, in the worst-case scenario, simply not buying one and hoping for the best. “I think this causes a greater obstacle than many are aware of,” Moore said. “Some students will get through class never buying a book, but others aren’t so lucky.” Now there’s a better option, one that will benefit students at UNO and other University of Nebraska campuses long after Moore has moved on to start his career. An initiative called Open Nebraska allows students to save money with access to free or reduced-cost digital course materials, including e-books, lab manuals, articles or videos.

https://www.unomaha.edu/news/features/uno-magazine/spring-2023/the-future-of-education-is-open.php

MSU Libraries prepares for phased rollout of new resources - Pattye Archer, Mississippi State University

With this innovation top of mind, MSU Libraries is announcing the brand new availability of CloudSource OA, with the upcoming addition of Article Galaxy Scholar beginning this fall. CloudSource OA is a comprehensive research tool that offers access to over 55 million high-quality, open access scholarly journal articles, textbooks, eBooks and open educational resources with a single click directly from the catalog. Article Galaxy Scholar is an innovative document delivery service that also will provide access to journals not currently available. 

https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2023/07/msu-libraries-prepares-phased-rollout-new-resources

UC Clermont professor creates free digital textbook for students -Amanda Chalifoux, University of Cincinnati

In 2020, University of Cincinnati Clermont College Professor Patty Goedl watched the average cost of a digital accounting textbook soar from approximately $30 per student to more than $200. Students were struggling to afford the resource they needed to succeed in class. At first, Goedl negotiated with the publisher to decrease the cost of the textbook; but soon, the price rose again.  So, she created her own.

https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2023/06/uc-clermont-professor-creates-free-digital-textbook-for-students.html

Indiana educators receive grants to create open textbooks - Jake Langdon, Inside Indiana Business

The Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) has awarded PALSave Textbook Creation grants to fund eight open textbooks from faculty authors at the network’s supported institutions. The grants allow educators to develop open textbooks that are freely available online, making them part of a Lilly Endowment-funded statewide effort to reduce the cost of course materials for college students.

https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/articles/indiana-educators-receive-grants-to-create-open-textbooks

Free textbooks and other open educational resources gain popularity - Toni Feder, Physics Today

Affordable and customizable, they contribute to making higher education more inclusive and accessible.  Given a choice between paying $200 for a textbook or taking an equivalent course with a free textbook, what would you do? The prices of college textbooks have skyrocketed: From 2011 to 2018, they went up by 40.6% in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index. That can add up to as much as $1000 for a single semester. So it’s no surprise that freely available, openly licensed textbooks, lectures, simulations, problem sets, and more—known collectively as open educational resources (OERs)—are having a moment.

https://pubs.aip.org/physicstoday/article/76/7/18/2899794/Free-textbooks-and-other-open-educational

Saia earns Creative Commons certification; faculty resources available for open education practices - Boise State

Sarah Saia, research and innovation consultant in the eCampus Center, recently earned a Creative Commons Certificate, bolstering her knowledge of open education resources enhancing her ability to support instructors in online education. Saia works with faculty to foster the adoption of open education practices, including integrating, modifying and creating open educational resources. 

https://www.boisestate.edu/news/2023/06/08/saia-earns-creative-commons-certification-faculty-resources-available-for-open-education-practices/

Journal of Interactive Technology and Pedagogy, no. 21, Special Issue on Open Educational Resources

This special issue explores the affordances and challenges of OER, both in their in-class use and in the initiatives at various scales to encourage instructors, librarians, and other education workers to adopt them and explore their full potential for transforming pedagogy. We are especially proud to publish this OER special issue on CUNY’s Manifold instance. Manifold, developed by the CUNY Graduate Center in partnership with The University of Minnesota Press and the development firm Cast Iron Coding, represents a new approach to OER publishing that we believe JITP’s audience will appreciate. With this issue, and with the publication of our archives in early 2023, you can collect articles to share and annotate with your students and colleagues.

https://oeweek.oeglobal.org/resources/2023/journal-of-interactive-technology-and-pedagogy-no-21-special-issue-on-open-educational-resources/

Where To Take Free Online Courses - Dallas Cox - Clark

If you’re interested in learning a new skill, hoping to get a raise at work or considering a career change, taking a free online course could help you get closer to your goal.  In this article, we’re going to take a look at 23 online resources where you can find educational videos and university-level courses available for free. 

https://clark.com/education/where-to-take-free-online-courses/

OER Faculty Learning Community Formed - Northern Michigan Today

Northern Michigan University has created an open educational resource (OER) Faculty Learning Community representing a broad range of academic departments as part of a two-year pilot program to increase OER use across campus and provide related professional development opportunities. The nine faculty members will be guided in adopting and adapting OER materials for their courses. SISU: The Innovation Institute is funding the pilot, which aligns with the administration's commitment to make NMU more accessible.

https://news.nmu.edu/oer-faculty-community-formed

Certificate in Open Education Librarianship - University of Minnesota

The Certificate in Open Education Librarianship is a structured and supportive professional development opportunity preparing librarians like you to champion open education. Guided by our expert mentors, you’ll hone critical skills, gain insight, and transform your librarianship into a catalyst for open education, all while working within a collaborative cohort of your peers. More than 200 higher education librarians throughout the U.S. have earned our certificate, building proficiency and confidence.

https://open.umn.edu/oen/certificate-in-open-education-librarianship

VIVA, Virginia’s Academic Library Consortium, Partners with KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd. to Develop Open Educational Resources

VIVA, Virginia’s academic library consortium, has signed an agreement with KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd. (KGL), the industry leader of transformative content solutions, to provide publishing services for its Open Grant program. This innovative partnership ensures the production of high-quality grant-supported open textbooks, open monographs, and other Open Educational Resources (OER) for use in Virginia higher education institutions.

https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=306794