Applications, algorithms and data: Open educational resources and the next generation of virtual learning - Stephen Downes, OER Knowledge Cloud

The next generation of OERs will take a step beyond traditional media and classroom support and begin to take advantage of the unique properties of virtual learning. Using examples such as virtual containers and actionable data books, I sketch the future for the next generation of OERs as a distributed and interactive network of applications, algorithms and data. Keynote, Nov 30, 2017. https://oerknowledgecloud.org/content/applications-algorithms-and-data-open-educational-resources-and-next-generation-virtual-lear

Open Education Resources and Massive Open Online Courses - OER Knowledge Cloud

This chapter explains how the open access movement, open education resources (OER) that can be freely accessed, reused, modified and shared by anyone, and massive open online courses (MOOCs) which are aimed at unlimited participation and open access via the Web can play a crucial role in open and distance non-formal education. It describes how organizations, institutions and countries are collaborating in using these means to provide non-credit, employment creation and capacity-building programmes, the advantages and disadvantages of these technologies and methods and how and why they are now being locally generated. https://oerknowledgecloud.org/content/open-education-resources-and-massive-open-online-courses

The Open Source Toolkit – meet our new Channel Editors for Software - rlockhart, Open Source Toolkit Blog

The Open Source Toolkit welcomes Nikoleta E. Glynatsi and Yo Yehudi as Channel Editors for Software. The Open Source Toolkit gathers articles, projects and resources describing hardware and software that can be applied in research, education and/or healthcare settings. Until now, the emphasis has been on hardware, so we are delighted to welcome Nikoleta E. Glynatsi and Yo Yehudi as new Channel Editors with expertise in software to help us expand the scope of the Channel. With their leadership, we aim to be a catalyst in demonstrating how Open Source software can revolutionize and democratize computer science by making it freely accessible and reproducible, enabling faster dissemination and progress. http://blogs.plos.org/collections/the-open-source-toolkit-meet-our-new-channel-editors-for-software/

Understanding Open Educational Resources - Neil Butcher and Andrew Moore, Commonwealth of Learning

The fact that you are reading this lesson suggests that you have heard of open educational resources (OER). Currently, there is a lot of buzz about OER. Some see them as totally revolutionising how we bring learning materials into our education system and use them, while others see OER from a more pragmatic perspective. Before we start looking at OER, including their origin, benefits and challenges, it is important to consider the problems that we are facing today in education. While these problems range, in different countries, from lack of access to poor quality, there is a common thread in most: low availability of good-quality educational materials. Although learning materials are available, the cost of access in many locations is very high and increases each year. For example, the cost of college textbooks in the United States increased 82 per cent between 2002 and 2013— three times the rate of inflation. http://oasis.col.org/handle/11599/1013

Guide to Developing Open Textbooks - Commonwealth of Learning

This how to guide has been developed to assist teachers, teaching support personnel and educational technology administrators to: understand the value of open education, OER and open textbooks for teaching and learning; appreciate the potential value of developing an open textbook platform; select appropriate technology to build an open textbook platform, using either existing services offered free on the Internet or open-source tools, based on local needs and resources; and build, manage and maintain an open textbook platforms. http://oasis.col.org/handle/11599/2390

Open Educational Resources - AnnMarcus-QuinnYvonneDiggins, Science Direct

This paper focuses on the significant developments in the area of open education, in particular the role that Open Educational Repositories (OER) can play in higher education, teaching, learning and scholarship. The National Digital Learning Resources service (NDLR) in Ireland is presented as a case study of a best practice model for such an OER service. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042813032862

Models for Sustainable Open Educational Resources - Stephen Downes, National Research Council Canada

This paper depicts the sustainability of Open Educational Resources (OERs) in terms of the three models: funding, technical, and content. Discussion and recommendations are focused on the sustainability of OERs and the requirement that we think of OERs as only part of a larger picture – one that includes volunteers and incentives, community and partnerships, co-production and sharing, distributed management and control. https://www.learntechlib.org/p/44796/

Education made more accessible in the Philippines through the UPOU Networks - TERESA UMALI, Open Government Asia

An announcement made by the University of the Philippines (UP) highlighted how the UPOU Networks provided a collection of UP-created educational content online paving the way for Philippine education in the digital age. UP Open University (UPOU) Networks is a University-produced online repository of multimedia learning materials, both open and proprietary. UPOU Chancellor Melinda Bandalaria said, “This is not just an index or listing of links to learning materials, which is quite common. This is a collection of UP-created content which we are disseminating online and sharing with everyone.” https://www.opengovasia.com/articles/education-made-more-accessible-in-the-philippines-through-the-upou-networks

Open-source, downloadable textbooks could relieve price strain - Duaa Israr, DePaulia

Students and professors at DePaul University may set a new policy — usurping expensive textbook-buying requirements with the option of downloading the material at a discount price. Students and professors are now getting the survey via email. Their responses will determine whether the library will be able to grant PDF copies of textbooks that the survey respondents deem the most egregiously expensive. The library could do so using Open Educational Resources (OERs) — books that have an open domain that lets people download, share and distribute legally. http://depauliaonline.com/35951/news/open-source-downloadable-textbooks-could-relieve-price-strain/

Designing Equitable Foundations for Open Knowledge - Ron Mader, PLaneta

Announcement: The theme for the 2018 International Open Access Week (October 22-28) is “designing equitable foundations for open knowledge.” Hashtags: #OAweek, #OpenAccessWeek SPARC: This year’s theme reflects a scholarly system in transition. While governments, funders, universities, publishers, and scholars are increasingly adopting open policies and practices, how these are actually implemented is still in flux. As open becomes the default, all stakeholders must be intentional about designing these new, open systems to ensure that they are inclusive, equitable, and truly serve the needs of a diverse global community. This year’s Open Access Week invites all interested stakeholders to participate in advancing this important work. https://planeta.com/oaweek18/

How Microsoft Teams is transforming the classroom - Kevin Lee, Tech Radar

To most of us, Microsoft Teams might just seem like another Slack competitor vying for office messaging market share, but in schools it’s proving its to be a revolutionary and transformative tool for classrooms. Those aren’t the words of Microsoft or some Teams spokesperson, but James Yanuzzelli, a social studies teacher hailing from Old Bridge, New Jersey, who is very much on the ground with today’s students. “I’ve been teaching for almost 15 years now, and this is the greatest product that we’ve started integrating into our classrooms, Yanuzzelli says. “I started a pilot program this year with Microsoft Teams and getting more open education resources into our classrooms, and it’s led to the biggest transformation I’ve seen.” https://www.techradar.com/news/how-microsoft-teams-is-transforming-the-classroom

Montana Board of Regents prepare for lean legislative session in 2019 - KEILA SZPALLER, Missoulian

Pamela Benjamin, a coordinator with TRAILS, or the Treasure State Academic Information and Library Services, said the cost of textbooks has become untenable for students, and a 2014 study showed an estimated 65 percent of students will forego textbooks. "That is not good," Benjamin said. "This is a problem not just for the students, but for student success and those institutions that are trying to support that success." TRAILS is a shared service that leverages buying power to purchase journals and databases, and Benjamin said it's positioned to support free online access to learning materials, or "Open Educational Resources." She said an estimated 82 percent of students said they would do "significantly better" with free online textbooks. http://missoulian.com/news/local/montana-board-of-regents-prepare-for-lean-legislative-session-in/article_681c191a-99fb-557a-b0ac-121b31c2dc2d.html

High textbook costs sending college students elsewhere during studies - ZOE SEILER, JACE NEUGEBAUER, LAUREN WADE and K. RAMBO; IowaWatch.org

Dylan Miller spent $495 on college textbooks at the University of Northern Iowa — $167.50 for a linear algebra textbook alone — this spring semester. He might have used the books once a month, perhaps. The internet? Used it close to two hours a day. So why does he still buy textbooks? “That’s a great question,” said Miller, 20, a sophomore from Homestead studying actuarial science. “I will not be buying textbooks next semester.” A lot of college students are trying to avoid textbooks costs that range from around $20 for a book on writing grant proposals to $400 for a physics book, a spring IowaWatch/College Media Journalism Project revealed. Some rent books, saving an average $29 per book depending on the subject. They also rely on information they can find on the internet, sometimes as a first reference. http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/education/high-textbook-costs-sending-college-students-elsewhere-during-studies/article_78622843-4f56-5329-9c63-b1b3af42a501.html

26 Organizations Join The Linux Foundation to Support Open Source Communities with Infrastructure and Resources - News-Journal

The Linux Foundation, the nonprofit organization enabling mass innovation through open source, announced the addition of 22 Silver members and 4 Associate members. Linux Foundation members help support development of the shared technology resources, while accelerating their own innovation through open source leadership and participation. Linux Foundation member contributions help provide the infrastructure and resources that enable the world's largest open collaboration communities. https://www.news-journal.com/ap/national/organizations-join-the-linux-foundation-to-support-open-source-communities/article_81c262b4-e524-54c4-86a7-bf573c2a5360.html

College Textbooks in New York State Becoming More Affordable - SUZY GARCIA, Kicks 1055

Governor Andrew Cuomo is making it easier for New Yorkers to attend college these days, by earmarking $8 million for students’ textbooks. It's an attempt to reduce the expense of books for State University of New York ,and City University of New York students, according to a press release from the Governor's office. Textbooks can cost hundreds of dollars each with some classes requiring more than one, then multiplied by several classes, and that's in addition to the cost of classes! It really is cost prohibitive for many hoping to attend college. This looks like it will certainly help. The Open Educational Resources Initiative is what this allocation is being called, and it’s making textbooks and other lab materials available by giving students the ability to download these materials, edit them and share them with others. http://kicks1055.com/college-textbooks-in-new-york-state-becoming-more-affordable/

New York Doubles Down on Open Educational Resources - Doug Lederman, Inside Higher Ed

Officials at the City University and State University of New York had a pretty narrow focus for how to spend the more or less out-of-the-blue $8 million investment that New York State's politicians decided to make last year in open educational resources: get more professors to create more OER-driven courses serving more students. "We essentially sent money out to campuses with the goal of spending it wisely to grow enrollments in OER courses," says Carey Hatch, associate provost for academic technologies and information services at the SUNY system. https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/article/2018/05/23/new-york-state-doubles-down-another-8-million-open-educational

Open Educational Resources and Moodle: Everybody Wins - Moodle News

Last April, the open worlds of EdTech and Educational Resources (OER) met in the UK’s Association for Learning Technology-organized OER18 Conference. With a premise with educational connotations, as well as political, the two-day Bristol meet-up not only helped showcase advances and innovative practices in OER across academic levels, it also brought scrutiny to some of the promises of “openness,” such as inclusivity and social impact. https://www.moodlenews.com/2018/open-educational-resources-versus-moodle-everybody-wins/

Where Are All the Faculty in the Open Education Movement? - Jasmine Roberts, EdSurge

Open educational resources (OER) are gaining increasing popularity. And as an active member in what advocates define as the “open education movement,” I frequently hear about the growing dissatisfaction of textbook costs and pedagogical concerns among faculty about outdated course materials. When I attend professional gatherings on open education, however, instructors like myself are often the minority. Yet open educational materials impact faculty and students alike, and many instructors are using these resources today. So why are there so few practitioners actively involved in increasing open education? https://www.edsurge.com/news/2018-05-16-where-are-all-the-faculty-in-the-open-education-movement

Missouri S&T helps students save money on textbooks - Sarah Potter, Missour S & T

With the rising cost of college textbooks adding to many students’ debt load, the University of Missouri System is encouraging faculty to explore using more affordable and open educational resources – low-cost or freely accessible, openly licensed text or media for teaching and learning. The UM System initiative – known as Affordable and Open Educational Resources, or AOER – has encouraged Missouri S&T professors to switch to less expensive or even free textbooks. “Students feel that the books are just too expensive,” says Dr. Cesar Mendoza, associate professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering at S&T. “There are semesters where some of them cannot afford them, especially those students that are self-supported.” http://news.mst.edu/2018/05/missouri-st-helps-students-save-money-on-textbooks/

Ed Department rolling out free digital textbook program - Jarrett Carter, Education Dive

The U.S. Department of Education plans its first effort to expand access to free, open digital textbooks and materials for colleges nationwide with a $5 million federal appropriate, The Washington Post reports. The money will support development or expansion of open peer-reviewed academic materials under an intellectual property license that allows free use. A recent study by the Babson Survey Research Group showed that the share of college instructors using open educational resources (OER) grew from 5 percent in the 2015-2016 academic year to 9 percent the next academic year. https://www.educationdive.com/news/ed-department-rolling-out-free-digital-textbook-program/523250/

Textbook Alternatives Take Hold at Community Colleges - Mark Lieberman, Inside Higher Ed

A high-profile affordable textbook program wraps up in Arizona having doubled its original goal, and other institutions share similar successes. Institutional funding for a high-profile affordable textbook initiative in one of the nation’s largest community college districts is on track to run out as scheduled this spring -- but the program exceeded the district’s expectations by a wide margin, and efforts will continue in a new form. Meanwhile, a Michigan community college is on schedule thus far to meet an ambitious goal for 70 percent of its instructors to be exclusively offering open educational resources in their courses by 2020. https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/article/2018/05/09/two-year-institutions-report-significant-savings-oer-initiatives