Consider Open!

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Chalk board image
https://pixabay.com/photo-999247/

Open educational resources (OER) are freely available educational materials that can be used by anyone, anywhere utilizing the power of the internet.  UNESCO defines OER as, “any type of educational materials that are in the public domain or introduced with an open license. The nature of these open materials means that anyone can legally and freely copy, use, adapt and re-share them.”  Open pedagogy goes hand in hand with OER.  Open education advocate, David Wiley notes that employing OER in the same ways traditional textbooks are used will reduce textbook costs for students and may improve learning outcomes because more students have access to required materials but he notes that this substitution does little to elevate or innovate teaching practice.  Open pedagogy practices can provide this innovation.  Open licenses make open pedagogy possible.  Open licenses allow instructors to reuse, revise and essentially reinvent educational resources.  Involving the students you teach in this process, can transform assignments, improve learning, and elevate your teaching practice. This is open pedagogy.  Interested?  Do you want to learn more?


The U of A open educational resources team has partnered with the TFSC to present at the September faculty development luncheon series.  During the session, participants will learn more about OER, the U of A OER incentive program, and Creative Commons Licensing.  Familiar with open pedagogy?  Not yet?  Well, in this session you’ll be introduced to examples of open pedagogy.  Open pedagogy can help you take your teaching to the next level.  Additionally, you’ll hear from University of Arkansas faculty members who have adopted, created, or adapted OER and used them in their classrooms.  They’ll share their experiences in a short panel discussion. Want to learn more?  Attend one of the luncheon sessions. Look for an email from the TFSC this fall!

In the meantime, please take a moment to complete the survey linked here.  The survey will help us determine campus OER awareness and needs.  The gathered results will help the OER team shape open education outreach in the upcoming months.

The use of OER on campuses across the nation is on the rise.  The University of Arkansas can be a part of this trend. Please consider attending the OER faculty development luncheon session in September to learn more about OER and the potential it may have in the courses you teach.  See you in September!

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