Opening Up the U of S: From Open Resources to Open Pedagogy

Opening Up the U of S: From Open Resources to Open PedagogyHeather M. Ross

October 28, 2016

Overview

• What is OER

• Creative Commons Licensing

• Why Use OER

• Open Textbooks at USask

• Finding Resources

• Open Pedagogy

• Supports

What is OER?

Open Educational Resources (OERs) are 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. OERs range from textbooks to curricula, syllabi, lecture notes, assignments, tests, projects, audio, video and animation.”

- UNESCO

Why Use OER?

• Adaptable

• “Free”

• Sharable

Adaptable

• Minor to major changes

• Combine with existing materials

• Photographs

• Music

• Assignments

• Textbooks

“Free”

• Replace expensive commercial texts

• Funding from:

• Governments (SK, AB, BC)

• Foundations (Hewlett, Gates)

• Institutions (including “in-kind”)

Sharable

• Students, other educators, and public

• Repositories

• Open websites

Open Textbooks at Usask

• At least 13 being used in 2016-17

• Saving students $275,000+

• Agriculture, Arts & Science, ESB, Nursing, VetMed

• Four in production

• Arts & Science and Engineering

• Funding available to support adaptations & adoptions

Finding Resources

• open.usask.ca

• Me

• Library

• Distance Education Unit (DEU)

OpenUSask

Barriers

• Knowing about open textbooks

• Time• To find

• To review

• To update other course materials

• To revise / remix book if needed

• Technical assistance

• Concerns about need for print

• Recognition

Barriers – Some Solutions

• Knowing – sessions like this one and word of mouth

• Time• Assistance finding materials

• Assistance with production

• Funding for release time

• Technical assistance (DEU)

• Concerns about need for print – print-on-demand (Bookstore)

• Recognition?

Pressbooks at USask

Integration

• Find a resource –open.usask.ca

• Review an open textbook

• Talk with educational developers about open resources and pedagogy

• Talk with colleagues about collaboration

• Think about:• Can I use this resource as is?

• What would I need to / get to change about my course?

• How much change can I do to start?

• Who could I work with on this?

Open Pedagogy

• Students create / adapt OER

• Move away from “disposable” assignments

• Examples

• Chemistry

• *Geography

• *Law

• Literature

• Session on November 8 through GMCTE

Supports

• People:

• GMCTE

• Library

• Distance Education Unit (DEU)

• open.usask.ca

• Funding

Questions and Discussion