OER Digest – June 6, 2024
Aishah Abdullah (SPARC) | Volume 182 | June 6, 2024
THE OER DIGEST
Your monthly newsletter for open education updates, opportunities, and reminders
OPEN CONNECTIONS
Conferences, jobs, and other OER-related opportunities
CALL FOR PROPOSALS: The virtual SUNY OER Summit 2024 will be held on October 16-17, 2024. Submit your proposals by July 31, 2024, to share your insights on OER. Attendance is free.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS: The Texas Digital Library and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board are seeking proposals for the third Open Texas Conference, happening online from September 25-27, 2024. Librarians, faculty, and administrators are invited to contribute ideas by June 15, 2024.
REGISTER NOW: Register for Cal OER 2024 Conference being held on August 7-8. The theme is "Responsive Pedagogy: Extending Local Innovation to Advance Global Impact." Explore how California's higher education systems can enhance pedagogy with OER.
JOB OPPORTUNITY: Adams State University seeks a dynamic leader for the Director of the Nielsen Library. The Director will collaborate with staff, administrators, faculty, and students to ensure the library meets student needs and remains a vital part of the campus and community.
STORIES FROM THE FIELD
Quick snapshots of those making change on the ground level, and those impacted
FROM TEXAS: Texas A&M University is broadening its OpenEd program, which saved students an estimated $1.2 million in textbook costs in the 2023-2024 academic year. The initiative, led by Jennifer Pate, focuses on reducing educational expenses by promoting open educational resources (OER). “OpenEd addresses the issue head-on by embracing and advocating for the use of open educational resources,” Pate said. The program assists faculty in adopting OER, enhancing affordability and accessibility for students. Read More >>
FROM IDAHO: Boise State University is expanding its zero-cost textbook programs to enhance student access and affordability. The initiative, leveraging OER, eliminates textbook expenses for students. “I didn’t want cost to be a barrier to learning,” said Sherena Huntsman, assistant professor. The university currently offers four zero-cost certificates, ensuring students have access to up-to-date, relevant materials without financial burdens. These efforts align with Boise State’s commitment to equity and accessibility in education. Read More >>
FROM KANSAS: Barton Community College has significantly expanded its Textbook Freedom Campaign, transitioning over 160 courses to OER and saving students more than $1.2 million since 2019. “We are giving students the opportunity to free themselves from the increasing costs of college textbooks and course materials,” said Elaine Simmons, Vice President of Instruction. This initiative reduces the cost of course materials to $50 or less, promoting both affordability and accessibility. Barton aims to continue expanding OER use across its programs. Read More >>
HOT OFF THE PRESS
Each edition, we highlight an interesting, new, openly-licensed resource
The University of North Alabama Digital Press announces My X’s by Alina Stefanescu, published by Lion Bridge Publishing. In this OER, Alina Stefanescu interviews herself to ask burning questions concerning her upbringing and memory to investigate how her family’s time in Romania during the height of communism affected her relationships with family, culture, and art. The student-run press handles copy editing, marketing, and design, focusing on open-access publishing.
WEIGH IN
Great reads to repost or share and interesting discussions to consider
Using OER to Promote Cultural Competency, Student Engagement | AACC 21st Century Center
CT College Opts for Open Educational Resources | The Connecticut Mirror
Barton Community College Ditches Textbooks for Open Source Materials | Government Technology
Prof. Kisha Tracy Answers the Call for Free Textbooks | Sentinel & Enterprise
Texas Governor Abbott Endorses Innovative Open Education Resources to Transform Learning Statewide | Hoodline
Digital college texts were meant to help students. Here’s why they didn’t | Seattle Times
Unleashing the Power of Emerging Technologies in Education | UNESCO
Have suggestions for the next edition? Let us know at oerdigest@gmail.com, or tweet us @OERdigest.
The OER Digest is a public newsletter distributed to a broad group of stakeholders across the higher education community. Subscribe here.