OER Digest - May 19, 2022
Michael Basmajian (PIRG) | Volume 153 | May 19, 2022
THE OER DIGEST
Your bi-weekly newsletter for open education updates, opportunities, and reminders
HAPPENING NOW: The OTESSA Conference is happening now online through Saturday May 20th, and the virtual platform will remain open until June 3, 2022, to watch any recorded or on-demand content. The conference is hosted by OTESSA, the Open/Technology in Education, Society, and Scholarship Association. Learn more and register here.
OEGlobal22: Not in Nantes for OEGlobal22? Join us to rewatch the keynote address that will be delivered by the amazing Dr. Sian Proctor. On May 24, 2022 at 3:00 PM EST, join us on Zoom to replay the keynote and have a discussion together. Register now to get your access!
OPEN CONNECTIONS
Conferences, jobs, and other OER-related opportunities
APPLY NOW: The Open Education Network is accepting applications for faculty and librarian partners to receive a certification for open educational practices (OEP). Applicants should be higher education faculty who have a lesson that they wish to transform with open educational practices and teach in the spring of 2023. For more information, please visit the Call for Applications or the website.
APPLY NOW: The application period for the Michelson 20MM Spark Grant cycle is now open. The foundation is accepting OER grant LOIs aligning with their focus areas from May 17 - June 1st. Learn more from their webinar or website.
APPLY NOW: The Open Education Group is seeking applications for the next cohort of OER Research Fellows! Learn more about the OER fellowship here. Submit your application here. The deadline to apply is June 22, 2022
APPLY NOW: MHz Foundation, whose mission is to bring global culture and perspective to the world via digital programming with Curationist.org, is hiring an Educational Programs Manager with a focus on open education. This is a remote position. Learn more and apply here.
STORIES FROM THE FIELD
Quick snapshots of those making change on the ground level, and those impacted
FROM MICHIGAN: The Western Michigan University Libraries awarded eight OER adoption grants and two creation grants to WMU instructors this month. The grants are anticipated to save students in 11 courses more than $91,000 in textbook costs in just one semester. "The savings for students continues to grow," says Sara Volmering, marketing manager for University Libraries. "Every time an instructor repeats a course using an OER, a new group of students reaps the academic and financial benefits." Read More >>
FROM NORTH DAKOTA: The University of North Dakota received a “Colleagues’ Choice Innovation Award” in April for their efforts to improve access and affordability of educational resources for students. The award was given by the Western Academic Leadership Forum at the Forum’s annual meeting in Portland, Oregon. The Forum is a membership organization for university administrators within the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). UND has promoted the use of OER by its faculty, with more than 90 faculty members from every school and college having adapted, adopted, or created OER to replace expensive texts, saving students $11 million since 2015. Read More >>
HOT OFF THE PRESS
Each edition, we highlight an interesting, new, openly-licensed resource
The newest open textbook to be released in the University of Minnesota’s Open Textbook Library is Urban Literacy: Learning to Read the City Around You, an introduction to urban studies that explores different aspects of urban life, such as the environment, housing, and culture. The book was authored by Portland State University’s Leanne Serbulo.
WEIGH IN
Great reads to repost or share and interesting discussions to consider
Great to Share >>
Embracing OER Institutionwide | Inside HigherEd
Open-Source Law Textbooks: The Answer to the Book Buying Burden? | American Bar Association
Open to change? How higher ed can save millions, reach more students | University Business
The Cost of College | Santa Barbara Independent
Interesting to Consider >>
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.