Open Education Week

Celebrate Open Ed Week - March 7-11!
Center for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning
post written by Dr. Lyda McCartin, Director

Tuesday, March 8, 2022
2:00-3:00 PM MST via Zoom
Of Course Open Educational Resources Sound Like a Good Idea
...But How Do I Get Started?

presented by Professor Stephanie Wiegand & hosted by the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning

Saving students money, making sure that students have access to textbooks and course materials from the first day of class, using the best pieces of different sources, adapting someone else’s work to make it relevant to a specific population of students – these are all exceptional and worthwhile goals. But it is all so…overwhelming. Are you interested in moving away from traditional commercial (and costly) textbooks for your courses? In this webinar, Professor & Librarian Stephanie Wiegand will discuss taking baby steps towards using open educational resources (OER) and library-licensed materials (LER).

Wednesday, March 9, 2022
1:00-2:00 PM MST via Zoom
Open Educational Resources & Accessibility: A Wholistic View

presented by Professor Stephanie Wiegand & hosted by the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning

Accessibility in open education resources (OER) generally brings to mind the technical, nitty-gritty details concerning digital documents and learning objects. The minutiae of alt tags, contrasting colors, and navigational headings only partially encompass the sphere of accessibility in OER. The very foundations of OER are built on an ethical framework of accessibility that is necessary to achieve equity and inclusion in higher education. Accessibility includes issues of design, discovery, language, organization, diversity of content, and more. Accessibility should not be considered an accommodation, but rather a way to improve education for all. Join Professor & Librarian Stephanie Wiegand for a discussion concerning accessibility and OER. If you are ready to learn more or considering reviewing, adopting, adapting, or creating an OER, this discussion is for you.

Thursday, March 10, 2022
11:00 AM-1:00 PM MST at the University Center, Aspen Suites
Let's Talk Textbooks
40 box lunches will be available - please join us!

hosted by the UNC OER Committee

Drop in and chat with colleagues about commercial textbooks, open educational resources, & library-licensed educational
materials. Why Choose OER and LER over Commercial Textbooks? Because OER and LER:

• provide greater flexibility in course content and assignments, ensuring that instructors lead the course – not the textbook;
• offer content that is responsive to the students in your classroom instead of cookie-cutter, mass-produced textbooks
• that fit ‘everyone;'
• lower or eliminate textbook costs which are directly linked to student retention and success in the classroom; and
• equip students with immediate access to course materials – no waiting on delivery systems or financial aid.

2022-2023 OER Grants

The Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) recently awarded the UNC OER Committee grant monies to incentivize UNC instructors to convert courses from using traditional and often expensive commercial textbooks to materials that are free to students. This aligns with the Colorado's Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) initiative for all universities and colleges. Instructors can use a combination of various resources to convert a course - including

• open educational resources, 
• library resources,
• materials that fall under fair use, and
• materials that are public domain. 

Interested? Find application materials and learn more: https://libguides.unco.edu/OERcommittee/grants

2022 OER Summer Stipends

In recognition of Open Education Week 2022, and through a grant from the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE), UNC faculty are invited to submit a proposal to develop an institutional level initiative related to textbook affordability. Below are a few sample projects, but faculty are invited to think creatively about projects that would have broad and sustained impact on student success. There is an opportunity to fund two faculty members. 

The compensation is $4,500 and the work will be completed in summer 2022. A final report with recommendations for project implementation will be required.  

Sample project proposals may include, but are not limited to: 

• Develop a methodology to track courses that use Open Education Resources (OER) and affordable course materials at UNC  
• Create tools and templates on how to use open pedagogy in a course, for inclusion in UNC’s Canvas Commons and Digital UNC  
• Write a guide for including the use of Open Educational Resources and textbook affordability in program review and accreditation 
• Develop strategies, including sample language, for integrating the use of OER and textbook affordability in department faculty evaluation criteria.   

Interested? Find application materials and learn more: https://libguides.unco.edu/OERcommittee/grants

March 10, 2022