OER Digest - April 30th, 2020
From Kaitlyn Vitez and Cailyn Nagle (USPIRG) | Volume 105 | April 30th, 2020
THE OER DIGEST
Your bi-weekly newsletter for open education updates, opportunities, and reminders
COVID-19: This edition, we’re highlighting some relevant upcoming webinars:
- Join NC State’s library team for their Open Cafe workshops. Their Discovering Open Textbooks workshop on finding open resources is tomorrow, May 1st, at 12:30pm EST. Next week, their Making Your Online Course Even Better with OER workshop will feature a faculty member currently using open textbooks in her class.
- The Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property at American University Washington College of Law and Creative Commons USA are hosting a series of webinars on best practices in fair use, divided into two tracks. The next webinar of the series on creating teaching materials for Fall 2020 and beyond will be held tomorrow, May 1st, at noon EST for K-12 and 3:00pm EST for higher ed. Click here to register and find more information.
- Join CCCOER for their incredibly timely webinar “Open Education Resilience in Crisis and Beyond” on May 6th at noon PST. Learn more and register here.
- Join FLVC and USPIRG for their webinar “Responding to Publisher Course Materials Proposals,” on May 7th at 10am EST. Learn more and register here.
OPEN TEXTBOOK PILOT: Today, April 30th, is the last day to submit a public comment to the federal Open Textbook Pilot grant program. The U.S. Department of Education seeks comment from community members on the number and size of grants, the definition of open educational resources, grant deliverables and accomplishments, and other priorities. Community input will be vital to shaping the PIlot grant program to meet community needs. Comments will be reviewed over the summer, before a final version is announced and the application window opens.MERGER UPDATE: Six senators have urged the U.S. Department of Justice to carefully consider the proposed merger of Cengage and McGraw-Hill before allowing the merger to move forward. The Senators cite textbook affordability, data privacy, and the resulting massive market share between two companies as cause for concern. The equivalent agency in the UK has also expanded their investigation of the merger, expressing skepticism that the merger could be amicably resolved after the two companies revealed they were considering “whether to abandon the arrangements.” The current agreement between Cengage and McGraw-Hill expires tomorrow, May 1st, if not extended.
OPEN CONNECTIONS
Conferences, jobs, and other OER-related opportunities
REGISTER NOW: Alberta OER Community of Practice’s summit is open for registration. The digital summit takes place on May 19th-20th. Learn more and register here.CALL FOR PARTICIPATION: The Open Education Conference is inviting members of the education community to help organize #OpenEd20 and plan the future of OpenEd. Complete this form by Monday May 11th.CALL FOR PARTICIPATION: The Lehman College library is collecting syllabi from faculty currently using OER, to aid other faculty in their transition. You can submit a syllabus here, and review the syllabi already on file here. JOB OPPORTUNITY: Wiki Education has an opening for a software developer. Learn more about the position and apply here.
STORIES FROM THE FIELD
Quick snapshots of those making change on the ground level, and those impacted
FROM PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND: A collaboration between the campus library and student union at the University of Prince Edward Island led to the creation of a new open textbook pilot program. “One of our guiding principles is ensuring that postsecondary education is affordable and accessible to everyone,” shared the student union’s vice president Sweta Daboo. This new program will allow the University library to build on existing efforts in open education, including an open textbook project, an open textbook working group, and Pressbooks. Read more>>FROM CALIFORNIA: Faculty in the California State University system participating in the Affordable Learning Solutions program have found that the program has new benefits in the rapid move to online learning. “I knew all my students had access to their course content from day one and I didn't have to worry whether they bought the book, or whether they could afford to do so” said Dr. Shelli Wynants from CSU Fullerton. In addition to affordability faculty have listed flexibility, equity, and academic freedom as reasons they have continued to participate in the program. Read more>>FROM ARKANSAS: At the University of Arkansas’ Cossatot Community College, 61% of courses no longer require students to purchase a textbook. CCC OER Specialist and Director of Educational Resources, Relinda Ruth added: “With the current COVID-19 situation changing the way we traditionally function, many more faculty are choosing open resources to ensure students have access to free high-quality academic resources. In the fall, the business department will be 81% OER, and the English department will be 100% OER, which is a major accomplishment for our college and a tremendous benefit to UA Cossatot students!” Read more >>
HOT OFF THE PRESS
Each edition, we highlight an interesting, new, openly-licensed resource
UMass Amherst’s newest open textbook release, Radicalize the Hive by Angela Roell, is a collection of stories, essays, and advice for new and intermediate beekeepers. The essays cover diverse topics from personal anecdotes and analysis to guides for maintaining hives.
WEIGH IN
Great reads to repost or share and interesting discussions to consider
Great to Share >>
Interesting to Consider >>
- Chalk Radio Podcast | MIT Open Courseware
- Shouldering the heavy burden of textbooks l William and Mary
- Our homes may be closed temporarily, but our education must remain open to all! l Daily Campus
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.