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OER Learning Group

October 23, 2019

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Objective

Whittier College aims to create an Open Educational Resources (OER) Learning Community made up of members from our college including faculty, staff, and students.� �We want to establish a strategic plan to advocate for and support the adoption of open educational resources.

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Themes and Goals

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  • College affordability including the rising costs of textbooks are issues that require informed and organized discussion. �
  • Create a strategy for the adoption of open educational resources including open textbooks.�
  • Give our students options for access and affordability as well as opportunities to create, adopt, and share educational resources.

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Addressing Concerns: Faculty-to-Faculty

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  • The quality of OER is similar to commercial textbooks in most cases
    • OpenStax and other sources available to review & confirm quality

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  • OER is not the same thing as digital resources
    • No Wikipedia here�
  • Your students will likely have a device that can access the book�
  • Many OER have an option for low cost paper copies for those that prefer to not read online�
  • Ancillary resources: while not available everywhere, some OER do include such resources

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Student Suggestions

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  • Promote a more engaging discourse on the topic

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  • List the total cost of the course in advance�
  • List all the books for the course on the College Bookstore website�
  • Create better alternative resources for students who cannot afford their textbooks:
    • Financial aid
    • System of circulation of used books within the college
    • Setting the maximum price for FYS �

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Source: student focus groups at Gettysburg College

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Advantages for Faculty and Students

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  • Equity for low-income students

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  • Assign what you need, not the whole book�
  • No “waiting for my textbook to come” or “forgotten books”�
  • Improve performance, retention, and engagement�
  • Customize classes with diverse readings from many sources, beyond the textbook�
  • Encourage life-long learning - no sell back on these books�

Source: Gettysburg College Faculty OER Group

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Next Steps

  • Student Focus Groups
    • Nov. 5 & Nov. 20
  • Jan Term 2020 Faculty Workshops on OER
  • Future Meetings of OER Learning Group
  • Your Thoughts?

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