2023 CT OER SUMMIT

The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) fosters collaboration and coordination in the development and execution of multi-state projects and programs to maximize cost savings, expand resource efficiency, promote innovation, support policy adoption and forge alignment between higher education leaders and policymakers. NEBHE launched its Open Education initiative in 2019 to assist in and build upon coordinated state strategies, enhance and promote effective policy frameworks and share best practices to ultimately accelerate the integration of Open Education and Open Education Resources into the fabric of higher education in the Northeast. NEBHE President and CEO, Michael K. Thomas, will highlight initiatives across the region that demonstrate the positive impact on student agency and academic trajectory that can be achieved when Open Education policy meets practice. 

This keynote will focus on the critical need to bridge effective OER policy and practice to support equity—and equitable outcomes—for postsecondary students. While effective OER practice, driven by visionary faculty and their collaborators, is evident at institutions of all types, state and institutional policies play a vital role in supporting and scaling effective practice. Further, policies must be informed by student and practitioner perspectives, as well as to articulate the economic, educational, and equity-related benefits that OER provides. Leadership and collaboration at all levels is required and the student voice is essential throughout. 

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Are you new to the world of open education? Then you are in the right place! Stop by our themed office hours session and discuss how to get started with OER. Kevin Corcoran (Associate Vice Pres. Of Digital Learning at CSCU) and Zach Claybaugh (Student Success Librarian at UConn) will be talking about adopting materials, creating content, and what actually makes content not just free, but OER. Join us for a fun and informative Q&A on the OER basics!

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In an effort to address the high cost of textbooks, campuses are considering models known as "Inclusive Access" or "Equitable Access" that add the cost of course materials to students’ tuition and fees. While the advertised benefits of these programs have been widely discussed, it is also important to examine the potential challenges and long-term implications. This talk will discuss the evolution of the “Inclusive Access" model, how this differs from other cost-saving strategies such as OER, and what campuses can do to prioritize equity and inclusion for course materials in their decisions.

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Ever wondered what makes Open Educational Resources open? It’s the licensing! Drop in anytime during our themed office hours to ask a librarian and an instructional designer questions about the various flavors of open licensing. We can tell you about Creative Commons licensing, public domain content, and how you can and can’t mix and match licenses when remixing open materials. Join us for what should be an engaging Q&A!

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In order to build sustainable college, university, system, and statewide open educational programs, faculty and staff who engage in open educational practices must feel that this work is being valued by their colleagues and their administration. This is often done monetarily in the form of stipends, but many institutions do not have the budget and many faculty are more interested in compensation in the form of time than they are in money. . One way to approach this problem is through the reappointment, promotion, and tenure process. If open education work is valued in terms of job security and mobility, then many faculty complaints as to the feasibility of open education work fall away. Starting the process of getting open education valued in this process will look different at every institution as change management techniques must respond to individual context.The work of the DOERS3 Capacity Building Working Group on this topic over the last three years has proven that this is a conversation that many want to have but don’t feel they have the skills or tools required to start. This presentation will be an overview of the work that DOERS3 and its members have done to help faculty, staff, and adminstrators begin conversations that can make open education work valued and sustainable.

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Do you have questions about why and how to create accessible open educational resources? Drop by anytime during this open office hour to chat with us!  We will share what we know about why accessible materials have benefits that extend beyond ADA compliance, how to create accessible OER documents and media, and how to check for issues in existing OER material.

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Please join us as the CT OER Coordinating Council spotlights efforts from some of our 2022 CT OER Grant Program awardees. This panel discussion will feature the following indviduals:

- Leon Brin, Southern Connecticut State University

- Alan Bruce, Quinnipiac University

- Katherine Hall, University of Connecticut

- Beth Johnson, Post University (Moderator)

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Open pedagogy is the practice of involving students in the creation of scholarship. It's a way to help students contribute to knowledge rather than simply consuming it. We will discuss the four factors of open pedagogy:

1. Openness in all elements of the teaching process and instructional practices such as open and transparent course design and development (learner-centered teaching)

2. Student work is public and assignments benefit others beyond the limited course time and space (digital scholarship)

3. Learners contribute novel ideas and original research to pressing contemporary problems (critical pedagogy)

4. Students create, revise, or remix open educational resources (OER)

Open pedagogy engages learners, emphasizes community and collaboration, promotes the sharing of resources, and shifts the power dynamic in the classroom. In this workshop, we’ll see examples of open pedagogy projects and discuss assignment design.

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OER Advocacy can be hard work. Oftentimes advocates are beginning initiatives on their own, or with a small group of other professionals. They may lack without time and resources, but have an abundance of passion. Passion is needed, but passion alone is not enough. In this session, attendees will hear some tips and tricks from a librarian who’s had experience with OER Advocacy for the past 5 years, and has learned some important lessons along the way. Attendees will walk away with ideas for communicating, collaborating, and managing their initiatives while also taking steps to avoid burnout. A list of resources and other avenues for discussion will also be shared.

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Academic leaders (provosts, deans, department chairs), come learn about Open Education and how to support the growth of OER adoption and creation at your institution. This hybrid session will include a brief overview presentation along with ample time for discussion.

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