Open Educational Resources
Part of broadening access and participation in postsecondary education is making college affordable. Hence, initiatives to increase college accessibility cannot be decoupled from college affordability. Given that rising costs of attendance presents a significant barrier to college going, particularly first-generation, working-class, and low-incomes students (a critical mass of which are racially minoritized students), the costs of tuition fees, and educational materials make college out of reach (Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, 2013). The Open Educational Resources project by OCCRL examines these issues.
OER Syllabus
Materials needed for college courses, such as textbooks, have outpaced the rate of inflation for the last four decades (Popken, 2015), making the adoption of open educational resources (OER) a viable way to save on postsecondary education costs for students.
The OER project by OCCRL examined the integration of open educational resources in Illinois community college courses to assess the need and utility of this free material. Read the syllabus.
Purpose
In assessing the need and utilities of OER, the OCCRL explored the Illinois context. In particular, we conducted an environmental scan and the following report highlights national and state trends, utility, opportunities, equity considerations, and barriers regarding what we know to date relative to integration of OER in Illinois community college courses. Also check out our podcast and related voices and viewpoints academic blog for more on OER in community college settings.
Resources
One means of making college less expensive is reducing and/or eliminating the materials associated with course as these have outpaced the rate of rate of inflation for over 40 years (Popken, 2015). Many community colleges and universities develop and use open educational resources (OER) (e.g., open textbook). As the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) is interested in expanding OERs for both faculty and students in Illinois, OCCRL conducted an environmental scan in FY20 to understand what community colleges are participating in, have created OERs, and what is shaping the development of OERs; the relationships (if any) within and between institutions utilizing OERs and use of OERs in CTE.
Publications
Podcasts
Open Educational Resources
The Use of OER as an Equity Initiative in Illinois Community Colleges
In this episode, OCCRL senior research assistant Nina Owolabi talks to several guests about the use of open educational resources, also known as OER, as an equity initiative in Illinois community colleges. In addition, OCCRL research assistant Aidana Sirgebayeva relates the findings of the OER research project that has been taking place at OCCRL for the last several years. The shows guests are Dr. Eboni Zamani-Gallaher, Magnus Noble, Heather Blicher, and Dr. Lorenzo Baber.
Heather Blicher
The Possibilities and Challenges of Open Educational Resources
In this episode, Nina Owolabi, a research assistant at OCCRL, talks with Heather Blicher about the many possibilities as well as the challenges of open educational resources for instructors and institutions. Blicher is a coordinator of librarian services for two campuses at Reynolds Community College in Richmond, Virginia.
