This is a presentation I gave through our university Library on October 28, 2016.

1. Opening Up the U of S:
From Open Resources to
Open Pedagogy
Heather M. Ross
October 28, 2016

2. Overview
• What is OER
• Creative Commons Licensing
• Why Use OER
• Open Textbooks at USask
• Finding Resources
• Open Pedagogy
• Supports

3. What is OER?
Open Educational Resources (OERs) are any type of educational
materials that are in the public domain or introduced with an
open license. The nature of these open materials means that
anyone can legally and freely copy, use, adapt and re-share
them. OERs range from textbooks to curricula, syllabi, lecture
notes, assignments, tests, projects, audio, video and animation.”
- UNESCO

5. Why Use OER?
• Adaptable
• “Free”
• Sharable

6. Adaptable
• Minor to major changes
• Combine with existing materials
• Photographs
• Music
• Assignments
• Textbooks

7. “Free”
• Replace expensive commercial texts
• Funding from:
• Governments (SK, AB, BC)
• Foundations (Hewlett, Gates)
• Institutions (including “in-kind”)

8. Sharable
• Students, other educators, and public
• Repositories
• Open websites

9. Open Textbooks at Usask
• At least 13 being used in 2016-17
• Saving students $275,000+
• Agriculture, Arts & Science, ESB, Nursing, VetMed
• Four in production
• Arts & Science and Engineering
• Funding available to support adaptations & adoptions

10. Finding Resources
• open.usask.ca
• Me
• Library
• Distance Education Unit (DEU)

11. OpenUSask

14. Barriers
• Knowing about open textbooks
• Time
• To find
• To review
• To update other course materials
• To revise / remix book if needed
• Technical assistance
• Concerns about need for print
• Recognition

15. Barriers – Some Solutions
• Knowing – sessions like this one and word of mouth
• Time
• Assistance finding materials
• Assistance with production
• Funding for release time
• Technical assistance (DEU)
• Concerns about need for print – print-on-demand (Bookstore)
• Recognition?

16. Pressbooks at USask

17. Integration
• Find a resource –open.usask.ca
• Review an open textbook
• Talk with educational developers about open resources and
pedagogy
• Talk with colleagues about collaboration
• Think about:
• Can I use this resource as is?
• What would I need to / get to change about my course?
• How much change can I do to start?
• Who could I work with on this?

18. Open Pedagogy
• Students create / adapt OER
• Move away from “disposable” assignments
• Examples
• Chemistry
• *Geography
• *Law
• Literature
• Session on November 8 through GMCTE

19. Supports
• People:
• GMCTE
• Library
• Distance Education Unit (DEU)
• open.usask.ca
• Funding

20. Questions and
Discussion