Shared Notes for this Session:
https://goo.gl/x6CmUoOpen Education Resources (OER) seem like the ultimate buzzword in higher education today. Faculty, librarians, administrators, and even politicians have been engaged in conversations about the benefits of OER. In 2017 alone, 28 states introduced 70 pieces of legislation related to OER adoption. Yet, questions about OER persist: how do they benefit students? do these benefits warrant adoption? can OER provide a meaningful learning experience for students? does OER matter for music?
This session will go beyond basics, presenting attendees with an opportunity to hear faculty and students testimonials about the impact OER have had in their classrooms. Participants will leave with a new understanding of OER as a tool for social justice aimed at education access. Recent initiatives in the state have created a statewide initiative for OER adoption across all U-M campuses. At the time of the submission, I have been in touch with Steven Graham, Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs for the University of Missouri system and he has generously offered to help me identify presenters from St. Louis or the surrounding areas to discuss their local efforts. UPDATE: J. Andy Goodman, Associate Provost for Professional Development and Director, Center for Teaching and Learning at the University of Missouri - St. Louis will be joining us for this session!
By requesting a longer presentation slot, this session seeks to add an opportunity for attendees to learn from faculty using OER and brainstorm ways they can engage their faculty with OER in music and other arts disciplines and help the community develop more high-quality OER in the arts. A focus on reaching the broadest student community has left many areas of the arts and humanities underserved; participants will be encouraged to think boldly about how to close the OER gap in music and what areas to address as a priority. The goal is for members to leave the session to reflect further about how open education can improve access to the arts for vulnerable communities and enrich student learning experiences and build coalitions within our organization and their own institutions to help make it happen.
