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The Fans, Fanboys, and Fanatics of OER

Doug Levin

and I am merely a fan – not a fanboy – of open educational resources (OER).** Others surely see me as some sort of OER fanatic. So, if these are the actions of someone who is an OER fan, what stops me short of claiming fanboy status? I work in K-12 education in the U.S., I beg to disagree. Image credits.

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These Colleges Are Betting That Culturally Relevant Textbooks Will Improve Student Outcomes

Edsurge

The funds will cover financial support and mentorship for faculty who create new open educational resources (OER for short) or adapt existing open textbooks. We’re trying to encourage a model of deliberately constructing or reconstructing OER to fit the needs of your learners and not necessarily just to create a textbook.”

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What a Homework Help Site’s Move to Host Open Educational Resources Could Mean

Edsurge

In May, the homework-help site that relies on student-generated content, Course Hero, dipped its toes into freely available, openly licensed alternatives known as Open Educational Resources, or OER, course materials. This was the company’s “first foray” into OER, and it is still figuring out how the OER fits, Morris says. “I

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Once Reviled in Education, Wikipedia Now Embraced By Many Professors

Edsurge

I hear more often these days about teaching with free online materials instead of traditional textbooks (known as OER). The OER conversation is very energized right now, and it's a complex conversation. I tend to focus on aspects of OER depending on the audience. Absolutely. It's a continuing spectrum. Absolutely.

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Toward Renewable Assessments

Iterating Toward Openness

My colleagues in the Open Education Group and I like to say that when you’re considering the outcomes of research on OER adoption, there are “two ways to win.” ” First, think about three possible outcomes of OER adoption in terms of change in cost and change in learning: Students save money and learn less.

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Online Learning Book Recommendations: And Why I Read so Few Books on the Topic

Edsurge

Tim Carson, Skilled Trades and OER Advocate First, allow me to tell you why I don’t typically read books about online learning. Pacansky-Brock emphasizes that taking an online course is the “…best way to gain empathy for students and an outcome no book can provide.” I’ve ordered your book as well.

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6 Edtech New Year’s Resolutions

Tom Murray

Districts having success in this area have comprehensive refresh plans, work with high quality partners, build relationships with local businesses, work diligently to receive grants, and leverage a variety of open educational resources (OERs). Commit to Leveraging Social Media and Telling Your Great Story!

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