Accessible and Affordable Learning Through Open Educational Resources
Jul 11, 2024
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Ann Taylor discusses the importance of affordable open educational resources (OERs) in higher education, emphasizing the need for engaging course design and multimedia integration. She highlights the value of text-first approach, interactive learning experiences, and authentic welcome videos. The episode explores effective online course design strategies, use of Whisper Memos for capturing story ideas, recommendations for danceable songs from My Fest Event, and favorite podcasts like The Moth Radio Hour and Wiser Than Me.
Utilizing OER reduces textbook costs and enhances accessibility in education.
Diverse multimedia resources and storytelling boost student engagement in online courses.
Incorporating varied resources like podcasts enriches teaching and learning experiences.
Deep dives
The Importance of Open Educational Resources in Higher Education
Utilizing Open Educational Resources (OER) is crucial in making education more affordable and accessible. Ann Taylor emphasizes the need to reduce textbook costs for students by creating courses with freely available or affordable resources. She highlights surprising instances where unconventional materials like rocks and construction flags were needed for learning experiences. Taylor advocates for a strategic approach to course design, focusing on desired learning outcomes first and gradually incorporating resources like textbooks or multimedia elements.
Challenges in Transitioning to Online Education
Transitioning to online education presents challenges in course design and delivery. Faculty often face the dilemma of adapting traditional textbook-centric approaches to more engaging and affordable online formats. The podcast discusses the importance of avoiding linear lecture recordings and instead starting with written content. It highlights the benefits of storytelling and interactive elements in engaging students effectively in online courses.
Exploring Diverse Learning Resources
Diverse learning resources beyond traditional textbooks enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. Examples like incorporating podcasts, videos, and real-life experiences into courses offer dynamic learning opportunities. The episode shares insights on leveraging freely available resources, such as podcasts like Wiser Than Me and The Moth Radio Hour, to enrich teaching and engage students effectively.
Professional Development and Collaboration in Higher Education
Professional associations like Apcia play a vital role in facilitating collaboration and professional development in higher education. Events like the Summit for Online Leadership and Administration and the Distance Teaching and Learning Conference provide platforms for networking and knowledge sharing. Initiatives such as the Course Mark at Penn State focus on promoting transparency in course materials costs to benefit student affordability and accessibility.
Creating Engaging Learning Experiences
Designing engaging learning experiences involves storytelling, interactive elements, and diverse multimedia resources. Recommendations to start with text-based content and gradually incorporate videos and audio enhance course accessibility and student engagement. The episode highlights the importance of authenticity and creativity in content creation, emphasizing the impact of engaging educational materials on student learning outcomes.
Ann Taylor shares ways to offer accessible and affordable learning through open educational resources (OERs) on episode 526 of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast.
Quotes from the episode
I have been surprised at how some of us don’t think about the cost of what we’re requiring our students to use.
-Ann Taylor
It’s the instructor that’s making the difference, that’s making the content come alive.
-Ann Taylor
If you’re boring face to face and monotone or you just kinda mumble and separate, you’re probably not gonna come across great recorded either.
-Ann Taylor
Text first, not video first.
-Ann Taylor
We start with the written word, and then we make sure that anywhere it’s gonna make a difference or it’s gonna engage the students, we incorporate multimedia pictures and graphics and interactive tools and video and so forth.
-Ann Taylor