Open Education mini-workshops all week!

If you have been wanting to know more about Open Education and Open Pedagogy, tune into the Libraries every day this week for topical mini-workshops about getting up and running with Open.

In 30-minute Zoom sessions each day, Open Café Express will cover topics including Open’s impact on student success, how to make renewable assignments, how to handle privacy issues, and the big question that faculty have—are Open Educational Resources any good? (Spoiler alert: yes, they are!)

And if you want to join a more casual conversation about Open Education, drop in each Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. with coffee and pastry in hand for our Open Café.

The full schedule of Open Café Express workshops is below. Click the link to register and receive Zoom info:

The Impact of OER on Student Success
Monday, April 27, 11:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
In this mini-workshop we examine the impact of Open Educational Resources upon student success. Day-one access to course materials, zero textbook costs, and innovative pedagogy that stimulates student engagement are all assets of OER that contribute towards student success. Join us to learn more.

Don’t throw away that assignment! A Very Brief Introduction to Open Pedagogy
Tuesday, April 28, 2:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
This workshop introduces open pedagogy: a high-impact practice that empowers students by providing them an opportunity to engage in information creation through the use of renewable assignments. Join us to learn about strategies for transforming your instruction and leave inspired to bring your passion to every class.

Tools to Evaluate the Quality of Free Textbooks & OER
Wednesday, April 29, 11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
How reliable or trustworthy can educational materials be when they’re free of charge? There must be a catch. Spoiler alert—there’s not! This session will give attendees the knowledge needed to evaluate and, where appropriate, begin incorporating OER into their courses.

Is Your Textbook Watching You? Understanding Access and Data Privacy in Digital-Only Course Materials
Thursday, April 30, 11:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Digital course materials and access codes can offer an enticing package, especially as instructors are making the transition to new ways of teaching. But these new tools bring a new set of questions about student privacy, for-profit incentives, and access across the digital divide. In this session we will explore the opportunities and challenges presented by digital-only course materials so you can make the best decision for your instruction and your students.

Discovering Open Textbooks
Friday, May 1, 12:30 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
This session is for those who are interested in OERs but aren’t sure where or how to find them. Tune in for a quick overview of open textbook repositories, how to search Google and YouTube for open content, and how to tell if a resource is open.

Making Your Online Course Even Better with OER
Monday, May 4, 10:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
With the sudden shift to online classes, instructors are sometimes faced with rethinking classroom learning materials. Come learn how OERs can sweeten the online experience for your pedagogy and your students. Best of all, hear about the OER classroom experience from biology instructor, Melissa Ramirez.