We are thrilled to announce a new grant opportunity: The UW OER Fellows Grant Program. A total amount of $15,000 is available in grants of up to $5,000 to support the uptake of open educational resources (OER) at the University of Waterloo.
"Many conversations around open education (OE) focus on a Eurocentric framework of copyright and intellectual property rights that are sometimes in tension with Indigenous knowledge systems, and the goal of this volume is to centre Indigenous ways of knowing, culture, experiences, and worldviews within the work of open education pedagogy and advocacy work. The publication target date is summer 2023." Submission deadline: March 15.More information
The call for nominations for the OE Awards opens May 17, 2021, and closes July 16. The awards provide annual recognition for outstanding contributions in the Open Education Community. They are administered by an international non-profit group, Open Education Global. For further information about categories and timelines see Open Education Awards for Excellence.
By Ceili Minten
A Waterloo course on fostering student engagement in online courses is designed for easy use at international institutions.
Although research shows that students who feel connected to their instructor and to other students do better, there is a lack of quality educational resources to help instructors create and foster these connections.
By Ceili Minten
PSYCH 253 saves students $56,385 each term.
Previously, the 300 students who enrolled each term were required to buy a textbook listed at $187.95. Redesigning the course around open textbooks eliminates this cost.
Books are very expensive; not all students can afford to buy, or choose to buy, all textbooks. Not having a textbook reduces learning and lowers grades. As well as eliminating cost, using open textbooks also eliminates a barrier to success.
James Skidmore, a professor and member of UWaterloo’s Open Scholarship Committee, discusses OER on Beyond the Bulletin: Episode 36. He notes that free online textbooks and course materials tailored to instructor needs are only some of the benefits of open education.
Open Access Week 2020 runs from October 19 to 26, and this year's theme is Open with Purpose: Taking Action to Build Structural Equity and Inclusion.