My OER project
The OER project that I am working on is on the subject of international trade: it is a way of seeing why tariffs should be avoided. I'm just starting my project so please watch this space.
What prompted you to become involved in OER?
I was inspired by the idea of sharing: there's some very creative people out there, and it seems like a valuable thing to share the knowledge we have. On top of that, the knowledge that I am currently working on creating as an OER does not seem very well packaged by conventional (static) textbooks: it's easy to misunderstood, and important to know. Perfect for sharing!
What excites you most about your OER project?
The OER project that I am working on is on the subject of international trade: it is a way of seeing why tariffs should be avoided. It is complex knowledge for sure, but it has an elegant graphical representation. It makes perfect sense to put it into an OER because unlike in a live lecture, it can be reviewed and revisited. When I first learned this model of international trade in second, it inspired me to go on to specialize in the field for my undergrad and MA work.
A lot of instructors are hesitant about OER. Do you share those hesitations? How do you address them?
To be honest, I haven't heard the specifics of these views, although I can imagine they are out there. The information that I want to incorporate into my current OER project lies entirely in the public domain, however: the person who taught it to me has unfortunately just passed away, so if I don't preserve it, who will?
Can other instructors interested in OER reach out to you?
Yes, at bloemhof@uwaterloo.ca.
