Join in the celebration of Open Education Week on March 4-8, 2024. Learn how to make education more accessible and affordable for all students. What is Open Education? The Open Education movement starts with a fundamental tenet of education–that educators and students can and should freely share ideas and teaching materials–and pairs it with new technologies that aid the rapid dissemination of materials and ideas. Open Education aims to expand access to educational materials and create new opportunities for collaboration. You may have already encountered or implemented open education practices in your classes: Open Education includes things like free online textbooks, course materials that instructors can adapt for their students, and making visuals and other media free for educational use. Did you know that PCC offers classes with low or no cost textbooks? See How to Find Low/No Cost Materials Classes at PCC to learn about this option. Why open education matters This 2:46 video examines the high cost of College textbooks and how it affects the student experience at PCC. How can I participate in Open Ed Week events? Open education benefits everyone by providing access to knowledge and the opportunity to connect and collaborate with others. Learn more about PCC’s OER initiative and how it is benefiting students at the initiative website: pcc.edu/library/oer. Find online webinars and events at Open Education Week and fine OER events happening around the state at Open Oregon Educational Resources. Other events OSU Open Education Week: OSU will be hosting a variety of webinars and virtual watch parties. Check the link for more information and registration options. AI and OER: Redefining Education? The Community College Consortium for OER invites you to explore the intriguing synergy between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Open Educational Resources (OER). Can these two powerful forces not only coexist but flourish harmoniously? How might AI elevate innovation and amplify the accessibility of OER? What You Need to Know: Creating OER at Community Colleges This is one of a series of mini-workshops that highlight important open educational resources (OER) topics. From the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). PCC Instructors: New funding opportunities available! Immediate opportunities to participate in funded OER work in the 2023-2024 academic year Request print copies of OER texts for instructor review or classroom sets. Submit Print OER Interest Form Funding for conferences, webinars and other OER-related professional development. Look for opportunities you’re interested in (consider openoregon.org); begin planning; more communication about details and process will be forthcoming. Compensate part time colleagues to participate in SAC or department meetings focused on OER work. Submit SAC/department PT funding interest form (please try to limit responses to 1 per SAC/department/group). If you have already adopted OER in your courses, apply for a maintenance project grant (work to be completed prior to June 22, 2024). Submit OER maintenance grant interest form. OER maintenance is a priority for OERSC and there will be ongoing opportunities for such funding. Long term opportunities The OER Steering Committee (OERSC) will develop a call for larger proposals. Start collaborating and planning with your colleagues to create project ideas that will save students money, make curriculum materials more accessible and culturally relevant, and improve teaching and learning. The OERSC will seek input from stakeholders about how to most effectively allocate funds to support PCC’s Textbook Affordability plan. Watch for calls to participate in the planning process.