The Future of OER Outreach

Abstract

Over the past two decades, Open Educational Resources (OER) have been utilized in all types of education across all disciplines. In addition to saving learners money, OER offers educators the flexibility to customize accessible instructional materials that are better aligned with an individual’s teaching style to best meet learning outcomes. Libraries are well-positioned to support affordable learning initiatives by leveraging institutional subscription resources as alternatives to traditional instructional materials, and as librarians, we have an opportunity to be proactive in encouraging the use and adoption of OER which can be challenging. In this interactive session, utilizing polling technology and small/large group brainstorming in multiple modalities, we will share ways to engage all stakeholders with OER and alternative affordable learning resources. Successful stakeholder engagement models will be discussed, and attendees will leave the session with concrete ideas for OER outreach at their own institutions and libraries.