In a global pandemic, attention is fixated on how affordable learning solutions [Open Educational Resources (OER), and Open Educational Pedagogy (OEP)] are utilized by faculty to address the most important concerns: academic quality, affordability, and high degree completion rates for students (Colvard et al. (2018). While research on OER/OEP has demonstrated that performance gaps have narrowed, and failure/withdrawal rates have been reduced (Winitzky-Stephens et.al., 2017), more attention is needed to ensure that culturally relevant content and pedagogy (Ladson-Billings, 1995) as well as digital inclusion and equity (Sturm et.al, 2021) are integrals parts of OER/OEP adoption. The Remixing of OER Textbooks using an Equity Lens (ROTEL) invites students to contribute to their own learning in scholarly conversations by using their own voices and experiences. The challenge to educators is not to simply ensure that course content is free, but that OER/OEP is culturally relevant and digitally inclusive. We highlight the impact of OER/OEP on learner retention and success, with a focus on low-income and underrepresented minority student populations. The implications of limited digital access, stable Wi-Fi connections or connectivity, broadband availability, and digital literacy skills contribute to different levels digital distress when navigating learning on-line (Reid & Correa, 2021). For education to be affordable and accessible, inclusive teaching practices must include the remixing of OER/OEP with an equity lens. Institutional survey data is examined with a focus on improving how faculty seek, curate, expand, and promote OER/OEP adoption of free, culturally relevant, digitally inclusive affordable instructional materials and pedagogies.

Authors:
Elaine Correa, California State University, Bakersfield, United States
Matthias Sturm, Simon Fraser University, Canada

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Elaine Correa serves as the Special Assistant to the Provost. Professor and Chair of Human Development, and Child, Adolescent, and Family Studies. Research - social justice - OER/OPP - reducing equity gaps, & increasing retention to graduation.

Matthias Sturm is an adult education researcher working on publicly funded blended online learning projects in the United States and Canada. His doctoral research investigates digital access and equity issues within adult learner populations.
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/matthiassturm
https://www.sfu.ca/education-research-hub/research-in-focus/spotlight-series/student-research/matthias-sturm.html

See this presentation on the full schedule – Schedule

Bookmark