This past semester, we ran approximately 80 Communications classes with an OER PDF textbook.  Late in the semester, we surveyed the students about their use of and satisfaction with the textbook and the results were, well, lackluster.   The results seemed to show that a significant number of students didn’t know they were using an OER, they just thought it was an online book. They didn’t understand what an OER was and

what they could do with it, therefore they didn’t see much value. After talking to the course coordinator, I realized that the faculty had not been given any specific information about the OER nor were they asked to talk to the students about this new OER textbook and how it could be used.

Lesson Learned: We can’t just add this new type of learning material to a course and assume that the students and faculty understand the value and significance of the change.

I’d like to craft some standard messaging – text, video, infographic? – that can be included in all fall LMS course shells to make sure that students understand what they can do with this OER.   I’m wondering:

A) did anyone else have this occur in a course, where OER was introduced but the students (and maybe faculty too) didn’t recognize the significance of the change?

B) has anyone else crafted a message like this that they would be willing to share?

Cheers, Jessica

Jessica Norman, MLS eLearning Librarian, Reg Erhardt Library Liaison to: Construction, Manufacturing & Automation Specialist in: Distance Education, Open Educational Resources Book an appointment Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Stan Grad Centre, MC113 1301 – 16 Avenue NW, Calgary AB, T2M 0L4 (Office) 403.210.4073 jessica.norman@sait.ca Preferred pronoun: She/Hers/Her