Navigating the Future: The Sustainability of OER Initiatives by Amanda Larson

Turnover

2024-03-06 16:34:57 UTC

Staff turnover and loss of knowledge, experience, and inertia.

Capacity

2024-03-06 16:35:32 UTC

Despite knowing what I should be doing and how to do it, I don't have the time or staff to support the sustainability of our work.

Uncertain times

2024-03-06 16:36:21 UTC

With changing budgets, the possibility of inclusive access, and other potential changes within the university there are a lot of unknowns that make it hard to plan for the future

No built-in revision cycle

2024-03-06 16:36:50 UTC

There's an implicit assumption that you crank out an OER and then you're done. End result: lots of really old, outdated OER w/ broken links, inapplicable information, etc.

Faculty Turnover

2024-03-06 16:37:05 UTC

OER grant projects have leads who often blaze the trail and advocate for OER later! When they leave, it isn't easy for grant programs to step in and find someone else. It's possible that it's not even our role to do so... so faculty turnover becomes a huge issue.

Communication of Library Vision

2024-03-06 16:37:48 UTC

Program has grown wonderfully. We have hit a point where choices need to be made about growth, directions, capacity. Lots of options, but having problems getting direction from library administration about which directions they would like the program to take and what resources they want to make available/flip side saying 'we have no additional resources keep going as is' which is also okay, just can't get any of it said. :-)

Lack of authority

2024-03-06 16:37:55 UTC

While I can say "hey, you should update this," or "this link is broken," because I am staff, faculty think I should do work on their OER for them or that I don't have any say over what they do/how often.

Health Sciences

2024-03-06 16:37:57 UTC

We have a lot of programs in the Health Sciences, and there is interest from faculty in writing their own OERs; we just need funding and time.

Continued support from Faculty

2024-03-06 16:38:04 UTC

Some faculty abandoned (or never even attempted) to implement OER for ZTC classes, particularly now with all the inclusive access options.

Worried about possibility of CSU entering Automatic Textbook Billing contract

2024-03-06 16:38:08 UTC

Our CFO and higher admin are currently negotiating entering an automatic textbook billing contract with Follett, our bookstore. There's the concern that OER faculty will go back to using traditional, expensive publisher content. Concern that funding for development of OER will dwindle. Also concern for budget deficit with decreased enrollment.

Lack of long-term commitment

2024-03-06 16:38:24 UTC

My position is an interim that has been renewed twice and every year I have to push for funding for the grant program. It's difficult to make plans when you have no idea with if the service will still exist.

Competing Priorities

2024-03-06 16:38:30 UTC

When we are facing serious budget issues and other big priorities, it's hard to focus on open education efforts.

Statewide infrastructure (or lack thereof)

2024-03-06 16:38:30 UTC

Some OER creation work would be easier to support statewide, but this is not currently a possibility in certain states.

No one is ready

2024-03-06 16:38:33 UTC

It seems like no one wants to talk about that yet here.

Admin Priorities

2024-03-06 16:38:37 UTC

AI! Retention in a world with a demographic cliff! AI! AI! Also, AI! Affordability is losing its grasp in the dialogue.

Micromanagement or no management

2024-03-06 16:39:27 UTC

It seems to vary between zero administrative support, and then over-zealous administrative attention that still comes with no monetary support, but unrealistic expectations and deadlines for OER programs when admins don't understand what OER is about.

Resources

2024-03-06 16:40:08 UTC

There is a lack of consistent funding streams. Because we don't have stable funding, we have to be agile and constantly on our toes, thinking through the next steps for funding and changing our program structure when needed. We are now trying to diversify our funding, including grants, fees (small dollars), institutional funding, and fundraising.

No Money for Grants

2024-03-06 16:41:24 UTC

Despite one very successful grant cycle in 2019-2020 and enthusiastic lip service for OER from admin, I have been unable to secure additional funds for additional grant cycles. Most faculty like the idea of OER but don't feel they can delve into it without financial support.

Secured Position Title/Description

2024-03-06 16:46:31 UTC

I was able to advocate for my position to transition to support Open Ed as its main focus and remove my subject liaison duties from my plate, which has absolutely affected my ability to step up support, outreach, and programming for OER.

Sharing the Work

2024-03-06 16:46:45 UTC

We try to involve lots of folks across campus in our open education efforts. That way if we lose someone because of turnover, others have the knowledge and connection to the work so it can continue.

tiered program

2024-03-06 16:47:14 UTC

we added in tiers for our OER program for faculty to return and fill in gaps that they found when they were creating their zero cost course or to edit/update existing OER with licenses that allow that

Sustainability Grants

2024-03-06 16:47:21 UTC

Allows for revisions, ancillaries, new editions as faculty see fit. It's not as much as the bigger grants, which can be an issue because this is intense work.

Streamlining/Prioritizing

2024-03-06 16:47:30 UTC

I'm trying to focus on what is most important for my campus/students (Course Reserves & eBooks).

Teamwork

2024-03-06 16:47:34 UTC

Most institutions have resources that may be tangential to the OER program but can help support it: student government, accessibility resource centers, liaisons, IT/systems, etc.

Built workflow for new editions

2024-03-06 16:47:40 UTC

We have a regular process in our Press now for removing authors from Pressbooks and asking them to work with us to create new editions, which both keeps older texts consistent and helps us make it clearer when updates are made and making those edits more intentional.

Research Grants

2024-03-06 16:48:01 UTC

We're going nowhere if we don't evaluate how OER is working in the classroom. We're funding research grants that our often very experienced OER folks are taking on to explore the bigger questions.

Definition/intentionality around goal setting

2024-03-06 16:48:16 UTC

We use a definition of sustainability as 'a program's ability to meet its goals' (don't remember the citation, those are not my words though). That drives us to be intentional about what goals we set, ensure they are achievable, measurable, but also include stretch goals.

Currently pitching two new positions!

2024-03-06 16:48:34 UTC

Not in place yet, but I am working with my department hear to pitch two new OE-focused positions which will be a game changer, if it goes through.

Hired Help

2024-03-06 16:49:15 UTC

As an OER Librarian I was inititally alone but was recently able to hire a direct report to help. This will help with outreach but will also help look at what needs to be updated with old initiatives and what new initiatives we could realistically take on.

OER Committee

2024-03-06 16:50:41 UTC

Created an official OER committee on campus that met once a month and tried to include someone from every dept. & created goals for the next x amount of years.

More focus on our conference

2024-03-06 16:54:32 UTC

Each year we try to work toward adding more and more pizzazz to our OER conference!

Assessment

2024-03-06 16:54:46 UTC

In 2022 we completed a full program review for our OER program. This consisted of the standard academic program review which includes a self-study, external review and action plan. This helped us better elevate our program's visibility at our institution and helped us highlight our alignment with the intuition's strategic goals. When we ask for resources during the budget cycle we can now have documentation to back us up in our ask. It's been successfully in helping us specifically name and dedicate OER positions. We are also now redrafting our IP and copyright policy to include OER within it. I don't believe any of this would have happened without our program review.

Making a Vision for our Program

2024-03-06 16:55:49 UTC

Like Assessment, we've had a lot of success getting more buy-in by writing a vision and mission for our OER program

Slower but better

2024-03-06 16:56:56 UTC

We have to be really careful when talking about our program with admin, because it looks like we're doing less, but it's much more sustainable now and I am happier (which I think is a win)

So many . . . opportunities . . . :-)

2024-03-06 16:58:21 UTC

There is a lot to celebrate about how our folks have pulled together on this here. Doing a five year review, trying to determine next steps (or continue current steps). But also some anxiety, opportunities to practice mindfulness, definitely learning to celebrate every small step and embrace projects which turn out differently than anticipated as opportunities to re-vision and/or learn.

Better, stronger publications

2024-03-06 16:58:37 UTC

Changes to our publishing process have helped us make better textbooks and look more professional to our authors, which in turn makes the OER program itself look better and get a better reputation on campus

Success--Yes! Lessons... also yes.

2024-03-06 16:59:06 UTC

We've gotten a lot of positive feedback on our conference, which gains notoriety each consecutive year. The issue we've noticed with this is that our campus LOVES using this as a selling point, but is hesitant to help execute it, fund it, or manage it, but is VERY happy to tell us HOW to operate it. We've lost a bit of the autonomy in that tradeoff, and it's been difficult to see the positive changes on our own campus, because we've not necessarily increased OER usage, but at least awareness has increased a bit.

Deeper Work

2024-03-06 16:59:20 UTC

We started out just getting the word out and hoping for the best with our grants. Now there's a lot more why and what's next. It's odd that running an OER program might involve learning data science and programming, or law, or design, but here we are.

Less chasing faculty and going deeper

2024-03-06 17:01:21 UTC

Still doing general outreach and workshops but not chasing faculty as much since we are starting to grow a strong group of champions. This has helped me focus on what works or doesn't for our program. It's also given me time to think about what issues still exist in Open Ed and how our institution can help to address those issues.

Looking for OER during course redesign

2024-03-06 17:03:09 UTC

With our move from Blackboard Learn Original LMS to Ultra courses, the IDs are looking at how to improve the existing courses. Some faculty have outdated course materials. There is also more OER being published all the time. It doesn't hurt to check for new OER and suggest use.

Sleep!

2024-03-06 17:03:32 UTC

I didn't get much back yet in terms of capacity to do more, but I can sleep soundly on the weekends now.

Finding partnerships that grow capacity AND interest

2024-03-06 17:05:01 UTC

We're looking at a faculty learning community right now that would be managed in partnership with our IDs; since I have their support, we can build awareness/interest on campus without taking over my day-to-day work

Learn, Learn, Learn

2024-03-06 17:05:43 UTC

The future of open education is the future of education. We've gotta keep up, all the while ignoring buzzword-laden vendor detour dreck. If that makes any sense... theoretical foundations behind what's next.

In a perfect world...

2024-03-06 17:06:17 UTC

I would love to devote 100% of my time to instructional design (not a part of my current job at all right now), OER, research, and higher level operations. In reality, we really need at least one more full time person just to help with day to day tasks, just to give us more time to focus on keeping up with trends in OER, let alone get ahead of the game a bit. With two more full time people (current department has two full time staff, and two temporary staff, plus seven very part time student staff), I think we could do a lot more and really make some positive headway. We lack the budget for that, and realistically might get one person. We hope to be able to fund at least one platform in the next year, but ideally we'd like to be able to give faculty more options than just one.

Still trying to figure that out

2024-03-06 17:11:13 UTC

I have about 1/3 of my time I can devote to OER, and am trying to figure out how I can expand

Writing a pitch for new staffing

2024-03-06 17:12:38 UTC

We did an environmental scan of other OER programs and are using that as a means to pitch new support on campus, showcasing best practices, peers doing more than us, and where we want to develop further. By making this a quick 2-page pitch, we're more likely to get our "ask" answered

Not an answer - I think a lot of the previous answers to other questions are good for this one!

2024-03-06 17:14:30 UTC

Change perceptions about the "need" for incentives for OER

2024-03-06 17:14:54 UTC

One big thing we've encountered is this "need" for incentivizing faculty to write, adopt or adapt OER for their classes. Some of the tasks involved in course reevaluation are just part of faculty job descriptions, so perhaps need not necessarily be incentivized. What if we change the conversation to incentivizing training for technologists to be trained in instructional design, so those designers could assist faculty in revising courses and helping with those adoptions to make it happen? It not only upskills an entirely different group of people, but also saves time for faculty, and still gets OER into classrooms without incurring tons of extra cost that isn't sustainable in the long run without apply for grant after grant after grant.

Prepublication/peer review

cr097 — 2024-03-06 17:15:46 UTC

I'm working on a pre-publication/peer review process so that faculty can do both OER and move forward in P&T. (We're hearing most disciplines won't count an OER as scholarly publishing)

shifting focus to student success

2024-03-06 17:16:56 UTC

we are trying to keep OER on the table even as the campus debates inclusive access by talking about student success and other parts of our strategic plan that OER can help with beyond affordability

National and International Communications and Benchmarking

2024-03-06 17:17:07 UTC

We can't make open a priority for executives on our own. Check out tomorrow's NCOER meeting on a national open education strategy! Check out DOERS in North America, UNESCO / OE Global worldwide.

Integrate OER into current processes.

2024-03-06 17:17:18 UTC

Currently discussing how we might integrate OER promotion/development/maintenance into current and ongoing course development processes/funding. Making OER part of our mainstream development processes versus an add-on.

Find a way to have funding and time

2024-03-06 17:18:20 UTC

Finding a way for instructors/professors to have lighter loads so they can develop OER materials without overworking themselves. It is an issue of funding AND time, because it is not sustainable to expect people to teach +4 classes and develop OER effectively.

OER Tools

alarsonoer — 2024-03-07 19:36:47 UTC

Sustainability Planning Resource

alarsonoer — 2024-03-07 19:38:07 UTC

https://oer.suny.edu/oer-sustainability/

The Impact of Open Educational Resources on Various Student Success Metrics

alarsonoer — 2024-03-07 19:38:45 UTC

https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1184998

Double-blind Peer Review Example

alarsonoer — 2024-03-07 19:39:50 UTC

https://ung.edu/university-press/affordable-learning-georgia-partnership.php