Higher Education’sInexorable Path to

Openness

Cable Green

http://techplan.sbctc.edu

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“We will cultivate the culture and practice of using and contributing to open educational resources.”

But using open educational resources – and contributing to them – requires significant change in the culture of higher education.

It requires thinking about content as a common resource that raises all boats

when shared. It requires replacing our “not invented here” attitude with a “proudly

borrowed from there” orientation.

(p.11)

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WA Legislation

SSHB1946 – two big ideas – share technology and share content.

(v) Methods and open licensing options for effectively sharing digital content including but not limited to: Open courseware, open textbooks, open journals, and open learning objects…

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Student Advocacy

WA CTC 2009 Student Voice Academy (1) CUTTING TEXTBOOK COSTS

“The high cost of textbooks is a burden to students. Textbooks available in a printable, online format as well as in a traditional format would make curriculum easily accessible to students and instructors. Legislation that requires college instructional divisions to enhance available college online options for every required textbook whenever possible is requested.”

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Redesigning 81 Common Courses

Foundation + Legislature + SBCTC + Colleges Increase number of gatekeeper course sections available

so students can get courses when they need them Improve course completion rates Courses are digital – can be taught online, hybrid, web-

enhanced and/or faculty can re-mix Open CC Licensing – share with the world Free or very low cost textbooks / course packs

sections in 81 courses = $42M+ / year in textbook costs Develop a culture of sharing content in the WA CTCs

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Partnering with Consortia & ???

CCC OER List of open and free textbooks that may

be suitable for use in community college courses

WA CTCs redesign 80 courses Conversation with FL, CA, TX…

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Federal Movement on Open? Obama’s American Graduation Initiative

$50M / year for the creation of open courseware Senator Dick Durbin (IL)

$15M / year: Open Textbooks Undersecretary of Education Martha Kanter

@ Seattle District last week OER leader when Chancellor @ Foothill-De Anza Community

College District Federal Research Access Act of 2009

increasing public access to academic research that is funded by the federal government (free after 6 mos)

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Important Messages are: This is not about mandated curriculum.

All stakeholders need to be in the discussion.

Open resources provide more choice for faculty and lower costs (& increased access) for students.

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What can Trustees Do? Have conversations about Open

Educational Resources at your college.

Set goals for reducing student textbook costs.

Provide support for faculty who wish to engage OER initiatives.

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Blog: http://blog.oer.sbctc.edu

Slides @ http://www.slideshare.net/cgreen

Dr. Cable GreeneLearning Directorcgreen@sbctc.edu

(360) 704-4334