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Teaching & Learning Center: Open Education Practices

Use this guide as a central hub to all the Professional Development tracks CPTC has to offer

Open Education Practices


Open Education Practices:

Venture into the world of Open Education Resources, exploring the potentials and opportunities of free, accessible learning resources.


Track Descriptions:

Embark on a Quest of Open Knowledge

Track A

OER Starter Kit (15 hrs. | October-January)

  • An introductory course exploring the basics of Open Educational Resources, including their importance, use, and implications for modern education.
►Click here for the Week-by-Week breakdown (please note that the specific focus each week might change, but the overall focus of the course should stay the same)

Level 1: Introduction to Open Educational Resources - Overview of OER basics and its benefits in education.

Level 2: Considerations for Using or Creating OER - Insights into the critical factors to consider when using or creating OER.

Level 3: Copyright and Open Licensing - Understanding the legal aspects of using and sharing OER.

Level 4: Creative Commons Licenses - Exploring the different Creative Commons licenses and their applications in OER.

Level 5: Evaluating OER - Learning how to assess the quality and relevance of OER materials.

Level 6: Finding Open Content - Strategies for locating and sourcing open content effectively.

Level 7: Repositories and Search Tools - Guide to tools and repositories for finding and accessing OER materials.

Level 8: Ancillary Content - Overview of supplementary materials that enhance learning experiences in OER.

Level 9: OER in Print - Considerations for using printed OER materials and their integration into educational strategies.

Level 10: Open Pedagogy - Introduction to collaborative and flexible teaching strategies using OER.

Level 11: Considerations for Using Open Pedagogy - Insights into the effective implementation of open pedagogical approaches.

Level 12: Diversity and Inclusion - Understanding the role of OER in fostering diversity and inclusion in education.

Level 13: Assessing Course Outcomes - Methods for evaluating student performance and learning achievements in OER courses.

Level 14: Planning and Completing Your OER Project - Steps for successfully planning and executing an OER project.

Level 15: Accessibility and Usability - Principles for creating OER materials that are accessible and user-friendly.

OER Creation & Implementation (15 hrs. | February-March)

  • A follow-up to OER 101, this course deepens the understanding of OERs, focusing on their application and integration in diverse educational settings.
►Click here for the Week-by-Week breakdown (please note that the specific focus each week might change, but the overall focus of the course should stay the same)

Week 1: Understanding the Course Needs - Evaluating a course for OER implementation and determining resource requirements.

Week 2: Identifying Learner Needs - Understanding your audience and their specific needs for OER materials.

Week 3: Analyzing Existing Resources - Evaluating existing OER materials and identifying gaps.

Week 4: Outlining OER Course Structure - Applying instructional design principles to outline a plan for OER-based course material.

Week 5: Detailing OER Course Blueprint - Creating a detailed plan for OER content and sequence.

Week 6: Designing Assessment for OER - Planning formative and summative assessments using OER.

Week 7: Authoring OER Content - Techniques for creating OER materials tailored to the course and learner needs.

Week 8: Customizing Existing OER - Adapting and customizing existing OER materials to align with the course objectives.

Week 9: Reviewing and Refining OER - Engaging in peer review processes and refining OER materials based on feedback.

Week 10: Implementing OER in the Course - Practical strategies for introducing the created OER into the course.

Week 11: Exploring Open Pedagogies - Teaching strategies for maximizing learning outcomes using OER.

Week 12: Navigating Institutional Policies for OER - Understanding and aligning with institutional guidelines for OER use.

Week 13: Assessing the Impact of OER - Methods for measuring the effectiveness of the implemented OER on learning outcomes.

Week 14: Iterating on OER Design - Using feedback and assessment results to improve the OER materials and instructional strategies.

Week 15: Future Trends in OER - Discussing the potential future applications and impact of OER in education, including emerging trends and resources. 

Track B

OER Institute (15 hours)

  • An immersive initiation into the universe of Open Educational Resources, laying a solid foundation in OER theory and practice.
►Click here for the Week-by-Week breakdown (please note that the specific focus each week might change, but the overall focus of the course should stay the same)

Week 1: Embracing Student-Led Learning: An Exploration of Open Pedagogy - Discussing the role of open pedagogy in vocational education, focusing on student-led learning and case studies.

Week 2: Faculty Roundtable: The Opportunities and Challenges of OER in Professional/Technical Fields - A discussion among faculty members about their experiences and insights related to OER in their professional/technical fields.

Week 3: Locating and Evaluating OER for the Trades & More - Providing practical tips on how to find and evaluate OER for use in professional/technical fields.

Week 4: Understanding Creative Commons Licenses - A brief overview of OER and various types of Creative Commons licenses, discussing their benefits and implications.

Week 5: Creating OER with Pressbooks - A practical guide on publishing OER using Pressbooks, featuring a representative from Pressbooks.

Week 6: Building an Open Practice: Exploring the Possibilities of OER - A keynote presentation on why and how to adopt, adapt, and create OER, providing various examples and resources for educators.

Week 7: The Role of Librarians in OER - A discussion among librarians about the opportunities and challenges they face in relation to OER in professional/technical fields.

Week 8: Implementing OER Assignments Across Disciplines - Showcasing the use of OER assignments to foster student engagement.

Week 9: Transforming Student Work into OER - Strategies for transforming student assignments into OER, providing an overview of renewable assignments and discussing potential formative and summative assignments that can be converted into OER.

Week 10: Ensuring Accessibility in OER - An exploration of accessibility issues in the use, creation, and adaptation of OER, providing guidance for making OER resources accessible to all learners.

Week 11: OEP Implementation Plan #1

Week 12: OEP Implementation Plan #2

Week 13: OEP Implementation Plan #3

Week 14: OEP Implementation Plan #4 

Week 15: OEP Implementation Plan #5

Open Pedagogy (15 hours)

  • A transformative course that equips educators with the knowledge and skills to embrace, enact, and promote open educational practices for engaging, inclusive, and collaborative learning environments.
►Click here for the Week-by-Week breakdown (please note that the specific focus each week might change, but the overall focus of the course should stay the same)

Week 1: Introduction to Open Pedagogy - Defining open pedagogy and understanding its place in contemporary education.

Week 2: The Philosophy of Open - The philosophies underpinning open pedagogy, such as open knowledge, learning as a communal activity, and learner empowerment.

Week 3: Comparing Open Pedagogy and Traditional Pedagogy - Exploring the differences and synergies between traditional and open pedagogical approaches.

Week 4: Open Educational Practices (OEP) - Understanding the practical implementation of open pedagogy, including case studies of successful OEP.

Week 5: The Role of OER in Open Pedagogy - Understanding how OER supports open pedagogical practices.

Week 6: Open Licensing and Legal Aspects - Reviewing the legal aspects of open pedagogy, including Creative Commons licenses and copyright.

Week 7: Open Pedagogy and Technology - Examining the role of technology in supporting open pedagogy, including open source software and platforms.

Week 8: Open Pedagogy and Digital Literacy - Developing digital literacy skills to support open pedagogical practices.

Week 9: Openness and Inclusivity - Understanding how open pedagogy supports inclusive and diverse learning environments.

Week 10: Designing for Open Pedagogy - Practical strategies for designing a course or learning experience using open pedagogy.

Week 11: Evaluating and Selecting Open Resources - Criteria for evaluating and selecting open resources to support teaching and learning.

Week 12: Developing an Open Assessment - Creating assessments that align with open pedagogy, including the concept of renewable assignments.

Week 13: Overcoming Challenges in Open Pedagogy - Identifying potential barriers and solutions in implementing open pedagogy.

Week 14: The Impact of Open Pedagogy - Reviewing research and evidence on the impact of open pedagogy on student learning. 

Week 15: The Future of Open Pedagogy - Discussing emerging trends, potential future developments, and ongoing challenges in open pedagogy.


Intended Audience:

This track is particularly suited for educators who:

  • aim to eliminate textbook costs as a barrier to student learning.
  • want to ensure all students have access to learning materials from day one.
  • seek greater flexibility in tailoring their teaching materials.
  • are interested in creating and sharing their own high-quality OER content.

Faculty Lead:

Dion Alexander


The Guardians of the Ember Tome:

Ready to illuminate the world of education with OER? Join the Guardians of the Ember Tome and light the path to open learning!