2024 Open Education Conference

Open Education work is typically categorized in one of two ways: either it's not explicitly outlined in your job description, yet you recognize its relevance across all roles, or it constitutes the primary focus of your job, necessitating communication with leaders, boards, and community partners to ensure its value and sustainability. In either case, how do you convey how open education functions within your position? Join us for a facilitated discussion where the presenters will share their experiences integrating open education effectively within their roles. Learn strategies for marketing open education to your department, organization, or community, and discover how to build connections that highlight its value in your specific context. These connections serve as a form of self- advocacy and self care, fostering understanding and community engagement with open education.

Attendees of this session will be able to:

• Discuss approaches to explicitly make connections between the value of open education and your role for relevant parties
• Identify strategies to advocate for your open education work
• Reflect on your current workload and consider where open education fits most effectively with your role

Historically, the development of open learning resources has been based on creating a library of static open learning resources (SOLR) that can be discovered, adapted and applied in a learning environment. This approach has suffered from numerous well-documented weaknesses: out-of-date content, obsolete technology, discoverability, context-sensitivity, localization and accessibility, up-front cost and storage overhead, and a general failure to adapt and reuse the learning materials. With the recent development of broadly effective generative artificial intelligence (GAI) this has led some to suggest that open learning resources can and should be developed at the time and point of need. The GAI could address each of the issues with SOLR by addressing it based on the learning need at the time of that need, as described by the specific prompt and the context of application. This presentation will provide an overview of the technology required to support such an approach.

Attendees of this session will be able to:

• Identify weaknesses in static open learning resources (SOLR)
• Create dynamic open learning resources using GAI
• Identify and address issues related to the use of GAI in open learning

How can educators use their power in pedagogically just and effective ways? How does this relate to the aims and history of pedagogy and educational institutions? Epistemic injustice refers to someone being wronged specifically in their capacity as a knower, often in ways that correspond to broader power structures within their social context (Miranda Fricker, 2007). I argue that our inherited pedagogical norms, epitomized in Freire's discussion of the "banking method" (1970), constitute epistemic injustice in the form of epistemic dispossession. This works by selectively withholding the material, cognitive, existential, cultural, historical, and social resources required for effective learning. In a system that hopes to use institutions of learning to manufacture docility under oppression, I believe that Open Educational Practices offer a well of resources for epistemically reparative teaching. My conclusion will discuss some of the strategies I have used to "open" my teaching.

Attendees of this session will be able to:

• Define and explain epistemic injustice and epistemic justice
• Explain the connection between epistemic justice, pedagogy, and Open Educational Practices
• Relate epistemically just pedagogy and Open Educational Practices to figures in the critical/liberation pedagogy movement, such as Paolo Freire and bell hooks
• Conceptualize more "open" course design and classroom facilitation techniques
• Design and implement a renewable assignment

In this session we will consider the unique ways in which OER can support and drive workforce credentialing programs. We will discuss OER’s adaptability and flexibility in relation to localization and customization, and also showcase the ways in which OER can be continuously improved and updated to meet changing learner and industry needs. We will focus on two exemplar categories of OER in workforce programs: (1) Durable, multi-industry skills that support student achievement; (2) industry-specific competencies required for certification and/or degrees in technical and similar fields. Finally, we will discuss practical ways that institutions, governments, industry entities, and OER producers can collaborate to create relevant and equity-centered programs accessible to all.

Attendees of this session will be able to:

• Develop knowledge related to microcredentials and workforce development.
• Align the 5Rs and other OER characteristics with microcredential and workforce needs.
• Evaluate workforce development opportunities (e.g. programs or grants) to determine if an OER solution or proposal will meet the intended outcomes.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for industry-institutional collaboration.
• Plan and implement productive project structures and approaches to incorporate OER into workforce development programs.

* As the shift to subscription models accelerates and as platforms, tools, and content are tied together, how do we prevent open educational resources from being excluded? * How can institutions committed to equity and open education offer tools, platforms and models from within the open community to compete with closed models? * What is the positive agenda for members in the open educational community in the context of the growth and adoption of big tech artificial intelligence tools? What policies and implementation choices matter to enable openness and advocate for an equitable system of access to knowledge?

Attendees of this session will be able to:

• Understand what policy and implementation choices are available to mitigate the impact of subscription models and to support existing OER programs
• What are the opportunities for an barriers to the creation of tools, including specific purpose AI tools within the open community to provide for an alternative to commercial tools.
• What are the policies and advocacy opportunities for members of the open community to support more equitable access to knowledge from their specific professional communities within education, research and librarianship?

The Salish Sea Curriculum Repository is a collaboration among educators at Whatcom Community College, Western Washington University, and other bioregional institutions to make available materials for use in developing and teaching lessons and courses about the Salish Sea. The repository includes original OER as well as an index of curated resources. Built in WCC’s Omeka S installation, the repository uses Dublin Core metadata standards, linked data, and submitter-generated metadata to support discoverability of learning objects. Through a short-term work opportunity lasting 35-40 hours total, three students have contributed to improving resource discovery within the repository. Hear from all three students about the work of and lessons from learning to write concise, keyword-rich, plain-language resource summaries and cleaning up item metadata to facilitate curriculum-sharing among an interdisciplinary, cross-institutional faculty group engaged in place- and land-based teaching.

Attendees of this session will be able to:

• Write a strong resource description for an interdisciplinary user group following a student-created human algorithm
• Structure transformative work/learning opportunities for students
• Collaborate with students and librarians on using Omeka S as an open source tool for resource discovery
• Understand the value of the Salish Sea Curriculum Repository and land- and place-based learning more generally

E-portfolios serve as important tools for students, aiding reflection and presenting samples of work to potential employers and graduate schools. However, ensuring accessibility for students with varying digital literacy levels remains a challenge. Join Terry from Trent University and Amber from Boise State University as they discuss this pressing issue. Drawing from Terry's project, “An e-Book of One’s Own: My Learning Journey,” and its influence on Amber's creation of “An ePortfolio Template for Language Majors,” we'll explore the development of openly licensed portfolio templates using tools like Pressbooks. Together, we’ll reflect on our experiences and discuss how these templates empower students from every skill level, working to ensure all students feel confident and comfortable showcasing and reflecting on their work with ease and inclusivity.

Attendees of this session will be able to:

• Identify challenges related to accessibility for students with a wide range of digital literacy levels.
• Explain the concept of openly licensed portfolio templates and their potential benefits for student engagement.
• Explore practical strategies for developing and implementing openly licensed portfolio templates using tools like Pressbooks.
• Apply insights gained from the session to promote inclusivity and empower students of all skill levels in showcasing and reflecting on their work.

The presenters have created a Pressbooks-based research skills course called Strategies for Conducting Literary Research. This course was awarded an MLA-EBSCO Collaboration Prize for Information Literacy. In this presentation, the creators discuss how they incorporate generative learning strategies such as motivational design and concept mapping to support the scaffolding of skills throughout the course. The presenters explore how the scalable and adaptable nature of OERs will allow students to participate in the development of the course in real time and chart their progress by implementing the active learning techniques discussed here.

Attendees of this session will be able to:

• Use OER to support the development of iterative processes for student revision.
• Adapt OER toward research in the humanities.
• Build scaffolded assignments in an OER.
• Use motivational design to keep students on track.
• Include students as collaborators in building an OER.

In this presentation, we will explore the potential of generative AI in creating interactive and culturally responsive Open Educational Resources (OER). Drawing from the experience of developing the "Culturally Responsive Computing" textbook through the ROTEL grant, which teaches computer science and information technology through a cultural lens, we will discuss strategies for building traditional OER content and interactive tools using generative AI. Attendees will gain insights into the current possibilities of AI-assisted OER development and witness demonstrations of interactive AI-powered activities designed to support the textbook. Join us to discover how generative AI can revolutionize the creation and delivery of engaging, inclusive, and culturally relevant educational materials.

Attendees of this session will be able to:

• Identify the potential applications of generative AI in creating interactive and culturally responsive OER content.
• Understand strategies for building traditional OER content using generative AI.
• Recognize the importance of incorporating cultural perspectives in computer science and information technology education.
• Explore interactive AI-powered tools and activities that support engaging and inclusive learning experiences.

The BCcampus OER Equity Rubric is a tool to help identify opportunities to adapt and improve the equity of an open educational resource (OER). It is organized around five areas of focus: access and usability, student engagement, language, representation, and ways of knowing and sources of authority. It breaks down each area of focus into a set of criteria that can be used to evaluate an OER. This rubric is a remix of the following: BCcampus open textbook review questions, Improving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Course Materials by OpenStax, BranchED Equity Rubric for OER Evaluation, and Framework for Reviewing Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility in Open Educational Resources by University of Southern Queensland; content has been edited, reformatted, and combined to create something that works for a BCcampus context and adapting open textbooks.

Attendees of this session will be able to:

• Identify the concrete ways that "equity" can show up in an OER.
• Use the rubric in evaluating their own OER or OER created by others.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has potential to make the work of creating OER a lot less labour-intensive. From generating images or multiple-choice questions to translating OER into local languages, the possibilities are endless. However, generative AI also has significant flaws and ethical issues that need to be considered carefully before deciding to use generative AI in OER projects. This includes things like bias and closed training data, copyright violations and uncertainties, and environmental impacts. This poster provides OER creators with a list of key things to keep in mind when deciding if and how they want to use generative AI in their OER projects. The poster lists ideas of how generative AI could contribute, considerations and risks to keep in mind, and guidelines and recommendations for those who decide to move forward.

Attendees of this session will be able to:

• List ways that generative AI could be used when creating or adapting OER.
• Understand the limitations, flaws, and harms that are found with generative AI.
• Critically reflect on why you might or might not use generative AI for specific purposes.
• Identify practices to put in place to ensure your use of generative AI in an OER is transparent and results in accurate and equitable content.

The introduction and continued evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has brought numerous advantages and challenges. In addition to teaching students to use AI tools responsibly, it is imperative that students who can pay for enhanced AI products do not gain an advantage over students who cannot afford to purchase subscriptions. The Google AI Platform offers free tools, but there is a monthly limit. ChatGPT is free, but a subscription is also available for ChatGPT Plus that gives access to the GPT-4 platform and promotes itself as providing more accurate responses. The free version of Grammarly is limited to basic grammar, punctuation, and spell checking while the Premium version offers a writing assistant. This poster session will provide lessons learned about how to structure writing assignments and digital projects on the college level that are limited to free AI tools. The session will also give examples of how to check to see what tools were used.

Attendees of this session will be able to:

• Show students how to use AI responsibly.
• Develop writing assignments and digital projects that restrict the use of AI to tools that are free.
• Detect use of AI, including subscription products.