Open UNC Plan is to help promote Open Learning (free, open textbooks) at UNC. Motivation – High cost to students – Promotion of open and free content – Transition period of learning materials and environments Khan Academy, Coursera (Stanford), etc. Module based materials instead of whole courses.

aka as Open Educational Resources OER is a relatively new movement in education; educators and learners as well as learning institutions are driving its development. OER provides an alternative to the rising costs of education. For example, in some countries like South Africa, many educators and learners are tapping into OER as the only source for textbooks. OER provides an opportunity to try new ways of teaching and learning, many of which are more collaborative and participatory. Some educators are using OER as a way to get students more involved, using the OER process as a way to collaborate with them on content creation. This process brings students into a larger context of learning and sharing knowledge beyond the four walls of their classroom. Flexibility is a key concept in OER. Materials can be adapted for your specific needs. Because these materials can be searched by a wide variety of criteria, you can quickly find what you specifically need.

Just beginning planning at UNC (interested? Talk to me ). Idea is to model after successful ETD approach here (advocates from campus, Library, Graduate School, to form committee, with charge/support from Provost), and successful OED projects at other universities.

Other Efforts Amherst Story – Advocate (Marilyn Billings) a Umass, got Library ($5K) and Provost ($5K) to support – Signed up faculty; provided library assistance to convert. – Saved $60,000 first year. – Spent $20K 2 nd year, did more large entry level courses, saved $115K.

SILS We are way ahead of the curve, in thinking about and actually utilizing free and online materials.

Quick Stats (21 respondents—Thanks!)

Yes--how I use free resources

Courses only use free materials Currently use only FREE materials YES--- no induceme nts needed YES--- $500 stipend YES--- $1000 stipend YES--- $2000 stipend YES-- One semester teaching buyout NO

Thoughts and Comments Question is what does it take to change behavior? At Umass it was $500-$1000. Biggest Requirement is support from library to help identify resources, support faculty in transition. Ask “why we would not chose freely available resources”…For instance to have them purchase books we expect them to use throughout their career for which there are not equivalent free books.

Questions/Comments?