By the Colorado Department of Higher Education
Colorado’s collective impact approach and stakeholder-driven model have created an opportunity for impacting students, educators, and institutions across the state. This blog covers the past, present, and future dimensions of the Open Educational Resources (OER) initiative.
The Past: OER-gins at the State Level
OER work at the State-level in Colorado was founded by policy, and implemented by educators. In 2017, Colorado’s Joint Budget Committee of the General Assembly sponsored legislation to explore OER in Colorado. The report created the initial OER Council, who worked closely with the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) to conduct a study assessing the interest and need for OER in Colorado. With support from policy leaders at WCET, the report was issued to the General Assembly, and consequently led to recommendations for the Centennial State to fund and continue awareness-building for OER; the rest is history!
In the wake of the 2018 legislation which was a result of the initial exploration, Colorado’s Department of Higher Education, in partnership with the OER Council, boldly pioneered a wide scale open education agenda. From its exploratory beginnings, the program has expanded into a network of over 50 grantees, hundreds of Open Education Ambassadors and statewide movement impacting over 40,000 enrolled students throughout Colorado. OER advocates in Colorado recognize the important role each layer of stakeholders played in this work, with foundational government support, educator and faculty execution, all resulting in benefits to students in the classroom and in their bank accounts. With over $4 million in student savings, and a 700% return on the state’s initial investment, the program’s success can be attributed to this collaborative model.
The Present: OER in the Pandemic & Grantee Excellence
In 2019, the appetite for OER continued to grow in Colorado, with grantees championing efforts across the state, growing the program to expand in scope and breadth. With a second cohort of grantees involved, funding reached nearly all eligible institutions of higher education, resulting in hundreds of courses addressed through the program.
With COVID hitting the campuses in Colorado in late winter 2020, the OER Council and CDHE took time to think how they might assert support for expanding access to OER for new remote learners. Because many OER are digitally accessible, the OER Council took a special interest in helping support institutions as they scaled online learning rapidly. In addition to compiling and disseminating practical open education-related resources and supporting online instruction at their home campuses, the OER Council quickly reacted the unforeseen circumstances presented by the pandemic and move to the annual conference online with over 1,250 registering promptly for the event.With the savings from the pivot to online, the Council supported the No Lapse in Learning initiative, expanding access to laptops and hotspots for students in the highest need. A true testament to rethinking.
In the fall, Governor Jared Polis named the winners of his Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Challenge, recognizing outstanding work in OER across the state. The Department of Higher Education also released its annual report, highlighting progress over the year, and outstanding grantees and projects. Several Open Education Ambassadors from Colorado and other OER champions joined the OpenEd 2020 Conference the following month, as the network continued build useful and thoughtful connections while navigating the pandemic. Again, this work underscores the importance of collaboration and support at all levels for OER.
The Future: What is Next for OER in Colorado?
So what’s next? With the 2018 bill sunsetting in 2021, OER champions in Colorado have been thinking about the next evolution of their work. Colorado’s next phase of open education and OER includes growing the effort in all aspects. Beginning with celebrations and workshops during OEWeek, Colorado is continuing to build connections among OER advocates across the state. At its March 2021 meeting, the Colorado Commission on Higher Education is scheduled to review and approve the finalists for the last round of CDHE OER grant funds. This will represent an additional $875,000 of investment in OER initiatives across the state. In 2021, the OER Council will also welcome three new representatives, including two private institution representatives. Advocates for OE in Colorado have also engaged with policy makers and key state government leaders to continue demonstrating the value of the funded program for both students and educators throughout the state. Advocacy efforts include recommendations for continuing the support for the initiative by extending the Council’s authority in statute, and considering other forms of support.
Advocates and leaders have also considered how to embed OER as a default practice, open pedagogy as a rising best practice, and open education as a strategy for achieving educational equity in the classroom. One thing is certain for OER in Colorado: the future work will continue to be a collaborative effort, with the OER Council as a leading voice in the decision-making and strategizing processes for higher education in Colorado.
To keep up with Colorado OER Council happenings, visit: http://masterplan.highered.colorado.gov/oer-in-colorado/ or Twitter @CoHigherEd.
Colorado OER Council 2021-22:
