Bridget Raymundo, (she/he/zie) is one of seven student mentors in the Regional Leaders of Open Education (RLOE) Network program. Prior to that, she worked with the Open Education Resources initiative at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) as a Student Advocate and Representative Intern. She graduated in May 2022 from SLCC and is continuing her educational journey at the University of Utah in fall 2022. Education is a priority for her because it is key to being able to financially support her family and herself and to help with the advancements made in science and humanities.
Getting Started
I first heard about open education when, during the pandemic, I needed a job, and I was hired by the Open Education Resources Department at Salt Lake Community College. This was just a fantastic opportunity because in this position I was able to get to know a very nurturing community and learn how to work inside of this type of community and see what I want in my academic future. I’m really proud of the values that this community represents and the way that I was able to help with those goals.
I took a biology course that had adopted OER and was extremely relieved to be able to access the content in time to be on track in class and without having to worry about the expense that I could not cover by myself. This year [2022], I traveled for school a lot and since the class resources were readily available online I did not have issues keeping up with the class pace.
Getting Inspired by OER
The most important thing that I’ve learned about OER is the importance of the involvement of students– both in developing learning content and with new teaching methods. For example, my role was created to build relationships with other students in an organic effort to inform students about open educational resources. Students involved with open education can do research with professors and they can publish findings together. Educators can ask students for advice on how to tailor content to offer multiple learning methods. These are practices that I have not commonly seen, and they are important because OER makes learning/education feel engaging and worthwhile instead of a hoop to jump through on the way to starting a career. The things that are happening in the open education communities are really encouraging and inspiring. I’m glad I’ve gotten to know that side of OER as well.
I’ve spoken at conferences [for RLOE] as well as been a panelist to give the student perspective on these new teaching methods. I think that they are one of the most progressive organizations in terms of inclusivity. It was also helpful to get the perspective of educators since as a student I only see things from a student’s perspective. I want to be an educator in the future, and it’s really interesting to see the way that people are incorporating pieces of their past and their experiences in education and modernizing that to fit the needs of the students of today.
Inspiring Others
I often talk about my experiences and work with OER because it’s a great model for the type of progress that other communities should aim towards since it’s quick, it’s effective, and it’s inclusive. For students that I meet with, I always suggest that they take a look at what OER can offer them because they should be able to cut down on their college costs.
Future Plans
I will continue my schooling at the University of Utah to complete my pre-medical school requirements and earn a bachelor’s degree in Biology. As for how open education may play a role in my future -it’s not certain yet how I will incorporate my experiences with OER, but I really hope that I can find a way because it’s really important. The work the OER [community] does is really inspiring. It’s making a lot of progress and I just cannot wait to see where it goes.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.