Open Textbook/OER Week 2016

Context

The Southern University System of Louisiana declares the week of November 16, 2016 through November 22, 2016, Free/Open Textbook week. It is anticipated that this event will be part of the SUS culture to be celebrated every year during the Thanksgiving week. By way of the event, the SUS intends to raise awareness about Open Education Resources (OER) among his faculty/staff/stakeholders body and through higher education in Louisiana. The Louisiana State legislature and the Board of Regents are fostering state-wide discussions and workforce development opportunities afforded by Open Textbook and OER-based education.

Background

Open Textbook are college texts offered online under a license that allows free digital access. This is part of the Open Education Resources (OER) movement.  It is now accepted that one of the natural consequences of widespread OER adoption will be an increase in students’ educational access and success. With the average U.S. college student now spending $1,200 each year on textbooks and other course materials on top of tuition, it’s easy to see how those costs are hindering lower income students from attending college. A 2014 study by the Student Public Interest Research Group showed that a majority of college students actually base course selection decisions on textbook prices and avoid courses with expensive content. Other students simply don’t purchase required textbooks or show up on the first day of class without a textbook because the cheaper used version they found online is still at the online merchant’s warehouse. Amazingly, the cost of textbooks now sometimes exceeds the cost of tuition, particularly at the community colleges that have traditionally provided a lower-cost alternative.

The SUS System OER Efforts

The SUS in collaboration with the California State University (CSU) recently launched (see here: http://www.subr.edu/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/949) an Affordable Learning Solutions, the Southern University Open Library (SUOL) for (4) Education (Ed) [ suol4ed.org]. The SUS of Louisiana is the first LA Higher Education System and the first HBCU in America to deploy an OER Digital Library for Education. The Library Holdings are teaching, learning, and research resources that reside in the public domain or have been released under an intellectual property license that permits their free use and repurposing by others. OER include full courses, course materials, modules, Open textbooks, streaming videos, tests, software, and any other tools, materials, or techniques used to support access to knowledge.

Agenda of Events

DATE	TIME	EVENTS	LEARN MORE AND REGISTER
Oct. 28 Through Nov. 16	N.A.	Pres Release Announcing Open Textbook Week Announcement to Board of Supervisor Marketing SUS Campuses SU Open Library Campaign
Nov. 17	12 - 2 pm	Webinar Presentation: Leveraging the SUS Digital Library Holdings for Quality Online Course Design and College Affordability	Webinar 1 Registration Learn More and Register
Nov. 18	12 - 2 pm	Faculty/SGA Presidents Panel: This panel is hosted by System SGA Presidents and SU Faculty from SUBR.	Faculty/SGA Presidents Panel Learn More and Register
Nov. 19	10 am -12 pm	Webinar Presentation (Repeat): Leveraging the SUS Digital Library Holdings for Quality Online Course Design and College Affordability	Webinar 1 Registration Learn More and Register
Nov. 21	All-Day	Web and Social Media Campaign: (Video Channel/Current Practices – Sharing)	Social Media Campaign & Video Channel Visit SUS OpenText Channel
Nov. 22	All-Day	Web and Social Media Campaign (Video Channel/Current Practices – Sharing)	Social Media Campaign & Video Channel Visit SUS OpenText Channel

Sponsors

Office of the President Chancellor: Dr. Ray Belton	John B. Cade Library: Dean Emma Perry
Office of the Associate V. P. for IT and CIO: Dr. Gabriel Fagbeyiro	Office of the Executive Vice-President for Academic Affairs & Provost: Dr. M. Christopher Brown
Office of the Graduate and Professional Studies: Dean Damien D. Ejigiri	SUNO Office of the Chancellor & Academic Affairs: Chancellor Lisa Mims and V. C. David Adegboye
SUSLA Office of the Chancellor: Dr. Rodney Ellis	SULC Office of the Chancellor: Chancellor John Pierre
SU Ag Center Chancellor/Dean Office: Chancellor Bobby R. Phills	SUBR Office of Media & Communication: Mr. Henry Tillman

Document Prepared by Professor Moustapha Diack Chair SMED and Director of Online Learning and Faculty Development Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA

Open Education Week Archives

The SU Faculty Authored Video channel

Training Webinar: Leveraging the SUOL