Short Description:
There are many open educational resources (OER) available today. But how do you select resources that are high-quality and just? Evaluating OER for Social Justice is a result of the thinking and work that was done during an undergraduate honors seminar on Open Education and Social Justice. Our aim is to support instructors and students in evaluating OER for their use through the principles of social justice, including redistributive justice, recognitive justice, and representational justice. As part of the resource, we include an OER 101 brochure providing background on essential concepts, an OER Evaluation Rubric that centers on Social Justice, examples of OER reviews completed using the rubric, and a tutorial for those using the rubric to guide their selection of OER.

Long Description:
There are many open educational resources (OER) available today. But how do you select resources that are high-quality and just? Evaluating OER for Social Justice is a result of the thinking and work that was done during an undergraduate honors seminar on Open Education and Social Justice. Our aim is to support instructors and students in evaluating OER for their use through the principles of social justice, including redistributive justice, recognitive justice, and representational justice. As part of the resource, we include an OER 101 brochure providing background on essential concepts, an OER Evaluation Rubric that centers on Social Justice, examples of OER reviews completed using the rubric, and a tutorial for those using the rubric to guide their selection of OER.

Word Count: 15758

(Note: This resource's metadata has been created automatically by reformatting and/or combining the information that the author initially provided as part of a bulk import process.)

A Practical Resource for Educators and Instructional Designers

Short Description:
Everyday Instructional Design works through the online course or module development process, exploring the rationale and pragmatics of all of the steps involved with determining what needs to be developed, creating design plans, developing a prototype, pilot testing with a “live” student audience, reflecting on feedback, and determining how we can tweak our designs to create the best possible online teaching and learning experience.

Long Description:
Everday Instructional Design: A Practical Resource for Educators and Instructional Designers provides useful background understanding of the principles and processes that guide the design, development, testing, and refinement of online course modules. This book has been developed based on a series of instructional design and educational technology courses taught by Rob Power at different Canadian universities, and follows a project-based learning experience that walks participants through the first few weeks of an instructional design and development project. These steps typically span the first six to eight weeks of designing and developing online courses as a contract instructional designer or as an in-house ID specialist. Everyday Instructional Design works through this process, exploring the rationale and pragmatics of all of the steps involved with determining what needs to be developed, creating our initial design plans, developing a prototype of a selected portion of the larger ID project, collaborating with other instructional designers to get “expert feedback” on our works-in-progress, pilot testing our prototypes with a “live” student audience, reflecting on the expert and student feedback we receive, and determining how we can tweak our prototype designs before proceeding with the rest of the course development project.

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Word Count: 39892

ISBN: 978-1-9993825-8-2

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Facilitating Learning Online

Short Description:
The FLO Facilitation Guide is a companion resource for the five facilitating learning online courses. It is designed to help individuals prepare and facilitate these courses as well as any courses that emphasize facilitating in a community of learners and supporting collaboration and reflective practice.

Long Description:
The FLO Facilitation Guide is a companion resource for the five facilitating learning online courses. It is designed to help individuals prepare and facilitate these courses as well as any courses that emphasize facilitating in a community of learners and supporting collaboration and reflective practice. The guide was written by experienced FLO facilitators and learning designers, and includes exemplary contributions to the courses, instructions, ideas, materials, and facilitation tips and strategies. It is presented with a consistent structure for each course, making it easy to zone in on exactly what is relevant.

Word Count: 40781

ISBN: 978-1-77420-036-0

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Embedding Indigenous pedagogy into the online space

Long Description:
This project is a collection of resources for educators and instructors within the K-12 and post-secondary systems to support the adoption of Indigenous pedagogies in online learning environments. The 5R’s of Indigenous pedagogy are relationship, respect, relevance, responsibility, and reciprocity. These 5R’s serve as important reminders for course designers in K-12 and post-secondary educators and benefit all learners. Our resources and reflections address how the 5R’s of Indigenous education and research can be used as best practice to enrich online teaching platforms and remote learning. The positive effect of reciprocal communication, relationship building, and embracing Indigenous knowledge pedagogies in online learning environments extends out into the community and beyond.

Word Count: 13002

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Short Description:
This starter kit has been created to provide instructors with an introduction to the use and creation of open educational resources (OER). The text is broken into six sections: What is OER?, Copyright & Licensing, Finding OER, Using OER at SAIT, Teaching with OER, and Creating OER. Although some chapters contain more advanced content, the starter kit is primarily intended for users who are entirely new to Open Education.

Long Description:
This starter kit has been created to provide instructors with an introduction to the use and creation of open educational resources (OER). The text is broken into six sections: What is OER?, Copyright & Licensing, Finding OER, Using OER at SAIT, Teaching with OER, and Creating OER. Each chapter is accompanied with learning objectives and most chapters feature interactive elements and opportunities for readers to engage with the text. Although some chapters contain more advanced content, the starter kit is primarily intended for users who are entirely new to Open Education.

Hosted by:

Word Count: 23688

ISBN: 978-1-55195-490-5

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Research shows that maintaining high retention rates in distance learning education is a challenge. There are various tools and resources available web-based tools that can help identify at-risk students and measure and boost opportunities for growth and success. Students can take advantage of these resources to prepare ahead of time to ensure a "SMART" start and successful completion of their online course work.

First we will review SmarterMeasure to identify attributes, skills and knowledge and assess competencies necessary for successful distance learning and help identify potential resources to help maximize efficiency in potentially deficient areas.

Then we will review SMARThinking that helps educational institutions offer students outstanding academic support through a network of professionally certified educators focused on increasing student achievement and enhance learning.

A guide for University of Iowa OpenHawks recipients

Short Description:
This guide is intended to acquaint recipients of University of Iowa Libraries' OpenHawks OER grants with the information they need to get started on their projects.

Long Description:
This guide is primarily intended for recipients of the University of Iowa Libraries’ OpenHawks OER grants. It includes information from openly licensed sources on topics such as copyright, licensing, OER definitions, and open pedagogy.

Word Count: 16582

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Digitally accessible, visually appealing courses

Short Description:
This book was written to help educators and instructional designers to design visually appealing courses (and curricular materials) that are also digitally accessible. I argue that applying graphic design principles reduces barriers, lowers cognitive load, and improves learning. I created the Graphic Design E-Learning Checklist to help instructional designers improve the look and feel of their courses while designing for inclusivity at the forefront.

Long Description:
In Graphic Design for Course Creators you will read about how to use and apply graphic design theory to improve the look, feel, and usability of your courses. You will also learn how to improve the digital accessibility of your courses while making strong design choices backed by learning science. For example, by learning the differences between images that aid in instruction and those considered seductive details, you will improve the learning experience of your students. Additionally, tips on selecting and combining colors will help you communicate appropriately while learning how to use color contrast will ensure more learners can access the materials created. Graphic Design for Course Creators contains checklists and questions to review for every chapter so that you can confidently make design choices your educational stakeholders will love.

Word Count: 56063

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eLearning at Brock

Word Count: 8317

Included H5P activities: 26

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eLearning at Brock

Word Count: 8317

Included H5P activities: 26

(Note: This resource's metadata has been created automatically by reformatting and/or combining the information that the author initially provided as part of a bulk import process.)

Short Description:
This starter kit has been created to provide instructors with an introduction to the use and creation of open educational resources (OER). The text is broken into five sections: Getting Started, Copyright, Finding OER, Teaching with OER, and Creating OER. Although some chapters contain more advanced content, the starter kit is primarily intended for users who are entirely new to Open Education. [Version 1.1. Revised September 5th, 2019.]

Long Description:
This starter kit has been created to provide instructors with an introduction to the use and creation of open educational resources (OER). The text is broken into five sections: Getting Started, Copyright, Finding OER, Teaching with OER, and Creating OER. Each chapter is accompanied with learning objectives and most chapters feature interactive elements and opportunities for readers to engage with the text. Although some chapters contain more advanced content, the starter kit is primarily intended for users who are entirely new to Open Education.

Word Count: 18894

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Preliminary Research Exhibition

Short Description:
This exhibition presents the preliminary major research project ideas of OCAD University’s Inclusive Design 2019/2021 cohort. These projects explore a spectrum of themes, ranging from healthcare, to sensory experiences, to storytelling and services for cultural communities, to neurodiversity, and finally, to design practices and processes themselves.

Word Count: 28442

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What they are and how to use them

Short Description:
A course for those unfamiliar with how open works that provides all the essential information that you need to know to get started working with open educational resources.

Word Count: 8496

Included H5P activities: 12

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Short Description:
Student participation in syllabus development; re-envisioning pedagogical practices that move beyond traditional lectures; learning from past crises to improve communication, equity, and inclusion in the classroom; promoting student reflection through writing tasks; and using simulations to shift students' attitudes toward poverty.

Long Description:
The Spring 2023 issue presents research and guidance on topics related to student self-reflection, participatory learning, and returning to the in-person learning following the COVID-19 pandemic. The first article takes a critical approach to understanding pedagogy with adult learners by involving students in the creation of course syllabi as a way to challenge ideologies related the roles of instructor and students. The second article blends research and narrative to explore how the experiences of the COVID-19 shift to online learning can be translated to in-person learning environments to redefine what participation looks like and to advance faculty collaboration. The third article continues to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic can lead to opportunities for improved course development and delivery as faculty and students return to the classroom, particularly in the areas of communication, equity, and inclusion. The fourth article presents a selection of prompts used to promote student learning through written reflection tasks and describes how such tasks can be applied to various teaching contexts. The fifth article describes the use of a digital poverty simulation with business students and examines how the activity affected the students’ attitudes toward poverty.

Word Count: 37782

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A Practical Guide to OER Implementation

Short Description:
The Journey to Open (First Edition) is a resource cataloging the development and implementation of Fanshawe College’s Open Educational Resource initiative. This resource charts the journey to establish an OER Design Studio to support college-focused OER design and delivery for teaching and learning. This guide contains resources on how to establish a design studio, an incubator process, a design process, a grant program, and the adoption process for OER. In addition, a team reflective practice, an OER showcase, and specific lessons for OER implementation are included. As with many OERs, this guide is a work in progress.

Long Description:
The Journey to Open (First Edition) is a resource cataloging the development and implementation of Fanshawe College’s Open Educational Resource initiative. This resource charts the journey to establish an OER Design Studio to support college-focused OER design and delivery for teaching and learning. This guide contains resources on how to establish a design studio, an incubator process, a design process, a grant program, and the adoption process for OER. In addition, a team reflective practice, an OER showcase, and specific lessons for OER implementation are included. As with many OERs, this guide is a work in progress.

Word Count: 29611

(Note: This resource's metadata has been created automatically by reformatting and/or combining the information that the author initially provided as part of a bulk import process.)

Connecting digital literacies to online learning

Short Description:
An in-depth review of digital literacies, successful online learning, and effective course design.

Long Description:
This book applies the JISC digital literacy framework to the Athabasca University MOOC, Learning to Learn Online. The book explores the digital literacies learners that need and will develop in order to complete the MOOC, examines specific learner profiles in relation to these literacies, and evaluates the effectiveness of the course through the lens of the Community of Inquiry (CoI) model.

Word Count: 10292

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Short Description:
Rebecca Bayeck, Wilmon Brown, Raymond W. Francis, Tammi Kolski, Kathy Essmiller, Cathy L. Green, Sarah L. Lewis, Corrine McCabe, Josephine Shikongo, Tammy Wise. This book is a work in progress; and will hopefully remain that way in perpetuity; where authors will come back and update their chapters and others will add more chapter. It is aimed to serve as a textbook for classes exploring the nature of learning in the digital age. The genesis of this book is a desire to use OERs in all my teachings, coupled with the realization that the resources that I was looking for were not available and as such I needed to contribute in creating them. This book is a minor attempt to contribute to the vast repository of Open Educational Resources. Cover image from https://www.blackillustrations.com/

Long Description:
This book is designed to serve as a textbook for classes exploring the nature of learning in the digital age. The genesis of this book is a desire to use OERs in all my teachings, coupled with the realization that the resources that I was looking for were not available and as such I needed to contribute in creating them. It is thus a small attempt to contribute to the vast repository of Open Educational Resources.

When discussing learning in the digital age, most focus on the technology first. However, the emphasis made in this book is that it’s about the learner not just the technology. One of the things that is easy to lose track of when talking about learning in the digital age is the learner. Technology is important and it has significant impact but it is still about the person who is using the technology. Many people conflate learning in the digital age with technology in today’s age. This important misconception is common and results from our failure to examine our understanding of what “learning” really is. Of course, Most of this depends on a person’s epistemology. There are numerous definitions of what learning is and often they come to how a person sees the world. Some argue that learning is about a change in behavior due to experiences, others state simply that learning is being able to do something new that you were not able to do before. Regardless of what side you choose, to understand what learning in the digital age is, one has to understand what learning itself is.

I am immensely thankful to the authors for sharing their ideas freely and for the reviewers who volunteered their time to give feedback.

Word Count: 48757

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Short Description:
Learning to Learn Online helps you prepare for online learning success by introducing you to the online learning environment and your role as a learner within it. As you come to understand yourself as an self-directed learner, you will also be introduced to effective learning strategies: time management for online learners, information management, professional communication, and reading strategies. Welcome to your online learning journey!

Long Description:
Learning to Learn Online prepares you for success in your online journey by introducing you to the unique features of the online learning environment, and providing tools for understanding yourself and your role as a self-directed learner. The first part of the book focuses on three key questions: Who am I as an online learner? Who am I on my online learning journey with? Who are my instructors? What is their role?

The second part of the book introduces you to effective strategies and tools for online learning: time management strategies, professional communication, analyzing online assignments, and strategic reading.

Welcome to your online learning journey!

Word Count: 15685

ISBN: 978-1-989864-10-4

(Note: This resource's metadata has been created automatically by reformatting and/or combining the information that the author initially provided as part of a bulk import process.)

Short Description:
Learning to Learn Online helps you prepare for online learning success by introducing you to the online learning environment and your role as a learner within it. As you come to understand yourself as an self-directed learner, you will also be introduced to effective learning strategies: time management for online learners, information management, professional communication, and reading strategies. Welcome to your online learning journey!

Long Description:
Learning to Learn Online prepares you for success in your online journey by introducing you to the unique features of the online learning environment, and providing tools for understanding yourself and your role as a self-directed learner. The first part of the book focuses on three key questions: Who am I as an online learner? Who am I on my online learning journey with? Who are my instructors? What is their role?

The second part of the book introduces you to effective strategies and tools for online learning: time management strategies, professional communication, analyzing online assignments, and strategic reading.

Welcome to your online learning journey!

Word Count: 15663

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Short Description:
Learning to Learn Online was created by students to help ease the shift from a traditional classroom setting to an online environment. You will explore a total of six unique chapters that will help you successfully prepare for online learning.

Word Count: 2804

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