To end 2021, I watched the OpenEd 2021 session by Dan McGuire, Executive Director of SABIER (Stone Arch Bridge Initiative for Education), and Lisa Lucas Hurst, professor at Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU). The session was about OER in Concurrent Enrollment, similar to another session I watched last month I think. Lucas Hurst is an English professor in a rural part of Minnesota and has several concurrent enrollment students. McGuire taught in the public education system and then worked on SABIER. Lucas Hurst shared research from the University of Georgia that looked at pre/post learning outcomes with adoption of OpenStax OER textbooks in eight high-enrollment lower-division courses. The intervention helped those who needed it the most, as Lucas Hurst mentioned. Lucas Hurst mentioned that “In the spring of 2021, SMSU partnered with SABIER to provide professional development for concurrent enrollment instructors offering courses on their high school campuses.” McGuire talked about how OER offer cost savings, are portable assets that can be reused and shared, and is an equity strategy. Some examples McGuire shared were that content can be modified to fit particular student groups for “cultural or LGBTQ concerns.” I appreciate that McGuire said that groups deserve content that is close to their cultural values. Further, McGuire explained how content can be translated and combined with audio/print, and visual for English language learners or text to voice. Lucas Hurst talked about the advantages of the sponsoring institution to offer OER in a learning management system (LMS). It is easier to keep track of materials and share them as well as model how to use them, according to Lucas Hurst. Using the LMS, instructors can build and adapt the content. I agree: you can copy and adapt the course as you learn more about student learning outcomes and timing. Because of the tools available in the LMS, Lucas Hurst mentioned that feedback can be provided to students in a way that is easier for the instructor. I had not considered issues and data for assessment and accreditation! The LMS makes it easier to pull and compile data for these purposes according to Lucas Hurst. Accessibility requirements and accessibility checkers standard on some LMSs make OER use through an LMS more accessible. Lucas Hurst mentioned that the challenge for high school teachers is time for training on LMS use. McGuire mentioned that they will be posting the professional development course, “an LMS OER” on the SABIER website (sabier.org/try.it/ ). Lucas Hurst mentioned that the collaboration took some time, but it seems that the resources shared through SABIER and the experience gained through this partnership will help more teachers. The OER for LMS use for teachers working with concurrent enrollment learners is fascinating: it is a professional development opportunity that helps strengthen ties between institutions and supports this bridge for students.
