Tonight we went out to trick or treat. It was a lot of fun, and Aurelio caught on quickly. After a dozen letters of recommendation, we watched the session “Moving Open Education Forward in Texas: Statewide Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives” by Michelle Singh. Singh started by describing the mission of the Division of Digital Learning and the members of the team and their roles. The Division of Digital Learning has three goals: awareness, capacity, and recognition. I appreciate that Singh explained that they want to “provide clarity as to what digital learning is and isn’t” and provide capacity and resources where they are needed the most. Singh talked about the challenges of being online during the pandemic. And there were some perks: Singh mentioned we got to live “a day in the life of digital learners.” Singh explained that we need a change in the mindset to infuse digital learning and OER into not only academic continuity but into institutional and business continuity. To move the conversation of OER forward, Singh mentioned that they created a Learning Technology Advisory Committee. Further, it was good to hear how they listened to stakeholders and created certification opportunities. They partnered with the Institute for the Study of Knowledge Management in Education (ISKME) and DigTex to encourage the use of OER and collect data on the impact. Singh described how the Division has awarded grants to encourage the implementation and development of OER. Some grants were up to $25,000! The Technology Assistance Partners they have are OpenStax, Dallas College, and The Charles A. Dana Center. These organizations worked with grantees to support OER development. Singh mentioned that in a year and a half they have done over 60 webinars and large conferences. Importantly, the events are not limited to Texas community members. Singh described their Core Elements Academy to teach the basics of OER. The program started with 80 participants and 35 were certified. Because of the success of the first cohort, they are extending this program. I appreciate how Singh spoke about examples of OER outside of academics. They are creating a Digital Learning Ecosystem series with a platform to share stories from different users and creators. I love that their courses and resources go beyond Texas! I am also interested in their certification process and will try to stay in touch!
