We are catching up – here is my Open Education News and Stuff from January 11.

Hi everyone!  Welcome to 2023!  I hope everyone found some time to rest a bit, spend time with family and friends, and generally turn off work mode, at least for a day or two (knowing that some of you were prepping for classes starting this week).  I don’t have anything pithy or reflective to say today – only to say that if you are working on Open projects (adopting, adapting, creating OER, etc.) or if you know someone who it, I would love to hear more about it.  You might see Open Education reflected in the new Strategic Plan at some point or hear more about it from your students (see the BC Federation of Students Open Textbooks Now! Campaign) and the more we know and can share about what people are doing, the more we can advocate for support for this important work.  I will talk more about this in future emails!!

But for now, here are a few things you might be interested in.

Around Camosun

Workshops in May/June

Looking for some Open Education-related workshops for May/June SD (or just some workshops you can take around your busy schedules)?  Here is a list of workshops we will be offering.  Full schedules and descriptions will be coming out in the next while, but if you have any questions, just let me know!

Open Education Week

Just a reminder that Open Education Week is March 6-10, 2023, and Camosun is planning on putting on some events to celebrate this year!  We have some tentative things planned, but if you are interested in learning more, volunteering to help with something, or have some ideas of your own to share, let me know!  We will be working on refining our list and creating something more manageable but also engaging over the next few weeks.

Around BC

Another reminder to check out the BCcampus Book Club: The Open Edition.  Starting in January, join folks from around the world to discuss three different open books:

• January 9 – February 3: A Comprehensive Guide to Applying Universal Design for Learning by Dr. Seanna Takacs and Junsong Zhang
  • One-hour synchronous session Jan. 31 at 11 a.m. PT

• February 6 – March 3: Teaching in a Digital Age by Dr. Tony Bates
  • One-hour synchronous session Feb. 21 at 11 a.m. PT

• March 6 – March 31: Selected readings from Designing for Care
  • One-hour synchronous session Mar. 28 at 11 a.m. PT

Finally

If you are interested in open resources around Indigenization, Derek wanted me to remind you that BCcampus has produced several open Pulling Together guides.  In addition, Natasha and Derek will be running the Pulling Together for Instructors in the Winter term, starting February 1 and running alternating weeks until March 29 from 1:00-2:30.  Note that this is a hyflex learning opportunity so you can attend in person or through Teams. 

I am still looking to find out who is using open textbooks and OER in their teaching at Camosun.  If you are using an open textbook in your course(s), or you know someone else who is, and I have not already had a chat with you, please send me an email because I would really love to talk to you more about your experience! 

 Have questions?  Looking for an Open Textbook for your course(s), or OERs to take your course/program to ZTC (zero textbook cost)?  Want to talk about a potential Open Education project (or are your students interested in talking or hearing about OpenEd)?  Contact Emily Schudel and/or Gwenda Bryan! 

Share the joy – CETL (Emily) is available to come talk to your department/program about Open Ed – just shoot me an email to let me know if your department/program is interested in hearing more!

I think that is all for today – thanks for listening and see you in a couple of weeks!

Emily