Higher education policy is shaped by the work of faculty and students, and policy also shapes that work. Current OER initiatives in Texas higher education both build on policies and programs in place at institutions and seek to further a culture of OER use in the state. This session will be a case study of state-level higher education policy in OER, reviewing both best practices and lessons learned in Texas. The current landscape of increased demand for digital materials and increased economic pressure for students due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be explored, which an eye to how that reshaped OER policy in Texas. Attendees will also be asked to share their experiences building and enacting OER policy in other states.
Agenda: - Background on Texas OER initiatives in higher education, including legislation, data, and how policy was shaped into action. - Best practices that were developed in the process of putting OER policy into action. - Lessons learned and future plans for furthering a culture of OER use at Texas institutions. - Discussion of how COVID-19 affected OER work in the state. - An interactive discussion of OER work in other states, both similarities and differences. - Q&A
Learning Outcomes: - A case study of evolving OER policy at the state government level - Tips for turning OER legislation into OER programs - Best practices for engaging institutional input at the state level - Lessons learned and considerations for continuous improvement
