The onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic sent colleges and universities around the globe into a frenzy to transition their learning environments in ways that would sustain and support student success in times of uncertainty and perceived impossibility. At the University of Pikeville in eastern Kentucky, predicament turned into opportunity for improvement as the university made bold decisions to remove barriers to student learning in the undergraduate context. These decisions include transitioning the academic calendar, eliminating textbook costs for students, providing technical and pedagogical training for faculty, and creating peer-led learning communities to support faculty during their course redesign efforts. Session participants will learn about faculty workshops for OER selection, course redesign with OER-focused outcomes, and challenges to universal OER adoption.
As a result of this presentation, participants will:
Learn about the potential benefits of block scheduling in relation to traditional semester schedules;
Consider the rationale for open educational resources as a no-cost alternative to traditional textbooks and for-cost course materials;
Take away a model for course redesign that prioritizes flexibility and essential outcomes; and
Understand some of the lessons learned from UPIKE’s experiences to date in making learning more affordable and accessible.
