How is the Pandemic Affecting the Future of OER?

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Multiple surveys of students, faculty, and administrators have all shown that the pandemic is producing fundamental changes in teaching and learning across all higher education. All groups report more optimistic views of online and hybrid learning, as well as a greater desire for technology integration in all courses. Resistance to the use of digital materials is disappearing, with students and faculty both expressing a greater desire to replace print materials with digital.

Many of these changes bode well for the future growth of OER adoption. However, other trends, such as the time required for faculty to mold their courses into new formats have prevented them from spending the time required to find and adopt new materials. Likewise, commercial publishers have embraced many of these changes and now represent a very different alternative than they were prior to the pandemic. Which of these competing pressures will prevail?

Attendees will gain a much fuller understanding of OER, allowing them to better understand if OER is an appropriate option for their institution and/or teaching.

Speaker Bio
Jeff Seaman
Jeff Seaman, Ph.D.

Director – Bay View Analytics

Dr. Jeff Seaman has worked in education information technology for over 20 years and holds degrees in Demography/Statistics, Sociology, Electrical Engineering, and Housing, all from Cornell University. He has taught social science, information technology, and statistics at several colleges and universities, including Cornell University, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, and. Babson College. Dr. Seaman has been conducting research on the impact of technology on higher education and K-12 for over a decade, beginning with comprehensive national studies of technology use in U.S. Higher Education. Dr. Seaman has served on academic technology advisory boards for a number of information technology companies including Apple Computer, IBM, and Microsoft.
Julia Seaman
Julia Seaman, Ph.D.

Director of Research – Bay View Analytics

Dr. Julia Seaman has extensive experience in survey research as well as competitive intelligence and translational research. She has worked and published across a wide range of qualitative and quantitative projects. Along with her publications at Bay View Analytics, Dr. Seaman’s projects include publishing on statistical practices in ASQ, and consulting for several biotechnology start-ups. Dr. Seaman has published in scientific, statistical, and quality control journals, including Cell Death and Differentiation, BMC Anesthesiology, and Journal of Quality Progress, as well as serving as statistical and scientific reviewer for BMC journals and UCSF Health Awards.
Daniel Williamson

Daniel Williamson

Managing Director – OpenStax

Daniel leads the day-to-day operations of OpenStax, using his extensive experience in academic publishing to guide content development, technology integration, and overall project coordination. A Rice University graduate and passionate advocate of improved access and equity in education, he has dedicated the past eleven years of his life to developing and leading education start-ups from idea to realization. During that time, he has staked a claim in many areas of specialization, including open education, content development, education technology, education technology policy, management, and quality assurance. Under his leadership, OpenStax has grown to become one of the largest OER providers in the world. OpenStax’s 40+ textbooks have already saved students more than $1.2 billion in textbook costs and have achieved a more than 17% adoption rate in introductory college courses – a rate that rivals that of most commercial textbooks.
 
Collin-Kazu Lewis

Student – Portland State University

Collin-Kazu Lewis is an undergraduate student at Portland State University. Originally from Portland, Oregon, he joined the SLAC because he is committed to working and advocating for a mission of bridging gaps and breaking barriers in the field of academia. Kazu brings to the Council their lived experiences of racial bias, ageism, and financial difficulties. He also has experience with college-level advocacy work through his time as President for the Associated Student Government at Mt. Hood Community College, and a commitment to supporting others and providing essential student voice to closing the divide.