Faculty interested in applying for the “OER/Affordable Learning Solutions” Faculty Recognition Award should submit an application on InfoReady by Monday, March 28, 2022.
Each month, the Center for Teaching Excellence features a member of the CTE Leadership Team with a news item describing what they are working on and information about how they serve faculty colleagues in their role. This month features Theresa McDevitt, IUP librarian and CTE co-director of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL).
The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning is described as:
“The rigorous investigation of student learning, with the purpose of developing novel teaching methodologies and practices that can lead to the measurable enhancement of student learning. The results of the investigation are made public through quality scholarly outlets and widely-accepted conferences and general or discipline-specific journals.” —DePaul University Teaching Commons
Supporting Reflective Practice
McDevitt has been working with CTE as a co-director for a little over a decade and has a wealth of knowledge to share. She explains:
“My role in CTE has changed over the years, but I have always tried to share SoTL resources that relate to the topics at our large group meetings. Through SoTL publications, faculty may discover ways to improve their teaching practice. In addition, reading them may inspire faculty to study their own teaching practices and the learning of their students, and publish their own discoveries through such publications. Such literature is particularly important for faculty at universities such as IUP, where both quality teaching and scholarly publishing are valued; but faculty have demanding teaching loads that make it difficult for them to carry out independent research. By studying their own classroom experiences, they can improve their teaching. By publishing their findings in SoTL journals, they can increase their scholarly output.
McDevitt develops resource guides to share at CTE events. Thanks to her efforts, CTE has a large digital collection of teaching resources available for access on the CTE website. McDevitt also selects books that align with the Large Group Meetings topics. These books are raffled off to faculty attendees as additional resources.
Open Educational Resources
McDevitt also promotes awareness and adoption of Open Educational Resources and Affordable Educational Resources. Open Educational Resources are teaching materials ranging from lessons to full textbooks that are free or low cost for students to use and faculty to adopt and revise as needed. Affordable learning initiatives reduce costs for students by substituting resources that are low or no cost to students, in place of commercial textbooks they would have to purchase. For example, when faculty adopt library-licensed materials, including books, eBooks, and electronic journal and magazine articles for course instruction, it saves students money. While not openly licensed and free to use and adapt, like true OER sources, because they are purchased by libraries or institutions, they cost students nothing. OER and affordable resources adoption eases the cost of higher education for students and may increase retention and improve academic outcomes. In her role, McDevitt is eager to assist faculty in finding OER and affordable texts, resources, and grant opportunities, to help faculty help students save money.
In addition, she shares opportunities to learn more about OER, such as those offered during this year’s Open Education Week, March 7–11, 2022. For example, during this year’s Open Education Week, participants can join discussion groups on topics such as “Open Pedagogy and Renewable Assignments,” “Simplifying Designing OER,” or sharing “Roadblocks and Solutions” in their “OER Journey,” at the Affordable Learning PA Open Education Week Roundtable on Tuesday, March 8, 11:00 a.m. to noon. More on the discussion, and links for the free registration.
Learn more about Open Education Week and get a list of related activities.
McDevitt worked with the CTE Advisory board to honor IUP faculty who have shown a demonstrated commitment to the use of OER/Affordable resources through the new OER/Affordable Learning Solutions Faculty Recognition Award, funded by IUP Libraries. This award recognizes excellence by faculty curators, creators, and adopters of Open Educational Resources or affordable educational resources. Award winners will be announced at the Faculty Recognition Dinner on Thursday, April 21.
References
DePaul University (n.d.). Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. DePaul University Teaching Commons. Retrieved February 24, 2022, from https://resources.depaul.edu/teaching-commons/teaching-guides/scholarship/Pages/default.aspx
OhioLink (2022, February 14). Affordable Learning Ohio. Affordable Learning through OhioLink. Retrieved February 24, 2022, from https://affordablelearning.ohiolink.edu/Guide/Introduction