Open Pedagogy

Open pedagogy is the practice of engaging with students as creators of information rather than simply consumers of it. It's a form of experiential learning in which students demonstrate understanding through the act of creation. The products of open pedagogy are student created and openly licensed so that they may live outside of the classroom in a way that has an impact on the greater community.

- Introduction to Open Pedagogy website, University of Texas Arlington

Integrating OER Into your Teaching

  • Open Pedagogy Notebook A new resource created by Rajiv Jhangiani and Robin DeRosa, two juggernauts of the Open Education movement, this resource contains case studies of Open Pedagogy in action. 
  • Open Pedagogy Assignments Compilation [Google Doc] This list, compiled by Quill West, contains examples of open pedagogy in practice. Its "Lessons Learned" sections at the end of each example can also be useful for educators.
  • OER-Enabled Pedagogy: Examples from the Real World This page compiles various real-world examples of open pedagogy assignments, including Wikipedia editing, student creating of course resources, and more.

Why Open Education?

The increasing cost of textbooks is a significant concern for college students. Textbook prices have risen 88% in the past decade and many textbooks cost upwards of $200.1 The Iowa State University Library is dedicated to addressing and improving this situation. 

Benefits for Faculty

  • Increases student retention and improves student performance by reducing costs2
  • Promotes academic freedom to modify or add content to your course
  • Can support your Scholarship of Teaching & Learning portfolio

Benefits for Students

  • OER are free to access and can be purchased in print at a low cost
  • OER can be accessed before, during, and after a course
  • OER are free self-study and review materials for brushing up on material

    1Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2016). College tuition and fees increase 63 percent since January 2006. TED: The Economics Daily. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2016/college-tuition-and-fees-increase-63-percent-since-january-2006.htm

    2Arnold, J. (2017, August 2). OER as an intervention tool to support student retention. Saylor Academy blog. Retrieved from https://www.saylor.org/2017/08/blog-oer-as-an-intervention-tool-to-support-student-retention/