Are you a faculty member at an Oklahoma public college or university, or part of the Online Consortium of Oklahoma? We have fantastic news for you! For the 2024-25 academic year, $225,000 is available in OER Faculty Teaching Grants to support the adoption and development of zero-cost open textbook projects. Here’s everything you need to know to take advantage of this incredible opportunity.

Understanding the Grant Levels and Options

The grant program offers four distinct levels of funding, each designed to support different stages and scopes of OER adoption and development:

• Level 0 ($500): Refresh or create ancillary materials for existing OER in use or collaborate on OER teaching.
• Level 1 ($1,000): Adopt a new, single Open Educational Resource (OER) textbook.
• Level 2 ($1,500): Adopt two or more OERs as remix/revision into a new single OER textbook.
• Level 3 ($3,000): Full authorship of a single new OER textbook with at least 75% original content.

In addition to these base grants, there are several add-on options to enhance your project:

• Option A ($500): Create ancillary materials such as homework, learning activities, and assessments for a course using OER with a Creative Commons license.
• Option B ($500 each, up to 3): Engage teaching collaborators who will support the OER grant project in the 2024-25 academic year.
• Option C ($250): Include a project collaborator to aid in the curation, organization, implementation, and alignment of your OER project.

Available Funding and Priorities

The $225,000 minimum award funding available for FY25 will be distributed with specific priorities in mind:

• Absolute Priority: Transferable, credit-bearing courses.
• Competitive Preference 1: Courses listed on the Course Equivalency Project matrix.
• Competitive Preference 2: High enrollment and general education courses.
• Competitive Preference 3: Part of a program supporting a critical occupation area.
• Competitive Preference 4: Addresses underrepresented or underserved populations.

How to Apply

The process to apply for these grants is straightforward and involves several key steps:

1. Express Interest and Apply:
   • Submit the FY25 OSRHE OER Grant Interest Form.
   • Attend a consultation meeting to complete the application before January 31, 2025.
   • If awarded, receive a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for review.
   • Complete the MOU Grant Generator for final approval.
2. Submit Verification of Adoption:
   • Submit verification of OER adoption to request award disbursement.
   • Early disbursement is available by January 15, 2025, with final disbursements occurring after the deadline of April 30, 2025.
3. Teach Your Course:
   • Finalize your OER course materials, optionally using OPEN OCO Pressbooks.
   • Teach with your OER no later than summer 2025.
   • Survey the impact of OER on your course through performance metrics and learner feedback.
4. Submit Your Report:
   • Refer to the final OER impact report template within the OER grant MOU.
   • Submit a final project report via Smartsheet by September 1, 2025.

Get Started Today!

Don’t miss out on this chance to enhance your teaching resources while supporting cost-saving measures for students. For more information and to begin the application process, complete the FY25 OSRHE OER Grant Interest Form.  You will be invited to attend a consultation meeting to discuss your individual goals.

Together, let’s make higher education more affordable and accessible for everyone in Oklahoma!

Click on the image below to view or download a copy of our flyer for more information!

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Nominations will be accepted until Jan. 31, 2025, and this year, the award categories available include:

• Accessibility (updated for 2025!)
• Individual Leadership
• Innovation
• Open Education Impact
• Teaching
• Team Leadership

Nominations will be scored by chairs from COLE and the Online Consortium of Oklahoma (OCO).

Award winners will receive numerous accolades including:

• Signed letter from the Chancellor
• Profile feature on the Online Excellence Awards archive
• Physical award plaque
• Digital badge award issued through Credly
• Invitation to author a blog post for http://dev.ocolearnok.org/
• Ticket(s) and travel support for the 2025 Oklahoma Learning Innovations Summit on March 13-14, 2025 at Rose State College
• Formal recognition at the May 2025 meeting of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

For more information and to submit a nomination, visit the Online Excellence Awards webpage here at OCOlearnOK.org. Questions and award documentation may be submitted to online@osrhe.edu.

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Learn the basics or extend your knowledge of Open Educational Resources (OER) and earn digital badges through Credly.  Complete the free OER 101 and/or OER Champion (Deeper Dive) training and earn up to a $250 grant.

Award Levels:

• Level 1 ($100): For new completion of OER 101 during FY25.
• Level 2 ($200): For new completion of OER: Deeper Dive with prior completion of OER 101 before June 30, 2024.
• Level 3 ($250): For completion of both OER 101 and OER: Deeper Dive during FY25.

Discover OER 101

Discover OER:  A Deeper Dive

Funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis with up to $15,000 in awards available for FY25.  For more information on OER training grants, see the flyer below or contact online@osrhe.edu.

2024-25 OSRHE OER Training Grants Flyer (pdf)

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The Rose State College Writing Committee was honored with the Oklahoma Online Excellence Award for Open Education Impact. The recipient of the Oklahoma Online Excellence Award for Accessibility is the University of Central Oklahoma Digital Accessibility Coalition (DAC) led by Darren Denham. Dr. Susmita Hazra, assistant professor at Cameron University, was honored with the Oklahoma Online Excellence Award for Teaching. Dr. Melissa Brevetti, coordinator for teacher education programs for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, was honored with the Oklahoma Online Excellence Award for Individual Leadership. The CACE (Carl Albert State College, Connors State College, and Eastern Oklahoma State College) Educational Partnership was honored with the Oklahoma Online Excellence Award for Team Leadership. Oklahoma State University’s College of Arts and Sciences (OSU CAS) Outreach Team received the Oklahoma Online Excellence Award for Innovation.

“Online learning is an increasingly integral part of Oklahoma higher education,” said Chancellor Allison D. Garrett. “With nearly 550 fully online degree programs available, our colleges and universities provide vital online education options that expand college access and enhance flexibility for students working to complete their degrees, including adult learners.”

The Rose State College Writing Committee, led by the writing program coordinator and staffed by volunteer English professors, improved course content and streamlined the assessment process, impacting over 4,750 students and enhancing the online teaching capabilities of more than 30 professors. These efforts created blueprint courses and free, openly licensed textbooks, which strengthened both accessibility and affordability for students. The committee also addressed the challenge of online final exams by developing a new format that maintains academic integrity without additional cost.

UCO’s Center for eLearning and Connected Environments (CeCE) has supported eight graduate and nine undergraduate online programs, with over 1,400 courses and nearly 1,000 certified faculty members, accounting for almost one-third of UCO’s total enrollment. To address the need for inclusive digital access, UCO established DAC in 2019, an innovative and collaborative initiative to enhance digital accessibility across UCO through a micro-credential system that deepens understanding and application of accessibility principles, benefiting students, faculty, and the broader institutional framework.

Hazra, an online STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) educator at CU, has over eight years of experience creating engaging online courses. She integrates active learning through multimedia tools, varied assessments, and community-building activities like think-pair-share and peer evaluations. Her commitment to accessibility is evident in her ongoing efforts to improve mobile responsiveness and inclusivity for learners with disabilities. Hazra’s approach to modern learning includes using technology to facilitate micro-learning and innovative assignments, such as using stargazing applications in astronomy. A Quality Matters certified peer reviewer, Hazra has shared her strategies in various educational settings across the country.

Brevetti has been a pioneer in integrating technology within education; she introduced SMART Boards to students early in her career and significantly increased online learning engagement. As a professor, she contributed to increased graduation rates in her program through well-designed online and hybrid courses that emphasize the use of educational technology tools. Serving as an American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) online reviewer and authoring influential papers, she has led substantial growth in State Regents’ grants and professional development programs across Oklahoma universities.

Through the CACE consortium, CASC, CSC and EOSC have successfully expanded educational access for rural students in southeastern Oklahoma. This collaboration has enabled the sharing of resources, including courses and faculty, significantly enhancing academic opportunities and addressing workforce needs. To date, the consortium has shared about 40 courses, directly impacting 637 students and saving approximately $80,000 annually. By implementing innovative solutions such as hybrid courses and utilizing diverse communication platforms like social media and virtual meetings, CACE has effectively overcome geographic and logistical challenges.

The OSU CAS Outreach team, in partnership with the National Groundwater Association (NGWA), has developed “Awesome Aquifer 360” (AA360) for K-12 students and “NGWA University” (NGWAU) for adults, two unique initiatives to address the impending job shortage in the groundwater industry. The AA360 program integrates physical science kits and an online portal with virtual tools to ignite interest in geoscience careers among K-12 students, reaching over 13,000 students across 42 states. The NGWAU, hosted on OSU’s online learning platform, offers professional training through courses designed to meet industry standards and includes interactive elements and assessments that have enhanced learning for over 400 individuals to date. This educational content is being expanded to include Spanish translations, underscoring the program’s comprehensive approach to fostering industry-ready professionals.

The State Regents’ Online Education Task Force formed the COLE in 2016. COLE is comprised of faculty, staff and administrators representing each tier of Oklahoma’s public and private colleges and universities, as well as other entities connected to online learning technologies. As part of the ongoing effort to improve online learning, COLE members recognize the excellent work of faculty, staff and administrators at Oklahoma’s colleges and universities. The Oklahoma Online Excellence Awards were established in 2017 to formally recognize individuals and teams for exceptional work in online or hybrid learning. Nominations are submitted by peers and judged by a committee of COLE members. For more information about the awards and current and previous awardees, visit http://dev.ocolearnok.org/recognition/oklahoma-online-excellence-awards/.

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Thursday, April 25 Pre-Conference Workshops

• Option 1 (Free; In-Person Only) – ACRL Open Educational Resources Roadshow
  • Time: Morning session 9:00 am – noon, lunch on your own, afternoon session 1:30 – 4:00 pm
  • Venue: Learning Resource Center, LRC 230 and 231, at Rose State College
  • Description: ACRL’s Open Educational Resources (OER) and Affordability RoadShow will help you understand the basics of OER and how libraries can be involved in affordability initiatives at your institution. This day-long, introductory workshop is intended for academic librarians and library staff interested in learning about OER and/or developing OER initiatives. The workshop begins with a morning of foundational knowledge about OER: What are OER? How do they impact faculty and students? Throughout the day, we also discuss examples of and opportunities for library involvement in affordability initiatives, analyze stakeholders and institutional context, and determine appropriate strategies and goals for real-world application.
  • Register for the ACRL OER and Affordability Roadshow

• Option 2 (Free; Zoom Events) – OKLIS Virtual Presentations
  • Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00 – 3:00 pm
  • Venue: Zoom Events
  • Description: If you are not able to attend in person, consider joining us for the virtual portion of the day with presentations streamed via Zoom Events.
  • Register for April 25 Virtual Presentations

Friday, April 26 – In-person (Paid) or Virtual (Free)

The Friday, April 26 in-person event, held at Rose State College Student Union, will include breakfast and lunch with an early registration fee of $45 (before April 19) or late registration fee of $55 (April 20 – April 24). All attendees, including presenters, must register for the event. Some funding assistance may be available to member institutions of OCO. Please contact your OCO representative for inquiring about funding eligibility.

The 2024 theme is The EduTech Matrix Reloaded: Redesigning Learning Realities, with tracks including:

1. Accessibility
2. Advanced Technologies (i.e. AI, VR, eSports, etc.)
3. Open Education Resources (OER)
4. Policy
5. Professional Development
6. Student Success
7. Technology Tools

Time: 8:00 am – 3:00 pm

• Registration and Breakfast are 8:00-9:00 am
• Presentations are 9:00 am-12:00 pm and 1:00-3:00 pm

Option 1 (Free; virtual only) – Register for the April 26 virtual presentations

Option 2 (Paid; in person only) Register for the April 26 in-person event

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• January 26 – Accessibility (Register)
• February 23 – Digital Media (Register)
• March 8 – Online Proctoring (Register)

For more information about each session, visit the Upcoming Events webpage here at OCOlearnOK.org. Live captions in Zoom will be provided for each session and requests for additional accommodations may be submitted to online@osrhe.edu.

Be sure to also mark your calendars for the 2024 Oklahoma Learning Innovations Summit (April 25-26, 2024)!  Thursday, April 25 will consist of pre-conference workshops with the full event taking place Friday, April 26 at Rose State College.  Virtual sessions will be available at no cost and in-person registration will be $40 (early-bird) with breakfast and lunch included.

The post COLE Hosting Spring Virtual OKLIS Sessions appeared first on Online Consortium of Oklahoma.

• Accessibility
• Individual Leadership
• Innovation
• Open Education Impact
• Teaching
• Team Leadership

Nominations will be evaluated by a committee of online learning professionals from COLE and the Online Consortium of Oklahoma (OCO).

Award winners will receive numerous accolades, including:

• Signed letter from Chancellor Allison Garrett
• Profile feature on the Online Excellence Awards archive
• Physical award plaque
• Digital badge award issued through Credly
• Invitation to author a blog post for http://dev.ocolearnok.org/
• Ticket(s) and travel support for the 2024 Oklahoma Learning Innovations Summit on April 26, 2024, at Rose State College
• Formal recognition at the May 31, 2024, meeting of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

For more information and to submit a nomination, visit the Online Excellence Awards webpage here at OCOlearnOK.org. Questions and award documentation may be submitted to online@osrhe.edu.

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Types of Grants

We are offering three main types of grants to support your OER projects:

• Whole Adoption Grant – $500: For the complete adoption of an existing OER.
• Remix/Revision Grant – Now $1,500 (increased from $1,000): For combining two or more existing OERs into a new, cohesive textbook.
• Full Authorship Grant – Now $3,000 (increased from $2,500): For the full authorship of a brand-new OER.

Bonus: Ancillary Materials Grant

In addition to these, a $500 Ancillary Materials Grant is available either as an add-on or a stand-alone grant. This is designed to fund the creation of supplementary materials like homework assignments and assessments to accompany a new or existing OER textbook.

New: Collaborator Grant

We’ve introduced a $500 Collaborator Grant for up to three additional faculty members to collaborate on an awarded project.

Resource to Create, Remix, or Clone Your Book

To assist you in this endeavor, OPEN OCO Pressbooks is available as a valuable resource for textbook development and adoption. Sign up for a free account using your .edu email address and explore the https://Pressbooks.Directory/ for existing resources to adapt.

Funding Priorities

• Absolute Priority: Transferable courses, credit-bearing courses.
• Competitive Preference 1: Courses listed on the Course Equivalency Project matrix.
• Competitive Preference 2: High enrollment and general education courses.
• Competitive Preference 3: Part of a program supporting a critical occupation area.
• Competitive Preference 4: Addresses underrepresented or underserved populations.

Funding Disbursement

After you submit verification of adoption of your OER, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE) will disburse your funding to your teaching institution, which will then issue the award to you.

Project Procedure and Timeline

Step 1: Express Interest and Apply

1. FY24 OSRHE OER Grant Interest Form.

• Attend a consultation meeting to complete the application before December 1, 2023.
• If awarded, review and return the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for final approval.

Step 2: Submit Verification of Adoption

1. Submit verification by January 12, 2024, for early disbursement. All remaining disbursements will occur after April 26, 2024.

Step 3: Teach Your Course

1. Finalize your OER course materials and teach with your OER no later than summer 2024.
2. Survey the impact of OER on your course through performance metrics and learner feedback.

Step 4: Submit Your Report

1. Refer to the final OER impact report template within the OER grant MOU.
2. Submit a final project report by September 1, 2024.

Contact Information

For more details or to request a group consultation, please contact Tracey Romano at online@osrhe.edu.

Click on the image below to view or download a copy of our flyer for more information!

The post 2023-24 Incentive Awards Available for Faculty Teaching with OER appeared first on Online Consortium of Oklahoma.

The State Regents’ Council for Online Learning Excellence (COLE) recognized faculty members, administrators and two university teams for their outstanding work during the Friday, May 26 State Regents meeting.

Dr. Kathy Essmiller, open educational resources (OER) librarian at Oklahoma State University, was honored with the Oklahoma Online Excellence Award for Open Education Impact. Kara Stanley, instructional designer at the University of Oklahoma, was honored with the Oklahoma Online Excellence Award for Accessibility. Dr. Niccole Leanne Miller, adjunct professor and senior director of strategic initiatives for student success at the University of Central Oklahoma, was honored with the Oklahoma Online Excellence Award for Teaching. Christala LaFay Smith, director of the Center for Instructional Development and Technology at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, was honored with the Oklahoma Online Excellence Award for Individual Leadership. The Oklahoma Mesonet Outreach Team was honored with the Oklahoma Online Excellence Award for Team Leadership. The IDEA Team of the Center for eLearning and Connected Environments at UCO was honored with the Oklahoma Online Excellence Award for Innovation.

“Online learning is a vital component of Oklahoma higher education,” said Chancellor Allison D. Garrett. “With more than 300 fully online degree programs available across the state system, our colleges and universities provide innovative, academically rigorous online education options that expand college access and enhance flexibility for the students we serve.”

The State Regents’ Online Education Task Force formed the COLE in 2016. COLE is comprised of faculty, staff and administrators representing each tier of Oklahoma’s public and private colleges and universities, as well as other entities connected to online learning technologies.

As part of the ongoing effort to improve online learning, COLE members recognize the excellent work of faculty, staff and administrators at Oklahoma’s colleges and universities. The Oklahoma Online Excellence Awards were established in 2017 to formally recognize individuals and teams for excellent work in online or hybrid learning. Nominations are submitted by peers and judged by a committee of COLE members. For more information about the awards and current and previous awardees, visit https://awards.ocolearnok.org.

CUTLINE: The Council for Online Learning Excellence (COLE) recognized faculty members, administrators and two teams for their outstanding work during the May 26, 2023 meeting of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Pictured, front row left to right: Brad Griffith, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education; Kara Stanley, University of Oklahoma; Dr. Niccole Leanne Miller and Gina NeeDels, University of Central Oklahoma; and Andrea Melvin, Oklahoma Mesonet. Back row, left to right: Dr. Kathy Essmiller, Oklahoma State University; Christala LaFay Smith, Southeastern Oklahoma State University; Sean Gausman, University of Central Oklahoma; Chancellor Allison D. Garrett; Robert Wall and Dr. Linda Banks, University of Central Oklahoma; Dr. Chris Fiebrich and James Hocker, Oklahoma Mesonet; State Regents’ Chair Michael C. Turpen; and Kevin Kloesel, Oklahoma Mesonet.

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