The post Faculty OER Teaching Grants Available for 2024-25! appeared first on Online Consortium of Oklahoma.
]]>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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
The post Faculty OER Teaching Grants Available for 2024-25! appeared first on Online Consortium of Oklahoma.
]]>The post 2024 Oklahoma OER Summit – November 1 appeared first on Online Consortium of Oklahoma.
]]>We are thrilled to announce the planned spring 2025 rollout of the Oklahoma OER Commons Micro-site. This vast and diverse collection of high-quality, freely accessible teaching materials, will be curated to support and enhance educational experiences across Oklahoma higher education. Join us at this event to contribute to the planning of this resource before its launch!
Call for Proposal Information Details
Priority Deadline for Proposals: Friday, September 20, 2024, 5 p.m.
- Proposals submitted after this date may be considered as the schedule permits.
Contact online@osrhe.edu with any questions or to discuss any special accommodations needed to fully engage in the on-site event.
The post 2024 Oklahoma OER Summit – November 1 appeared first on Online Consortium of Oklahoma.
]]>The post OER Training Grants Available appeared first on Online Consortium of Oklahoma.
]]>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.
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)
The post OER Training Grants Available appeared first on Online Consortium of Oklahoma.
]]>The post 2024 Oklahoma Online Excellence Awards Recognized appeared first on Online Consortium of Oklahoma.
]]>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/.
The post 2024 Oklahoma Online Excellence Awards Recognized appeared first on Online Consortium of Oklahoma.
]]>The post COLE Hosting Spring Virtual OKLIS Sessions appeared first on Online Consortium of Oklahoma.
]]>- 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.
]]>The post 2024 Online Excellence Awards – Call for Nominations 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.
The post 2024 Online Excellence Awards – Call for Nominations appeared first on Online Consortium of Oklahoma.
]]>The post 2023 Oklahoma OER Summit – November 3 – Registration Available appeared first on Online Consortium of Oklahoma.
]]>The post 2023 Oklahoma OER Summit – November 3 – Registration Available appeared first on Online Consortium of Oklahoma.
]]>The post 2023-24 Incentive Awards Available for Faculty Teaching with OER appeared first on Online Consortium of Oklahoma.
]]>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
- 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
- Submit verification by January 12, 2024, for early disbursement. All remaining disbursements will occur after April 26, 2024.
Step 3: Teach Your Course
- Finalize your OER course materials and teach with your OER no later than summer 2024.
- Survey the impact of OER on your course through performance metrics and learner feedback.
Step 4: Submit Your Report
- Refer to the final OER impact report template within the OER grant MOU.
- 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 post OER 101 Training Incentive Awards Available appeared first on Online Consortium of Oklahoma.
]]>
Faculty and staff who work with faculty on curriculum and course development are invited to complete the OER 101 training offered for free through the Online Consortium of Oklahoma. A minimum of 90 total $50 awards are available on a first-come basis. This training equips individuals with the knowledge necessary to find and use OER. Eligible individuals will be contacted by OSRHE once they successfully complete the final assessment and offered an opportunity to complete an MOU to receive the funds through their institution. Every individual who successfully completes the OER 101 training will be issued a digital credential through Credly.
Click on the image below to view or download a copy of our flyer for more information!
The post OER 101 Training Incentive Awards Available appeared first on Online Consortium of Oklahoma.
]]>The post Quality Matters Rubric Update appeared first on Online Consortium of Oklahoma.
]]>Quality Matters will launch the seventh edition update of its QM Rubric for Higher Education on July 5. In order to prepare for the release — and to continue your work with Quality Matters — all QM Role Holders will need to complete the free, self-paced Rubric Update session. After July 5, you may not be able to continue acting in the capacity of your role as a Peer Course Reviewer or Facilitator until you complete this session.
While we encourage all members to participate, the Rubric Update session is required for role holders. Throughout the session, participants will learn about all the important changes and updates you’ll find in the QM Higher Education Rubric, Seventh Edition — including a deeper focus on accessibility, new annotations for synchronous online courses, an emphasis on inclusion and belonging, and more — and how they will impact you. The Rubric Update should take approximately 6-8 hours to complete.
The free Rubric Update session will be available to all QM members from June 5, 2023 to January 5, 2024. If you do not complete this session by January 5, your role will be set to “expired” and you will need to complete the Rubric Update Role Reinstatement (RURR) Session for a fee (exact cost to be determined) in order to retain your role. So don’t wait! The Rubric Update session begins June 5, but registration is open now.
Contact online@osrhe.edu with any questions regarding Quality Matters, the Rubric update, or opportunities for peer course reviews.
The post Quality Matters Rubric Update appeared first on Online Consortium of Oklahoma.
]]>