Why OER?
As educational paradigms evolve to meet changing needs, the limitations of traditional resources are becoming ever more evident, particularly in language education. Our workshop offers a dynamic solution: the development of an OER repository designed to provide educators and learners with materials that are not only current but also accessible and adaptable. This initiative moves us beyond merely acquiring foundational knowledge to engaging in actionable practice, embodying our commitment to “learning by doing”—a principle we uphold for students and teachers. It represents a chance for language educators to do more than learn about OER; it’s an invitation to dive into the creation and application of these resources directly in their teaching, drawing on the collective wisdom and expertise such as COERLL (https://www.coerll.utexas.edu/coerll/), KU Libraries (https://guides.lib.ku.edu/oer), National LCTL Resource Center (https://nlrc.msu.edu/), and Kraemer et al (Eds), 2023 (https://www.routledge.com/Sharing-Less-Commonly-Taught-Languages-in-Higher-Education-Collaboration-and-Innovation/HeidrichUebel-Kraemer-Giupponi/p/book/9781032394176)
This workshop’s core aim and structure focus on hands-on applications and practical discussions, ensuring that participants from the consortium’s language community depart with tangible, applicable, and implementable outcomes. Although background lectures and talks on OER have provided a solid foundation and broadened the knowledge of many language practitioners, the need for more immersive, hands-on professional development opportunities has become apparent. As our students benefit from “learning by doing,” so do we, educators, find greater value in engaging directly with materials and methodologies. This workshop is tailored to meet that need, facilitating active participation in creating and utilizing OER, thus mirroring the experiential learning process we highly value.
To enrich this experience, our focused panel will include language educators with firsthand experience developing OER through collaborative efforts. This ensures that the workshop highlights practical, real-world applications of OER in language teaching, offering a meaningful and actionable learning experience for all involved.
Beneficial Outcomes
The Beneficial outcome of the workshop highlights the tangible, applicable, and implementable takeaways.
Participants will be able to:
● Access and Utilize OER: Overcome textbook limitations by accessing and utilizing free, high-quality, and classroom-applied teaching resources that are continuously updated and enhanced.
● Implement Continuous Improvement: Apply continuous improvement strategies to language teaching resources, ensuring they remain adaptive and up-to-date with the latest research and pedagogical approaches.
● Enhance Teaching and Learning Materials: Improve the accessibility, affordability, and diversity of teaching and learning materials, making language education more inclusive and effective.
● Develop Teaching Practice: Engage in professional development by exchanging innovative ideas and best practices, expanding their teaching repertoire and understanding of effective language education strategies.
● Foster Educational Collaboration: Strengthen the language teaching community through active collaboration, sharing educational content, and integrating diverse cultural perspectives into their teaching.
Key Takeaways
The workshop participants will
- Explore a range of actual application samples that demonstrate the versatility and impact of OER in diverse language learning environments.
- Receive practical tips on creating, adapting, and implementing OER materials effectively within their curricula.
- Learn about potential funding sources to support the development and expansion of OER projects, helping to make these resources more accessible and sustainable.
- Discuss curricular applications, showcasing how OER can seamlessly integrate into language courses to enhance learning outcomes and student engagement.
- Engage in hands-on work and collaboration experience on creating OER
- Gain insights into the collaborative process of OER development, including how to work with colleagues within and across institutions to share resources and best practices.
The Focused panel presentations are a must-attend for language educators seeking to leverage OER to enrich their educational content and engage in a broader community of practice dedicated to advancing language education through open resources. Participants will leave this session equipped with the knowledge, strategies, and inspiration needed to elevate their language teaching with OER.
Significance
This workshop is a pivotal initiative toward building a comprehensive, sustainable, and accessible OER repository for language education. It offers an invaluable opportunity for educators, learners, and stakeholders to contribute to and benefit from a shared pool of resources, fostering a global community of practice in language learning.