Pressbooks is an interactive tool that allows instructors and students to create, revise, and publish texts in a variety of formats. Similar to WordPress, the tool grants creators an accessible platform for creating their own OER. Notable features of Pressbooks include:
For a detailed handbook on using Pressbooks, see the Pressbooks User Guide.
Open Pedagogy (OP) is pedagogy that moves past the disposable assignment, emphasizing projects that are immediately applicable and relevant to students. OP projects result in the creation of Open Educational Resources (OER) that are freely shared so that other instructors and students can utilize them. OP projects hold that students are contributors to, not just consumers of, knowledge.
In order to ensure successful implementation, there are important key considerations to review before pursuing an OP project. Contact iusw@indiana.edu to discuss these best practices in more detail.
Implementing OP into your classroom has many benefits, including the creation of an OER. However, it is important to keep in mind that OP projects fundamentally differ from traditional research assignments, and instructors should be prepared to adjust their pedagogy accordingly. Suggestions include:
Since OP projects are collaborative and interactive, the role of the instructor will vary depending on class size, skill, demographic, etc. Be sure to consider the level of your class before implementing an OP in order to determine quality expectations and instructor-editing responsibilities. Examples of design ideas to facilitate quality control include:
When creating OER, creators must consider not only how they want their project to be licensed, but also how to incorporate copyrighted material into their project. For licensing, consider that:
As OP projects are shared under a CC license, they are open for the public to view, use, and modify. Students may be uncomfortable sharing their work this way, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the different options and accommodate student needs and accordingly. Suggestions for including student agency are:
In addition to student agency, instructors should consider student privacy, especially the variegated levels thereof. Key consideration include: