Small and Ugly OER: Simple Strategies to Ease Faculty into Open Education
I presented this in-person session as part of the 2025 Open Education Conference in Denver, Colorado.
Abstract:
Open education advocates know the benefits of OER, but faculty newcomers may feel that adopting OER requires a complete overhaul of a course or that materials must be professionally designed to be effective. Inspired by James M. Lang’s Small Teaching, the concept of Small OER reframes OER adoption as a series of small, intentional steps—such as replacing a single textbook chapter or reading with an open alternative—rather than an all-or-nothing shift. Pairing this with the concept of ugly OER—simple, effective, and easily created resources like Google Docs or instructor-made PDFs—reduces barriers and helps faculty understand that OER don’t need to be flawless or all-encompassing to make an impact. By embracing incremental and imperfect approaches, OER advocates can take resilient, forward-looking steps to make open education feel less intimidating, ultimately helping them keep their “eyes on the horizon” and increasing adoption on their campuses in a sustainable way.
A 30,000′ View of the Open Education Landscape
I was invited by the Colorado Department of Higher Education OER Council to present a webinar giving a high-level view of open education.
Abstract:
This webinar offers a high-level view of the textbook affordability landscape and the library’s role in this movement. It examines the differences among Open Educational Resources (OER), Library-Licensed Educational Resources (LER), and Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) initiatives, and considers commercial responses such as automatic textbook billing programs. The session highlights how libraries support each model through curation, publishing, outreach, and faculty collaboration, and provides an overview of key organizations shaping open education and affordability, including SPARC, OEGlobal, and Creative Commons, along with mission-driven publishers like OpenStax and LibreTexts.
Using OER to Champion DEI Amid Anti-DEI Legislation
I presented this lightning talk at the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota in April 2025.
Abstract:
As anti-DEI legislation spreads and the February 2025 “Dear Colleague” letter from the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights deems DEI programs federally unlawful, faculty—particularly contingent instructors—may self-censor DEI discussions out of concern for job security. This lightning talk examines how OER librarians can support faculty in navigating these challenges by leveraging adaptable Open Educational Resources (OER) and open pedagogy to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Empowering Students as Advocates: Advancing OER Awareness by Collaborating with Student Employees
Along with Franklina Addae, graduate student in Applied Statistics and Research Methods and AOER student employee, I presented at the OERizona Conference in February 2025.
Abstract:
Open education advocates know that OER and open pedagogy offer significant benefits for students. OER reduce financial barriers to degree completion and support student success by promoting higher course completion rates. Through open pedagogy, students engage more deeply with course content and support future learners through collaborating on renewable assignments. A gap in many discussions of the advantages of OER, however, are the benefits students gain in the process of advocating for open education, in which they help spread awareness and garner support for OER and open pedagogy.
In this presentation, learn how the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) has integrated student employees into our campus-wide open education advocacy efforts. Co-presented by the Textbook Affordability Librarian and the Affordable & OER Graduate Assistant, this session will share how UNC students have been involved in OER advocacy work. We’ll outline specific projects student employees have taken on, explore how we’ve worked to harness student employees’ background and experience in their advocacy work, and explore how these initiatives not only advance open education but also help students build skills that contribute to their professional development.
Finding High-Quality OER
See my presentation for the Colorado Department of Higher Education OER Council, Finding High-Quality OER, recorded in January 2025.
Abstract:
Hear from three different open education professionals about finding high-quality Open Educational Resources (OER). Presenters:
- Jon Dyhr, Assistant Professor of Biology, Metropolitan State University of Denver
- Nancy Henke, Textbook Affordability Librarian, University of Northern Colorado
- Nicholas Swails, Dean of Academic Affairs and Online Learning, Colorado Northwestern Community College
Exploring Open Education Advocacy: Stakeholder Strategies to Build a Campus Culture of “Open”
Along with co-presenters Molly Jameson and Ethan Roth, I presented at the 2024 Colorado OER Conference about librarian strategies for OER advocacy at the University of Northern Colorado.
Abstract:
Awareness of OER is essential to understanding and implementing open and equitable pedagogical practices. However, what if a campus requires more education about the “what” and “why” of OER to then spark discussions about open pedagogy? And how does an institution build a campus culture of open education when stakeholders have different degrees of investment in its implementation? OER advocacy efforts may differ significantly depending on an individual’s position within the academic hierarchy and their job responsibilities.
This panel featured three different OER advocates – an undergraduate student, a faculty librarian, and a program administrator – as they shared their specific approaches to OER advocacy in the context of their roles at the University of Northern Colorado.
Value Beyond Cost Savings: Unlocking Diversity, equity, and Inclusion with Open Educational Resources
Interview with Jennifer Burek Pierce
See my interview with Dr. Jennifer Burek Pierce about open education librarianship, recorded in September 2023.
Nancy A. Henke, MA, MLIS 
You must be logged in to post a comment.