The Open Western Fellowship program is designed to provide support for faculty in identifying and customizing existing OER and/or creating new OER to align with your course. This work includes creating a custom or localized edition of an existing open textbook, creating a new open textbook or course shell, and creating any necessary ancillary materials (e.g. assessments, slide decks, videos, interactive media). This program is funded through a grant provided by the WTCS and the State of Wisconsin to promote the development and use of Open Educational Resources (OER) to enhance student learning experiences, reduce textbook costs, and promote equitable access to educational materials.
We opened an initial application in Fall of 2023 and completed our first projects in Spring of 2024, with additional projects planned for development through the 2024-2025 academic year.
Our current grant funding is providing support for 23 OER Fellowship projects with a combined estimated student savings of more than $240,000 per year.
Individual projects are described in greater detail below.
Course Number and Name: 10102169 Business Concepts
Project Type: Creation
Fellows: Jenny Parker and Mabel Gehrett
Project Manager: Linda VanSistine-Yost
Proofreader: Peggy Langreck
Project Completed: May 2024
Links to Published Materials:
Student Feedback:
"OER is one of my favorite things that Western has for the simple fact that it makes learning easier and less stressful. It provides me the opportunity to not worry about the cost of textbooks as well as having to carry one around. I utilized it in two of my classes so far and it has been easy to find the information I need."
"My experience with the Open Educational Resource (OER) used in my course has been a good one. Having a free textbook was a huge relief since I didn't have to worry about the high cost of buying a standard textbook, nor do I have to lug around a heavy textbook. The voice reader option is invaluable for students, like myself, who process and comprehend material more efficiently and effectively than by reading the pages. The OER was easy to use, making it simple to find what I needed for my assignments. The content was relevant to my studies, which made learning much more engaging. Overall, I think the OER is a fantastic resource that really supports students in their education."
"In many classes, including Business Concepts, a textbook was not required. This is beneficial for students, as it saves money and eliminates the struggle to find and obtain the right textbook. The rising costs of textbooks are becoming overwhelming. I spent $100 on one book this semester alone, which could have been used in better ways. It can also be challenging to know how to find the correct textbooks. Eliminating textbooks altogether would solve that headache. The fact that this class used OER (Open Educational Resources) instead of a traditional textbook was great. Students don’t necessarily need a textbook to learn effectively. The material we received for this class worked wonderfully and was free."
Course Number and Name: 10102130 Business Law
Project Type: Remix
Fellow: Mabel Gehrett
Project Manager: Linda VanSistine-Yost
Proofreader: Linda VanSistine-Yost
Completed: July 2024
Links to Published Materials:
Course Number and Name: 10102134 Principles of Management
Project Type: Remix
Fellows: Jamie Hammond and Mabel Gehrett
Project Manager: Linda VanSistine-Yost
Proofreader: Linda VanSistine-Yost
Completed: July 2024
Links to Published Materials:
Course Name and Number: 20802211 Spanish 1
Project Type: Adapt/Remix
Fellow: Tim Brennan
Project Manager: Linda VanSistine-Yost
Proofreader: Maria Slusaarek
Completion: July 2024
Links to Published Materials:
Course Name and Number: 10102141 Organizational Behavior
Project Type: Creation
Fellow: Jamie Hammond
Project Manager: Linda VanSistine-Yost
Proofreader: Linda VanSistine-Yost
Completion: July 2024
Links to Published Materials:
Course Name and Number: 10102153 Managing People
Project Type: Remix
Fellow: Mabel Gherett
Project Manager: Linda VanSistine-Yost
Proofreader: Linda VanSistine-Yost
Completion: August 2024
Links to Published Materials:
Course Number and Name: 10102131 Operations Management
Project Type: Creation
Fellow: Jamie Hammond
Project Manager: Linda VanSistine-Yost
Proofreader: Linda VanSistine-Yost
Completion: September 2024
Link to Published Materials:
Course Name and Number: 10520101 Introduction to Human Services
Project Type: Remix
Fellow: Ashley Patros
Project Manager: Keri Grokowsky
Proofreader: Keri Grokowsky
Completed: October 2024
Links to Published Materials:
