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Our History
Open educational resources (OER) help increase access, equity and affordability for college students. MSU Denver established its OER task force in the fall of 2018 to promote awareness and use of OER at MSU Denver.
Early Bird Articles
The OER team has published multiple articles in the MSU Denver’s daily news publication for faculty and staff, the Early Bird.
Read the Early Bird stories below to learn more about grant funded OER initiatives and the course marking system that gives students information about courses with no or low cost for materials at the time of registration.
Spring 2022
MSU Denver receives $134,000; OER Task Force debuts new website.
Metropolitan State University of Denver is being awarded $134,000 from the State of Colorado for Open Educational Resources initiatives through spring 2024. The grant will fund the continuation of the Open Roadrunner program, which supports faculty members in OER exploration and adoption. Read more…
January 2022
Course materials costs can be a barrier for students. A recent survey of MSU Denver students found 35% of students reported not purchasing at least one required textbook and 15% reported taking fewer courses due to the cost of required textbooks. Of the students surveyed, 66% don’t receive financial aid to cover textbook costs, and 90% of the students surveyed agreed that having a course in which they are not required to purchase additional materials is a significant benefit to them. Open educational resources provide one strategy for reducing course materials costs.
Faculty who have not yet attended an open textbook review workshop are encouraged to attend and learn more about open educational resources on Friday, January 28th from 1-2:30 pm. After attending the workshop and writing a review of an open textbook faculty will receive a $200 stipend. The workshop will be held on Teams, please register here: https://forms.gle/2uFnS6Zefh5mJJqs7
Faculty who would like to explore OER and implementing it in their courses with a community are encouraged to sign up for the Spring 2022 OER Faculty Learning Community. It will be held every two weeks on Thursdays 2-3:30 pm starting January 27th. There is a $500 stipend for attending at least 5 of the 7 sessions. Learn more and sign up at: https://forms.gle/wuc57VnWQ3MVyfzBA
Faculty who are using OER as the primary resource for a course for the first time this spring, or who are preparing for primary OER use in a course in summer or fall 2022, are encouraged to apply for a $750 OER adoption minigrant. Fill out the Qualtrics form by February 4th: https://msudenver.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eXP9ioJcUUlnANg
Faculty are also welcome to set up a library consultation for help finding OER or other no-cost to students resources. Rachel Stott and Lorrie Evans are especially knowledgable about OER. Sign up for a session with an Auraria librarian at https://library.auraria.edu/services/askus
More questions? Reach out to Emily Ragan ([email protected])
Fall 2021
Metropolitan State University of Denver is experiencing explosive growth in the number of courses using open educational resources (OER). The number of students realizing these savings increased from approximately 100 students in the 2015-16 academic year to 3,400 between summer 2019 to spring 2020. From summer 2020 through spring 2021, 11,200 MSU Denver students benefited from OER and saved up to $1,000,000.
OER adoption allows students continuous access to the resource during a course and beyond with no cost barrier, and in some cases dramatically decreases the cost of a course.
“In the past, I had students who were unable to purchase the textbook(s), in first-year courses and General Studies courses especially, and they would get behind as a result, or be unable to participate in class sessions when we were working with the text,” said Lisa Suter, associate professor, English. “Now they all have the text available on day one, and there is no barrier to any student’s success due to financial situation.”
Azure Avery, associate professor, Physics, adopted the OpenStax University Physics textbook, and used end of chapter questions and Canvas quizzes in place of an online homework system. OpenStax textbooks are free, peer-reviewed, and published by Rice University under open licenses (CC-BY).
“The OER textbook I adopted for use in my introductory classes has allowed the students to access their textbook wherever they are and has alleviated the high level of student frustration with their former online homework system. It has also saved them over $300 a semester,” Avery said.
While the most obvious benefit with OER is student cost savings, it is also interwoven with student success. When looking course pass rates, OER sections performed slightly better (74.4% pass rate) than comparator non OER sections (72.2%). Many faculty members find OER are comparable quality or even an improvement on publisher resources.
“Students in my SRIs comment on how they love the fact that the OER textbook, which they all like, didn’t cost them anything. I have heard no complaints or issues with the textbook,” said Sanaa Riaz, associate professor, Anthropology.
Faculty members also can contribute to the body of OER. OER grants have supported faculty in reflecting on and innovating in their courses. Liz Macy, assistant professor, music, found that “developing my own OER resources also means that I’m constantly reassessing and evaluating what I’m using, why I’m using it, and how I’m using it.”
Want to learn more about OER?
Attend an Open Textbook Workshop facilitated by Emily Ragan, Ph.D., associate professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry; Rachel Stott, online learning program lead librarian, Auraria Library; and Rob Niemeyer, Ph.D., assistant professor, Mathematics.
Oct. 8
2-3:30 p.m.
Teams link
Faculty will earn a $200 stipend after attending the workshop and reviewing an open textbook in their field through the Open Education Network’s Open Textbook Library.
To learn more, please contact Ragan.
Metropolitan State University of Denver offers a course-marking system that helps students learn about and search for course sections with low-cost (less than $40) or no-cost materials at the time of registration.
Faculty members with one or more courses meeting these designations are asked to complete the three-minute Spring 2022 Course-Marking Survey. The survey asks for the Course Reference Number and/or section number for the qualifying courses and, if applicable, a link to any primary Open Educational Resources used. Faculty are encouraged to add their course information by Oct. 15 so attributes can be added before students begin enrolling for the spring semester on Oct. 25.
Students can search for courses with no-cost or low-cost for materials attributes in the class scheduler, and both students and faculty members can see the attributes when searching classes in the class schedule.
Please contact Emily Ragan, Ph.D., associate professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and chair of the OER Taskforce, at [email protected] for more information.
2020-2021
MSU Denver received $62,000 from a State of Colorado Open Educational Resources (OER) grant offered through the Colorado Department of Higher Education. An institutional award of $60,000 will support the third year of the Open Roadrunners program, which provides faculty stipends to explore and adopt Open Educational Resources for their courses. This will fund Open Textbook Review workshops ($200 stipends), faculty learning communities ($500 stipend), and $750 OER adoption grants through the coming year. Faculty who have not yet attended are invited to sign up to attend an Open Textbook Review workshop on April 22nd from 2-3:30 pm (via Teams).
In addition, grant funds will support a transition to OER in ENG 1008, ENG 1009, and ENG 1010, a move that is expected to benefit approximately 3,000 students per year. Jessica Parker, director of First Year Writing, shares that “It is very important that OER materials meet both our focus on genre and embrace appropriate linguistic diversity, which is essential to the success of our multilingual students and our antiracist practices. This grant will allow us to do adapt resources to meet the needs of our students.”
MSU Denver assistant professor Jade Hoyer received an individual $2,000 grant to create a graphic, “how-to” printmaking guide inspired by comic book art for use in Metropolitan State University of Denver’s art printmaking classes. Through this project, Design, Print, Matrix: Creating OER Materials for the Studio Art Printmaking Classroom, Hoyer will provide students with simplified, visual documents for use in the printshop classroom or remote learning use.
Quotes from Jade:
I was inspired to use and create OER resources after attending a workshop session lead by associate professor Emily Ragan and (now retired) Auraria librarian Ellen Metter. Our students within the Department of Art already have to spend a lot of money each semester on art supplies, so textbooks are often an additional financial burden for them. In addition, textbooks are often impractical in the studio setting (if you have inky hands, you aren’t exactly eager to be handling an expensive textbook in the printshop!).
As a faculty member, implementing OER resources in the studio classroom strikes me as a great way to address a financial concern for students as well as a practical challenge in these hands-on spaces. Thanks to this grant, students will be able to print off this resource whenever they need it, and I’m excited to offer students the opportunity to co-author this resource. Hopefully classes will use this guide as fun and accessible way to engage in the printmaking medium!
Faculty who are currently using OER or other low-cost options in upcoming semesters are encouraged to fill out a course marking survey for summer 2021 or fall 2021 so those courses can be designated as no-cost or low cost for materials. This course marking initiative is required by the state as a condition of our grant funding and provides important information to students about course materials costs.
Are you updating your course, or considering textbook options ahead of the April 1st bookstore deadline? There are increasing numbers of open educational resources (OER) available, which are licensed in a way that allows free use and reuse by everyone.
OpenStax textbooks are comparable to traditional publisher texts and, if available for your course, may be a good choice. All OpenStax textbooks are available for free online and as a PDF. MSU Denver faculty have access to the OpenStax online homework, called OpenStax Tutor, for FREE for our students thanks to our participation in the OpenStax Institutional Partners program. Currently OpenStax Tutor is available for Anatomy and Physiology, Biology, College Physics, Psychology, Sociology, and Entrepreneurship.
Dr. Ting Jiang, professor of Sociology: “I use OpenStax Tutor in SOC 1010 Intro to Sociology to better engage students with course materials. OpenStax Tutor knowledge checks and quizzes utilize Youtube videos, historical documents, as well as online blogs and articles to help students develop the ‘sociological imagination’ (a key SLO) — the ability to see the connection between what’s happening in their daily life and the larger historical scene.”
OpenStax also partners with other online homework providers to offer lower-cost options than typical textbook and online homework systems. Find resources available for OpenStax books using the OpenStax Tech Scout.
While OpenStax has 40 titles, there are over 840 open textbooks listed in the Open Textbook Library, hosted by the University of Minnesota. Learn more about the Open Textbook Library, and earn a $200 stipend for reviewing a book in your field, by attending an Open Textbook Review workshop on Friday, March 12th from 1-2:30. Sign up for the workshop here.
OER includes resources beyond just textbooks. Auraria librarians are willing to meet with faculty to help with customized searches, schedule a session here. You can explore other available resources using repositories and search tools listed in the Auraria OER Guide or the Open Washington OER Resource Repository.
Open Educational Resources (OER) are free, adaptable resources for teaching. There are two upcoming opportunities to explore OER with MSU Denver colleagues.
Quickly learn more about open textbooks and earn an incentive for reviewing one in your field.
When: Monday, January 12th from 1-2:30 pm
Where: Microsoft Teams
Faculty who attend the workshop and complete a review of an open textbook in their field, ideally from the Open Textbook Library, will receive a $200 stipend. Please sign up by Thursday, January 8th. First time attendees only, please.
Want a more in-depth chance to explore OER and strategies for adopting or adapting it for your courses? Join the spring OER faculty learning community (FLC)!
When: Seven alternating Thursdays, starting January 21st, from 2-3:30 pm
Where: Microsoft Teams
Faculty who attend at least five of the seven sessions will earn a $500 stipend. To see the scheduled dates, additional information, and to sign up for the OER FLC click here.
Additional ideas for implementing OER in your courses are available in a recent SIP.
Please reach out to MSU Denver OER coordinator Emily Ragan ([email protected]) with any OER related questions.
2019-2020
The University will participate in the OpenStax Institutional Partner Program to expand use of open educational resources. Read more…
Initial implementation of grant leads to projected student savings of up to $3.4 million – and interstate recognition. Read more…
The first meeting of the semester covered diversity and inclusion priorities, scholarship resources and how to make up to $750 by using OERs. “Using OERs allows us to do things not previously possible, in addition to helping bring down the cost of higher education for our students,” Ragan said. Read more…
MSU Denver and higher-education partners will host a variety of events Monday through March 6. Read more…
Faculty have found OER beneficial during the rapid transition to online courses. Read more…
OER use builds options and equity into online learning. Read more…
The group annotation tool Hypothesis allows students to collaborate, connect and interact more meaningfully with content. Read more…
Current Grants
Learn more about the three State of Colorado OER grants awarded to MSU Denver
Read our reward historyOER Task Force
Emily Ragan – Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry / OER Coordinator
Karen Meyer - Assistant to Dean, College of Health & Applied Sciences
Meredith Jeffers – Assistant Professor, Department of Modern Languages
Lorrie Evans - Teaching and Learning Program Lead Librarian, Auraria Library
Steve Krizman - Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism & Media Production
Letitia Pleis – Associate Professor, Department of Accounting
Andrew Bonham – Chair, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Matt Griswold – AVP of Online Learning
Dorothy Shapland – Assistant Professor, School of Education
Emily Van Buren – Junior Course Developer, Center for Teaching, Design & Learning
Robert Niemeyer – Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Eric Olson – Chair, School of Hospitality
Emily Ragan – Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry / OER Coordinator
Karen Meyer - Assistant to Dean, College of Health & Applied Sciences
Megan Lazorski – Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Meredith Jeffers – Assistant Professor, Department of Modern Languages
Lorrie Evans - Teaching and Learning Program Lead Librarian, Auraria Library
Steve Krizman - Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism & Media Production
Letitia Pleis – Associate Professor, Department of Accounting
Andrew Bonham – Chair, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Matt Griswold – AVP of Online Learning
Dorothy Shapland – Assistant Professor, School of Education
Gabe Christie – Instructional Accessibility Manager, Center for Teaching, Design & Learning
Emily Van Buren – Junior Course Developer, Center for Teaching, Design & Learning
Emily Ragan – Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry / OER Coordinator
Karen Meyer – Academic Affairs Project Manager
Kim Barron – Director of Student Learning Outcomes Assessment
Ellen Metter – Researcher Support Librarian, Auraria Library
Darcy Beery – Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism & Technical Communication
Letitia Pleis – Associate Professor, Department of Accounting
Andrew Bonham – Chair, Department of Chemistry
Matt Griswold – AVP of Online Learning
Diane Watkins – Senior Instructional Designer
Danielle Holmes - Student Government Association President
Emily Ragan – Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry / OER Coordinator
Karen Meyer – Academic Affairs Project Manager
Chad Harris – AVP of Curriculum & Academic Effectiveness
Kim Barron – Director of Academic Effectiveness
Ellen Metter – Researcher Support Librarian, Auraria Library
Lisa Ortiz – Professor, Department of Journalism & Technical Communication
Darcy Beery – Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism & Technical Communication
Letitia Pleis – Associate Professor, Department of Accounting
Andrew Bonham – Chair, Department of Chemistry
Matt Griswold – AVP of Online Learning
Sarah Debbek – Instructional Designer
Diane Watkins – Senior Instructional Designer
Justin Darnell – Student Government Association President
Institutional Faculty Awards
Spring 2019 - Roadrunners who soar awards
Dr. Andrew Bonham ( Department of Chemistry) and Dr. Todd Laugen (Department of History) were recognized as MSU Denver’s Open Educational Resources Used in a Course winners.
- Dr. Bonham was recognized for his adoption of OER in a master course for CHE 2100, Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry, a course taken by about 120 students per year and with a high textbook cost (over $100).
- Dr. Laugen co-wrote “Colorado History Detectives: Teaching Historical Literacy to School-Aged Readers”, which benefits K-12 students and teachers across the state and was also used in Dr. Laugen’s Spring 2019 section of HIS 3425, “Colorado and the Nation”.
Alex McDaniel (Associate Director of Instructional Design) received the OER Promotion on Campus award.
- Since 2005, Alex has worked with individual faculty members to create or improve hundreds of online, hybrid and face-to-face courses. Throughout this time, Alex sought out opportunities to infuse OERs into course design processes, maximizing student learning and making learning more affordable.
- In his current role as Associate Director of Instructional Design, he has worked with his team to increase the overall adoption and creation of OERs within the design of Online and Hybrid courses.
August 2020 - SOAR Awards
Samuel Jay (Department of Communication Studies) and Brooke Woolman (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry) were recognized as MSU Denver’s Open Educational Resource Used in a Course Champion Soar Award winners.
- Samuel Jay, associate professor of communication studies, adopted OER in the online section COMM 1010, Public Speaking. He then scaled the project to all sections of the course, which enrolls approximately 1600 students a year!
- Brooke Woolman, lecturer in the department of chemistry and biochemistry, taught 234 students in OER sections during the 2019-20 year for an estimated cost savings of up to $29,000 and developed OER sections of three different chemistry courses.
Ellen Metter (former Auraria Research Support Librarian and Library OER Lead who retired May 31, 2020) was recognized as the OER Promotion on Campus Champion.
- Ellen was an effective champion for OER at MSU Denver as well as CCD and CU Denver.
- She served on MSU Denver’s OER task force, including the grant-writing sub groups that wrote grants to CDHE that led to $136,000 over two years.
Zero Textbook Challenge, November 2020
Gov. Jared Polis recently honored Metropolitan State University of Denver programs and educators in the Zero Textbook Cost Challenge. Read more…
MSU Denver winners include:
- Outstanding Z Professor – Emily J. Ragan, associate professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Open Educational Resources coordinator
- Outstanding Z Program – Instructional Technology Certificates, School of Education
Fall 2021 SOAR Awards
Dr. Ann Diker, Professor, Department of Nutrition, adapted an OER textbook for NUT 2040 Introduction to Nutrition and prepared the Canvas template which has been used in all sections of the course since Fall 2020. This free textbook is estimated to be a $170,000 cost savings for the over 1,000 MSU Denver students taking this General Studies Natural and Physical Sciences course annually.
Our OER Coordinator
Emily Ragan
Emily is an associate professor in the department of chemistry and biochemistry and has been fortunate to represent MSU Denver on the state Open Educational Resources Council since its inception in 2017. Emily helped establish the MSU Denver OER task force in September 2018 and has led the University’s efforts to obtain grant funding to support faculty work around OER.
Interested in implementing OER in your courses?
Email USEmail the OER Coordinator, Emily Ragan, to learn more about OER opportunities and to learn how to start the OER process.
