International Journal of Open Educational Resources Volume 2, Issue 1, Fall 2019/Winter 2020 | Page 70

International Journal of Open Educational Resources
Figure 2. Survey Question 7. Q7: In what ways have you used OER materials in
your courses at UMBC? (Select all that apply). Out of 97 responses as of September
19, 2019.
In addition to sharing survey
results, the presenters announced the
launch of the OER working group on
campus and shared how faculty could
get involved by joining the OER web
portal and attending the OER lunchtime
roundtable during National Distance
Learning Week.
Annually on campus, the Office
of Instructional Technology recognizes
National Distance Learning Week, an
opportunity to highlight best practices
in distance learning, with programming
that focuses on providing sessions
on topics related to online teaching and
learning. As part of this year’s activities,
the department will sponsor two sessions
focusing on OER. A lunchtime
roundtable will include a panel comprised
of faculty currently using OER,
a member of the OER working group,
and the director of the University of
Maryland’s Center for Academic Innovation
(University of Maryland System
William E. Kirwan Center for Academic
Innovation, n.d.-b). A second session
will feature representatives from
the Maryland Open Source Textbook
(M.O.S.T.) Commons, a digital library
of open education resources (M.O.S.T.
Commons, n.d.). Faculty will not only
have the opportunity to hear about lessons
learned from their colleagues, but
they will also be introduced to the latest
OER support and resources in the state
of Maryland.
Additionally, the OER working
group is planning to host a faculty OER
Lunch and Learn event in March 2020.
While past Lunch and Learn events
have helped familiarize faculty with
new educational technologies, this will
be the first to feature OER. As the OER
working group members move forward
with plans for an OER roundtable event
during the November National Distance
Learning Week and a Lunch and Learn
event next spring, they will specifically
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