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New Award to Transform Learning through Open Educational Resources

By WashU Libraries

A new award sponsored by the Digital Intelligence & Innovation Accelerator (DI2) aims to encourage WashU instructors to develop freely available digital course materials that will improve student success. The DI2 Accelerator Award for Open Education Resources provides incentives for WashU teaching faculty to create, adapt, or adopt Open Educational Resources (OER) to advance learning.

OER are instructional materials that encompass course content, textbooks, supplementary learning aids, and research materials and are developed by faculty experts in the field. OER are easy to share, freely downloadable, and can be easily redesigned or adapted to meet specific class needs.

The Digital Intelligence & Innovation Accelerator, in partnership with WashU Libraries’ Scholarly Communications and Digital Publishing department (ScholPub), will support WashU instructors who wish to develop innovative, high-quality, and accessible educational materials. The OER will be available at no cost and have a Creative Commons license. The open textbooks and course materials will be published on WashU Libraries’ Pressbooks platform.

In an early pilot of the program Dorris Scott, academic director of Data Services in the School of Continuing & Professional Studies, secured funding to adapt the OER Digital Cartography in collaboration with ScholPub for her teaching.

The award aligns with the goals and priorities of WashU’s Here and Next strategic plan for Digital Transformation by enabling educators to utilize and harness information technology to advance access, equity, knowledge sharing, and innovation within and outside WashU. The award also prioritizes the goal of equity in education and widens access to otherwise unaffordable learning opportunities. Data shows that the high price of textbooks and course materials across universities can impede a student’s ability to attain a passing grade or even enroll in a course. OER fosters educational equity at WashU by reducing student costs, alleviating the financial burden on low-income, non-traditional, and first-generation students, and improving educational outcomes.

Award Details

Three tiers of funding will be offered:

  • Adoption ($2,500): For switching to an existing OER
  • Adaptation ($5,000): For modifying an existing OER
  • Creation ($7,500): For developing a new OER

Applications for the Accelerator Award for Open Educational Resources are currently open and will be reviewed on a rolling basis through December 31, 2024. Learn more and access the application portal.

We encourage applicants to discuss their project ideas with ScholPub before submitting a formal application to determine if their project is suitable for the Pressbooks platform.

Please contact:

WashU Libraries | Scholarly Communication & Digital Publishing Services
digital@wumail.wustl.edu

Digital Intelligence & Innovation (DI2) Accelerator
di2accelerator@wustl.edu