In Their Own Words: Student Insights to Improve Experiences with Open Educational Resources
Location
Online
Start Date
14-10-2026 1:00 PM
End Date
14-10-2026 2:00 PM
Description
Abstract:
Open Education creates opportunities to collaborate with learners to make highly student-centered materials. This session shares themes and highlights from 10 higher ed student interviews about their preferences related to textbooks and other course materials to help OER authors to create with these needs in mind. Interviewees were asked to reflect on their likes and dislikes for any and all materials reviewed outside of class time, with the intention of helping faculty select or create more engaging content. They shared thoughts on a range of topics, including digital accessibility, affordability, experiences with publisher access codes and web-based platforms, and other themes related to teaching and learning. Processes, questions, and other materials will be shared for others considering their own interview projects.
Outcomes:
Participants will be able to:
- Describe different preferences students have for course materials.
- Apply recommendations based on these preferences when creating learning materials or developing interview projects.
- Discuss potential challenges and opportunities for selecting or creating student-centered course materials.
Bio:
- Marisa Petrich has worked with OERs as an academic librarian since 2014 and currently leads Open Education initiatives at the University of Washington Tacoma. Before coming to UWT she worked in several community college libraries. She is also a past participant of the SPARC Open Education Leadership Program and has a Creative Commons Certificate.
In Their Own Words: Student Insights to Improve Experiences with Open Educational Resources
Online
Abstract:
Open Education creates opportunities to collaborate with learners to make highly student-centered materials. This session shares themes and highlights from 10 higher ed student interviews about their preferences related to textbooks and other course materials to help OER authors to create with these needs in mind. Interviewees were asked to reflect on their likes and dislikes for any and all materials reviewed outside of class time, with the intention of helping faculty select or create more engaging content. They shared thoughts on a range of topics, including digital accessibility, affordability, experiences with publisher access codes and web-based platforms, and other themes related to teaching and learning. Processes, questions, and other materials will be shared for others considering their own interview projects.
Outcomes:
Participants will be able to:
- Describe different preferences students have for course materials.
- Apply recommendations based on these preferences when creating learning materials or developing interview projects.
- Discuss potential challenges and opportunities for selecting or creating student-centered course materials.
Bio:
- Marisa Petrich has worked with OERs as an academic librarian since 2014 and currently leads Open Education initiatives at the University of Washington Tacoma. Before coming to UWT she worked in several community college libraries. She is also a past participant of the SPARC Open Education Leadership Program and has a Creative Commons Certificate.