Open Education 2017

It should come as no surprise that textbook affordability is a major gripe for students pursuing higher education. In recognition of this, there is growing interest in adopting programs that ensure students have immediate access to discounted, publisher produced course materials. While the names of all inclusive courseware models vary across higher education institutions, (eTexts, Include-Ed, U-Read, etc.) the general framework behind each remains the same.

This panel will explore the structure of the inclusive access model and its implications to the stakeholder groups they represent. With Pearson having announced that over 1,200 campus bookstores were piloting these models in fall 2016 alone, this timely discussion will leave attendees more aware of the implications of adopting these models. Attendees will also have a greater understanding of how this model compares to alternatives in the textbook market.

Digital Sanctuary, modeled on the sanctuary city and campus movement, asks universities and colleges to seriously question their student data practices, policies, and systems. Rather than assuming that our closed student data systems are safest for our students, Digital Sanctuary demands a more nuanced look at the dangers. Sharing that critical process in the open is an educational exercise in student empowerment.

In this session, four colleagues from diverse institutions will discuss how their domains projects are encouraging conversations about student risk and agency, and how both closed and open environments at our institutions impact our understanding of that risk and agency. What might we learn about protecting our students through our domains projects, and how can we work together across institutions to advocate for more principled data practices, policies, systems, and curricula?