In the past I’ve relied on our Pitts Theology Library staff to help me wade through copyright laws, Emory policies, Bb opportunities and constraints. This module has been helpful so I can be better informed and also equipped to search on my own for OER.
I was grateful for the reference to Open Washington where I found a variety of Open Educational Resources for the DMin class, as well as a OER for other courses I’m developing. While not many OER texts books related to my course on (theological and social) community analysis existed, a search in sociology unearthed these two books (below) that look promising, particularly the book on changing the social world. What student doesn’t appreciate a free text book?
Text book: http://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/BookDetail.aspx?bookId=141 Continuity and Change. Steven Barkan, University of Maine
Text book: http://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/BookDetail.aspx?bookId=38 Understanding and Changing the Social World. Steven Barkan, University of Maine
Open Washington’s library of videos linked to Vimeo.com. A search in the nonprofit and activism category revealed lots of international videos that didn’t relate to my course until I found this one that I encourage you to watch: H(R)OPE Video: https://vimeo.com/groups/creativecommons/videos/64110751 This brief, quiet and surprising video highlighted one of the physical assets of an urban community that might expand students’ imagination as they observe neighborhoods.
The photos/images available through Flickr.com (also linked from Open Washington) was a fine resource. There were dozens of photos I could download and lodge in a fast-paced PP presentation. One of those was a simple photo of a sign in Berkley advertising a Tool Lending Library, one more creative community asset that draws on the power of associations and social capital: Tool Lending Library: https://www.flickr.com/photos/41840698@N05/8540453967/in/photolist-e1G4qk-e1G2FT-e1MGbj-e1G3aR-e1G3ix-e1G2Wz-e1G2fp-e1G456-e1G3xc-e1MGHq-e1G3Dc-e1MFPj-e1G3J8-e1MFqf-e1MEKJ-e1MFuL-e1G46D-e1MEVG-e1MGVU-e1MEq3-9qXFyn-ngzsib-niizgP-ngwZaP-ngzsbh-neuLCw-e2mm1U-9qxMuc-9ZtYZU-4Vj7X-bz7sU6-e48qfj-cZuH77-6V7UHx-8TXaNm-d3vHJJ-e1BiF3-6mXUCC-bmTSRo-5ZcNcR-nWUs7W-88WjDs-byv1AP-2tt6ZX-8SXazN-cqwdLh-bU8MyT-e1MEQC-e1G4gc-e1G28Z That’s quite a long link for a little photo.
Enjoy. David Jenkins
4 comments
Skip to comment form
Hello David,
Great post, thanks so much!
Please know that for the Open Textbooks project – they are looking for reviews from instructors/faculty on the books – if you end up using one or both, consider providing feedback/review for them. The OER “movement” is still quite young and can only be powered up by participation and inclusion.
All best,
Leah
David, I’m impressed that you were able to decide upon textbooks and a video. I have spend the morning (truly spent the morning) perusing through videos, texts, sites etc that have been thoroughly enlightening, but do not necessarily relate to my class. My issues are the “wow, this looks great” and then 15 minutes later, I’m deciding that perhaps it doesn’t work so well after all. The time commodity truly is my nemesis. The worthwhile material is wonderful, combing through it in a timely fashion (even with searches) is not.
Phyllis
David, thanks for sharing your findings with us.
I found the Open Washington site to be a very clean portal. Unfortunately to piggyback on Phyllis’s comments, not every site that was linked to was quite as user friendly. But I think that might be the nature of the beast. OERs are not all uniform. They come in so many formats and cover so many subjects it’s got to be a nightmare cataloging those materials!
I do also love Vimeo and have found a lot of high quality videos on that site. It seems to me, though, that both Vimeo and Flickr are trying to force you to log in before you can watch/find things which is a tad annoying.
I watched the sweet video you posted. I love watching people reclaim a space that has been turned into a concrete jungle.
David J., Congratulations finding appropriate OER for your class. Finding a textbook is a real accomplishment. Your students will be so happy.
Like Erin and Phyllis, I’ve looked through the various sites and have yet to find what I need. Lots of great stuff. Just not focused where I need it. I thought the videos on Vimeo were very good. I had not thought about Vimeo being a good resource. This week’s assignment helped change that.
David K.