Category Archives: Uncategorized

Uncategorized

Open Education Week 2025: Open Education for All

March 3rd through March 7th is International Open Education Week!  

Every year in March, institutions across the globe celebrate Open Education Week (OE Week). Open Education is a movement to widen access to information “by removing barriers and making learning accessible, abundant, and customizable for all” (The European Commission, 2016). OE Week is a time to celebrate the institutional and individual work being done globally to share knowledge, and to encourage others to participate.  

According to a 2024 Education Data Initiative study, “65% of students polled did not buy textbooks because of high prices, and 25% chose to skip essential expenses, like food, or take up extra shifts at work to cover textbook costs.” These are significant barriers to learning and thriving in an educational environment. UMass Boston’s directed mission is to advance “knowledge in partnership with the communities we serve, especially the historically marginalized.” These shocking statistics and UMass Boston’s imperative to address equitable access to higher education highlight the importance of addressing textbook affordability as a matter of social justice and educational necessity. 

Celebrate with us at UMass Boston and learn about how we are working to address these issues. 

Beacon Bits

Join Christine Moynihan, Scholarly Communications, Data, and Affordable Learning Librarian, and Lydia Burrage-Goodwin, Special Projects Librarian for short, digestible webinars about all-things Open.

Monday (March 3rd, 2025): Is it Open? What are Open Educational Resources (OER)? 

  • Join Healey Librarians for this quick, 30-minute session on Open Educational Resources (OER). In this foundational session, we will provide a brief history of open and outline what makes an educational resource truly “open”. We will discover how these freely accessible resources can enhance teaching and learning while reducing costs for all involved.  

Tuesday (March 4th, 2025): How to Search for OER and OER Databases 

  • Join Healey Librarians for this quick, 30-minute session on how to search for high-quality Open Educational Resources (OER) across major repositories and databases. This hands-on session will introduce you to trusted OER platforms, teach you effective search strategies, and help you locate the perfect materials for your teaching and learning needs.  

Wednesday (March 5th, 2025): Can I Use It? Understanding Creative Commons Licenses and Copyright 

  • Join Healey Librarians for this quick, 30-minute session to help you navigate using, creating and adapting OER while complying with copyright laws. Learn about Creative Commons Licenses, ensure compliance when resharing, reusing, or adapting materials, and make informed decisions about licensing your own works.