This document discusses Open Educational Resources (OER) and their importance in higher education, particularly regarding reducing textbook costs and encouraging new pedagogical approaches. It highlights the interplay between OER and techno-capital, noting the risks of assuming access to technology equates to the ability to use it effectively, which may alienate students. The document calls for inclusive practices and institutional support to ensure that OER benefits all students, rather than inadvertently exacerbating existing inequities.

1. Serving the World without a Net:
Open Educational Resources,
Techno-Capital, and Student
Support
Lance Eaton

2. What are open educational resources (OER)?
• Learning resources (articles, textbooks, videos, audio recordings,
slide decks, games, etc)
• Free
• Reusable
• Alterable
• Legally

3. Why are OER important to higher education?
• Textbooks costs: $1000+
• Impedes completion.
• Opportunities for integrating new pedagogical approaches.

4. The Shift to a Digital World
20th & 21st century shift to:
1. eContent
1. Easily shareable
2. Mass-reproduceable
3. Asynchronous
4. More flexible.
2. Learning Management System
1. Secured environment
2. Automated processes (accessing, grades, communications, etc)

5. Techno-capital…
1. The ability to access to the necessary technologies of the late
20th & early 21st century that are increasingly essential for socio-
economic opportunities and job attainment and promotion.
2.The know-how to use the necessary technologies of the late
20th & early 21st century that are increasingly essential for socio-
economic opportunities and job attainment and promotion.
(Gorski, 2009; Lu, & Straubhaar, 2014).

6. Techno-capital…and its disconnected
• Higher ed increasingly technologically based.
• Assumption that access=know-how.
• Students failing to get in the (digital) door.
• Institutions failing to provide a (password) key.
(Gorski, 2009; Lu, & Straubhaar, 2014).

7. OER + techno-capital = ???
• OER is dependent on techno-capital.
• Assumes access
• Assumes know-how.
Are we advocating for a new form of learning materials that
are equally prohibitive or detrimental?

8. The Z Degree at Tidewater Community
College
Degrees that require no textbook purchasing.
“Because Z-courses use electronic materials rather than printed
textbooks, you will need regular and reliable Internet access in
order to complete course work.”
That’s all???

9. Astin’s IEO
• Input: Student with varying levels of techno-capital.
• Environment: Institution assuming techno-capital.
• Outcome: Student's completion of a course?
(Pascarella & Terenzini, 2005)

10. Research Areas
• OER and student success
• Techno-capital in higher education and its impact on
students’ ability to use digital resources
• How institutions are establishing OER programs

11. Soooooo what?
• OER can’t be a panacea if it alienates the same students it's
concerned about.
• Inclusive approaches to technology-based practices.
• Institutional structures to guide & support students with
regards to OER (and all instructional technology.

12. Questions