Open Educational Resources of Community Learning Texas is a public digital library for higher education. OER includes teaching, learning, and research materials. These materials reside in the public domain or have been released under an open license for no cost-access. OER is always free and depending on the license, can be edited by the user to fit the needs of their classroom.
Dr. Breaux says the course they developed “combines education about aging in the United States with specific information about senior adults as crime victims, criminals and prison inmates.” The course was created through a variety of OER online resources and images. She adds the course also included, “aging demographics from official local, state and national informational websites that targeted the specific design consideration for this particular course.”
Open Educational Resources help students by decreasing the cost of education by breaking down monetary barriers to education such as expensive textbooks. “Students often face barriers such as textbook accessibility and affordability,” Dr. Breaux states. “Course materials can be pulled from open educational resources [with an open license] in many formats and placed in a learning platform or presented in a classroom setting. This innovative way of teaching keeps students engaged and on track for successful learning outcomes.” OER resources can be used multiple times and for free, making them affordable and accessible.
Dr. Mary Breaux previously worked for The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services as a TX Regional Community Engagement Specialist. After receiving her PhD in Educational Leadership at Prairie View A&M University in 2013, she joined the faculty at SHSU and is now an Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Victim Studies. Dr. Breaux also serves as the Director of the Crime Victims' Institute. She received a grant a few years ago to create her first OER course, which sparked her interest in applying for this academy. “I utilize OER materials for the victimology courses that I currently teach also,” Dr. Breaux said. “The OER repository is a great resource because it encompasses scholarly and relevant research, and it is easily accessible.”
By: Allison Phillips