Learning about OER

A few years ago a friend introduced me to the Ennegram numbers.  It's basically figuring out your personality type.  I really gravitate towards these things because I enjoy learning about how to be my best.  I think our culture tries to mold everyone into 1 type and I like celebrating my own unique self and becoming the best version of it.

Anyway, I found that I'm a 2 with a leaning towards 3.  This means that I'm a Helper with a leaning towards Hostess.  This is very well-suited to being the Hispanos Unidos (Spanish Club) co-sponsor.  I love developing relationships within our club and "hostessing" to make our meetings be a place of belonging.

Later today I'm taking a group from our club to the Dallas Museum of Art to see a collection of Frida Kahlo's artwork.  This is the good stuff--spending time together and sharing experiences.

However, building an online class isn't this.  My husband is a 5 on the Ennegram system.  He loves researching, asking questions and investigating.  Building an online class would be a joy for him.

I've spent a good bit of time learning how to teach online.  I believe it's an art form just like face to face teaching.  Face to face teaching is fun for me;  online teaching is still something I'm learning.

My favorite podcast is Teaching in Higher Ed.  Bonnie is fun to listen to and she encourages me to grow in the craft of teaching.  She has quite a few OER episodes.  I've listened to many of them and learned a lot about the "bigness" of OER.  It's been very helpful.  

It's also helpful to hear Bonnie's experiences as she's using OER texts.  It's encouraged me to be brave with this and step into uncharted territory for me.

Currently, I'm at the place of the class build in which I'm building new.  I have taken everything from my resource that I plan to use for now.  All of that has been digitized, either into Canvas or as a PDF of a PP slide.

I know I could search for other OER resources to add to my class.  However, I want the application and assessment pieces to fit with the lessons that I've already added.  To make that happen I need to use the specific vocab and grammar concepts I'm focusing on in assignments.  I doubt those exact ones are out there.  

They may be but I don't have the luxury of time (or patience) to spend my time searching right now.  Eventually, I plan to dedicate time to searching for other OER resources to add to my classes.  Later.

For now, I've got to get everything ready to launch.  I'm adding quizzes, tests and assignments--listening and reading.  I've recruited others to speak Spanish dialogues with me so students can answer questions from them.  

Eventually, students will record their own dialogues and write questions.  I'll then add them to the class and future students can choose from these for their assignments.  

Learning what I don't know has been a challenge.  I'm naturally curious but I have a hard deadline to launch this class.  I feel like I'm making good progress.  Learning as I go hasn't been ideal but I chose to launch in June so students don't have to pay the $139 for the McGraw-Hill product if they don't have to.  I truly believe I can offer material that is as good or better with no cost to them and less confusion.

Fingers crossed it works out that way...

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