In March of 2020 schools scrambled to move to remote learning. The Colorado state legislature recognized the need for quality free digital learning resources and passed C.R.S. § 22-5-119 setting up a repository of Openly-licensed Educational Resources (OER), administered by the Colorado River BOCES, and Colorado Empowered Learning with support from the Office of Online and Blended Learning at CDE. The OERColorado project is the fruition of that initial idea to two fully functional state sponsored curriculum libraries that serve both formal and informal educational communities in the state. Searchable access to quality open educational resources helps reduce costs, improve accessibility and equity, and lets Colorado learn with shared knowledge. The OERColorado project serves public educators and librarians, as well as adult education, preschools, homeschool, and other communities looking for educational materials. Open Education is a global movement to make access to knowledge more accessible and equitable by reducing barriers. Come explore the new OERColorado libraries, learn what demographics the project serves, and find out more about the practice of Open Education.
Learning Outcomes:- Describe Open Education and open licensing that allow for materials to be reused and adapted for teachers' needs.
- Engage with OERColorado to search for and save free educational resources that participants can use in both formal and informal education environments.
- Reflect on how the OERColorado educational library can serve participants needs and how participants might contribute to the growth of Colorado OER materials.
