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What are Open Educational Resources (OER)?

What are Open Educational Resources (OER)?

In a time when food pantries are being utilized to help college students with food insecurities, OER have been increasingly used in colleges and universities to help reduce or eliminate textbook costs to students. But what exactly are OER? According to OERCommons.org, “Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching and learning materials that are freely available online for everyone to use, whether you are an instructor, student or self-learner. Examples of OER include: full courses, course modules, syllabi, lectures, homework assignments,…

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Progress in the Renovation of the Third Level of Meyer Library

Progress in the Renovation of the Third Level of Meyer Library

The renovation of the Third Level of Duane G. Meyer Library on the main campus of Missouri State University continues in stages.  Last spring the Student Government Association (SGA) worked with staff of Meyer Library to select new furnishings for the soon-to-be-renovated west side of the floor. This set of furnishings has been funded by SGA. The new furnishings should arrive this academic year and be deployed.  This summer most of the carpeting on the Third Level was replaced.  Just…

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Craig & Stout Speak About OER at Showcase

Craig & Stout Speak About OER at Showcase

Chris Craig from the MSU College of Education and Tracy Stout from the MSU Libraries made an excellent presentation yesterday about Open Educational Resources (OER) at the annual MSU Showcase on Teaching and Learning. Approximately 20 people attended. Craig and Stout addressed some of the basic questions related to the OER movement, such as definitions and measures of the quality of educational resources, accessibility, and affordability.  They emphasized that the OER movement is not asking classroom instructors to change their…

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Libraries has Information Tables at Showcase

Libraries has Information Tables at Showcase

The Missouri State University Libraries had not one, but two information tables at the annual Showcase on Teaching and Learning one-day symposium held on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 in the Plaster Student Union on the main Springfield campus of MSU.  Holly Kouns and Ethan Danner staffed the main information table. Kouns reported that there was good traffic mid-morning of MSU faculty members, both new and returning, who stopped by the table.  Kevin Wilson staffed the table focused on the MSU…

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Small Yurt Forming at Base of Main Stairwell

Small Yurt Forming at Base of Main Stairwell

A small fabric study yurt is being assembled at the bottom of the main stairwell in Duane G. Meyer Library on the main Springfield campus of Missouri State University. The yurt, which eventually will accommodate one or two people, has been donated by the Springfield office of Scott Rice Office Works.  One essential part is on order. We hope to have the yurt ready for use soon. 

Library Table at Birthplace of Route 66 Festival

Library Table at Birthplace of Route 66 Festival

On Friday and Saturday (August 11 and 12), the Missouri State University Libraries will have an information table at the big Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in Downtown Springfield. We have been doing this for several years now as a way to connect with “roadies” and to promote the collections and research materials related to Route 66 available through the MSU Libraries.  Authors, artists, collectors, associations, societies, tourist bureaus, and others will gather in the Old Glass Place on East…

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Fall Schedule of Conferences Shaping Up

Fall Schedule of Conferences Shaping Up

Although it’s still summertime and the start of the fall semester is over a week away, several employees of the Missouri State University Libraries are making plans to attend professional meetings and conferences this fall. For instance: Nathan Neuschwander plans to attend — virtually– the 2023 WOLFcon Conference. Quoting from the conference website, “WOLFcon 2023 brings together members of the Open Library Foundation’s project member communities as well as users of their products. Participants will attend presentations, community sharing conversations,…

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All-Library Meeting Next Tuesday Morning

All-Library Meeting Next Tuesday Morning

Next Tuesday morning, August 15th, from 8:30 to 9:30 in Meyer Library room 107, all full-time and part-time employees of the Missouri State Libraries are invited to attend an all-library meeting. Staff members should confer with their supervisors before finalizing plans to attend.  During the first half of the meeting, President Smart and Provost Jasinski will provide overviews and updates about several key university initiatives, including: 2022-23 key accomplishments at MSU 2023-24 Academic Affairs CAP (Continuous Agility Process) Inclusivity principles …

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Carpet Replacement on the Third Level of Meyer Library

Carpet Replacement on the Third Level of Meyer Library

Work began last week to replace the carpet on the Third Level of Duane G. Meyer Library on the main Springfield campus of Missouri State University. The work, the first step in a larger renovation project for the Third Level, is expected to last two weeks. The project will generate some dust,  noise, and inconvenience. In the coming months new furniture will be deployed, supported in part by the MSU Student Government Association. 

Professor Stout to Present on OER at FCTL Showcase

Professor Stout to Present on OER at FCTL Showcase

This summer a team from Missouri State University, led by Professor Tracy Stout (Library Science), participated in a kickoff event for a program through the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). The AAC&U Institute on Open Educational Resources provides a year-long engagement opportunity for teams to actualize an ambitious strategy to broaden campus engagement with adoption on OER.   Later this month, Tracy Stout and Chris Craig (College of Education) will present at the August 16th FCTL Showcase about lessons…

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