YCNU #0042: Megan Crossfield on Open Educational Resources at Yavapai College – Signals AZ

Report on Open Educational Resources (OER) Initiatives at Yavapai College and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Executive Summary

This report analyzes the implementation and impact of Open Educational Resources (OER) at Yavapai College, as detailed in a discussion with Megan Crossfield, Director of Academic Initiatives. The college’s OER strategy demonstrates a significant contribution to achieving several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). By providing free, customizable learning materials, Yavapai College is advancing a more affordable, accessible, and inclusive model for higher education.

OER’s Direct Impact on SDG 4: Quality Education

Yavapai College’s OER initiatives directly support the targets of SDG 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

• Target 4.3 (Equal Access to Affordable Education): OER fundamentally addresses the affordability of tertiary education by eliminating the cost of textbooks and other learning materials. This removes a significant financial barrier, ensuring more equitable access for all students, regardless of their economic background.
• Target 4.4 (Relevant Skills for Employment): The customizable nature of OER empowers faculty to tailor coursework to meet current industry demands and develop relevant vocational skills. This adaptability ensures that students acquire knowledge that is directly applicable to employment and entrepreneurship.
• Improved Educational Outcomes: By increasing accessibility and reducing financial stress, OER has been shown to improve student retention and success rates, contributing to the overall quality of education provided.

Contribution to Broader Sustainable Development Goals

The benefits of OER extend beyond SDG 4, creating a ripple effect that supports other critical global goals.

1. SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): By guaranteeing that all students have access to the same high-quality course materials from day one, OER reduces educational inequalities linked to socioeconomic status. It creates a more level playing field within the classroom and the institution.
2. SDG 1 (No Poverty): The high cost of traditional textbooks can be a major financial burden, contributing to student debt. By mitigating these expenses, OER initiatives help alleviate financial pressures on students and their families, contributing to poverty reduction efforts.
3. SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): Yavapai College’s leadership role in the statewide OERizona Network exemplifies a collaborative approach to achieving educational goals. This partnership fosters the sharing of resources and best practices among institutions, strengthening the collective effort to advance sustainable development in education.

Key Strategic Initiatives at Yavapai College

The college has implemented specific, successful strategies that serve as a model for OER adoption.

• Department-Wide Adoption: The successful transition of the entire math department to a fully OER-based curriculum demonstrates the viability and effectiveness of large-scale implementation.
• Statewide Leadership: Through its active participation and leadership in the OERizona Network, Yavapai College is driving the OER movement across the state, amplifying its impact in alignment with SDG 17.

Conclusion

The adoption of Open Educational Resources at Yavapai College is a strategic initiative with a transformative impact on higher education. It serves as a powerful tool for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by making education more affordable, equitable, and inclusive. The college’s efforts highlight a clear pathway toward a future where quality education is accessible to all, thereby fostering sustainable development and reducing societal inequalities.

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  This is the primary goal addressed. The article focuses on Open Educational Resources (OER) as a means to provide “affordable, inclusive education.” It discusses how OER improves the quality and accessibility of learning materials at Yavapai College, directly aligning with the aim of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article connects to this goal by highlighting how OER can reduce financial barriers to education. By providing “free, customizable learning materials that reduce costs for students,” the initiative helps to level the playing field, making higher education more accessible to students from various economic backgrounds and thus reducing inequality.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  This goal is relevant due to the collaborative nature of the OER initiative described. The article mentions “Yavapai College’s leadership role in the statewide OERizona Network,” which is a clear example of a partnership between educational institutions to achieve the common goal of advancing affordable and accessible education.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 4.3: Ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.

  The article directly supports this target by discussing how OER makes higher education more affordable and accessible. The core theme is the provision of “free… learning materials that reduce costs for students,” which is a key strategy for ensuring affordable access to tertiary education at Yavapai College.

• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… economic or other status.

  By lowering the financial burden of education, the OER initiative promotes the inclusion of students who might otherwise be excluded due to the high cost of textbooks and materials. The article’s emphasis on “affordable, inclusive education” directly relates to empowering individuals regardless of their economic status.

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…

  The mention of the “statewide OERizona Network” exemplifies this target. It describes a public partnership among educational bodies in Arizona working together to promote and implement OER, demonstrating a collaborative effort to achieve educational goals.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Cost Reduction (Target 4.3):

  The article implies a measurable reduction in student expenses. An indicator would be the average cost of learning materials per student in courses using OER versus traditional courses. The phrase “reduce costs for students” points directly to this metric.

• Indicator for Adoption of OER (Target 4.3):

  Progress can be measured by the extent of OER implementation. The article provides a concrete example that can be used as an indicator: the number or percentage of departments or courses that are fully OER-based, such as the “fully OER-based math department.”

• Indicators for Accessibility and Success (Targets 4.3 & 10.2):

  The article explicitly states that OER is “improving accessibility and retention in higher education.” This points to two key indicators: student enrollment rates (measuring accessibility) and student retention rates (measuring success and inclusivity).

• Indicator for Partnerships (Target 17.17):

  The existence and scale of the collaborative network is an indicator. Progress can be measured by the number of participating institutions in the OERizona Network and the scope of its activities.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: signalsaz.com