Professors Amanda Herring, Kirstin Noreen, and Melody Rod-ari from the Department of Art History were the first recipients of the pilot LMU OATI grant for AY20-21.
Together, these three faculty committed to convert course materials for five Art History classes taught in AY20-21. Through collaboration with the William H. Hannon Library, a network of art historians from around the country, and each other, the three faculty completely eliminated textbook costs for students enrolled in four out of the five courses. In addition, the grant provided an opportunity for the art history faculty and the library to design a new interactive, openly licensed tutorial to help students learn to write and cite using the Chicago Manual of Style.
Assistant Professor Amanda Herring
Foundations of Western Art (ARHS 2000)
$0 textbook cost for Fall 2020 and Spring 2021
"My students have been positive about not having a textbook, especially the reduced cost. The assigned readings, in general, often include more images than in the textbook, which allows students to see three-dimensional art from different angles. In addition, I have been able to assign a wider variety of assigned materials, not just written text, but videos and podcasts, which so far, seems to have increased student learning. It caters to different types of student learners, and gives students a wider experience."
Professor Kirstin Noreen
Medieval Art (ARHS 3200)
$0 textbook cost for Summer 2020, Spring 2021
Italian Renaissance Art (ARHS 4240)
$0 textbook cost for Fall 2020
"As we rethink our courses to provide an increasingly diverse and global perspective, open resources will continue to be an important consideration for our class design."
Assistant Professor Melody Rod-ari
History of Museums (ARHS 4796)
Junior-Senior Seminar (ARHS 4800)
All course material costs eliminated except for an essential text unavailable in e-format for ARHS 4800.
Courses not taught in AY20-21; Professor Rod-ari converted these courses before the grant, and applied as a grant partner and mentor for her colleagues.
"The use of alternative resources was important before the pandemic. In the midst of a pandemic and our pivot to remote learning, the use of OER and Library and University-licensed textbooks and books is more urgent."
Are you a faculty member who has already replaced costly course materials with free or very affordable alternatives? Have you transformed your courses with open pedagogy?
Please let us know - we'd love to hear your story and share it here.