Extending the Land-Grant Mission: Models of Open Education Beyond University Courses

Abstract

Open education and open pedagogy align closely with the mission of U.S. higher education land-grant universities by supporting access, community engagement, and the creation and collaboration of knowledge production. Land-grant institutions were founded to provide practical, research-based education to the public, particularly in agriculture, engineering, and the applied sciences. Open Educational Resources (OER) and open pedagogy enhance this mission by removing barriers to education and encouraging collaborative knowledge-sharing. This panel will address how four land-grant universities engage with open education to support communities beyond the traditional classroom and discuss initiatives being implemented at various institutions.

Attendees of this session will be able to: - Consider how the land-grant mission can be leveraged to ensure we serve entire communities or states beyond the university classroom. - Learn how librarians at land-grant institutions are cultivating knowledge sharing (practices and resources) beyond the borders of the campus. - Propose and discuss future ideas for scholarship, engagement, and assessment to continue serving communities beyond the traditional classroom using open education.