Open Solutions: Creating an OER Writing Lab

Abstract

As online learning continues to expand, new avenues are being identified to support graduate learners in this environment. Regent University, a private institution located in the southeastern region of the United States, investigated Open Educational Resources (OER) options for providing asynchronous learning experiences to master key competencies, such as writing. After evaluating the OER market and networking with state and national level OER library leadership, these educators sought to build an OER alternative to Pearson’s MyWritingLab that would serve the needs of their developmental writing online graduate students. A small team of librarians and professors took steps to integrate this experience into the university’s UNIV 500: Foundations of Graduate Success course, evaluate its effectiveness, and create multimodal options for supporting this open learning opportunity.