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A Community Hub Promoting the Use of Artificial Intelligence for the Creation and Adaptation of Open Educational Resources

Project Overview

The University of Virginia (UVA) has received an IMLS planning grant to develop a community hub in collaboration with ISKME that leverages Generative AI (Gen-AI) to streamline the creation and adaptation of Open Educational Resources (OER). This initiative aims to address challenges in OER production, particularly for educators burdened by time constraints, lack of resources, and technical barriers, while also emphasizing equity and inclusion.

Justification

High textbook costs hinder student success, disproportionately affecting disadvantaged communities. OER offers an equitable alternative, but creating and adapting these resources is time-intensive and resource-heavy. Gen-AI tools can ease these burdens by automating routine tasks like content ideation, organization, writing, editing, and accessibility enhancements. This project will explore Gen-AI's potential to increase efficiency and inclusivity in OER production.

Objectives

  1. Establish a web-based community hub for sharing Gen-AI tools, best practices, and ethical guidelines.
  2. Launch an OER-AI Fellows Program to engage diverse educators and practitioners in developing, testing, and refining Gen-AI applications and methods.
  3. Facilitate collaboration among educators, librarians, and technologists to enhance OER accessibility and customization.

Key Activities

  1. Phase 1: Project Initiation
    • Form an Advisory Board with diverse stakeholders.
    • Develop a community hub on the ISKME OER Commons platform.
    • Conduct a resource scan and curate relevant materials.
  2. Phase 2: Resource and Community Building
    • Select and support participants for the OER-AI Fellows Program.
    • Seed the repository with instructional resources and guidelines created by fellows.
    • Engage with OER leadership groups for feedback and collaboration.
  3. Phase 3: Research and Future Planning
    • Use feedback to improve the hub's functionality.
    • Develop a roadmap for a full implementation proposal.
    • Explore sustainability through partnerships and expanded training programs.

Expected Outcomes

  • A functional prototype for a Gen-AI-integrated OER community hub.
  • Expanded knowledge of Gen-AI applications in OER, including ethical considerations.
  • Enhanced OER production efficiency, accessibility, and customization.
  • Professional development opportunities for educators and librarians.

 

Long-Term Impact

The project will reduce educational disparities by improving access to high-quality, customizable resources. It will foster a collaborative ecosystem for OER practitioners, contributing to equitable and innovative educational practices. A strategic plan, developed during the planning phase, will ensure sustainability and alignment with ongoing advances in Gen-AI and open education. This initiative underscores the importance of responsible Gen-AI use, addressing its potential benefits and risks while advancing the open education movement.