Open Education Resources

As districts seek to ensure all students have access to high-quality instructional materials, the presence of free and open materials, known as Open Education Resources (OER), is welcome. Given that Oklahoma districts expend approximately six times more on instructional materials each year than allocated through legislative appropriations, the availability of free resources that are reviewed favorably by the state Textbook Committee and/or supported by OSDE provides districts an added layer of confidence that the materials are aligned, coherent, and supportive of all learners.

One implication of expanded access to OER is that traditional contracts with publishers often include a suite of implementation services including substantial professional learning opportunities and even instructional coaching. When districts select OERs, those professional learning service costs remain, leaving districts unable to stretch limited funds to support the kinds of strategies needed to ensure efficacious implementation.

State law, 70 O.S. § 16-114a(B) (see excerpt below), provides districts a path for flexibility for state-appropriated funding. Guidance is currently under development to outline the process by which districts can demonstrate that instructional materials in use by the district for the subject areas being considered in the current textbook adoption cycle are current and appropriate for student learning. For those districts choosing to adopt Tier 1 OERs or who participate in state-led programs developing, piloting, or implementing OERs, a streamlined process will also be available.

OER Pilots and Co-Developed Curricula

OpenSciEd

The goals of OpenSciEd are to ensure any science teacher, anywhere, can access and download freely available, high-quality, locally adaptable full-course science materials. The materials are aligned to the Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science. While starting at the middle school level, OpenSciEd aims to create an entire science curriculum from elementary to high school over the next three years. The middle school curriculum was piloted and shaped by Oklahoma teachers and all units will be available during the 2021-2022 school year. Oklahoma will also be a pilot state for both elementary (starting summer 2022) and high school (starting summer 2021) course material development. To download and review OpenSciEd materials and supporting implementation resources go to https://www.openscied.org/.

OpenSciEd Middle School Science Implementation Cohort

To support districts that wish to implement OpenSciEd middle school materials in the 2021-22 school year, the Oklahoma State Department of Education is offering school districts an opportunity to participate in the Oklahoma OpenSciEd Middle School Science Implementation Cohort. The Oklahoma State Department of Education will offer sustained, job-embedded professional development to educators of districts committed to adopting and implementing the OpenSciEd units throughout the school 2021-22 school year. Educators will receive 46 hours of professional development throughout the school year and have an opportunity to collaborate with and learn from teachers in other school districts implementing the free and open curriculum.

To find out more about the OpenSciEd Middle School Science Implementation Cohort check out the recorded informational webinar and presentation slide deck. During the informational webinar, we also shared an OpenSciEd Budget Tool to assist districts in deciding what types of curriculum to adopt.

OpenSciEd High School Science Pilot

OpenSciEd is now embarking on developing and piloting free and open high school biology, chemistry, and physics curriculum, with integrated earth and space science standards. A major part of the development process is involving educators in field testing units. Oklahoma has been selected to participate and we are looking for high school teachers! Participating teachers will implement units and provided feedback throughout the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years. Educators will receive professional development and support throughout the school year, beginning summer 2021.

To find out more about the OpenSciEd High School Science Pilot check out the recorded informational webinar and presentation slide deck. One update since the webinar was filmed is that the OpenSciEd High School pilot will include chemistry and physics, along with biology in the first year.

OpenUp Middle and High School Mathematics

Open Up Resources provides a free, high-quality middle school mathematics curriculum, with Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra 2, and Integrated High School mathematics curriculum coming soon. This top-rated educational resource was created for teachers and students to know, use, and enjoy mathematics and encourages collaboration and problem-solving. See the alignment to the 2016 Oklahoma Academic Standards for Mathematics here.

Bootstrap Computer Science and Mathematics Integrated Curriculum Implementation Cohort

The Oklahoma State Department of Education is partnering with Bootstrap to equip mathematics teachers with curriculum, pedagogy, and skills to integrate Computer Science into the Pre-Algebra & Algebra 1 sequence, using free Bootstrap materials. Participants will learn, grow, have fun, and engage their students in a mathematics learning experience that connects them to the world of computer science. No previous coding experience is necessary! A new cohort begins in August 2021. For more information, visit the Computer Science and Mathematics Integration website.