#351 Poster

Monday 16 April 15:00 - 17:15 Bar/Conservatory

Community Colleges and their role in the Open Courseware Consortium

Una T. Daly, OCWC, US

Conference Theme: Impact

Summary: This session will explore how the community college mission aligns with the strategic direction of Open Courseware Consortium

Abstract: This session will include a poster and handouts illustrating the mission of community and technical colleges and how the Open Courseware Consortium (OCWC) and open educational practices support affordable education for all learners.   Participants in the poster session will leave understanding the mission of community and technical college and also how these colleges can increase the consortium’s value to its member institutions and users worldwide.
Community colleges were founded with a mission to provide open access to high-quality, affordable academic programs including achievement of associate degrees and certificates.  Committed to excellence in teaching and learning, they prepare students for transfer to 4-year colleges and universities, career development in high-demand occupations, developmental coursework, and life long learning opportunities.
Community and technical colleges have a special focus on workforce preparation and partner with industry and regional workforce boards to provide job training, retraining, and skill improvements for local and global jobs.   In addition, community and technical colleges have the unique role of preparing developmental students to achieve college-level coursework or enter the workforce.   Open educational practices can support this focus by making education materials more affordable and allowing materials to be modified to support diverse learners in different cultural and economic environments.