This case study explores a strategic shift at our institution, highlighting two distinct OER initiatives that bridge affordability and academic rigor.
The first project details replacing a high-cost commercial textbook in a foundational nursing course with a curated collection of open-source materials. The second highlights the development of locally produced, high-definition skills practice videos for undergraduate nurses, addressing the lack of high-quality, open-access multimedia in the discipline.
This is designed as a strategic case study, moving the conversation from "why OER is good" to "how OER works in high-pressure environments." By sharing our hurdles—such as faculty skepticism regarding "free" resources and the loss of pre-made slide decks—we offer a transparent, honest look at the transition process. Attendees will leave with a practical roadmap to help nursing programs reclaim their curriculum from publisher dependency while enhancing student clinical competency.
Attendees of this session will be able to:- Identify the specific drivers of faculty resistance to OER in high-stakes clinical programs, particularly the "ancillary gap" created by commercial NCLEX test banks.
- Evaluate strategies for replacing proprietary nursing textbooks with curated open-source materials without compromising alignment with national licensure standards.
- Develop a workflow for creating locally-produced, high-definition clinical skills videos that serve as high-quality OER alternatives to publisher media.
- Formulate persuasive arguments for OER adoption that prioritize pedagogical flexibility and clinical accuracy alongside student cost savings.
