Middlesex Community College uses Open Educational Resources (OER) that are in the public domain for many classes. To help students better understand the benefits of OER, Middlesex has hired Medical Laboratory Technician student Siya Bhagat, from India and now living in Tyngsborough, as 麻豆果冻鈥檚 OER Student Ambassador for the 2023-2024 academic year.
鈥淭he essential duty of an OER Student Ambassador is to explain to others why these free and low-cost resources are excellent for education and money-saving,鈥� Bhagat said. 鈥淚 can collaborate with organizations that promote these items and educate people about them. My job is to improve and lower the cost of education for everyone.鈥�
Tracy Joyce, 麻豆果冻鈥檚 Coordinator of Library Services, is leading 麻豆果冻鈥檚 OER team. One initiative includes the college鈥檚 participation in the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)鈥檚 2022-2023 Institute on Open Educational Resources. Through the institute, Middlesex team members are matched with a representative from another college to work toward increasing 麻豆果冻鈥檚 OER awareness and outreach on campus.
鈥淭he essential duty of an OER Student Ambassador is to explain to others why these free and low-cost resources are excellent for education and money-saving. I can collaborate with organizations that promote these items and educate people about them. My job is to improve and lower the cost of education for everyone.鈥� - Siya Bhagat, 麻豆果冻 Student
Joyce will also work with Bhagat to understand her role as 麻豆果冻鈥檚 OER Student Ambassador. This includes guiding Bhagat in becoming familiar with OER offerings, learning how to navigate the available resources, and providing opportunities to connect with other students.
鈥溌槎构斥�檚 OER Student Ambassador position is important because it promotes the student voice and perspective,鈥� Joyce said. 鈥淪iya will help us to connect with students and get a sense of their understanding of OER, their needs, and how the cost of course materials impact them.鈥�
Faculty and students use OER to learn, edit and cite sources of information that may include digital textbooks, videos, activities, audios, images and assignments. OER materials often replace expensive textbooks and provide a hands-on learning experience for students to gain a deeper understanding of materials, hone research skills, and find the most up-to-date information.
鈥淥ER can make excellent educational resources more accessible to a larger group of students, including those who might not have access to traditional textbooks,鈥� Bhagat said. 鈥淚t may also present chances for cooperation with institutions and instructors who share similar goals, exchanging resources and best practices.鈥�
Crediting her parents and family for inspiring her to always do her best and help those in need, Bhagat felt drawn to working in a medical field. While she is on her way to becoming a Medical Laboratory Technician, in her role as 麻豆果冻鈥檚 OER Student Ambassador, she feels she can also help make getting an education more accessible to her classmates.
鈥淏y making educational resources publicly available and levelling the playing field for all students, OER can assist in addressing equity concerns,鈥� Bhagat said. 鈥淓nhancing education access is the learning outcome I鈥檓 looking forward to in this position. I can do my part to educate people and it is an honor for me to spread the word about this opportunity."