Interactive Open Educational Resources

A Choice Outstanding Academic Title for 2014!

Sponsored by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), this one-of-a-kind book demonstrates the best tools, resources, and techniques for discovering, selecting, and integrating interactive open educational resources (OERs) into the teaching and learning process. The author examines many of the best repositories and digital library websites for finding high quality materials, explaining in depth the best practices for effectively searching these repositories and the various methods for evaluating, selecting, and integrating the resources into the instructor’s curriculum and course assignments, as well as the institution’s learning management system.

Preface: Transforming the Learning Experience through New Forms of Instructional Materials in the Digital Information Age ix

About the Author xv

Part One Interactive Learning Materials: Setting the Stage 1

One Interactive Learning Materials: Engaging Learners in the Emerging Digital World 3

Two Defining an Emergent Class of Educational Resources: Interactive Multimedia Modules, Simulations, and Games 11

Part Two Finding ILMs: A Digital Exploration 19

Three The Discovery Process: The Art of Discovering ILMs 21

Four The Pioneers: Searching Online Educational Repositories in North America and the United Kingdom 35

Five The Educators: Searching College and University Educational Repositories 61

Six The Entrepreneurs: Textbook Publishers, Entertainment Media, and Educational Software Companies 83

Seven The Exhibitors: Museums, Professional Organizations, and Governmental Organizations 95

Part Three Choosing and Using ILMs 111

Eight The Selection Process: How to Choose and Evaluate ILMs 113

Nine The Implementation Process: How to Instruct and Engage Students through ILMs 129

Ten The Assessment Process: The Impact of ILMs on Student Learning 143

Epilogue: How Faculty, Librarians, and Instructional Support Staff Transform Learning with ILMs in the Future 155

References 163

Index 169

"I highly recommend this book for faculty, academic advisors and all higher educational professionals. Although the content is geared more closely to faculty and instructors, all university personnel should be aware of new, potentially significant mechanisms to impact student achievement. With clear descriptions and instructions for finding quality resources, the author has provided an abundance of information and tools for practitioners to apply across multiple disciplines." — NACADA Journal Issue 34 (2)

John D. Shank is an instructional design librarian for the Information Commons at the Thun Library, Penn State Berks in Reading, Pennsylvania. He has a decade of experience working with instructors and directing the integration of interactive learning resources into web-enhanced, hybrid, and online courses.

Interactive Open Educational Resources has been named a Choice Outstanding Academic Title for 2014!

Interactive Open Educational Resources addresses the difficult challenges instructors face when motivating and engaging today’s digitally savvy students, while making connections to critical course content. Instructors adopting interactive learning resources (including multimedia tutorials, modules, games, and simulations) are able to enhance both classroom and online learning in vital and meaningful ways.

Sponsored by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), this one-of-a-kind book demonstrates the best tools, resources, and techniques for discovering, selecting, and integrating interactive open educational resources (OERs) into the teaching and learning process. Throughout the book, John Shank—an expert in the emerging field of interactive learning—offers an in-depth explanation for understanding a proven process for locating, evaluating, and integrating these resources into an instructor’s curriculum.

Interactive Open Educational Resources examines many of the most noteworthy repositories and digital library websites for finding high-quality materials and offers best practices for effectively and efficiently searching these sources. The author covers various methods for integrating the resources into an instructor’s course assignments as well as an institution’s learning management system (LMS). In addition, the book includes guidance for using interactive learning resources for effective student assessment. All the book’s recommended interactive resources and activities are designed to increase student engagement and learning in any environment.