Open Education and Technology

Open Education and Technology, a project of the Teaching, Learning, and Tech is designed to elevate the significance of ensuring academic excellence and well-being for all young people. Through research and policy analysis, case-making, community-building and supporting innovative edtech practices, we will make the case that all students need access to culturally relevant educational materials for anytime, anywhere learning, and the opportunity that open education resources (OER), open educational practices (OEP) and edtech affords.

Through research and reporting, our previous efforts purposefully connected the worlds of open educational resources and practices, culturally relevant education, and educator preparation. The impact of the COVID pandemic and critical race theory debates added to the complexity of this work, and made clear the importance of continuing this work.

The Open Ed and Tech project will build on previous findings, strengthen the case and evidence base for culturally relevant and open resources, and identify policy and practice solutions for how accessible and openly licensed materials and edtech can ensure a more equitable educational system. We do this by analyzing and synthesizing research, and examining teaching and learning practices through interviews and roundtable forums with educators, students, parents, practitioners, policymakers, designers, developers, and researchers. Insights, innovative practices, and policy recommendations are shared through briefs, blog posts, videos, webinars, and convenings.

• Support a community of practice with a shared policy and practice agenda across a broad and diverse group of stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, in-school and out-of-school educators, cultural institutions including libraries and museums, designers and developers, parents, families, and community leaders.
• Build a strong evidence base for open educational resources and practices and emerging technology solutions that are responsive to the diversity of educator and student needs for anytime, anywhere teaching and learning.
• Raise awareness and make policy recommendations to ensure 1) educators have access to sustainable resources and professional development that support open educational resources and practices, and 2) all students and families have access to digital technology and broadband connectivity.
• Design principles and guidelines for the development of and use of tools and practices that leverage technology that support all learners, and deeper learning.
• Develop a theory of change for supporting and sustaining the use of open education and technology across educational ecosystems. Support a community of practice with a shared policy and practice agenda across a broad and diverse group of stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, in-school and out-of-school educators, cultural institutions including libraries and museums, designers and developers, parents, families, and community leaders.

Our work is made possible through a generous grant from William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. For detailed information about our funding, please visit New America’s Our Funding page.