Beth Osnes, an associate professor of theatre at CU Boulder and Environmental Studies faculty associate, was described by her nominator as, “an excellent example of an open educator.”
Indeed, Osnes has found creative and inspiring ways to use OER in the classroom and has invited students to co-create openly licensed content. She created a collaborative web space where students curated facilitation techniques for an openly licensed Community Performance Toolbox. Students enrolled in her “Performance and Community Engagement” class share strategies for in-person and virtual class settings.
Since its inception, the toolbox has attracted attention from educators at CU Boulder and beyond. The techniques offer methods for increasing interaction in learning settings and include an activity focused on dialogue and social justice, authored by Beth Osnes and Nii Armah Sowah. This activity and many others have provided meaningful models for educators facing racial tensions and pandemic constraints in 2020.
Osnes is also working collaboratively with students and the organization Project Drawdown to openly publish top climate solutions for fifth graders in both English and Spanish. This project also includes lesson plans and activities that are “ready for easy implementation” and adaptation.
