Current Issues in the Field

Abstract

This is the pre-print version of the book chapter, which was submitted to the editors before peer review.

As the field of open education has grown and OER adoption has become more widespread, discussion about related critical issues has also developed, particularly in the discipline of Library and Information Science (LIS). This section explores current issues that are often less visible or present in the literature but are paramount to librarians interested in furthering OER and representing the complexities of OER creation and adoption in their outreach.

Our section begins by grounding OER usage within the larger publisher landscape, discussing trends in the delivery of OER and publisher attempts at “openwashing,” or co-opting open to further financial gains. We then address the unsustainable labor practices inherent in the open education movement, including the trend of temporary and part-time positions in leading OER work, limited compensation, over-reliance on grant funding, and a lack of recognition of collaborators. Finally, we discuss how technocracy is embedded in open education discourse, by addressing barriers students and educators face when adopting or using OER. Throughout the section, we present practical tips and resources, ultimately providing open advocates with a conceptual overview of critical issues as well as tangible actions they can undertake.