Professor Cronin has been teaching and using OER in all Visual Design classes at MCC for the past six years. When asked what prompted her to use OER, Professor Cronin shared: “Since this field is technical, the material is always changing so I wanted to find a way to offer all the material free and always up to date.”
When thinking about the benefits of OER for her students, the cost of course comes to mind, but “it is also the accessibility of the information.” Professor Cronin has also found that students always appreciate having low/no cost resources, and that she also teaches them how to find their own resources. She also believes that using OER “shows an added level of caring which sets the stage for how I run my classes and how I care about my students' path to success.”
Professor Cronin also sees a strong connection between OER and equity. “I know when I was a student (a long time ago) that I could not afford some of the expensive subscriptions I needed and that always bothered me. My experiences have always had a bearing in my desire to use OER so that students don't have to feel that way. All are equal. All have the same resources and feel like they are valued and belong.”
Professor Cronin, thank you for your commitment to OER and providing affordable resources to students!