Project Summary Framework
How to use this framework
Writing a project summary is one way to define your project and its purposes, in terms of both the learning objectives for your students and the ways in which you hope to contribute something new to your discipline in your OER. The project summary is a starting point for shaping the story you will tell about and through your project. It is also a starting point for planning the structure of your project—or, if your project is the revision of an earlier edition of an OER you have created, it is a place to outline your plans for revision.
Below you will find a framework outlining the elements to include in your project summary, including section headings and explanations of the information to include in each section. You may this framework to develop the information in a file you have already created, or you may download and use this template [Word file]. Because (in your application for the collective) you have already written a project proposal that includes elements described in this framework, we will also supply you with a version of this template adapted for your specific project.
This framework is based on the project summary template created by the Rebus Community, licensed CC BY 4.0.
Overview
In this section, provide a brief summary of your OER. Explain how the project came about and its importance. What do you hope this resource will achieve?
Motivators
Project Level
What are the primary motivators that drive this project?
Individual Level
What motivates your participation in the project?
Course and Audience
In this section, identify what course this OER will be used in and both the primary student audience (their academic level, the discipline, etc.) and any secondary audiences (instructors, researchers, professionals, other interested parties).
Significant Learning Outcomes
In this section, describe and list the overarching learning goals of your OER. These goals will guide you in the process of locating useful resources and/or creating your own. Begin by listing the course outcomes for the course in which your OER will be used. Revise these outcomes as needed or desired. Use this opportunity to envision your dream course; think expansively, beyond “understand and remember” kinds of learning. What do you want students to learn that will still be with them several years later?
Structure
Table of Contents
List the chapters you plan to include in your book and if/how the chapters will be organized in parts or units.
Chapter Structure
Note your ideas about how you want to structure each chapter.
Other Course Materials Needed
Think about the teaching environments in which your OER will be used, and in this section identify the materials you will need in addition to the core textbook. List these and link to them if possible.
- Syllabus
- Lesson plans and/or an instructor handbook
- Teaching aids such as slides
- Assessments
- Etc.
Inclusion, Equity, Diversity
Whose voices, perspectives, and narratives do you want to embed in your OER to ensure it is a culturally sustaining resource?
OER to Adapt or Remix
Will you be using existing OER to adapt or remix for your purposes, to supply chapters for your book and/or other course materials? List those here: both the OER you have already identified for adaptation, and the kinds of OER you hope to find for adaptation.
License
Explain what license you will apply to your OER and why. Link to external resources to explain the license to your readers, such as the Creative Commons website or other resources on open licenses.
Anticipated Timeline
Provide a timeline outlining major project milestones, such as chapters submitted, editing complete, peer review complete, layout, accessibility review, initial release, classroom review, etc.
Measures of Success
What constitutes success for you, and how will you measure it? Consider such indicators as: number of participants, diversity of perspectives included (geographic, cultural, social, etc.), feedback opportunities, number of adoptions, etc. Also think about student success beyond traditional metrics of grades and focus on deeper learning measures. Do students feel joyful and empowered in the course? The measures of success you identify don’t have to be comprehensive, but they help to clarify what success means to your project, beyond just writing a text.
