This presentation will focus on reimagining ways to use OER to present a variety of kinds of course materials to raise discussion participation to a new level of engagement in undergraduate courses. OER expands the volume and type of materials students can be exposed to, this presentation will review techniques that make full use of the opportunities created by that material. Evidence comparing course evaluations for OER and non-OER courses will be presented to show how OER can improve the student experience.

Extensive evaluation data over several years for one faculty member will be shared. The current research project should, by conference time, include course evaluation data from other faculty who have taught OER and non-OER courses as well.

Techniques available in OER courses that will be reviewed include:

*Limited searches: Allowing students to use limited searches to find their own weekly reading materials.

*mixed media: Blending a range of brief, mixed media to engage students outside of the classroom, in place of longer text readings.

*Class Journal: Using an online course journal to integrate precis of student readings from a variety of OER materials around a subject.

*Annotations and Online discussions: Review ways in which OER materials can allow students who have difficulty speaking in class discussions can contribute fully to the life of the class.

The presenter has taught courses that are fully OER over the last four years, the initial evaluation evidence will show that a careful mix of techniques can help OER courses to be far more interactive and better evaluated by students than non-OER courses.