OER based capacity building to overcome staff equity and access issues in higher education

Open educational resources (OER) have already impacted educational systems around the world. In higher education more specifically, it has benefited learners, and has influenced institutional strategic plans and policies. Additionally, the benefits of OER also extend to staff in higher education, such as academic staff. For this group, OER can provide opportunities for collaboration, promote curriculum innovation and student led content development, as well as contribute to university teachers' much needed continuing professional development. In this paper, we examine the potential of OER to build capacity of academic staff in higher education, in particular to overcome some equity and access issues that they may face. It also examines some existing activities and strategies for professional development in higher educational institutions and provides some recommendations for academics, academic developers, institutions, and the sector in general

Maryland Health Gaps Report: What's Driving Health Differences Across the State and How Can Those Gaps Be Closed?

Why is there so much difference in the health of residents in one county compared to other counties in the same state? In this report, the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program explores how wide gaps are throughout Maryland and what is driving those differences. This information can help Maryland state leaders as they identify ways for everyone to have a fair chance to lead the healthiest life possible. Specifically, this document can help state leaders understand: 1. What health gaps are and why they matter 2. The size and nature of the health gaps among counties within Maryland 3. What factors are influencing the health of residents, and 4. What state and local communities can do to address health gaps

Connecticut Health Gaps Report: What's Driving Health Differences Across the State and How Can Those Gaps Be Closed?

Why is there so much difference in the health of residents in one county compared to other counties in the same state? In this report, the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program explores how wide gaps are throughout Connecticut and what is driving those differences. This information can help Connecticut state leaders as they identify ways for everyone to have a fair chance to lead the healthiest life possible. Specifically, this document can help state leaders understand: 1. What health gaps are and why they matter 2. The size and nature of the health gaps among counties within Connecticut 3. What factors are influencing the health of residents, and 4. What state and local communities can do to address health gaps

Colorado Health Gaps Report: What's Driving Health Differences Across the State and How Can Those Gaps Be Closed?

Why is there so much difference in the health of residents in one county compared to other counties in the same state? In this report, the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program explores how wide gaps are throughout Colorado and what is driving those differences. This information can help Colorado state leaders as they identify ways for everyone to have a fair chance to lead the healthiest life possible. Specifically, this document can help state leaders understand: 1. What health gaps are and why they matter 2. The size and nature of the health gaps among counties within Colorado 3. What factors are influencing the health of residents, and 4. What state and local communities can do to address health gaps

Alaska Health Gaps Report: What's Driving Health Differences Across the State and How Can Those Gaps Be Closed?

Why is there so much difference in the health of residents in one county compared to other counties in the same state? In this report, the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program explores how wide gaps are throughout Alaska and what is driving those differences. This information can help Alaska state leaders as they identify ways for everyone to have a fair chance to lead the healthiest life possible. Specifically, this document can help state leaders understand: 1. What health gaps are and why they matter 2. The size and nature of the health gaps among boroughs/census areas within Alaska 3. What factors are influencing the health of residents, and 4. What state and local communities can do to address health gaps

Maine Health Gaps Report: What's Driving Health Differences Across the State and How Can Those Gaps Be Closed?

Why is there so much difference in the health of residents in one county compared to other counties in the same state? In this report, the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program explores how wide gaps are throughout Maine and what is driving those differences. This information can help Maine state leaders as they identify ways for everyone to have a fair chance to lead the healthiest life possible. Specifically, this document can help state leaders understand: 1. What health gaps are and why they matter 2. The size and nature of the health gaps among counties within Maine 3. What factors are influencing the health of residents, and 4. What state and local communities can do to address health gaps

Massachusetts Health Gaps Report: What's Driving Health Differences Across the State and How Can Those Gaps Be Closed?

Why is there so much difference in the health of residents in one county compared to other counties in the same state? In this report, the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program explores how wide gaps are throughout Massachusetts and what is driving those differences. This information can help Massachusetts state leaders as they identify ways for everyone to have a fair chance to lead the healthiest life possible. Specifically, this document can help state leaders understand: 1. What health gaps are and why they matter 2. The size and nature of the health gaps among counties within Massachusetts 3. What factors are influencing the health of residents, and 4. What state and local communities can do to address health gaps

Georgia Health Gaps Report: What's Driving Health Differences Across the State and How Can Those Gaps Be Closed?

Why is there so much difference in the health of residents in one county compared to other counties in the same state? In this report, the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program explores how wide gaps are throughout Georgia and what is driving those differences. This information can help Georgia state leaders as they identify ways for everyone to have a fair chance to lead the healthiest life possible. Specifically, this document can help state leaders understand: 1. What health gaps are and why they matter 2. The size and nature of the health gaps among counties within Georgia 3. What factors are influencing the health of residents, and 4. What state and local communities can do to address health gaps

Hawaii Health Gaps Report: What's Driving Health Differences Across the State and How Can Those Gaps Be Closed?

Why is there so much difference in the health of residents in one county compared to other counties in the same state? In this report, the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program explores how wide gaps are throughout Hawaii and what is driving those differences. This information can help Hawaii state leaders as they identify ways for everyone to have a fair chance to lead the healthiest life possible. Specifically, this document can help state leaders understand: 1. What health gaps are and why they matter 2. The size and nature of the health gaps among counties within Hawaii 3. What factors are influencing the health of residents, and 4. What state and local communities can do to address health gaps

2015 County Health Rankings: Key Findings Report

A rich resource of local-level data, the Rankings are an easy-to-use snapshot comparing the health of nearly every county in the nation. The Rankings allow each state to see how its counties compare on 30 factors that impact health, including education, transportation, housing, violent crime, jobs, diet and exercise. This year's Rankings show that almost one out of four children in the U.S. lives in poverty. Child poverty rates are more than twice as high in the unhealthiest counties in each state than in the healthiest counties. The report also looks at distribution in income and the links between income levels and health.In this report the 2015 County Health Rankings show that premature deaths are dropping, with 60 percent of the nation's counties seeing declines. For instance, in the District of Columbia premature death rates have plummeted by nearly one-third based on data from 2004-2006 and 2010-2012. This marks the highest drop in the country for counties with populations of 65,000 or more. But for many counties these rates are not improving -- forty percent of counties are not making progress in reducing premature deaths