Open educational resources: Difference between revisions
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An other reason for my scepticism is their top-down approach. It doesn't work in most countries and for various reasons which I won't discuss here. The [[Educational_technology#A_short_history|history]] of bringing educational technology into the educational system started over 40 years ago and globally speaking it still didn't happen.... | An other reason for my scepticism is their top-down approach. It doesn't work in most countries and for various reasons which I won't discuss here. The [[Educational_technology#A_short_history|history]] of bringing educational technology into the educational system started over 40 years ago and globally speaking it still didn't happen.... | ||
Btw, the most recent trend is '''Participatory Learning Infrastructure''' (OPLI), a step in the right direction. Atkins, Brown and Hammon (2007) does mention ''Learning Theory'', ''Participatory Systems Architecture'', ''Cyberinfrastructure-Enhanced Humanities'', etc. in addition to "Open Contents" that were the hallmark of open educational resources. I believe that they should focus on a truly ''participatory systems architecture'', on the technical side start with a light-weight services-based infrastructure based on [[web widget]]s, [[social software]], etc. | Btw, the most recent trend is '''Participatory Learning Infrastructure''' (OPLI), a step in the right direction. Atkins, Brown and Hammon (2007) does mention ''Learning Theory'', ''Participatory Systems Architecture'', ''Cyberinfrastructure-Enhanced Humanities'', etc. in addition to "Open Contents" that were the hallmark of open educational resources. I believe that they should focus on a truly ''participatory systems architecture'', on the technical side start with a light-weight services-based infrastructure based on [[web widget]]s, [[social software]], etc. An enterprise kind of [[SOA]] will be too heavy, also initiatives like [[E-framework]] may also open up possibilities. | ||
== Links == | == Links == | ||
Revision as of 10:24, 24 May 2007
Definition
“OER are teaching, learning and research resources that reside in the public domain or have been released under an intellectual property license that permits their free use or re-purposing by others. Open educational resources include full courses, course materials, modules, textbooks, streaming videos, tests, software, and any other tools, materials or techniques used to support access to knowledge.” (Hewlett Foundation), retrieved 18:55, 23 May 2007 (MEST).
By "open educational resources" we understand:
- Open courseware and content;
- Open software tools;
- Open material for e-learning capacity building of faculty staff;
- Repositories of learning objects;
- Free educational courses.
(OECD), retrieved 18:55, 23 May 2007 (MEST)
Discussion
Daniel K. Schneider's view
I always was a bit sceptical about this movement. IMHO the key issue is not so much teaching materials, but rather:
- helping teachers to acquire some sound (but easy) vocabulary of [[instructional design model]s (i.e. learn more about learning and teaching).
- encouraging everybody to share, in particular rich public institutions, e.g. what I am doing with this wiki ;). There can be a need for central open content based digital libraries, but I rather feel that we all together are already a library.
- encourgae thild world teachers to make their own blend of teaching materials (a good teacher usually should understand what he is teaching, and putting together stuff even if it's not perfect will help).
An other reason for my scepticism is their top-down approach. It doesn't work in most countries and for various reasons which I won't discuss here. The history of bringing educational technology into the educational system started over 40 years ago and globally speaking it still didn't happen....
Btw, the most recent trend is Participatory Learning Infrastructure (OPLI), a step in the right direction. Atkins, Brown and Hammon (2007) does mention Learning Theory, Participatory Systems Architecture, Cyberinfrastructure-Enhanced Humanities, etc. in addition to "Open Contents" that were the hallmark of open educational resources. I believe that they should focus on a truly participatory systems architecture, on the technical side start with a light-weight services-based infrastructure based on web widgets, social software, etc. An enterprise kind of SOA will be too heavy, also initiatives like E-framework may also open up possibilities.
Links
Indexes
- OER Grapevine (good list of OER resources)
Open Educational Resource sites
See also: Learning objects repositories. There is an overlap.
- OER Commons is a teaching and learning network of shared materials, from K-12 through college, from algebra to zoology, open to everyone.
- Open Educational Resources (OER) Making High Quality Educational Content and Tools Freely Available on the Web (Hewlett Foundation)
Blogs, Wiki etc articles
- Stephen Downes, A Review of the Open Educational Resources (OER) Movement: Achievements, Challenges, and New Opportunities.
- All of Stephen Downes' articles tagged with Topic: Open Educational Resources. Daniel K. Schneider rather agrees with most of Stephen's somewhat critical views.