ICT Essentials for Teachers (Module 2)

Observations indicate that information technologies have become more readily available globally, and there exist a vast number of online digital resources. Many of us now use the Internet in our courses and thus the amount of course content available in digital format continues to grow. We observed that until recently, much of these materials were locked up behind passwords within proprietary systems. The OER movement has contributed immensely in the breaking down of such, thus triggering immense access to educational resources. So how do we define Open Educational Resources (OERs)? The following insight will help our understanding of this concept:

• Examining the definition of OER through events that encouraged its adoption
• Insight from learning objects.

Defining OER through events that encouraged its adoption

Let us define OER through events that encouraged its adoption. The concept of OER was first pronounced at Forum on the Impact of Open Courseware for HE in developing countries, in Paris. June 2002, by UNESCO, COL and other stakeholders (University researchers, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation). The consensus was that “Sharing knowledge is essential to universal access to education.. …..free access to education is a human right” Thus, Stakeholders expressed satisfaction and the will to develop together a universal resource available for the whole of humanity to be referred as “Open Educational Resources - OER”

The role of Learning Objects (LO) in the conceptualisation of OER

Let us understand OER from the Learning Objects (LO) concept

The term “learning object” was coined in 1994 by Wayne Hodgins and quickly entered the vernacular of educators and instructional designers. The Epiphany of LO was triggered by Wayne watching his children build things out of Legos while thinking about learning strategies. The he pondered that the world needs building blocks for interoperable pieces of learning. In terms of the history of OER, learning objects popularised the idea that digital materials can be designed and produced so that they can be easily reused in a variety of pedagogical situations.

OER Defined

OER is defined as: "teaching, learning and research materials in any medium, digital or otherwise, that reside in the public domain or have been released under an open license that permits no-cost access, use, adaptation and redistribution by others with no or limited restrictions." UNESCO Open Educational Resources (unesco.org)

"At Hewlett, we use the term “open education” to encompass the myriad of learning resources, teaching practices and education policies that use the flexibility of OER to provide learners with high quality educational experiences”. The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Open Education (hewlett.org)

Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching, learning and research materials that are either (a) in the public domain or (b) licensed in a manner that provides everyone with free and perpetual permission to engage in the 5R activities - retaining, remixing, revising, reusing and redistributing the resources.”. Creative Commons https://wiki.creativecommons.org/wiki/What_is_OER%3F

"digitised materials offered freely and openly for educators, students, and self-learners to use and reuse for teaching, learning, and research. OER includes learning content, software tools to develop, use, and distribute content, and implementation resources such as open licences." The Cape Town Open Education Declaration. What is OER? - Creative Commons

 IN-TEXT QUESTION

What is your understanding of the concept of OER?

Types of OERs

Let us list the types and characteristics of OERs. They include

• Full courses,
• course materials,
• Lecture notes
• modules,
• textbooks,
• Reading lists
• Course assignment
• Quizzes
• Syllabi and lesson plans
• Articles
• Data
• streaming videos,
• Audio clips
• Instructional games
• software,
• and any other tools, materials, or techniques used to support access to knowledge.”

 As you can see, OERs are presented in different formats, and we are certain this is looking exciting to you. Let us illustrate the characteristics of OERs

Characteristics of OER

• It is a teaching and learning material

• Teachers use OERs to teach

• Learners use OERs to learn

• OER for teaching is more targeted and specialized

• For learners – OER is broader

• OERs are designed with a professional aim

• They are designed with specific learning needs/specific public

• OER can be published in any medium

These characteristics guides your choice in the utilization of OERs.