The OER Wizard: advances in technology enabling shifts in pedagogy

Tuesday 11:00-12:30 (4), Darwin Suite

Type: Lightning talk

Theme: Academic practice, development and pedagogy

#oer14 #abs51

Authors

Johanna Funk, The Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University, [email protected]

Abstract

This paper outlines a project undertaken at a regional university in Northern Australia, in which all course materials are delivered on line, and a majority of students are external. The research was intended to inform an institutional policy and guidelines around the usage of OER. In addition, an interactive digital tool was designed as an introductory ‘gatekeeper’ to circumnavigate the legal and technical elements associated with searching, using , repurposing and creating OER within HE institutions. Through this process, the information gathered informed the design of the tool, or wizard, that enables the use of OER for academic staff and students, and access to a more innovative pedagogical approach via open educational practices.

The decision tree which formed the basis for the design of the wizard was informed by the information gathered in a literature review , and acts as a way to circumnavigate the perceived frustrations and complexities involved with engaging with OER as an academic staff member. It is hoped that the wizard will help promote the innovative use of OER by staff, and open the movement to usage by students as well. Further adjustments are also considered for future adaptation to the wizard to further promote innovative use, repurposing and creation of OER in open education practices, rather than using OER in a content-focused way.

References

Glennie, J., Harley, K., Butcher, N. and van Wyk, T. (Eds). (2012). Open education resources and change in higher education: reflections from practice. Commonwealth of Learning.
Lee, A. (2013). Literacy and competencies required to participate in knowledge societies. In Conceptual Relationship of Information Literacy and Media Literacy in Knowledge Societies. UNESCO.
Xiao, J. (2012): Successful and unsuccessful distance language learners: an ‘affective’ perspective. Open Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning, 27:2,121-136.
King, B. (2012): Distance education and dual-mode universities: an
Australian perspective. Open Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning, 27:1, 9-22.
Armellini, A. and Nie, M. (2013): Open educational practices for curriculum enhancement. Open Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning, 28:1, 7-20.

Funding acknowledgements

Commonwealth Structural Adjustment Fund

Files

• OER14_51_Funk_The_OER_Wizard_.doc
• The OER Wizard.pdf

Recap recording

A recording of this presentation is available to view at https://campus.recap.ncl.ac.uk/Panopto/Pages/Viewer/Default.aspx?id=93522f7e-6d1e-1506-932c-f6313f7936d7 ©Charles Darwin University 2014 Johanna Funk cc-by 4.0.

Further details

Keywords: OER, OEP, innovative pedagogy, educational technology, eLearning, 21st Century Competences