This short report is intended for the management team of a traditional Rwandan university, which has recently heard about open education and wants to develop a strategy on it. As the management team has little experience in open education, a briefing documentation about open education was given for their consideration. Although this is not a fully costed business proposal, it makes recommendations for open pathways, suggests a strategy for OER production, suggests engagement with other initiatives, and proposes a cautious approach or any mixture deemed appropriate.
The report provides an overview of the domain, listing referenced searches in the academic domain as well as current researches and developments in the domain. It presents various proposals on the production, use and publication of Open Educational Resources (OER) and provides guidelines for the practice of learning and teaching in order to improve the quality of the student experience, to improve the provision of learning opportunities for all and to improve pedagogical practices. It also recognizes that the use, creation and publication of OER should be consistent with the university's mission and overall goals. Finally, the report highlights the main benefits for the University of adopting an open education policy, suggests a strategy for the production of OER, engagement with other initiatives, propose a cautious approach or constitute a mixture deemed appropriate. It outlines the main associated risks, proposes strategies to overcome them, and exposes the required technologies, including new roles and responsibilities to apply this new policy in academic institutions. It just provides hands-on experience, guidance and recommendations for the university to consider while developing an open education policy strategy.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction and Background
1.1. Context Discussions
1.2. Background and Overview of the Area
2. Open Education Policy Recommendations
2.1. Exploration
2.2. Installation
2.3. Initial implementation
2.4. Full implementation recommendations
2.5. Policy Sustainability Guidance
3. Benefits
4. Risks
5. Resources
6. Conclusion
Objectives and Core Topics
This report aims to provide a strategic briefing for the management of a traditional university that is looking to adopt open education practices. The primary objective is to outline an implementation roadmap for Open Educational Resources (OER) while addressing the pedagogical, technical, and sustainability considerations necessary for successful integration.
- Strategic implementation of OER in traditional higher education settings.
- Pedagogical innovation through open licensing and collaborative content creation.
- Risk management strategies regarding copyright, usability, and project sustainability.
- Technical infrastructure and organizational policy development for open education.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction and Background
Education has always been described as a sharing enterprise in which teachers share their knowledge, ideas and information with learners, from which new knowledge, skills, ideas and understandings can be built (David & Cable, 2012). As Anastasios and Maria (2018) point out, the concept of Open Education relies on the idea that the world's knowledge is a public good and its features could be found in many ways throughout the history of education, like free play believed to develop children’s cognition, help them explore, share and exchange (Theo, 2016). However open education has recently become a widely debated subject.
The current revolution in teaching and learning draws upon the power of internet and advances in technologies to provide opportunities for scaling up open educational opportunities by allowing rapid disseminations and enabling people to connect, collaborate and access knowledge. This open education movement has established a tradition of sharing and planted a new pedagogy where educators and learners create, shape and evolve knowledge together, deepening their skills and understanding as they go. It is based on the belief that everyone has the freedom to use, customize, improve and redistribute educational resources in new ways for new audiences, so that education can be personalized to individual users (Affouneh et al., 2018).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction and Background: Outlines the historical context of education as a sharing enterprise and introduces the modern shift toward open educational resources and pedagogy.
2. Open Education Policy Recommendations: Presents a structured implementation model consisting of exploration, installation, initial implementation, full implementation, and sustainability guidance.
3. Benefits: Analyzes the advantages of adopting an open policy, including institutional reputation, improved pedagogical quality, and enhanced student learning experiences.
4. Risks: Discusses potential challenges such as time constraints, sustainability of funding, copyright clearance issues, and curricular heterogeneity.
5. Resources: Highlights the essential technologies and tools required to support an open education strategy, ranging from online platforms to computer-based training.
6. Conclusion: Reflects on the broader impact of open education on society and the necessity for academic institutions to adapt to these digital advancements.
Keywords
Open Educational Resource, OER, Open Educational Policy, Massive Open Online Courses, MOOCs, Open Publication, Online Learning, Distance Learning, Higher Education, Digital Literacy, Open Licensing, Educational Technology, Pedagogical Innovation, Knowledge Society, Curriculum Alignment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this report?
The report provides a strategic briefing for traditional universities interested in adopting open education, specifically focusing on the implementation of Open Educational Resources (OER).
What are the primary topics covered?
The key topics include policy recommendations for OER, the pedagogical benefits of openness, identification of associated risks, and the technical resources needed to support an open strategy.
What is the ultimate goal of the proposed open education policy?
The goal is to improve the quality of the student experience, broaden access to learning opportunities, and align the university's teaching practices with the needs of a modern knowledge society.
Which scientific methods are discussed for policy implementation?
The report utilizes an implementation model derived from existing academic literature, emphasizing structured stages like exploration, installation, and evaluation to guide systemic change.
What is addressed in the main body of the text?
The main body breaks down the practical steps for OER production, offers guidelines for policy sustainability, analyzes the benefits for teaching, and provides strategies to mitigate risks like copyright confusion.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is defined by terms such as OER, Open Educational Policy, Open Publication, Digital Literacy, and Online Learning.
How does the report suggest handling copyright barriers?
It recommends clear assignment of Creative Commons licenses and emphasizes that authors should be acknowledged, even when the university acts as the copyright holder.
What role do technologies play in the proposed strategy?
Technologies are seen as the backbone for dissemination, including platforms for lecture notes, video content, and collaborative tools for students and faculty.
- Citar trabajo
- Dr. Sixbert Sangwa (Autor), 2019, Open Education Synthesis and Recommendations, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1012794
