web4 learning's List: open education

Although open educational resources (OER) are high on the agenda of social and inclusion
policies and supported by many stakeholders, their use in higher education (HE)
and adult education (AE) has not yet reached the critical threshold. This has to do with
the fact that the current focus in OER is mainly on expanding access to digital content,
without considering whether this will support educational practices, and promote
quality and innovation in teaching and learning. To provide educational opportunities
for all citizens we suggest therefore, extending the focus beyond access, to include ‘innovative
open educational practices’ (OEP).

This paper provides insight into how to improve the diffusion of OER through (formal)
institutional networks. It does so by examining two cases: (1) MORIL - the Multilingual
Open Resources for Independent Learning task force, a Network of Practice that acted
as a space for sharing and developing institutional OER strategies, and (2) TESSA - The
Teacher Education in Sub Saharan Africa programme, an R&D initiative for OER and
course design guidance for teachers and teacher-educators working in Sub-Saharan
African countries. The paper reflects on institutional development practices regarding
the dimensions and models of collaboration and innovation within communities and
networks of practice. A frame of reference is used, which aids the analysis of the OER
diffusion and adoption processes in each case.