Abstracts
Abstract
This paper reports on the research findings from a national project examining the issues in creating, sharing, using, and reusing open educational resources (OER) in the context of the development of open education in Ireland. One important aspect of the research was to investigate the potential for using existing institutional research repository infrastructure for the purpose of ingesting, managing, and discovering OER produced by academics. This approach would imply a move from previous strategy around a centralised repository at the national level to a devolved model that relies on institutional research repositories. The opportunities and potential barriers to the adoption of this approach were explored through an online survey and focus groups with academics from a range of higher education institutions (HEIs). Also, a focus group of institutional repository managers was convened to discuss the potential of the institutional repositories with those leading their development. Analysis of the data indicates that the devolved approach to institutions would be possible if the right supports and protocols were put in place. It was acknowledged that research repositories could potentially also serve as repositories of teaching materials, fostering parity of esteem between teaching and research. However, a range of important challenges were present, and alternative solutions emerged, which are discussed in the context of the present and future of online OER repositories.
Keywords:
- OER,
- repository,
- open education,
- higher education,
- Ireland
Download the article in PDF to read it.
Download
Appendices
Bibliography
- Abeywardena, I. S., Karunanayaka, S. P., Nkwenti, M. N., & Tladi, L. (2018). A collaborative approach to OER policy and guidelines development in the commonwealth: The case of botswana, cameroon, and Sri Lanka. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 19(2), 71-88. doi: 10.19173/irrodl.v19i2.3415
- Allen, N., Browne, D., L., F. M., Green, C., & Tarkowski, A. (2015). Foundation for OER strategy development. Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IYDeAmw3aMxuqpfEr_7BEwM5FJiqqX1S4dzPJZQqwTY/edit#heading=h.lk9mqlicx4y8
- Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology AU - Braun, Virginia. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. doi: 10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
- Castaño, J., Punie, Y., Inamorato, A., Mitic, M., & Morais, R. (2016). How are higher education institutions dealing with openness? A survey of practices, beliefs and strategies in five European countries. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/publication/eur-scientific-and-technical-research-reports/how-are-higher-education-institutions-dealing-openness-survey-practices-beliefs-and
- Cohen, A., Reisman, S., & Bied Sperling, B. (2015). Personal spaces in public repositories as a facilitator for Open Educational Resource usage. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 16(4), 156-176. doi: 10.19173/irrodl.v16i4.2399
- Cox, G., & Trotter, H. (2016). Institutional culture and OER policy: How structure, culture, and agency mediate OER policy potential in South African Universities. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 17(5), 147-164. doi: 10.19173/irrodl.v17i5.2523
- Cronin, C. (2017). Openness and praxis: Exploring the use of open educational practices in higher education. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 18(5), 15-34. doi: 10.19173/irrodl.v18i5.3096
- European Union. (2013). Analysis and mapping of innovative teaching and learning for all through new technologies and Open Educational Resources in Europe (Working paper). Retrieved from http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1389115521455&uri=CELEX:52013SC0341
- Ehlers, U.-D. (2011). Extending the territory: From open educational resources to open educational practices. Journal of Open, Flexible, and Distance Learning, 15(2), 1-10. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1079969.pdf
- Heinen, R., Kerres, M., Scharnberg, G., Blees, I., & Rittberger, M. (2016). A federated reference structure for open informational ecosystems. Journal of Interactive Media in Education, 1(13). doi: 10.5334/jime.413
- Hilton, J., III. (2017). Special issue: Outcomes of openness: Empirical reports on the implementation of OER. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 18(4), i-v. doi: 10.19173/irrodl.v18i4.3378
- McAvinia, C., & Maguire, T. (2011). Evaluating the national digital learning repository (NDLR): New models of Communities of Practice. AISHE-J 3(1), Special Issue: papers from EdTech 2009. Retrieved from https://ojs.aishe.org/index.php/aishe-j/issue/view/3
- National Forum. (2015). Teaching and learning in irish higher education: A roadmap for enhancement in a digital world 2015-2017. Retrieved from https://www.teachingandlearning.ie/publication/teaching-and-learning-in-irish-higher-education-a-roadmap-for-enhancement-in-a-digital-world-2015-2017/
- National Forum. (2016). National Professional Development Framework for all Staff Who Teach in Higher Education. Retrieved from https://www.teachingandlearning.ie/publication/national-professional-development-framework-for-all-staff-who-teach-in-higher-education/
- New Media Consortium. (2018). NMC Horizon report: 2018 higher education edition. Retrieved from https://library.educause.edu/resources/2018/8/2018-nmc-horizon-report
- Rolfe, V. (2017). Striving toward openness: But what do we really mean? International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 18(7), 75-88. doi: 10.19173/irrodl.v18i7.3207
- Santos-Hermosa, G., Ferran-Ferrer, N., & Abadal, E. (2017). Repositories of open educational resources: An assessment of reuse and educational aspects. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 18(5), 84-120. doi: 10.19173/irrodl.v18i5.3063
- Thomas, A., Campbell, L., Barker, P., & Hawksey, M. (2012). Into the wild: technology for open educational resources. Bolton: Univeristy of Bolton. Retrieved from http://publications.cetis.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/into_the_wild_screen.pdf
- Wiley, D., Bliss, T. J., & McEwen, M. (2014). Open educational resources: A review of the literature. In J. M. Spector, M. D. Merrill, J. Elen, & M. J. Bishop (Eds.), Handbook of research on educational communications and technology (pp. 781-789). New York, NY: Springer New York.
- Wiley, D., & Hilton, J. (2018). Defining OER-enabled pedagogy. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 19(4), 133-147. doi: 10.19173/irrodl.v19i4.3601