This document discusses the potential for open educational resources (OER) and online learning to provide universal access to higher education. It outlines how OER began with early initiatives like MIT's OpenCourseWare and the UK Open University's OpenLearn platform. Enrollments increased, showing demand for open models. The OER movement grew through collaborations and the Cape Town Declaration. Recent projects like the UKOER and TOUCANS study explore using OER across institutions for accredited degrees through the proposed OER university (OERu). While challenges remain around curriculum, assessment, accreditation and business models, open education could help the 100 million adults unable to afford traditional university achieve higher education.

1. The OER university: collaborating,
innovating and educating
Gabi Witthaus, 22/02/2012
For “New Models for Education and Training Built on
Open Educational Resources” Workshop (An OU-UNED-
EADTU event)

2. This kid wants to go
to university one
day…. So does
this
one...
Image by Steve Jurvetson

3. A traditional university education
Image by ttarasiuk

4. In 2001, MIT disrupted the model…
http://ocw.mit.edu/

5. In 2006, the OU tried it in the UK
http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/

6. And then…
Enrolments increased…

7. So were they
just blowing…
their own
trumpets?
Image by Sara Björk

8. Or was it a
situation?

9. In 2008, it became a movement
http://www.capetowndeclaration.org

10. Because some things don’t
need reinventing…
Image by Thomas Guest

11. And some
things are
rather
specialised.
Image by Steve Jurvetson

12. From 2009 to present: UKOER

13. At first, there were a lot of headaches…
Metadata
Copyright
To brand or not to brand?
Tracking
Formats reuse
Image by JD Hancock

14. But we soon found… we  sharing
Image by D.Begley

15. #ukoer

16. So what does it mean
for him?
And for
him?
Image by Steve Jurvetson

17. Anyone can access OERs with a
computer and an internet
connection
Image by Babak Fakhamzadeh

18. So now…

19. We’ve moved from this:
Image by ttarasiuk

20. To this:
You can look…
Image by Elvert Barnes
Image by Elvert Barnes

21. But you can’t enjoy the
sweet taste of success.
Image by Ralph Daily

22. 100 million adults
eligible for university
who can’t afford it
(UNESCO)
Image by James Cridland

23. Will this…
ever be possible for the 100 million?
Image by Pete Birkinshaw

24. Maybe…

25. Because openness is infectious…
But what about credibility?

26. OERu partners
are all accredited
by national
accrediting
bodies
http://wikieducator.org/Oeru

27. TOUCANS: Testing the OERu Concept
and Aspirations: A National Study
www.le.ac.uk/toucans
Image by
Tim Sträter

29. Curriculum?
Image by Jayel Aheram

31. Assessment?
Image by flippinyank

33. Accreditation and credit transfer?
Image by IvanWalsh.com

35. What’s the business model?
Image by Gabi Witthaus cc-by

37. So perhaps this…
is a real possibility for the 100 million?
Image by Pete Birkinshaw

38. But will it work for the learners?
Help!!!!!
Photo by Erik Charlton

39. Volunteers to the rescue?
Photo by MisterJamie

41. Openness: the costs and risks?
Photo by Dallas Vegan

43. Could this be an opportunity…

44. To shape the future
for them…
and for them?
Images by by Steve Jurvetson, James Cridland, Walt Stoneburner

45. Many thanks to the following people for their generous sharing of information:
•Prof. Terry Anderson (Professor and Canada Research Chair in Distance Education,
Athabasca University, Canada)
•Dr Elizabeth Archer (Specialist: Institutional Research at the University of South Africa)
•Kevin Bell (Innovation Team: Leader of Learning and Development, Southern New
Hampshire University, USA)
•David Bull (Director: University Preparatory Programs, University of Southern
Queensland, Australia)
•Irwin DeVries (Director, Instructional Design, Thompson Rivers University, Canada)
•Vasi Doncheva (Flexible Learning Manager, Northtec Polytechnic, New Zealand)
•Wayne Mackintosh (Director: International Centre for Open Education, Otago
Polytechnic, New Zealand, and Founding Director of the OER Foundation)
•Prof. Rory McGreal (Associate Vice-President, Athabasca University, Canada)
•Prof. Joyce McKnight (Associate Professor, State University of New York/ Empire
State College, USA. Speaking in her personal capacity as a scholar.)
•Terry Neal (Flexible Learning Manager, Open Polytechnic, New Zealand)
•Paul Stacey (Director, Curriculum Development, BC Campus, Canada)
•Herbert Thomas (Electronic Learning Media Team Leader , Canterbury University,
New Zealand)
•Prof. Sandra Wills (Executive Director, Learning and Teaching, Wollongong University,
Australia)
Thanks also to Patrick McAndrew at the Open University and colleagues at the
University of Leicester, especially Dr Ming Nie and Dr Alejandro Armellini, for their
support in this research.

46. Thanks also to Palitha Edirisingha, Alejandro Armellini, Paul Rudman,
Terese Bird and Ming Nie for feedback on earlier drafts of this
presentation.
Image by Mykl Roventine

47. CONTACT:
E-mail: Gabi.Witthaus@le.ac.uk
Website: www.le.ac.uk/beyonddistance
Blog: toucansproject.wordpress.com
Twitter: @twitthaus
Please use the blog to continue the discussion