The Making More of Open Educational Resources (MMOER) was an action research project with part time teachers from Derby Adult Learning Service. The results were presented at OER15 conference in Cardiff April 2015

1. How can tutors in Community Learning
settings work most effectively to
source, adapt and adopt existing Open
Educational Resources to enrich their
own delivery?

2. Working with Community Educators to find the
OEP 'light bulb' moments.
Alastair Clark

3. Making More of Open Educational
Resources
MMOER

4. This media file is in the public domain in the United States. This applies to U.S. works where the
copyright has expired, often because its first publication occurred prior to January 1, 1923.
MMOER

5. Aim
• To undertake a collaborative action research
with adult tutors to explore the most effective
ways of making use of open educational
resources.

6. Context

9. This media file is in the public domain in the United States. This applies
to U.S. works where the copyright has expired, often because its first
publication occurred prior to January 1, 1923.
MMOER

10. Map Copyright Open Street Map
CC – BY- SA
City of Derby
This media file is in the public domain in the United States.
This applies to U.S. works where the copyright has expired,
often because its first publicationoccurred prior to January 1,
1923.

11. The research question

12. How can tutors in Community
Learning settings work most
effectively to source, adapt and adopt
existing Open Educational Resources
to enrich their own delivery?

13. Sub questions:
 How can collaboration aid content search?
 How far do tutors currently have skills required for adaptation?
 Which platforms are most effective for aggregation and presentation of
resources?

14. The project

15. Email
invitation
F2F
17 February
TASK
Collect two
OERs
XTLearn
Partner
OER4US
Forum
F2F
17 March

16. How much time will I have to
commit?
• 1) initial half day meeting (17 Feb)
• 2) online research in your own time
(minimum 2 hours but you may wish to do more)
• 3) participation in online forum
• 4) face-to-face review meeting (17 March)
2.5 hrs
2.5 hrs
2 hrs
?

19. February – March 2015
• 11 initial volunteer participants
• 8 completed the initial survey
• 7 completed the final survey
• 9 completed collections

22. Meet the participants

23. Mutual support
Not a competition
We want to build
understanding
Our way of
working
Respect / Anonymity

24. Task in 2 hours
Create a collection of 2 resources:
at least one resource that you will use as it is
at least one resource that you amend.
A short description of what you did and how you
did it.

25. Rod Paley

26. Resources
Collected and used
unchanged
Adapted New resources created
48 6 5

30. Motivation

31. Motivation for taking part (before)

32. Develop knowledge
to cascade to
others in the
service
Raise profile of
mobile learning
and use it it more
in teaching
Because my
Curriculum
Manager asked
me to :-)
Part of CPD
I didn't tick the "I am just curious" at all because
there's no just about it - I AM curious and want to be a
part in moving this forward. I think that OERs are a
positive way forward for education, empowering
tutors/teachers, other professions, and learners to
work collaboratively and for the common good.

33. Motivation for taking part (after)
Educate myself on
using OERS
Consolidate and
enhance existing
skills/knowledge.
Deepen understanding.
Work collaboratively
with likeminded peers.
I like the idea of
sharing.
We should share
more

34. Engagement with OERs
before and after project

35. 0 1 2 3 4 5
I had never heard of OERs
I have heard of OER but never used
them
I have looked at few OERs but used
them very little.
I used OERs quite a lot but have never
tried changing anything.
I have used and adapted OERs
I have licensed material I have made
myself as OER
Before
Which of these statements best describes your knowledge and experience
of Open Educational Resources (OER) ?
Before MMOER

36. 0 1 2 3 4 5
I had never heard of OERs
I have heard of OER but never used
them
I have looked at few OERs but used
them very little.
I used OERs quite a lot but have never
tried changing anything.
I have used and adapted OERs
I have licensed material I have made
myself as OER
After
Before
Which of these statements best describes your knowledge and experience
of Open Educational Resources (OER) ?
Compare before and after MMOER

37. I understand what is meant by an Open
Educational Resource. 7
I understand the meaning of the elements of a
Creative Commons Licence. 4
I know how to search specifically for Open
Educational Resources 6
I am able to make simple adaptations to openly
licensed resources that I have found. 5
I know how to add a Creative Commons licence
to a resource that I create. 2
N=7
Self assessed competence, after MMOER

38. The wider picture

39. Findings
• It was clear that understanding of the distinction between free and
open is very patchy.
• Many (but not all) participants had heard of OERs prior to the
project but self-reported levels of engagement rose after the
intervention.
• The project evidenced enthusiasm for identification of quality
stimulating materials to inspire learners
• Primary focus is on collection for use with their learners rather than
adaptation or sharing of content created.
• A minority of participants create or adapt materials to share with
others
• There was initially a lack of understanding of the operation of
Creative Commons licences and distinction between IPR and usage
rights.

40. Sub Question 1 How can
collaboration aid content search?

41. Sub Question 2
How far do tutors currently have skills
required for adaptation?

42. Sub Question 3
Which platforms are most effective
for aggregation and presentation of
resources?

44. How can tutors in Community Learning settings work
most effectively to source adapt and adopt existing
Open Educational Resources to enrich their own
delivery?
• The recurring answer to this question in
questionnaires, interviews and focus group
discussion was to use subject networks at Derby
to introduce the concept and offer support in
practice through the E Learning support team.

45. The challenge
• Stronger appetite for free than open
• Limited time
• Patchy online connectivity

47. www.stirringlearning.eu