This document discusses open educational resources (OER) and their use in course design. It defines key aspects of OER like being openly accessible, freely available, and shareable. The document provides examples of OER and how they can be used, including identifying main course topics, searching for and selecting reusable resources, and writing supporting materials. It contrasts how OER may be used openly or within structured membership systems. Useful resources on OER and links for further information are also included.

1. The Use of Open Educational Resources Professor Frank Rennie Lews Castle College UHI

2. The essence of OER 1) Open access 2) Freely available 3) Shareable 4) Relatively discrete ‘chunks’ 5)Saves needing to ‘re-invent the wheel’ 6) Needs to be contextualised 7) You can add to the OER pool.

3. Examples of OER

4. Learning Communities

5. OER Template OER OER OER OER OER OER Learning Resources Certification Assessment Tutorials Peer-to-peer Award email Dboard TMA LMS Exam skype

6. Using OER in Course Design 1. Identify the main generic headings for course content (key topics for discussion and learning) 2. Search for relevant resources that can be re-used for these headings 5. Select the format for sharing (wiki etc) Creative Commons Licence 4. Add your new materials to the common pool (if required) 3. Write ‘wrap-around’ materials that contextualise and support the learning resources

7. How OER are used Open Ad hoc (on the fly) Bottom-up Low cost (or free) Not always peer reviewed Free to all users Weak marketing brand Inexpensive to maintain Reliant upon individuals May need contextualisation Wide variation in level Membership More structured Tend to be top-down Can be expensive Usually peer reviewed Free to membership Strong marketing brand Expensive to maintain Reliant upon organisations Probably contextualised Greater consistency in level

8. Good resources to read Gurell S. and Wiley, D. (2010) Open Educational Resources Handbook 1.0 for educators. Available from http://wikieducator.org/OER_Handbook/educator_version_one Commonwealth of Learning (2005) Creating learning materials for open and distance learning: A Handbook for Authors and Instructional Designers. Available from http://www.col.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/odlinstdesignHB2.pdf OECD (2007) Giving knowledge for free: The emergence of Open Educational Resources. ISBN 978-92-64-03174-6 Available at: www.sourceoecd.org/education/9789264031746

9. Useful Links sideCAP wiki (with resources) http://sidecap.wetpaint.com The course on OpenLearn http://openlearn.open.ac.uk The sideCAP report http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1267854

10. View this presentation again at www.slideshare.net/frankrennie