Changes

Right now, in many cases, the textbook tends to be the most important resource for teachers, if not the only resource.  This resource is limited, made once in a year and represent on set of thoughts.  These resources are largely text based, have very audio visual resources and may not address multiple learning needs. External resources, though available, are also largely non-digital, expensive and cannot easily be adapted for local needs and contexts.  For critical and diverse perspectives to develop, multiple resources must be available and it must be possible for knowledge to be constructed and shared from multiple contexts. Otherwise, it is possible that only some forms of knowledge will remain important and other will die out. For knowledge sharing to freely happen, educational resources must become freely available, freely shareable and freely changeable to adapt to local contexts and needs.  You have also read about the role of ICTs in the creation, sharing and distribution of knowledge in section on ICTs and Society. Open Educational Resources (OERs), as they are called are such learning resources. They are available freely, in multiple formats – text, audio, video – to allow for multiple learner needs.

Right now, in many cases, the textbook tends to be the most important resource for teachers, if not the only resource.  This resource is limited, made once in a year and represent on set of thoughts.  These resources are largely text based, have very audio visual resources and may not address multiple learning needs. External resources, though available, are also largely non-digital, expensive and cannot easily be adapted for local needs and contexts.  For critical and diverse perspectives to develop, multiple resources must be available and it must be possible for knowledge to be constructed and shared from multiple contexts. Otherwise, it is possible that only some forms of knowledge will remain important and other will die out. For knowledge sharing to freely happen, educational resources must become freely available, freely shareable and freely changeable to adapt to local contexts and needs.  You have also read about the role of ICTs in the creation, sharing and distribution of knowledge in section on ICTs and Society. Open Educational Resources (OERs), as they are called are such learning resources. They are available freely, in multiple formats – text, audio, video – to allow for multiple learner needs.

OER is a global phenomenon and began in 2001 with the launch of wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org), where knowledge was created and shared by many many people and not restricted to one person.  Following this, Massachussetts Institute of Technology, a leading university in the United States of America, released many of its course materials for free called Open Courseware (2001).

OER as a global phenomenon began in 2001 with the launch of wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org), where knowledge was created and shared by many many people and not restricted to one person.  Following this, Massachussetts Institute of Technology, a leading university in the United States of America, released many of its course materials for free called Open Courseware (2001).

The term Open Educational Resource (OER) was coined at the 2002 UNESCO Forum on Open Courseware. Subsequently, its definition has been updated to the following:

The term Open Educational Resource (OER) was coined at the 2002 UNESCO Forum on Open Courseware. Subsequently, its definition has been updated to the following: