Are Open Educational Resources Cultural Colonisation?

Are Open Educational Resources Cultural Colonisation?

Patrick McAndrew

OLnet.org

Cultural content

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNhHTfDyJjU

More neutral

More local

More neutral

More local

Cultural discourse

Discourses in OpenLearn

Andreia Santos – opened2007 – a.i.santos@open.ac.uk

Andreia Santos – opened2007 – a.i.santos@open.ac.uk

The Discourse of collaboration

MIT OCW is committed to open systems and will share its approach with those who may want to launch similar efforts.

Extract 1: from MIT’s OCW OpenCourseWare website

OCW now stands as a new model for disseminating knowledge, serving as a sort of “shared intellectual commons” available

to educators and learners around the globe

Extract 2: from MIT’s OpenCourseWare website

Andreia Santos – opened2007 – a.i.santos@open.ac.uk

The Discourse of collaboration

What does the Open University bring to the open content field?

[…] A vast quantity of high quality learning materials: we specialise in content and support designed for distance and e-learning; this

includes self-assessment tools, collaboration forums and a personalised learner experience […]

Extract 3: from OpenLearn website

Andreia Santos – opened2007 – a.i.santos@open.ac.uk

The Institutional Discourse

Open content is consistent with the University’s commitment to social justice and widening participation in higher education

Extract 6: from the OpenLearn website – power point presentation introducing the initiative

Andreia Santos – opened2007 – a.i.santos@open.ac.uk

The Institutional Discourse

OpenLearn…

[…] Could be a way of building markets and reputation […]

Extract 7: from OpenLearn website - power point presentation introducing the initiative

Andreia Santos – opened2007 – a.i.santos@open.ac.uk

The Institutional Discourse

MIT department heads believe that MIT OCW is a tool that indirectly aids in recruitment

Extract 8: from MIT’s OpenCourseWare ‘How to’ website

OU Culture

Implementation view

Implementation viewXML/Moodle

Targets

Media team

HTML

Researchteam

ResearchAgenda

Cultural mix

OCWC membership

OCWC membership

JapanAffiliates

USA

Spain

UK

Open =• Unlimited• Freed• FreeAND• Available• Accessible• Connected• Empowered

8m visitors since launch

User augmented content

Collaborations

Out

In

The interfaces

UnisulVirtual

OpenLearn

All part of the solution

http://www.lumaxart.com/

Open Educational Resources are Cultural Communication

Credits• Coke can* http://www.flickr.com/photos/55935853@N00/3434490584/

• Hands & Puzzle* http://www.lumaxart.com/

• Open Sign* http://www.flickr.com/photos/rightee/4356950

• Community Dialogue* http://www.flickr.com/photos/nesri/3629974453/

• Other images* http://www.flickr.com/photos/openpad/

*

Dr Patrick McAndrewThe Open UniversityWalton HallMilton KeynesMK7 6AA

www.open.ac.uk/openlearn

olnet.org

p.mcandrew@open.ac.uk