A Review on Awareness Levels of Open Educational Resources (OER) and Free Technologies Used for ODL Fashion Education in the Case of the Open University, Sri Lanka
A Review on Awareness Levels of Open Educational Resources (OER) and Free Technologies Used for ODL Fashion Education in the Case of the Open University, Sri Lanka
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Date
2019-09
Authors
Gunasekara, Himasha
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Corporate Author
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Publisher
Commonwealth of Learning (COL)
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Abstract
Open and Distance Learning (ODL) is a second chance for people those who have missed their tertiary
education. Open Educational Resources (OER) and free technologies are highly utilized to achieve extended
classroom learning experience. Many foundations contribute to Open Educational Resources (OER) and free
technology movement to strengthen ODL education. UNESCO defines OER as the open segment of the
educational resources, supported by the information communication technology, for discussion, utilize and
adopt by a group of community for non-commercial purposes (UNESCO, 2002). But yet the positive outcome
of OER and free technologies are to be gained as many ODL students do not know what is OER, how to use and
adopt OER and free technologies and where they are available to access. Specially, art and design ODL
education do not use OER as a popular method of teaching. Through this research it was expected to review the
awareness levels of students on OER and free technologies. Both qualitative and quantitative research
techniques were used and the sample population consists with 79 fashion design students. It was discovered that
the students had moderate awareness levels on OERs and MOOC s and even after starting their learning process
as an ODL student they have not significantly developed their understanding on OERs and MOOCs. Though
Student Based Learning (SBL) environment is effective in tertiary education and it is a prominent component in
ODL; expectations of majority students are similar to conventional fashion student. Many students had moderate
preference on Online Learning Experience (OLE) and majority was not familiar with MOOCs. Ultimately, it has
resulted poor exchange of ideas, opinions, perspectives, and made students to go in difficult routes to complete
their studies. At the same time some students who preferred OLE had mentioned that it made them independent
with good self confidence.// Paper ID 139
Description
Subject
Open Educational Resources (OER),
Open and Distance Learning (ODL),
Open Source Technologies
Country
Sri Lanka
Region
Asia