Using Open Source Technologies to Design Courses for Student-Student Interaction and Building Elearning Skills

Abstract

According to UNESCO, demand for higher education increases globally by approximately 1% annually (Marginson, 2016). The Open Education Resource universitas (OERu) is responding to this demand. The OERu is a network of international tertiary institutions collaborating to provide accredited education to students everywhere. The OERu uses open source social networking technologies in courses produced as OER while implementing open educational practices (OEP). This paper describes the OERu’s role in open education, and the OERu’s specific OEP of its open source technologist developing a sustainable and affordable Next Generation Digital Learning Environment (NGDLE). The NGDLE is used in a micro-course entitled “Learning in a digital age” delivered by the OERu. This paper also examines the concept of NGDLE and the tools of the OERu’s NGDLE. Practical approaches for using online social networking tools will be discussed. // Paper ID 228