Open Educational Resources: Help or Hindrance to Open Learning?

Abstract

International Conference on Open and Online Learning, Penang, Malaysia, 12 June 2007, Opening Address, Open Educational Resources: Help or Hindrance to Open Learning? John Daniel, Asha Kanwar and Paul West, Commonwealth of Learning // Thanks to significant external support, notably from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, institutions around the world are creating open educational resources (OERs) in the expectation that they will increase access to quality education. Is this hope justified? How often do OERs travel the last mile to the individual learner in the form of award-bearing courses? How open are open educational resources? Is the dogma of the 'freedom culture' obstructing the sensible sharing of learning materials? Has the medium become the message? These questions are examined with particular reference to the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth.