Below an overview of all published reports is given.
Title: Analyses of current practices in Europe
Author: Ignasi Labastida
Date: 14 September 2012
Summary: In this report we would like to demonstrate the current situation of the use of licenses in the European OCW sites with an aim to highlight good as well as incorrect open content licensing practices. This report will be used to prepare guidelines that will demonstrate correct open content licensing practices.
The report is divided into two parts. The first part analyzes the use of licenses in OCW sites. The second part is focused on licensing practices of contents within sites. Before the analysis of the sites the report provides a short introduction into Open Content Licensing (OCL) in order to understand the meaning of the licenses used. This short introduction is aimed at beginners with little or no prior experience with open content licenses. The conclusion highlights some of the most pertinent aspects with open content licensing identified through this research.
Title: Workshop on Scenarios for the promotion of virtual mobility by using OCW
Author: Edmundo Tovar
Date: 16 April 2012
Summary: This workshop aims at developing successful scenarios for the promotion of virtual mobility by using OCW in an EU environment. To this effect we would like to understand different uses of OER in Higher Education.
This workshop has been planned as part of the project “OpenCourseWare (OCW) in the European HE context” “carried out with the support of the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Union. The focus of the project is the creation of preconditions for a strong European/OCW framework and as consequence a decline of obstacles between European institutes, and therefore an increase in real student mobility. A stronger framework, we believe, will mean closer cooperation between European institutes, which may result in mutual use of materials- Materials will enhance quality and increase the usage of online courses, therefore facilitating virtual student mobility and an increase in real student mobility. On top of that, an improved European/OCW network will improve conditions for Lifelong Learners, an important user group of OCW/OER.
Title: Minutes Internal Stakeholders Meeting - Leuven
Date: 29-30 May 2012
Summary: The workshop attained its stated goals. First of all it enabled to share experiences between institutions that are considering OCW membership or are in the process of implementation like Leuven, Leiden and Granada. This of course aligns with the main goal of the OCW EU project as such. It also led to a draft TOC for the student mobility handbook, in such a way that the collaboration and interaction between WP1, WP2 and WP3 are enhanced as requested by the commission. The TOC will enable the Leuven partner to start develop the Student handbook during the late summer period. Also, the workshop included a technical meeting between representatives of TU Delft and KU Leuven to discuss how KU Leuven could technically setup its Open courseware. Besides, an interesting discussion was held on the websurvey, which will be elaborated during fall. The websurvey will be a key element in providing the evidence base for the Student Handbook.
Title: Poster Open Courseware
Date: 20-22 June 2012
Event: World open educational resources congress
Over 400 delegates including representatives of Government, educators, NGOs, and universities attended the Congress which was organized in full partnership with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and supported by a generous grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation (USA). The goals of the Congress were to:
- Release the 2012 Paris OER Declaration;
- Showcase through an Open Seminar & Exhibition the world’s best practices in OER policies and initiatives;
- Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 2002 UNESCO Forum that coined the term Open Educational Resources (OER).
Title: Poster Open Courseware
Date: 27/28 September 2012
Event: Open and distance learning - Cyprus
Educational models are changing increasingly. More universities are embracing open and flexible learning and as a consequence, the creation of international student markets is becoming a reality. Formal learning nowadays becomes integrated with non-/informal learning and educational innovation is now both financially, technology and socially driven. Worldwide there is an awareness of the emerging role of open education en open educational resources to support educational transformation. For example, by offering better quality education to significantly larger numbers of students.
The role of open and flexible learning is becoming more important for these new models, new markets and new media.
All of the above was the scope of EADTU’s 25th Anniversary conference under the EU-Presidency of Cyprus.
Title: Analyses of existing research and best practices
Authors: Edmundo Tovar, Eva Sancho Zamora
Date: 08 October 2012
Summary: This report presents a study of experiences of the use of open educational resources (OER) that was based on a questionnaire completed by leaders of OER initiatives in countries all over the world. The results were obtained by analysing the cases studied. This activity is described within the framework ‘Mobility Strategies and removal of barriers to mobility in HE’, or more specifically within the work package 'WP1-Pedagogic and cultural issues: analysing successful modes for or the promotion of virtual mobility through OCW, including best practices’. The main objective of this work package is to develop successful scenarios for the promotion of virtual mobility by using OCW in an EU environment. To achieve this, we need to understand the various models that could be used for virtual mobility by using OCW in an EU environment. We will also focus on identifying new scenarios for the promotion of virtual mobility, and their requirements. We will create guidelines to facilitate the successful implementation of OCW and to support directors of education in using OCW for virtual mobility. The results of this project will give traditional universities easy access to knowledge, experience, tools and models related to OCW. This will make it easier for them to make the decision to publish their educational materials on the web. Thus all lifelong learners in Europe will gain more access to higher education as well as the opportunity to study whatever they want. Students will be able to orientate themselves towards their studies before they actually start studying; this will allow them to make more motivated choices, which will increase study success.
Title: OpenCourseWare in the European Higher Education Context - progress report
How to make use of its full potential for virtual mobility
Date: 12 October 2012
Summary: Although Open Educational Resources (OER) and more specifically OpenCourseWare (OCW) are on the political agenda of the European Union (EU) and of many national governments, and are supported by many stakeholders in the educational sphere, their use in higher education has not yet reached a critical threshold. Even when OER/OCW are implemented, focus remains on building more access to digital content and too little consideration is given to whether and how they could support student virtual mobility. Many higher education institutions (HEI) in Europe do not yet participate in the OCW movement and not all students are aware of OCW and its possibilities. Recognition of OCW, as an element of virtual mobility, is still at an early stage and business models and supportive role of governments need further elaborations. Finally, cultural differences and different teaching styles can be an obstacle to different users of OCW/OER.
