Feedback on Version 1.0 of the elevator pitch.
Fragment of a discussion from Talk:OERu/Planning/OERu marketing communications and partner engagement/Value Proposition/Elevator pitch
Elucidating a few challenges with concepts or phrases in Version 1 of the Elevator pitch:
- community of scholars: The OERu does not provide tutorial support, therefore from a learner perspective the notion of access to a community of scholars may create false expectations. I wouldn't use this concept for an elevator pitch.
- building knowledge: While the discovery and dissemination of knowledge is core business for research-led universities - the OERu network does not carry out pure research. I wouldn't refer to building knowledge - but rather shift the emphasis to learning.
- facilitating innovation: The OERu is an innovative model - but our core purpose is not to facilitate innovation. We implement innovative pedagogies (but stating this could have negative impact within the academy - its best to avoid assertions about particular pedagogical approaches.
- free As indicate by Dave in the meeting, unfortunately the English language does not distinguish between the two meanings of free (i.e gratis and liberty). The free we are referring to is "no-cost" (gratis). That said, the majority of readership would assume that free means no cost. Learners will pay for assessment services - so we must be careful in how we state free, i.e. learning is free, but assessment service will carry cost.
- knowledge acquisition - its pedantic, but imo its better to refer to learning rather than knowledge acquisition so as to avoid any epistemological debates which are rife in the academy ;-).
- students - we mustn't refer to students. The concept of student in many jurisdictions suggests that there is a contractual relationship between the student and the teaching organisation. There is no contractual relationship between an OERu learner and the partner institution until the point where they request assessment services. We must be careful not to convey the idea that partner institutions incur legal responsibility for "free" OERu learners. Our practice at OERu is to refer to learners (not students.)
Key themes that are important (I also recommend consulting the [OERu/Planning/OERu_marketing_communications_and_partner_engagement/Sound_bites_and_barriers#Sound_bites_capturing_the_essence_of_the_OERu|sound bites]:
- OERu is an international network of accredited organisations leading and facilitating access to more affordable and sustainable provision of education to recognised qualifications using the power of open source materials.
- Learners take courses for free and can count learning towards recognised credentials.
- We do this using open online courses - no password is required, you can learn at your own pace and take assessments when you're ready.
