Discussion thread: Why OERs?

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Discussion thread: Why OERs?


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Please read the OER Handbook Version 1.0


Why "share" expertise & resources in these times?

Hello everyone.

It is an old saying that 'teaching is the best way of learning." by sharing our knowledge and expertise, we are actually dynamising learning methodology and contributing towards making the world a better place to live in. It's by sharing that in turn we get access to other learning resources as well as give ourselves the oppotunity to explore and benefit from more OLRs. prema leckraz--Prema leckraz 17:46, 12 November 2009 (UTC)

  • Sharing has always been something really great and profitable for all and this also applies to 'share' expertise & resources. In this globalization age when the whole world has become such a small place to live we cannot escape sharing expertise & resources and this really helps those with poor funds of these resources and for those who have them to explore and learn more.--Sreechaye 20:32, 28 October 2009 (UTC)
  • The phrase which is in the mouth of all and everyone is that "the world is a global village". this means that we are all neighbours.Isn't a neighbourly gesture to help others who are less fortunate? We have the means and knowledge. Keeping them to ourselves serve what purpose? What do we gain more when we have so much knowledge? Sharing and making others happy and helping them is what we CAN gain out of it all. --Nimla Philippe 16:22, 28 October 2009 (UTC)
  • Humankind knowledge is growing in all domains with a still now unknown speed. While our world became a village in this globalization of economy, all countries, institutions and individuals have interest to share, to exchange their resources and be complementary each other.
  • Re: ...I wonder if "sharing" is a necessary consequence of globalisation. Welcome Rwagasana. --Gladys Gahona C. 13:44, 27 October 2009 (UTC)
  • I am not a fan of globalization but it is there and we must do make with. I think that globalization coupled with ICT can facilitate sharing everything, especially knowledge. --Rwagasana 14:24, 27 October 2009 (UTC)
  • "Knowledge is the only kind of wealth that multiples when you give it away", Schwartz p. (1996), The Art of the Long View, New York. Sharing of expertise and resources gives quick access to information needed and can help or assist others about important issues. Exchange of useful information helps to avoid potential problems. The sharing of resources and expertise is a means to promote globalisation. --sarita marooty 17:25, 28 October 2009 (UTC)
  • Since the world is becoming or is considered to be a global village, I believe that the more we share, the more we learn. In short, this builds a solid foundation of effective teaching and learning which can facilitate professional success. As Margaret Fuller has rightly said that “If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it.” --Soobhadrah 19:03, 28 October 2009 (UTC)
  • Knowledge is power and the more we share knowwledge the more pwer we transmit to those whose lives we touch. To share information is a good thing. Teaching provides the opportunity for us to edify and enrich the knowledge potential of others. --Pauline Broen Hanley October 29, 2009, Jamaica

--Chrisgun 18:36, 5 January 2010 (UTC) The world is flat(friedman) and we are all meeting there, coming from a long way(5000 years of human development).We are all bringing something with us. It's a bring and share

Who benefits from an OER textbook?

  • It is true that online resources such as OER textbooks cost less and can be easily updated so that the content is not out of date. I have been working in education in secondary schools for the past 20 years and it is quite frustrating when you spend a lot of money on class sets of books only for the content to be laughably outdated (especially photogtraphs) within just a couple of years. I think this is where OEResources come into their own. However, just as others have mentioned there is still the problem, even in the developed world of access to computers in the classroom and even at home. Here in NZ schools still have to pay for Internet use, and there are plenty of families who do not have fast broadband connections at home and many still do not have dial up. This means that realistically on-line resources cannot be exclusively used. Attitudes have to change and funding policies need to be re-evaluated. --Robeanne 08:56, 4 November 2009 (UTC)
  • Anyone can benefit from OER textbook,but it is specially for those who, cannot afford for highly costing textbook as in some African countries,for those who are not able to attend their normal educational courses for one reason or the other, for those who don't want to follow a traditional course and for those who don't want to reveal their identity for one reason or the other through following a traditional course as OER are generally available for public use without password-protection or registration requirements.--Sreechaye 20:55, 28 October 2009 (UTC)
  • We are those fortunate ones who can have access to all kinds of data through our computer. We are in constant contact with people who are well versed and we gain a little more day by day. What about those people who live for example in Africa? They do not have these opportinities. This howver does not apply only to them. Students who are bed ridden and cannot go to school have either the choice of paying for a private tutor or not study. What if they don't have the means? OERs might be the solution for them too. --Nimla Philippe 16:26, 28 October 2009 (UTC)
  • Everybody can benefit from OER textbook, but there is a special case of many developing countries of South America, Africa and Asia, who are poorly equipped in ICT infrastructure (poor internet connection and insufficient computers, etc.)and libraries. For students and even for their teachers finding good educational resources become a true challenge which they can meet successfully using OERs, i.e. MIT Courseware, Wikieducator resources, MERLOT resources, etc. --Rwagasana 13:47, 27 October 2009 (UTC)
  • Anyone can benefit from OER textbook, but this helps to solve the problem of high cost textbooks or book shortages especially in some African countries. The OER textbook can help learners enhance their knowledge by having access to other resources apart from the prescribed textbooks. --sarita marooty 17:38, 28 October 2009 (UTC)
  • Everyone can benefit from OER textbook, though people from many developing countries may not really have easy access to it because, for instance, of lack of internet facilities and so on. Use of open textbooks can lower educational costs for students. So, by becoming involved with the OER movement, numerous doors to higher education stay open to all. Soobhadrah Bokhoree--Soobhadrah 18:14, 28 October 2009 (UTC)
  • We all can benefit from OER textbooks. Unfornunately for those who are not "net ready" it would not apply to them. It would appear though that the major continents of the world will be able to access this wonderful resource now made available through high-tech technology. Pauline Brown Hanley, October 29, 2009, Jamaica.

Why higher education institutions like MIT, Tufts University, and others place open courses online?

  • Institutions like MIT and others give open courses online because it has to be profitable for them if not in the recent years but definitely in the long run-in the sense that thay will benefit from a broader expertise and resources,whereby the cost to get these is quite reasonable.This will surely help many who can't afford costly learning resources, to get enroll to a course and its also easily accessible.--Sreechaye 21:18, 28 October 2009 (UTC)
  • These people give for free online their courses in order to share their knowledge and to help those people who cannot afford to buy books and manuals. They do it in a spirit of sharing knowledge as a good for humanity and not as article to be sold. --Rwagasana 13:53, 27 October 2009 (UTC)
  • Is it only and act of generosity? If yes then its gorgeous and many people will benefit from this huge knowledge bank. But I believe the philosophy behind is that ultimately this will lead to freedom of knowledge, expertise and skills. It will cost these institutions less, on the long run, to obtain valuable contents and resources from the web. Hope that the decrease in expenses that will result will benefit the institutions but also the students --Gino 17:01, 28 October 2009 (UTC)
  • Maybe this is a means to sustain quality education where everyone can benefit and make learning more engaging. Helps to bridge the distance barriers anyone in different parts of the world can have access to these courses. --sarita marooty 17:45, 28 October 2009 (UTC)
  • First and foremost, to make it more accessible to all which encourages or promotes higher education to take place, especially for those people who cannot quit their jobs to pursue other course or program and thus, this could be the boost they need. Moreover, it can be more affordable. To add further, this allows education providers to beam their courses and programs to every corner of the world via the Internet. --Soobhadrah Bokhoree 19:35, 28 October 2009 (UTC)

--Chrisgun 20:33, 28 October 2009 (UTC) I think that they place it online because (1) technology is available and it allows their students to have easy access in advance .(2)no handouts to be given-no photocopies, reducing paper (3)they do a face-to-face and have the students to study on their own with flexibility (4)they free themselves so that they can attend individually to needy students (5) for students who have missed the class for some reasons-sick,transport,etc.(6) students at a remote place-abroad/access to internet.(7)for students who are working to pay for their studies(8)they don't want their students to take bias notes from internet(9)for easy interractive communications(10)reading the login provide details of access by the students, --Chris Gunnoo

More and more Universities are acknowledging that technology is the way to go in the learning process. Furthermore, more universities are aware that there are persons who would like to study but cannot do so full time or even part time but are willing to do online courses that are not too demanding. This also provides a more flexible means of learning especially for more mature individuals. --Pbhanley 23:03, 29 October 2009 (UTC)Pauline Brown Hanley--Pbhanley 23:03, 29 October 2009 (UTC), October 29, 2009, Jamaica

Does sustainability have something to do with this?

  • Perhaps to some extent this has something to do with economic sustainability as it reduces the cost of education by opening resources to everyone and in return their are free contents; no need for great investments. --sarita marooty 17:53, 28 October 2009 (UTC)

--Sreechaye 20:06, 28 October 2009 (UTC)




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