OER4Schools/Resource Criteria

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Contents

[edit] 1 'OER4Schools: Criteria for Evaluation

[edit] 2 How these criteria were derived

Refernece to

[edit] 3 Criteria for individual learning resources

Following the Access2OER report, we broadly classify criteria according to the Three OER Freedoms: cultural/educational freedom, technical freedom, and legal freedom.

[edit] 3.1 Criteria to do with quality and "cultural freedom"

  • Materials meet the requirements of the national subject curriculum. Because this project is to do with ICT, they should also foster use of ICT as a tool to support subject learning (rather than discrete ICT skills).
  • There are clearly laid down aims and learning outcomes for each learning area/unit/topic.
  • The content and teaching approach support learners in achieving the learning outcomes and there is an explicit learning approach/cycle.
  • Materials have learner-friendly introductions, linking and summarizing passages that motivate learners and that provide coherence of materials – the ‘teaching voice’ is made explicit in the materials.
  • Materials have content that is presented in logical/sequential form and there are building blocks to the acquisition of key concepts, that are well scaffolded. They emphasise explanation and understanding.
  • Materials promote active, independent and collaborative learning and problem-solving approaches. More importantly, materials promote active thinking and analysis such that students learn the ability to think complex problems through. Materials that promote intellectual engagement with the course towards analysis and creativity show actual intellectual appropriation of ideas. They include open-ended and authentic problems and questions and value students’ own ideas, responses and reflections rather than simply imposing a “correct” model.
  • The content is accurate, up-to-date, and relevant to aims and outcomes.
  • The language level is appropriate for the targeted learners.
  • Texts should be proofread and of a good standard in English.
  • Examples are designed to suit and illustrate the local context in which learners live, including rural and urban settings.
  • Materials cater for individual differences and paces of learning. They avoid cultural and gender stereotypes and appeal to both sexes.

[edit] 3.2 Criteria to do with online access ("technical freedom")

The following additional criteria apply when configuring the sites where materials are stored:

  • Design pays heed to bandwidth and other technical constraints, eg. it avoids use of large video/audio/animation files.
  • Digital materials need to stand alone as well as work online, and be accessible to students working with minimal or no teacher support.
  • The site is easy to connect to and loads quickly with a minimum number of ‘crashed sessions’.
  • Pages and text are designed for consistency, readability and attractiveness.
  • The site is easily navigable, including being able to find resources easily.
  • Support in the use of various functions on the site is provided both in the site itself and from external technical assistance.
  • Materials are free and free for use for students.

[edit] 3.3 Criteria regarding licensing and ownership ("legal freedom")

  • Materials ideally are available under a permissive Creative Commons license. Where such a license is not available, materials should be explicity "free to education"
  • Ideally software is open source and cross-platform

[edit] 4 Notes

[edit] 4.1 Re-use

  • Materials re-use or adapt existing resources wherever possible.

[edit] 4.2 Criteria to do with community building

Where we are recommending an entire website for school use, the website should encourage community building:

  • The site encourages participants to comment on existing resources and to add their own resources.
  • The site encourages interaction with others
  • The site should allow users to export "their data" to offline platforms.


[edit] 5 Additional links

Instructional Design Template:  http://www.col.org/resources/publications/trainingresources/Pages/handbooks.aspx (note - when opening and it asks you for your user name and password – just press your esc key and the document will open)

 

Open Schooling site:  http://www.col.org/progServ/programmes/education/Pages/openSchooling.aspx

 

Link to the Quality Assurance Workshop report – South Africa:  http://www.col.org/resources/publications/consultancies/Pages/2008-10-08.aspx

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