Using Open Educational Resources for Online Learning

With the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic in March 2020, school campuses were closed. Governments in most developing and developed countries have consequently recommended moving teaching and learning online. Even when campuses re-open, teachers and learners will probably need to continue to practise physical distancing and will need to continue to do some work online. This course, targeting teachers of primary and secondary schools, uses contemporary learning design and accessible technology to introduce participants to using Open Educational Resources for some aspects of online learning provision. The course is particularly suited for teachers in developing country contexts and will run over 4 weeks. It will require up to 3 hours of time each week. Participants will learn from readings, videos as well as discussions with fellow teachers and mentors. A Certificate of Completion will be given to those who complete all the tasks in the course.  

Unit 1: Using prescribed learning resources

Participants will:

• Develop a study schedule
• Develop before/during/after activities to promote engagement with content

Unit 2: Using OER

Participants will:

• Identify curriculum challenges
• Find and adapt OER to supplement the prescribed learning resources to address curriculum challenges e.g. alternative texts and examples, graphics, animations of processes, videos of practicals and experiments, etc.

Unit 3: Learner and learning support

Participants will:

• Review technology access options for the learner
• Pre-empt learner concerns by developing FAQs and providing access to appropriate self-study guidelines for online learning
• Use broadcast and digital apps to provide ongoing advice, support and feedback: Radio and TV, WhatsApp and SMS, Zoom and Skype, Google classroom

Unit 4: Managing assessment and feedback

Participants will:

• Develop authentic assessment tasks
• Develop and using rubrics
• Develop online quizzes
• Manage e-Portfolios

This course will be useful to teachers in secondary and primary schools as well as to officials connected with administration of school education and teacher training. The focus is on developing countries in the Pacific region.

By the end of this short course, you should be better able to:

1. Use prescribed learning resources effectively for online engagements;
2. Supplement prescribed learning resources with Open Educational Resources (OER);
3. Provide learner and learning support using online applications; and
4. Manage assessment and feedback online.

A Certificate of Completion will be awarded to those who complete all the tasks in the course.