The standard view of this forum does not always work well with assistive technology. We also provide a simpler view, which still contains all features. Switch to simple view.

Kris Stutchbury Post 1

• 4 February 2021, 3:57 PM

Activity 4.3: Understanding OER

Share something here that you have learnt about OER, or ask a question that you have about OER. 

Rafia Naz Post 2 in reply to 1

• 15 February 2021, 5:59 AM

I have used OERs before and definitely great way to leverage free resources for teaching and learning 

Oluwaseyi Agunbiade Post 3 in reply to 1

• 2 March 2021, 2:33 PM

OERs need to be quality assured by the users. The publishers do not take responsibilities for the quality and appropriatedness.

David Ngatia Post 5 in reply to 3

• 2 March 2021, 7:18 PM

I agree with you Oluwaseyi that the user need to be keen and critically analyze the quality and appropriateness of the OERs to choose ones that suits his/her context i.e the teacher need to have "Knowledge of Practice" and  "Knowledge in Practice" when selecting the OERs for use.

FLORENCE KISIRKOI Post 31 in reply to 5

• 16 March 2021, 9:53 PM

You are right David that knowledge and skill of selection of OERs is critical. However we realize use of OERs help develop knowledge in practice and knowledge of practice. There are many other benefits of use of OERs which somebody could highlight here

David Ngatia Post 4 in reply to 1

• 2 March 2021, 7:07 PM
I have used TESSA OERs as a teacher educator to enrich my teaching in preparing teacher- trainees.

Kris Stutchbury Post 6 in reply to 4

• 3 March 2021, 10:33 PM

I am delighted to hear it David! Some teacher educators think that they are intended for teachers. But they provide lots of classroom examples that teacher educators can use to enrich their teaching, as you are doing. 

FLORENCE KISIRKOI Post 32 in reply to 6

• 16 March 2021, 9:57 PM

You are right Kris. In particular, the case studies takes one right into a classroom where best practice is in use, one experiences it and could tailor it for use in ones own class.

FLORENCE Kamonjo Post 7 in reply to 1

• 5 March 2021, 9:48 AM • Edited by the author on 5 March 2021, 9:50 AM

Understanding OER

I have known there is a slow intake of these resources. Many people are not aware that they are available for use. I came to know OER through TESSA and I have used them in my teaching. I have gone ahead and created awareness on OER in my department to both the lecturers and the students.

David Ngatia Post 9 in reply to 7

• 5 March 2021, 2:37 PM

I agree with you Florence. A lot of sensitization need to be done to make people aware of the OERs. 

Maryam Adamu Post 8 in reply to 1

• 5 March 2021, 12:55 PM
I use an OER material for my teaching. I have learnt that you can get an OER of what you need and modify it based on the context you want to use it. It is not surprising to note that many people are not aware of OER, some have used it but do not know what it means.

David Ngatia Post 10 in reply to 8

• 5 March 2021, 2:41 PM

That is the beauty of OERs Maryam. Since they all fall under the six Creative Common Licenses, one can pick them and customize them to suit his/her own context.

Sefinat Omuya Post 11 in reply to 1

• 5 March 2021, 5:45 PM

I learnt that OER are free resources that can be used to further enhance our teaching. OER materials are enormous and the user needs to judge the quality and usefulness of such material. this materials could be adopted, adapted as the case may be.


Marinda Neethling Post 20 in reply to 11

• 11 March 2021, 3:47 AM

OER

I m delighted to learn about OER. I will surely make use of it.

Thank you for making me aware! 

FLORENCE KISIRKOI Post 33 in reply to 11

• 16 March 2021, 10:06 PM

You could start with TESSA OERs and TESSINDIA. They provide good models which you could tailor for use in class. TESSA OERs are numerous with variety and perfect for immediate  classroom use. Try them and you will thank me later. Google. You will get TESSA for teacher educators and for teachers. Delve deeper and you will enjoy. They are in this course. I can't remember the exact location but I have downloaded  quite a number for use in class and research work.

Raliat Azeez Post 12 in reply to 1

• 6 March 2021, 12:46 PM

I learnt that OER are free materials that can be used by teacher Educators to enhance their teaching and I also learnt that I can modify/customize them to suit my own context

FLORENCE Kamonjo Post 22 in reply to 12

• 11 March 2021, 10:36 AM

That is correct Raliat. You can even go ahead and share with a friend or a colleague. The customization is key according to your context otherwise they may not serve the purpose you intended. 

Ibrahim Sule Post 13 in reply to 1

• 7 March 2021, 7:21 AM

I have learnt that OER are free resources one can use as it is, modify and adapt to suit once context. There is need to check the quality of OER.

PHENNY Oketch Post 14 in reply to 1

• 7 March 2021, 6:20 PM

I have been using OERS. The only challenge I have encountered is how to do advanced search to get the exact content which I was looking for.

Mathews Musonda Mwabu Post 15 in reply to 1

• 9 March 2021, 2:10 PM

I have learnt that OERs are free and can be accessed digitally. There is also a challenge with accessing OERs as they require internet connectivity and not everyone has access to internet and in some cases poor connectivity. 

Any institution wanting to contribute to the OERs can create and share the OERs with others. Quality assurance is not guaranteed with OERS but because every institution would want to maintain its reputation makes it more certain for that institution to make quality OERs. 

David Ngatia Post 16 in reply to 15

• 9 March 2021, 3:47 PM

I concur with you  Mathews that internet connectivity is a challenge. The good thing about TESSA OERs is that they can easily be downloaded and later used offline in areas without internet connectivity.

FLORENCE KISIRKOI Post 17 in reply to 15

• 9 March 2021, 3:55 PM

OERs are quality educational resources which can be used freely as long as they are acknowledged. The beauty is that they can be easily domesticated to local use. I use them in Kenya where educational resources are vetted but i read the case studies among other content and model in my situation as models.

Simone Campbell-Williams Post 18 in reply to 1

• 10 March 2021, 9:51 PM
I have learnt that using the OER, that access and permission must be granted in order to use it.

Nicola jones Post 19 in reply to 18

• 11 March 2021, 12:52 AM

Simone in addtion stating the source of your information is also expected since it not only gives credit to the creator but  prevents plagiarism

FLORENCE KISIRKOI Post 21 in reply to 19

• 11 March 2021, 5:04 AM

You are right Nicola. when writing one must acknowledge source but you could read , pick the ideas and implement them in your own class. That has no plagiarism or need for acknowledgement. We could only acknowledge in our teaching notes or course outline the source of our teaching ideas.

Kris Stutchbury Post 24 in reply to 18

• 12 March 2021, 12:47 PM

Simone - you do need to attribute any OERs you use (say where they came from) but you don't need permission to use them. Problems arise for some teachers because they need permission to use resources from the Head teacher or District officers. OERs have the potential to challenge those who see themselves as the gatekeepers of educational resources. 

Sammy Mutisya Post 29 in reply to 18

• 15 March 2021, 3:36 PM

Simone this is where the creative commons licenses come in. 

FLORENCE KISIRKOI Post 35 in reply to 18

• 17 March 2021, 7:55 AM

Yes, Simone you are right to a great extent. You do not have to wait for permission. You just use them in the same way we use citations to acknowledge source.

Ngozi Nwosu Post 23 in reply to 1

• 11 March 2021, 4:07 PM

OERs are useful resource materials. The only challenge is that of assuring the quality of the materials. Users can always take a cue, modify and espouse the ideas so gathered in their context.

Rose Nyambura Post 25 in reply to 1

• 14 March 2021, 10:54 AM

Kris, first time i came across OER's was my first course with TESSA (Making teacher education relevant in 21st Century) and wasnt sure of their effectiveness till i adapted them in my teaching. Today they are part and parcel of my teaching. Glad this course is discussing OER's and I encourage those who have not started using them to incorpote them in their day to day teaching-learning resources. 

Sammy Mutisya Post 28 in reply to 25

• 15 March 2021, 3:34 PM

This is true for me too. We have reviewed our curriculum and incorporated TESSA OERs

FLORENCE Kamonjo Post 30 in reply to 25

• 16 March 2021, 4:25 PM

Most teachers and educators aren't aware of OER therefore cannot use them. How well are OER known in your institution Rose? Maybe someone should do a study on awareness of OER  at all levels of education in our country. 

FLORENCE KISIRKOI Post 34 in reply to 30

• 16 March 2021, 10:12 PM

Yes Florence,  as you are aware, TESSA ambassadors create awareness of TESSA OERs. They hold meetings with teachers and demonstrate the use of  OERs  and how they could be used to support school curriculum implementation. I know you have done this in the past.

Kris Stutchbury Post 38 in reply to 25

• 17 March 2021, 10:33 PM

Thank you that feedback Rose and Sammy! That is really encouraging to hear. I have always believed that TESSA OER are relevant to the new CBC as they are underpinned by the same values. They also help students convert theory into practice. 

Esmirna Romero Post 44 in reply to 25

• 16 May 2021, 8:30 PM

4.1 OER's

Totally agree this is my first time with this course and I invited some other teachers from my country. But some were not sure if this will be credit it to our teaching license. However, I am so glad to be in this course even though if it is not credited I know I am gaining more knowledge of what Inclusive teaching is. 

Thank you

Sammy Mutisya Post 26 in reply to 1

• 15 March 2021, 3:30 PM

The challenge in use of OERs by teachers is mapping OERs to the syllabus topics. Teachers need to know the various organization and the type of OERS they host.

Sammy Mutisya Post 27 in reply to 1

• 15 March 2021, 3:32 PM

OERs are a solution to the expenses associated with school textbooks.

FLORENCE KISIRKOI Post 36 in reply to 27

• 17 March 2021, 9:56 AM

That might be true Sammy, but may not be practical in Kenya in the foreseeable future. Approved course books appear to be there to stay, for now. There is a national curriculum and national textbooks, teachers do not have skills to select content for teaching - they have been made to believe so based on historical events, we may have no time to delve into that.

The best we could do is to facilitate teachers to use TESSA OERs  to assist them implement the curriculum

That might be true Sammy, but may not be practical in Kenya in the foreseeable future. Approved course books appear to be there to stay, for now. There is a national curriculum and national textbooks, teachers do not have skills to select content for teaching - they have been made to believe so based on historical events, we may have no time to delve into that.

The best we could do is to facilitate teachers to use TESSA OERs  to assist them implement the curriculum

Matthew Nasilele Post 37 in reply to 36

• 17 March 2021, 1:48 PM

I have learnt that OER materials are free and that some you can use them and contribute to them but you have to give attribution to the original developer.

Even when we acknowledge the fact that OER materials are available online we still have challenges to accesses the right material you need to use in your subject area because of technology skills deficiency

SAKINA Chege Post 46 in reply to 27

• 29 May 2021, 11:19 AM

Absolutely Sammy

Matelita Taufa Post 39 in reply to 1

• 18 March 2021, 7:39 AM

Activity 4.3 : Understanding OER

I first learnt about OER in 2020 in April, a colleague sent me the link to a course relating to distance learning in preparation to COVID 19. The course was very helpful in my preparation for school lock down due to COVID 19. I learnt a lot of new ideas and the forum was very encouraging as I was not the only one from areas where we do not have access to internet at home, and not all children have tv at home nor a computer. The course provided diverse means of accessing education from home when there is no internet or television or a radio. 

This is my second time to learn about OER. Awareness on OER is very limited in my country and internet internet access is an issue.

Laurette Osaso Post 40 in reply to 1

• 18 March 2021, 1:24 PM

I have learned that OER's are resources that are available for teachers or those in education sector to use to improve their skills as well learn from other collaboratively. Not very people make good use of OER's and that there available challenges that have slowed down much use of  using OER's. 

Esmirna Romero Post 43 in reply to 40

• 16 May 2021, 8:27 PM

4.1 OERs

I agree with you we can improve our skills and we share ideas. Yes true however if we share with our colleagues that we have the OER's we can have more people to be aware that we can get free courses and resources to help our teaching profession. 


Cathrine Anyango Osaso Post 41 in reply to 1

• 19 March 2021, 5:16 AM

Understanding OER

OERs are educational resources which are freely available for professionals to use but the authors can regulate the content in which they want to be seen. They can be copied, adopted and republished.

Esmirna Romero Post 42 in reply to 1

• 16 May 2021, 8:23 PM

Activity 4.3 Understanding OERs

To my understanding the OER's are teaching, learning, and research resources to the public. It is free and can help especially us teachers who wants to gain more knowledge about certain topics. 

It is a distance learning that is free for us teachers. I can say that I am learning from this course. I take some time due to devices and connectivity but I know I am gaining a lot of knowledge in reading, viewing videos and here in the forum. 

Thank you.

SAKINA Chege Post 45 in reply to 1

• 29 May 2021, 11:17 AM

I have learnt that people use  OERs for different reasons among them being: for networks and collaborations and to support development.


Jenna-Louise Barkley Post 47 in reply to 1

• 10 July 2021, 8:47 PM

What I have understood OERs to be is the availability of educational content for free to those who would want to use it.

Many OERs can assist those who want to elevate their educational skills and knowledge, but may be unable to access same due to expensive tertiary institutions and resources. 

I think it is such a great venture and it is a shame that it is not more available or used. 

I was first directed to the Creating Inclusive Schools course when the Ministry of Education in my country encouraged teachers to do it. From there, my colleagues and I decided to continue to do this particular course. So I think it was good that our MOE has encouraged teachers to use this OER to enhance our knowledge and skills.