Going Open - the challenge of change

The implementation of an open education policy will involve a significant culture change and over time it will be likely to provoke difficult questions. In particular you may expect to have discussions over intellectual property rights of individuals and the organisation, and for the possibility to be raised that some materials may not to be openly licensed as the contents have a marketable value. By using the present guidelines you will be able to anticipate that discussions will arise and treat these as opportunities to maintain the dialogue about openness in your community.

Answer the following questions, and find out, where your organisation or you as teacher and trainer stand with relation to "open education readiness". Your answer will lead you to our recommendations and practice examples to learn from and move on to the next level of openness.

Questions

Question 1

How much do you know about Open Educational Resources and Open Education?*

We/I know nothing about it

There are some staff with knowledge about these issues within the organisation

Many staff in the organisation know about OER and Open Edcuation

We make sure the majority of staff is up to date on OER and Open Education

Recommendation: Get familiar with the terms in use in the Open Education domain. Link Understand the basics of copyright in education. Link

Recommendation: Get familiar with Creative Commons licenses:Link Establish a responsible for open licensing within the organisation.

Recommendation: Develop an open licensing policy for your institution Example Organize regular trainings for your staff/yourself to stay updated on developments in the OER world.

Recommendation: Join our Google+ Community and share your experiences Link

Question 2

To what extend are you using and re-purposing OER in your organisation?*

Nobody uses OER at all.

Some staff are experimenting with using and re-purposing OER.

Using and re-purposing OER is common in the organisation/ in my daily work.

We recommend and support our staff in using and re-purposing OER, including quality assurance. Concrete supportive mechanisms are in place.

Recommendation: Explore where to find OER on the web. Link

Recommendation: Learn about how to create, search and evaluate OER:Link LinkMotivate individual staff to develop and (re)-use OER.

Recommendation: Develop an OER policy for your institution, dealing also with metadata Example and with quality assurance Example 1, Example 2

Recommendation: Join our Google+ Community and share your experiences Link

Question 3

Do you or your organisation have experience in using open teaching methods and tools (e.g. blogs, wikis, social networks, etc.)?*

No, typically traditional teaching methods are being used

Some staff are experimenting with open learning and teaching methods and tools.

Some staff are regularly using open learning and teaching methods and tools

Our organisation promotes and trains our staff in order to apply open learning and teaching methods and tools.New methods and tools are being developed and shared.

Recommendation: Develop an understanding of what is meant by Open Educational Practices Link Get familiar with relevant terms and methods Link Find out about colleagues, or people from your networks who already work with open teaching and learning methods and tools, and profit from their experience.

Recommendation: Establish mechansims within the organisation to support teachers and trainers in the use of OER and in the development of OEP Example Example Support and encourage the use of digital tools for sharing and exchange about OEP Example Provide institutional dissemination of the individual initiative to produce OER. Support staff that is interested in this topic and provide time for them to get involved.

Recommendation: Provide incentives to stimulate the transformation of educational scenarios and resources into OEP. Provide incentives to stimulate the exchange of ideas, concerning innovative teaching architectures and tools. Make sure that you and the majority of your staff have knowledge, skills, and confidence to successfully and appropriately create open learning architectures Example

Recommendation: Join our Google+ Community and share your experiences Link

Question 4

Do you/ does your organisation facilitate idea/practices sharing and collaboration in teaching and learning?*

No sharing and collaborating is not facilitated.

We are aware of some internal sharing among our teaching staff. But individuals only share within their well-known surroundings (friends and colleagues), and on their own initiative.

Our staff share ideas and collaborate both within the organisation and with the external world (through social media, for example)

The organisation requires staff to regularly share their ideas and practices both internally and externally.The organisation/ individuals have established efficient communication routines and frameworks supporting this.

Recommendation: Join our Google+ Community and share your experiences Link

Question 5

Does your organisation use open assessment methods (e.g. open badges, peer assessment, etc.)?*

No, traditional assessment methods are mostly in use.

We are/ I am experimenting with open assessment practices.

In some courses open assessment practices are being used.

The organisation makes/ I make sure that open assessment is considered and used for appropriate courses and resources

Recommendation: Join our Google+ Community and share your experiences Link

Question 6

Do you or your organisation have a vision on OER and Open Education? Is this vision incorporated in your strategy?*

No, there is no vision on this topic

Yes, different visions are emerging among management, staff, and learners in the organisation

Management, staff and learners are starting to communicate about a shared vision within the organisation. Individuals have developed a vision for themselves.

Yes, openness is part of the organisations/my mission statement. This statement is communicated openly to the outside and is part of a strategic plan.

Recommendation: Develop an understanding of what is meant by Open Educational Practices from a classroom but also a management percpective Link Link. Learn about what your business and institutional strategy could look like, when integrating OER and OEP Link. Read some examples of OER business and policy strategies Link

Recommendation: Gain an understanding of the debate around open approaches in education Link. Reflect on your business and institutional strategy, using the OER project canvas Link. Follow activities and debates of different networks and initiatives as a guest and identify interesting topics, players, relevant for your purpose Link. Define for yourself or discuss with your staff the potential and opportunities of openness and sharing in your and their daily work. Check out some examples Example 1 Example 2 Example 3

Formulate a mission statement including Open Education! Produce a policy and guidelines for open assessment and open learning architectures Example Embed OEP and OER in the organizations business model, making sure that use and re-use of educational resources and open learning environments are part of the general services and offerings Example Define your relevant partners and set up or join useful networks and relationships, using the OER project canvas Link

Recommendation: Join our Google+ Community and share your experiences Link

Question 7

Are you involved in any partnerships or networks in relation to OER and Open Education*

No we are not/I am not. At least we don’t know whether individual staff are involved in OER, OEP initiatives, or partnerships.

Some staff are involved in some OER/OEP-related partnerships, based on individual initiative.

The organisation is starting to set up partnerships and joins networks on these issues

The organization has been initiating, leading and participating in partnerships and networks on these issues

Recommendation: Join our Google+ Community and share your experiences Link