OERs at UNISA: a perspective from the Library

Buhle Mbambo-Thata (DPHIL)

Executive Director- UNISA Library services

12 September 2013

Background of Open access

December 2001, Budapest: OSI held a meeting of leaders exploring alternative publishing models. Concluded that “open access” was the goal and agreed on two main strategies for achieving it:

1. Open Access journals

2. Institutional/subject-based repositories

Budapest Open Access Initiative

Developments since 2001

• OERS

• Institutional Repositories

• Open Access Publishing

• Open Data

• Open Research

OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

OER definition

“The provision of educational resources, enabled by information and communication technologies, for consultation, use and adaptation by a community of users for non commercial purposes” Hylen 2006.

Create Open Scholarship Policy

Framework

Infrastructure initiatives

Expand e-content initiatives

OER DEVELOPMENTS AT UNISA

Project CoordinatorMr Dennis Ikpe (+27 12 429 6518, ikpecd@unisa.ac.za)   

Contact Information: MathsEdge c/o College of Science Engineering and TechnologyUnisaPo Box 3920003South Africa

Project CoordinatorMr Dennis Ikpe (+27 12 429 6518, ikpecd@unisa.ac.za)   

Contact Information: MathsEdge c/o College of Science Engineering and TechnologyUnisaPo Box 3920003South Africa

Available formats•CD:                  Free, issued on request•Web-based:    www.mathsedge.org.za•Camps:             For selected learners, as made possible by funders such as the South African Institute of Charted Accountants and Thuthuka (NRF).

Available formats•CD:                  Free, issued on request•Web-based:    www.mathsedge.org.za•Camps:             For selected learners, as made possible by funders such as the South African Institute of Charted Accountants and Thuthuka (NRF).

Learn an African Language online

This resource was developed by Dr Petro Kotzé at the African language Department, in the College of Human Sciences (CHS) at Unisa. The Resource provides some information official African languages in South Africa. (African Languages, Unisa, n.d.)

The resources include phrases in five African languages (Northern Sotho, Tswana, Zulu, Southern Sotho and Xhosa) with:•Sound tracks•Video clips•Self-assessments

Learn an African Language online

This resource was developed by Dr Petro Kotzé at the African language Department, in the College of Human Sciences (CHS) at Unisa. The Resource provides some information official African languages in South Africa. (African Languages, Unisa, n.d.)

The resources include phrases in five African languages (Northern Sotho, Tswana, Zulu, Southern Sotho and Xhosa) with:•Sound tracks•Video clips•Self-assessments

Available formatsCD with pamphlet:     Free, issued on requestWeb-based:  http://www.unisa.ac.za/free_online_course

Available formatsCD with pamphlet:     Free, issued on requestWeb-based:  http://www.unisa.ac.za/free_online_course

People Behind the Papers

The People Behind the Papers is an initiative located in the Department of Psychology at Unisa.

The resource consists of:

•Photographs and short description of research fields and experience of interviewees

•Interviews with established researchers (videos)

Available formatsWeb- based:    https://sites.google.com/a/unisa.ac.za/people/home

Unisa OER Community

http://uir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/4663

RECENT UNISA OER Initiatives

● Signatory to UNESCO OER statement● OEP (Open Educational Practices) Strategy - first draft

document.

Four strategic priorities Effective management for intellectual assets New open licensing framework for the institution Integration of OER into courses Openness in the dissemination of research

findings

UNISA OER Initiatives (cont.)

● Interim guidelines for using Creative Commons licences on Unisa produced materials

● Unisa Open portal (see next slide)● QA standards for use of OERs. ● OER and technology presentations.● OERu (Open Education Resources University).● Open Education Week 2014

OER developments at UNISA

What has been the library role?

• Open Access week commemoration

– OA publishing

– IR

– OER

• Creating an OER community on IR prior to OER portal

• Part of the OER Project Strategy Team

• Tagging OER sites

• Diigo project – (collaboration between with Library, ICT and OER office)

Why should libraries be involved?

• Central learning facilitation role • Integrate with other OA activities

– UNESCO ought to lead by example on this integration

• Intermediary role may be lost-learn from MPESA!

What have we learnt

• The teaching and learning fields are changing and so must libraries

• Library sits in a vantage position to see links and convergences where learning communities may not see them

• Information finding, organisation and dissemination is our strength

Conclusion

• Two crucial points1. Support for teaching and learning• Convergence of technology and student learning

process may minimize library role therefore proactivity is critical!

• Maintain learning facilitation role- 21st century learning has changed- OER and ILS

2. Open education/Open scholarship• Provide strategic link between OER and library-• Establish a convergence with OA initiatives on campus

to maximize resources and energies

Any questions or suggestions?

Dr Buhle Mbambo-Thatambambtb@unisa.ac.za