Open Educational Resources in Macedonia

OE Global Conference 2016, 13 April 2016

Republic of Macedonia• Independence: 8 September 1991• Parliamentary republic• Area: 25,713 km2• Population: 2,069,162 (2014,

estimate)• Capital and largest city: Skopje

The Macedonian education system:

• pre-school education• primary• secondary• higher

Public universities in Macedonia• Goce Delčev University of Štip• Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of

Skopje• St. Clement of Ohrid University of

Bitola• State University of Tetovo• University for Information Science

and Technology "St. Paul The Apostle" in Ohrid

Private universities in Macedonia• More than 20!

Elementary and secondary education• Number of elementary schools: 986

(2014/2015)• Number of secondary schools: 116

(2014/2015)

• The Ministry of Education and Sciences reports that 461 schools (primary and secondary) are now connected to the internet.

OER in Macedonia• Digitalization of schools and other

educational institutions • Number of problems such as insufficient

coordination between the state, civil society and international organizations and foundations

• Further development of coherent system of technology, software, politics, project and generating content related to OER is needed.

OER in Macedonia• Macedonia is a country in development • Requires higher rate of utilization of open

resources and free educational tools and contents

• OER gain in importance • The Macedonian legislation on education

is in compliance with UNESCO declarations and its “Education for All” Program adopted on the World Education Forum in 2000, which includes the following goal: “free and compulsory education with good quality for all by 2015”.

OER related projects• Government project “Free

textbooks”• started in the school year 2009/2010• includes all students in primary and

secondary schools• giving to 312,072 students

textbooks in Macedonian, Albanian, Turkish and Serbian.

• The full opening of this content remains on the sidelines of the plans of the institutions.

OER practices• In April 2010, the Ministry of Information Society

promoted the project on free e-textbooks and the relevant website е-ucebnici.mk

• Over 60 textbooks in Macedonian, Albanian, Roma, Serbian and Turkish languages

• The MES stated: “e-textbooks will not replace printed textbooks. The goal is to present textbooks also in electronic form, but the meaning of printed textbooks is much bigger... this only provides an additional possibility for quality learning”.

OER practices• The web-site "skoool.mk" created by

the MIS and the Bureau for Development of Education

• tools and content in the field of mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology

• interactive audio and video materials that can be applied in the instruction process

• the website offers concise notes for users in the field of mathematics and natural sciences

OER practices• Mini-projects of this type implemented as

individual or group efforts:• e-uciliste - on-line collection of education

courses in several subjects: IT, physics, chemistry, electrical engineering, digital systems, HTML, etc.

• based on the Moodle concepts• around 800 registered users. • e-pedagog - platform for exchange of

experiences and e-materials in the field of pedagogy.

• The projects are licensed under Creative Commons, under the Attribute-Share Alike license.

OER practices• “Computer for Every Child” project • According to the MIS, e-contents should be

uploaded to a central location or server and can thus be downloaded from any location, either at or outside school premises.

• Digital educational repositories - digital catalogization and database, networking, but do not address access to contents.

• Terrain preparation for the actual introduction of OER and OA

• Necessary developmental efforts

Open Educational Resources Initiative Project

• Implemented by Metamorphosis Foundation for Internet and Society

• Development of critical thinking and democratization in Macedonia through the constructive use of new technologies as tools to increase the quantity and quality of educational, scientific and academic e-content.

• To raise the awareness and build the capacity of the academia for creating and using open educational resources.

• Implementation period: December 2011 - Ongoing

About Metamorphosis Foundation

• Foundation for Internet and Society• Independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit

foundation • Based in Skopje, Macedonia• Its mission is to contribute to the development of

democracy and increase the quality of life through innovative use and sharing of knowledge

• Our guiding values are openness, equality and freedom

• Main programs: Human rights, good governance, social innovations and environment

In 2012…• Several workshops with academic staff were held • Guide for OER was developed • a brochure • poster • educational videos• Website containing all the important

information about OER (www.oer.mk) • resource center where users can share and download open educational

resources

“Open Education for an open society – let’s share the knowledge!” Conference

• In November 2012, the 8th International Conference e-Society.Mk

• exchange of experiences, ideas and recommendations for the future development of education, supported by the use of new technologies and the concept of free sharing.

• 250 participants

Coordinative Group and OER Alliance• Establishment of the Coordinative

Group for OER• 10 representatives from the

academic community, teachers, professors and NGO representatives

• In 2013, the coordinative group was expanded to an Alliance for OER in Macedonia

OER Alliance in Macedonia• Group composed of

individuals, organizations, institutions operating as an informal network with a common goal – awareness raising and capacity building of the academic and scientific community for the creation and use of open educational resources in the Republic of Macedonia.

OER Alliance• Declaration on Open Educational Resources in

Macedonia• to mobilize wide support for the improvement of

open education • based on UNESCO’s 2012 Paris OER Declaration• web application for digital signing of the

Declaration • Android application • By the end of March 2016, more than 580

individuals and 20 institutions/organizations have signed the OER Declaration, and became members of the OER Alliance of Macedonia.

• Over 400 resources shared in the resource center of the www.oer.mk website (March 30, 2016).

Best OER Teacher competitionThe 2014 Best OER Teacher competition•16 teachers took part •2 best OER Teachers were announced selected by the members of the OER Alliance and selected by an expert jury•The prize for the winners of the competition was participation in the 2015 Educonference for teachers and IT experts

The 2015 Best OER Teacher competition•9 teachers took part•589 voters giving their voice •2 best OER Teachers were announced•The prize for the winners of the competition was participation in the 2016 Second Educonference for teachers and IT experts

Analysis of the legal framework for education and opportunities for implementation of open educational resources• Published in October 2015• motivated by years of work in the field of

open educational resources and recommendations received from the Working Group on Open Educational Resources composed of members of the OER Alliance.

• Covers the Law on Primary Education, the Law on Secondary Education, Law on Textbooks for Primary and Secondary Education, Law on Copyright and Related Rights, and also provides a perspective for the situation, conclusions and recommendations for regulation of open educational resources in these laws.

Analysis of the legal framework for education and opportunities for implementation of open educational resources

• Key conclusions• Key recommendations• Next steps

You can find out more about Metamorphosis Foundation and Open educational resources initiative at our websites: www.metamorphosis.org.mk www.oer.mk

Thank you!Questions?