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Open Educational Resources: a regional university’s journey

Recursos educativos abiertos: el viaje de una universidad regional

Abstract

In a region of geographically scattered, small island states, developing quality-enhanced learning materials across the hugely diverse, predominantly ocean-based learning and teaching environments, continues to present new challenges. This paper explores the potentially transformative nature of Open Educational Resources (OER) in a regional university. Against the backdrop of the bold, new Strategic Plan 2013–2018, University of the South Pacific (USP) educators are faced with transforming learning systems, practices and pedagogy to achieve excellent standards in learning teaching and knowledge creation. Selected case studies are provided to support the discussions for the application and development of OER at USP and the integration of Open Learning Design (OLD) principles and practices. In the drive to enhance the quality of learning and teaching through integrating OER and OLD, research provides the most compelling results for informing practice to achieve effective and sustainable responses to the achievement of the Strategic Plan objectives.

Resumen

En una región de pequeños estados insulares geográficamente diseminados, el desarrollo de materiales didácticos de calidad en entornos de aprendizaje y enseñanza de alcance oceánico y extraordinariamente diversos no deja de plantear nuevos retos. Este artículo explora la naturaleza potencialmente transformadora de los recursos educativos abiertos (REA) en una universidad regional. En el contexto del nuevo y audaz Plan Estratégico 2013–2018 (Strategic Plan 2013–2018), los educadores de la Universidad del Pacífico Sur (USP) se enfrentan a la transformación de sistemas, prácticas y pedagogías de aprendizaje para alcanzar niveles de excelencia en la enseñanza del aprendizaje y la creación de conocimiento. Una selección de estudios de casos ilustra las discusiones en torno a la aplicación y el desarrollo de REA en la USP y la integración de los principios y las prácticas del diseño de aprendizaje abierto (DAA). En la campaña de mejora de la calidad del aprendizaje y la enseñanza a través de la integración de REA y DAA, la investigación arroja resultados convincentes para orientar la práctica, con el fin de obtener respuestas efectivas y sostenibles a la consecución de los objetivos del Plan Estratégico.

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Correspondence to Theresa Koroivulaono.

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Koroivulaono, T. Open Educational Resources: a regional university’s journey. Int J Educ Technol High Educ 11, 91–107 (2014). https://doi.org/10.7238/rusc.v11i3.2121

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