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OpenER: a Dutch initiative on OER‘Bridging informal and formal learning’

Robert Schuwer

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Agenda­ Motivation­for­the­project­ Main­characteristics­of­the­project­ Current­experiences­ Future­scenarios

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Setting­the­scene

A­little­story

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Motivation for the project (1)

­ 2000­/­Lisbon Agreement:­How­can­we­increase­the­number­of­people­with­higher­education?

­ Bring­more­non-traditional groups­(i.e.­employed­and­unemployed­people)­to­higher­education­

­ Extend­opportunities­for­lifelong­learning­based,­amongst­others,­on­an­e-learning­approach

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Motivation for the project (2)

­ Lowering existing­tresholds:institutional,­formal,­financial,­social,time,­place,­pace

­ Making­access easy­and­attractive­ Transfer­from­informal to formal­learning

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Main characteristics of the project­ Flexible,­open,­time-independent,­easy­accessible­ Only­invest­time­and­effort­­ Research­and­measurements­of­effectiveness­around­the­

project­ Dutch­language

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Intended outcomes

­ 16 courses­of­25­study­hours­each­(=­1 EC)­ a­user-friendly­on-line delivery­system­ user-friendly­on-line­facilities­for­self-testing­and­

assessment­ opportunities­for­formal testing and certification­

as­a­starting point­for­higher­education­study­ substantial­marketing and communication­to­

create­awareness with­the­Dutch­population­about­OpenER­and­the­OUNL

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Current experiences (1)

­ 250.000­unique­visitors­since­launch­ A­lot­of­media attention­from­local­and­national­

press,­radio­and­television­ >­3400­visitors­have­registered­(voluntarily)­ >­340­survey­forms­have­been­submitted­ Numerous­feedback­forms

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Current experiences (2)

­ Personal data­ 71%­of­­the­population­aged­25-55­years­ 43%­did­not­participate­in­higher­education­

before­

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Current experiences (3)

­ Data of visit to website­ 80%­returning­visitors­ Reasons­for­­visit­(>1­choice)

­ follow­a­free­course:­64%.­ test­on­ability­to­cope­with­university­

courses:­23%­­ try­out­a­study­at­the­Open­Universiteit­

Nederland:­43%­ reuse­the­material­in­their­own­courses:­5%.­

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Current experiences (4)

­ Use of material­ 20%­did­not­look­through­any­course­ 37%­browsed­through­a­course­ 43%­studied­a­course

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Current experiences (5)

­ Study­plans­ 75%­is­currently­not­involved­in­any­formal­

learning­trajectory­ 18%­is­currently­involved­in­some­form­of­

higher­education­ 16% has plans for starting a formal study in

higher education­ 38% has plans for buying courses on the

level of higher education­ 71%­indicated­that­this­project­affects­their­

further­study­plans­

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OpenER after 2007

­ Scenarios1. OU­makes­higher­education­borderless­and­

attractive­for­non-traditional­groups2. OU­is­director­for­development­of­open­

learning­material­for­higher­education­in­the­Netherlands

3. OU­is­director­for­offering­open­selfstudy­learning­material­internationally

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OpenER after 2007 (2)

­ Scenarios­(cont’d)4. OU­is­the­knowledge­center­for­development­

and­offering­of­student­centered­open­learning­material­in­the­Netherlands

5. OU­is­nationally­and­internationally­leading­in­educational­research­around­open­learning­material