UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

09/30/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/30/2021 02:45

Covid-19, a catalyst for greater OER use worldwide?

The UNESCO OER Dynamic Coalition Advisory Group Members, representing OER Experts and Governmental Partners from all UNESCO regions intervened in this panel discussion which examined implementation of the five areas of this normative instrument through the lens of these two guiding questions.

The debates emphasised the crucial role of OER in ensuring continuity of formal and informal learning and the transformative power of OER during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, where online and digital learning became the new normal for learning worldwide. Bottlenecks include the issue of access to resources and internet, and the challenges of ensuring resources in the languages and context of the users.

The adoption of OER policies that build on existing policies, using 'open' initiatives and OER sharing and access platforms, producing off-line resources and building support for a common cause including OER were cited as innovations and solutions for the implementation of the OER Recommendation. .

Speakers highlighted the policy potential of university peer networks, the influence of governmental policy approaches on institutions. Regarding the adaptation of OER to different languages, the debates underscored the need to ensure adoption both at a contextual and pedagogical level for success. In addition, international collaboration based on an intersecting bottom-up and top-down approaches were highlighted. .

This webinar was organized as part of the Open Education 2021 Conference hosted by the University of Nantes, France. The focus of the Open Education Global 2021 Conference is on the implementation of the OER Recommendation. It is being held online from 27 September to 1 October 2021.