OCL4ED SESSION 2 LEARNING REFLECTION

George Bernard Shaw statement on "OWNERSHIP of IDEAS" as the opening idea on that discussion set the motions of thought for me that ideas shared is the exponential expansion of knowledge. I believe, that is the reflection I have at this point in time, though there may not be new ideas, but when current ideas are shared they create new knowledge. The question I would than ask is what is new knowledge? How do we generate new Ideas? When knowledge is shared in a public domain, it generates new ideas for those who  discover these knowledge on the public domain, this creates a chain reaction with people collaborating with ideas, sharing thoughts that produces new knowledge. Knowledge that has been, reused, re tweaked, contextualized to suite geographical, socio-economical environment of that place. For example, a school teacher in Fiji, who has taught mathematics for year 12 for the past 10 years has surely run out of ideas on how to be innovative and effective in applying the curriculum in class, can surely be empowered by learning new approaches and teaching models from a teacher in Africa or India, or a small  town in Australia and America. During an OER Policy meeting last week at the University of the South Pacific, we discussed the Flipped Classroom model, further research I discovered how relevant and refreshing the Model is to today's technological environment. Refreshing in the way it appeals to the change in the inculcation of the teaching environment and appealing that it is student centered learning to its core value.

Ideas create knowledge in turn theory, theory is practiced. The idea of sharing knowledge has spawn the theoretical approach and belief of Openness, Open Educational Resources has empowered Educators to be great practicenors of classroom teaching, lecturers, education administrators and education writers. The Practicality of OER is that it is now a living idea that has Educators from around the world sharing their ideas on what we are learning on OCL4ED. We are creating new knowledge as we bring our ideas together communicating using mOOC Platform.

I agree with Atkins, Brown and Hammond with their definition of what OER is, because they have mentioned all forms of teaching resources, and that is true openness.

What about control, standardization and quality assurance?

To this I say, "BARRIERS", that we must view as a positive reminder, in all things there must be a filtering point, thus National Policies and National adoption, so OER can be included in learning prescriptions as research resources for teachers.

I would like to thank the course administrators for all the thought provoking discussions and mOOC, that has enabled me to share with and receive ideas from my colleagues abroad.

Lets carry on.

Matt

Fiji Islands.