Thoughts on a "Diploma of Arts" as the the protype OERu credential?

Re: Thoughts on a "Diploma of Arts" as the the protype OERu credential?

by Irwin DeVries -
Number of replies: 1

Wayne Mackintosh wrote,

When you say cluster (overlapping) -- are you referring to different designations or specialisations streams within the credential?


Yes – the idea is that the initial OER/courses could focus on such areas as nursing and education or business with several of the OER/courses possibly common to all three or at least two of such areas while also allowing for an Arts diploma. Quite a few lower level courses that are useful (core or elective) for regulated professions are generic. International credentialing services provided by various higher education jurisdictions could be consulted to see which courses are broadly accepted internationally for starters. I realize this approach aligns more with the existing system of higher education than some would advocate, but it makes sense to me to start with as many knowns as possible and move forward from there. This approach also does not preclude building new and unique credentials from the same OER/course pool.
In reply to Irwin DeVries

Re: Thoughts on a "Diploma of Arts" as the the protype OERu credential?

by Wayne Mackintosh -

Irwin DeVries wrote,

Yes – the idea is that the initial OER/courses could focus on such areas as nursing and education or business with several of the OER/courses possibly common to all three or at least two of such areas while also allowing for an Arts diploma. Quite a few lower level courses that are useful (core or elective) for regulated professions are generic

mmm -- I like this line of reasoning. Conceivably, within an OERu model the pedagogy could be more flexible in streaming assessment for different "carreer" groups.

For example, Communication skills for Nurses, Business or Science students. In other words the OER collaboration model facilitates better alignment for different audiences within "core" courses of an Arts or other credential.

So it is plausible to have different assessment and e-portfolio paths for different careers / professions within generic courses. Easier to do and scale cost effectively within an OERu network than trying to do this as an individual institution. Smart thinking!

I'm beginning to like the OERu concept more than when this SCoPE seminar started.