Designing OERu Credentials: Aug 29-Sept 13, 2011

David:

Thanks for these questions and calling for a push past the hypothetical to an action agenda.
Will weave your questions in to the upcoming webcast and welcome you to say a few words about each during the webcast with an aim to generating action next steps.

Paul

Hi David,

Good questions - -I'm just as excited to move forward with an action agenda. Wow - -we're actually planning the implementation of the OERu network. Responses below in case we missed anything during the webinar.

David Porter wrote,

What will be the process for selecting an initial program or credential at which a strategy that includes content, learner support processes and assessment options can be aimed?

Discussions during this SCoPE seminar provide a solid foundation for review and consideration among the anchor partners. This saves the network time and energy.

We will post the process and procedure for selecting the initial program in the wiki and anchor partners will take a decision at the November meeting. Regarding content, pedagogy, learner support etc -- similarly we will discuss options openly in the wiki. USQ is working on a prototype or representative sample which we can use as a concrete example for review and improvement and implementation decisions. for dec

David Porter wrote,


We will begin immediately once we have agreed the credential(s) - -so that would be mid November. WikiEducator will be the springboard for co-ordinating these activities and we will be using appropriate open source technologies where the wiki is not the best technology for the specific job. Between now and November, I'm hoping we can start structuring the wiki pages for the planning of the OERu. These processes will also include sample courses, assessment models, assessments, exams etc developed collaboratively in the wiki. We are also intending to publish all process and strategy documents under open content licenses - so for example, the OERu will produce an "exemplar" PLR policy which could be incorporated and adapted by anchor partners and other interested institutions.

David Porter wrote,


Yes we can. The Chief Executive of Otago Polytechnic has agreed to convene the group who will be working on the open business model component of the logic model. However, we do have a high-level concept of the broad parameters of the business model:

• Independent study materials/courses based on the assembly of existing OERs and released as OERs which incorporate student-content interactions, formative assessment, peer-to-peer student support plus emerging digital pedagogies. Based on the current number of anchor partners we estimate that each partner will assemble a maximum of three courses giving us a total of 21 courses at this time. No cost to student
• The price of assessment and credential services will be determined by the local context and host institution. The OER Foundation / OERu does not dictate the price. Most partners are aiming to provide these services on a cost recovery basis - -but would be free to charge any price. As an open network - -normal market principles will apply and I image OERu students will make use of the best quality services at the most appropriate price. In the New Zealand context -- providing a rough guestimate I believe it would be possible to provide assessment and credentialing services for significantly less than the $10K baccalaureate. In the absence of crunching real numbers -- I think that 50% of that cost is doable. Cost to student - -Local cost-recovery of assessment and credential services. In some countries locals may be funded by government grant.
  
• Institutional investment cost is the cost of Gold membership of the OER Foundation -- i.e. $4K per annum assuming multi-year membership discount plus the time to assemble 2 - 3 courses. The course development time is actually sunken cost for those anchor partners who are smart -- because this cost would already be expended on developing courses within the traditional delivery - so technically no new money is needed. Recurrent delivery costs are recouped . So exposed investment "risk" is no more than $5K per annum -- however the returns on international branding are huge.