The information service OER (OERinfo) is an online portal with a thematic focus which provides comprehensive information concerning OER to the public at large and specific target groups. The service is aimed at a high visibility of OER and at addressing new target groups. We aim to present the current state of knowledge to practitioners, collect information on best-practice examples and present the diversity of existing initiatives.
Advisory board
As part of the funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) 2016-2020, the work of the information service was accompanied by an advisory board. The members of the advisory board represented different perspectives on the subject of OER and accompanied the work of OERinfo with feedback, recommendations and advice. The advisory board was composed of:
Dr. Markus Deimann, FH Lübeck
Prof. Dr. Leonhard Dobusch, Universität Innsbruck
Dr. Margret Groß-Hardt, Pädagogisches Landesinstitut Rheinland-Pfalz
Karl Kirst, Zentrale für Unterrichtsmedien e.V. – zum.de
Prof. Dr. Thomas Köhler, TU Dresden
Gabriele Lonz, Bildungsministerium Rheinland-Pfalz
Dr. Barbara Malina, Deutsche UNESCO Kommission (DUK)
Valentin Münscher, Wikimedia Deutschland
Dr. Sabine Preusse, Berufsverband für Trainer, Berater, Coachs (BDVT e.V.)
Stefan Will, Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband
Information
Current developments in OER are, for instance, presented in reports, interviews or videos. We moreover offer manuals on the practical use of OER and other formats, such as web talks.
As part of the funding from the BMBF, blog editing and social media was the responsibility of Jöran und Konsorten.
The information service analyses and documents current OER activities. Current developments in the OER community are continually tracked, and as best-practice examples are curated. workshops and presentations are offered to generate a broader audience.
Transfer
During funding through the BMBF transfer partners were responsible for the educational areas of school, higher education, vocational education and training and adult education. Partners have been commissioned to define potentials for OER in the respective areas of education – for example by analysing focus groups. We aimed to address and integrate new types of audience via offering information and events.
Transfer of OER as a topic was moreover conveyed to the areas by information modules via the OERinfo portal and relevant publications.
Following parnter institutions maintained the dossier pages for the four areas of education:
- OER at school, FWU media institute of the federal states
- OER in higher education, Learning Lab at the University of Duisburg-Essen
- OER in vocational education and training, Federal Institute of Vocational Education and Training (BIBB)
- OER in continuing education, German Institute for Adult Education (DIE)
Networking
The OER map for Germany (OERde-Karte), an excerpt from the OER World Map, situated at the Hochschulbibliothekszentrum des Landes NRW (hbz NRW), serves to illustrate relations among OER actors, with the goal of data-based visualizing of the network of the OER community in Germany. The relevant pool of data is systematically being expanded. The OER information service uses its own networks and channels to support other actors in public relations activities and their OER-related projects. Expansion potentials of existing networks are identified to strengthen the effects of OER and their proponents.
