OERs and MOOCs - Exploring the potential for Wales by Paul Richardson

April 10, 2023 | slide 1

OERs and MOOCs: Exploring the Potential for Wales

Paul Richardson

Jisc RSC Wales

With thanks to The Welsh Government, Andrew Green, and members of the Online

Digital Working Group


http://wales.gov.uk/about/cabinet/cabinetstatements/2013/onlinedigitallearning/?lang=en

Terms of Reference of the Working Group

To advise the Welsh Government on:

the potential competitive threat posed by global technology-based developments to the higher education sector in Wales;the potential opportunities afforded by technological development for the Welsh higher education sector at a time of constrained public expenditure;to what extent the Welsh higher education sector is working collectively to bring economies of scale to maximise the opportunities afforded; andto what extent technological development may provide a platform to increase participation in part-time and full-time higher education, again in a period of constrained public spending.



Membership of the Working Group

Andrew Green (Chair): National Librarian of Wales (retired) Dr Dafydd Trystan ; Registrar; Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Dr Bela Arora : Manager; Newport Graduate School Professor Dylan Jones-Evans: Director of Enterprise and

Innovation Education, University of Wales Rob Humphreys : Director of the Open University in Wales Professor Patricia Price : Pro Vice-Chancellor, Cardiff University David Jones: Principal and Chief Executive, Deeside College Jo Caulfield: Former NUS National Executive Committee David Kernohan: Programme Manager, Jisc

HEIs in Wales


HEI Number

University of South Wales 34,000

Cardiff University 30.000

Swansea University 19,000

Bangor 18,000

Aberystwyth 14,000

Cardiff Met 11,000

Glyndwr (Wrexham) 9,000

Trinity St David* 9,000

Swansea Met* 6,000

Student numbers to nearest 1,000 (2012)*These two institutions are now merged


Advice to Government

Consultation with

providers

Desk Research

Discussion in the Working Group


Straw Poll

Which position is closest to where you stand? (Show of hands)

A.Education is broken. We need MOOCs to fix it. 0

B.MOOCs will disrupt education, and force it to change 1C.MOOCs are just one of many interesting current developments. We can learn from them, and incorporate these lessons into the full range of our

practice 20D.MOOCs are just a passing fad. I plan to ignore them until they go away.

4

E.What is a MOOC? 1 April 10, 2023 | slide 8

Mixed sector Feedback (informal)

Are MOOCs just another kind of OER? Academics may perceive MOOCs as a threat to their jobs. Are MOOCs an alternative to the textbook? Senior managers will be looking for commercial opportunities Need to look at how data is tracked, to support quality management. Learners also value the social bit No clear business model for FE; no data There is potential use as CPD for staff Value as a marketing tool? Funding and completion rates are key High drop-out rates may reflect low barriers to entry Open Badges may have value for recognising informal learning


http://www.openbadges.org/



OERs and MOOCs - Exploring the potential for Wales by Paul Richardson

Education

welsh higher education

open university

swansea university

innovation education

fulltime higher education

cardiff university david

welsh government

potential opportunities