Rapporteur Report: A university network for OER and a tool for small OER snacks

                                                 Report
                                        OE Global 2021 
                                   Asynchronous interactive activity
              A university network for OER and a tool for small OER snacks

Rapporteur: Seema Sharma PhD Education, Former Assistant Professor Manav Rachna University, currently DGM operations DH Lighting Faridabad, India.
Presenter: Magdalena Spaude
Day - 27th September through 1st October
Language: English
Session:
No. of Participants: Interactive participants 5, views 139, users 7, links 2, Replies 2
Countries of Participation: Australia, United States, U.K
Profile of Participants: Biodiversity conservation educator; Scholarly Communications Librarian at Texas A&M University-Commerce; OEG Staff member; Professor& policy analyst.

Participants’ Talk Observation
Mostly participants were interested in open Education practices and keen to learn more (Sarah Northem). Few were amused to know the concept of OER coordinator and also wanted them to be in their own countries (Sarah Lamert). Learning this tool sounds good opportunity and participants have enjoyed while acquiring tool learning. It can be inferred from their comments that it has been demonstrated in a simplified manner. One of them is curious to know what the response would have been if she chooses a different answer (e.g., a different CC licence). Would she have to consume the whole snack from the beginning again? (Lucy Tallents)

About Presentation
The presentation talks about the network of open resources spread across universities of German State of North Rhine-West Phalia and learning snack tool. It is a good orientation for those who aspire to develop OER because a new entrant is confused about the quality of OER referred.

1.) Network Information shared is quite valuable for a developer as it clarifies following important point:

a) This network - ORCA.nrw (Open Resources Campus NRW) is supported by public funds.
b) Quality assured ORE are accessible here.
c) Aspirants can look forward for posting teaching material after launch in summer 2021.
d) Exchange of information is possible among 37 universities of NRW and with the staff of the ORCA.nrw portal is possible.
e) It is quite useful for university educators for developing OER.

2.) Learning Snack Tool
Following points make this tool convenient to use:
a) It is a free platform.
b) It is easy to create interactive learning content.
c) Content can be presented in dialogues.
d) Small units can be passed as OER.
e) It is good for microlearning.

Positive points about outlined focal areas

First focal area i.e Network information is chosen by the author for discussion is quite beneficial to understand the scope and accessibilities of OER. It is imperative that one must know some good sources for quality content while developing new one.
Second telling about a learning tool in a linear programme instruction way could grab interest and just in 5to 7 minutes one covers whole activity and in turn learns two things in one go that is in the interactive activity tool has been very efficiently utilized to induct about network. The activity was so simplified that it made the learners ready to learn and practice more.

How efficiently the network and the tool can be utilized maximally is the only challenge for OER developers.
As far as financial issues are concerned network is supported by public funds and tool is available free on platform.