[Sharing is a challenge] #3 Do we still need OER in the age of AI? by Fawzy Baroud and Mitja Jermol

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Are OER still useful today, now that we have access to powerful generative AI models? For Fawzy Baroud and Mitja Jermol (@njermol), yes, but for reasons that may vary depending on local contexts. To illustrate their point, they share their thoughts based on their own contexts: Lebanon for Fawzy and Slovenia for Mitja, and propose a way forward: ‘OER as a foundation’ and ‘GenAI as accelerator’.

“Do we still need OER in the age of AI?” by Fawzy Baroud and Mitja Jermol

Mitja Jermol (Slovenia) and Fawzi Baroud (Lebanon) tackle a recent obstacle: do the successes of generative AI make OER obsolete? Starting from two very different perspectives, they come to similar and unexpected conclusions: producing open educational resources has never been more important!

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This article was written on 5th February. Since then, the situation in Lebanon has changed dramatically. We wish to express our heartfelt sympathy to our colleagues in Lebanon and to all the others affected by ongoing conflicts.

This is our last article for this week. See you again on Monday for our next article.

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Thank you, @erwan_louerat, for leading this conversation, and @Fawzy Baroud and @njermol for such a timely and important reflection.

What I find particularly powerful in this piece is the reframing of OER, not as content, but as designed learning experiences grounded in pedagogy, context, and intention. That distinction feels especially important in current conversations around AI, where speed and generation can sometimes overshadow the deeper work of teaching and learning.

The idea of “OER as foundation” and “GenAI as accelerator” offers a helpful way to move beyond binary thinking. It acknowledges both the possibilities of AI and the enduring value of openness, particularly in relation to provenance, trust, and the commons.

The point about dependency also resonates strongly. As education increasingly relies on systems we do not control, the role of OER as a stable, community-owned layer becomes even more critical.

Your closing question stays with me: who do we want to control the future of education? It feels like a question that extends beyond technology and speaks directly to the values we want to uphold as a community.

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