Open Education and Culture of sharing

Open Education is centered around reducing barriers to education for students including access, financial costs, accessibility, and spaces. Open Education supports social justice, sustainability, equity, diversity, and inclusion. The global pandemic has altered the way we think. As the world becomes smaller and more connected, so does education. Digital assets are becoming more crucial than ever. This is an opportunity to shift education towards more inclusive, open-minded ideas. Open learning has the potential to stimulate innovation. In a broad sense,  open education refers to pedagogical strategies, academic practices, teaching methods, and open educational resources (OER) that support flexible, collaborative learning. This may entail collaborating on the development of learning experiences with students and teachers, taking part in online peer communities, using, producing, and disseminating open educational resources (OER) and open knowledge, and exchanging professional experiences. 

Benefits of open education 

Access is one of the main advantages of open education. It gives people in impoverished regions, developing countries, and marginalized groups the power to go over obstacles that might otherwise prevent them from pursuing an education.  Moreover, Open education lowers financial barriers and levels the playing field by providing free or inexpensive alternatives to conventional textbooks, promoting a more fair society. A  Fantastic video on open education was produced by Blink Tower. The video  “Why Open Education Matters” emphasizes the value of open education in ensuring that all people have equitable access to high-quality learning resources. It emphasizes how open educational resources (OER) can break down economic and geographic barriers, enabling students all around the world to access free resources. The collaborative character of open education and its capacity to promote customization and creativity in teaching and learning are both highlighted in the video.  Customization and adaptation in learning materials are also encouraged by open education. Teachers are free to alter and customize OER to fit their own teaching philosophies and the unique needs of their students. For their students, educators can design compelling and pertinent learning experiences by embracing a variety of perspectives and cultural contexts. Innovative teaching methods and learning experiments are supported by open education. In order to encourage creativity and participation in the classroom, educators are given the freedom to experiment with novel teaching strategies, technology, and techniques. This innovative culture advances educational methods and improves the quality of the learning process as a whole.

My experience with open education and resources 

I used educational resources for the first time when I was a 6 to 8-year-old teacher in India during COVID-19. My experience with open education in the classroom was very revolutionary. I was able to give my students an exciting and inclusive learning environment by embracing open educational resources (OER). Increased accessibility was one of open education’s biggest benefits. I removed the obstacles caused by pricey textbooks by incorporating OER into my instruction. High-quality educational materials were available to all students, regardless of their financial situation. My students were inspired to develop their own learning styles through open education. They had the chance to research subjects outside the scope of the curriculum and pursue their own areas of interest because there were so many open educational resources available. Moreover, My teaching style has been completely transformed by the flexibility of open educational resources. OER made it simple for me to adapt the curriculum to my student’s individual needs and interests. Because of this personalization, I was able to develop lessons that were more relevant to my students’ varied backgrounds and learning preferences.

Challenges I faced with open education 

When using open education during the COVID-19 outbreak, I faced a number of difficulties. Access to technology and dependable internet connectivity was one of the biggest challenges during COVID-19. To fully interact with open educational resources, many students faced obstacles because they lacked access to laptops, computers, or reliable internet connections. I also had a tough time immediately adjusting pedagogical methods to the online learning setting. It was necessary to modify courses, assessments, and activities in order to successfully use open educational materials when moving from conventional face-to-face instruction to remote learning. I had trouble coming up with new lesson ideas, delivering notes to the students, and creating assignments that were appropriate for the student’s levels.

In conclusion, Open education is an innovation because it increases accessibility, lowers prices, and fosters cooperation. It emphasizes lifelong learning, empowers students from all backgrounds, and supports creative teaching methods. Embracing open education, in my opinion, prepares the path for a society that is diverse and knowledge-driven in the future.