Using OER to Address Education Inequality in Poorer South African Schools

By Grant Penny.English Instructor, Course Developer.Greenhouse Phoenix, Nagoya, Japan.http://www.grantpenny.info

Background

• Why South Africa?

• Charity and community involvement.

• Observations and comparisons.

The State of Government Education

• ‘Real’ pass rate:

• 41.7% completed grade 12 (2014).• 12% university exemption.

• Textbook delivery failures.

• International ranking:

• 148/148 in overall education (WEF, 2014).

Benefits of OER

Artefact - Website Introduction

Why?• Feasible. • Accessible

Aim: • Serve as a repository of OER that are aimed at, or created by South Africans.• Users can upload their own materials.• Forums to discuss the creation of future OER.• All materials mobile device accessible.

Website Development Details

Website Previewwww.opensouthafrica.org

Submit Contentwww.opensouthafrica.org

Viewing Contentwww.opensouthafrica.org

Forumswww.opensouthafrica.org

Profilewww.opensouthafrica.org

Development as a Networked Practitioner

• Three iterations of the website have been displayed on OpenStudio.

• The website has been shared over Twitter and Facebook.

Peer Influence:

• Testing mobile interface.

• Testing login system.

• Feedback on layout and navigation.

• Comments on accessibility.

• Link checking.

Unexpected Challenges

1. Finding appropriate OER to populate the site.

2. Spam and online safety concerns - especially for children.

Conclusion

For more information and if you would like to get involved in the project, please visit my Cloudworks cloud at:

http://cloudworks.ac.uk/cloud/view/8867

Thank you.

Future Plans:• Adding more content.• Advertising (Facebook, Google).• Forming partnerships.