1. OERs in the UK: Learning
from Digital Futures in
Teacher Education project
Anna Gruszczynska,
Sheffield Hallam University, UK

2. What makes the British
approach of OER special?
• The context of UK OER programme (2009-
2013) – exploring issues and challenges
related to OER (re)use in Higher Education
context
• Over 90 highly innovative projects built on the
principle of cross-sector collaborations
• Active network and a series of OER
conferences
• Changing/challenging education context -
current debates on the role of ICT in schools

3. About the project
Local teachers and pupils, teacher
educators and teacher education
students involved in:
•sharing and developing good
practice in teaching
•understanding more about digital
literacy
•developing guidance on Open
Educational Resources in the
school context
•Project outputs were shared via an
open textbook (pulling together
case studies and supporting
resources) and the "Digital Bloom"
installation
For more information – and for
access to useful OERs:
• Project website
www.digitalfutures.org
• Project blog
www.deftoer3.wordpress.com
• Twitter @deftoer3
• Slideshare
www.slideshare.net/deftoer3
• Contact:
a.gruszczynska@shu.ac.uk

4. Core focus of the project
• Methodological approaches: exploring the
ways in which understandings around DL
are expressed and shared through
reflection in action
• Re-examining DL in the context of the
debate around ICT in the curriculum and
the removal of the programmes of study
• Exploring the place of DL and OERs in
professional development of teachers

5. Practical advice
• Recognise existing practices of sharing
within usually informal networks
• Recognise and challenge the myth of
digital natives
• Clarify misconceptions about sharing
resources and especially copyright
• Focus on the why of OERs and readiness
for sharing, not just the technology
• Explore the links between digital
literacy/OERs and creativity

6. Questions? Stories?