Open Learning Champions - a model for widening participation The Open University in Scotland operates a network of Open Learning Champions, working in partnership with a range of voluntary sector organisations, community learning groups, libraries and others. The aim is to provide open learning in familiar spaces using open educational resources (OER) on OpenLearn and OpenLearn Works, as well as massive online open courses (MOOCs) on FutureLearn. The project has managed to successfully engage with people who may not otherwise consider themselves 'learners', and who may face significant barriers to accessing more traditional widening participation programmes. Presented at OER17 by Gill Ryan, Learning Partnerships Officer, OUiS

1. Open Learning Champions
– a model for widening participation
Gill Ryan
Learning Partnerships Officer
The Open University in Scotland
OER17
London
6 April 2017

2. 2

3. Open Pathways to Higher Education

4. Open Learning Champions
Existing trusted relationships can enable learning
in familiar spaces. The role of the champion can
include…
• Supporting learners to access OER
• Helping to navigate OpenLearn and other
platforms
• Using Open Pathways to support learner
journeys from informal to formal
• Facilitating groups of learners to undertake
an OER
• Signposting, sharing on social media
• Participating in the OLC network
• Contributing to evaluation/case studies
4

5. Working in partnership
●Voluntary sector organisations
●Carers organisations (>20%)
●Community learning
●Libraries
●University and college
outreach / access
●Housing associations
●Community groups
●Professional associations
●Membership bodies
●Community Jobs Scheme
employers
●Social enterprise

6. Open Learning Champions
127
Open Learning
Champions
60
organisations
Since June 2015…
6
1 OLC
reaches
10
learners

7. Evaluation findings
How many people have you signposted/supported?
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8. Evaluation findings
What groups have you used the resources with?
8

9. Evaluation findings
What OERs are you using?
9

10. What difference does it make?
● Learners gain confidence 32%
● Learners gain digital badge(s) 14%
● Learners continue their learning journey 50%
● OpenLearn, FutureLearn 32%
● Formal study with the OU (Access, modules, qualifications) 9%
● Other formal study (college, university, accredited training) 9%
● “Previous e-learning has been dry and isolating. This is fun, interactive and can be
a really positive way of getting people back into education” (OLC, Angus)
10

11. What difference does it make?
11
“when the course was offered I thought, it
will make me reflect on what I've been
doing. The course really opens your mind
and gets you thinking about what you
actually do and what your value is. It made
me think I could do this and when I went to
the interview, the words just flowed.”
Jane undertook the Caring Counts reflection and
planning course for carers which gave her the
confidence to return to the workforce having cared
full-time for 13 years

12. Open Learning Champions
East Lothian community learning
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“There is a need to bridge the academic
world and community learning… and
OpenLearn offers the opportunity to do
this.”
Margaret uses OER to develop workshops for the
East Lothian community learning programme and
has engaged both adult learners and CLD workers
keen to use the resources in their practice

13. Open Learning Champions
The Prince’s Trust Scotland
13
The Prince’s Trust have taken a three-
pronged approach to using OER:
• personal development for staff /
volunteers;
• self-directed study for young people;
• staff to incorporate in their work with
young people to enhance their learning
“the flexibility of open learning makes it
adaptable for staff and young people.”
Cath and Morven, two of eight champions in the
Prince’s Trust, which works with disadvantaged
young people aged 13-30

14. To find out more…
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Contact:
Gill Ryan Gill.ryan@open.ac.uk
@gill_ie
Caring Counts www.open.edu/openlearnworks/caringcounts1
Open Pathways to Higher Education www.open.edu/scotland/openpathways
Open Learning Champions http://www.open.ac.uk/scotland/our-work/open-learning-champions
Cannell, P (2016). Revisiting barriers to participation. In: HE: Transforming lives through life-wide-learning?
conference papers. 27-28 April 2016. The Open University.
Lane, A (2012). Widening participation in higher education through open educational resources. In: Okada,
Alexandra; Connolly, Teresa and Scott, Peter J. eds. Collaborative Learning 2.0: Open Educational Resources.
IGI Global, pp. 1–15.
Ryan, G and Hewitt, L (2015). Developing a flexible model of Open Learning Champions: report on findings from
pilot sites in Dumfries and Shetland. The Open University in Scotland.