Substantive Post: Open Educational Resource (Challenge C #1)

Open Educational Resource

Open Educational Resources (OERs) are a piece of learning material that can be freely and easily accessed in a public domain, such as on social media platforms, search engines (Google, Fire Fox, etc.). OERs can also (less commonly) be acquired for cheap in libraries or stores. OERs usually take the form of open-access textbooks, Youtube videos, and stock images among other things. Effectively, an OER is any publicly accessible learning material that can be used, altered, and shared.

Introduction to Python

One very impactful OER I came across on my search was a digital open-access textbook on the Athabasca University website. Athabasca is an open (read: online) Canadian university that provides a variety of accessible and free online learning resources for anyone to use. 

One of these OERs is the textbook “Introduction to Computer Programming with Python” by Harris Wang (2023). The textbooks delves into the history of computers and discusses computer programming, specifically the Python programming language. The textbook goes over all the basics to learning python, from different error messages, to sets, lists and dictionaries, to If, For, and When statement, to making applications using Python.

Active Learning

Active learning is a “set of teaching strategies that engages students as active participants in their own learning.” Active learning methods aim to increase cognitive engagement for passive learners within the ICAP (Interactive, Constructive, Active, Passive) framework. In the case of the OER, the textbook has a “Project” section that contains instructions learners can follow to help them learn the material through more hands-on experience.

Reference

Wang H. (2023). Introduction to Computer Programming with Python. Athabasca University. https://read.aupress.ca/projects/introduction-to-computer-programming-with-python