OER in practice: Organisational change by bootstrapping

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John Hannon
La Trobe University
Simon Huggard
La Trobe University
Annabel Orchard
Monash University
Nick Stone
La Trobe University

In this paper, we investigate an approach to institutional change that aims to establish open educational practices (OEP) in a university and inculcate the use of open education resources (OER) as part of its curriculum work and teaching practice. Traditional practices that involve delivering knowledge resources for individualised learning within semester-length units of study are becoming increasingly ill-adapted to the demands of a dynamic and global educational landscape. OER offers a sustainable and equitable alternative to such closed arrangements, with the potential to meet the emerging demands of distributed learning settings. Nevertheless, changing educational practice remains a formidable challenge, and adopting OER is a radical break from legacy institutional practices. Our focus in this paper is on the starting point for embedding OER in curriculum work and teaching practice. We investigate change through emergent initiatives rather than a top-down program at La Trobe University in Australia: we ask what connections are necessary to establish open practices in a university. We trace three instances of OEP in one university that together build capacity in OER. We draw on Bardini’s strategy of bootstrapping, as an iterative and co-adaptive learning process that connects good practices in situ with institutional structures in order to build the groundwork for emergent change. These cases demonstrate how disparate innovations can be connected and re-purposed to establish a network of nascent OEP. 

Keywords
open educational resources, open educational practices, sustainable, openness, practice, bootstrapping

Article Details

How to Cite
Hannon, John et al. “OER in practice: Organisational change by bootstrapping”. RUSC, Universities & Knowledge Society, vol.VOL 11, no. 3, pp. 134-50, doi:10.7238/rusc.v11i3.2131.
Author Biographies

John Hannon, La Trobe University

Dr John Hannon is a senior lecturer in Learning and Teaching at La Trobe University. He has a key role in the university’s strategy for developing innovative and effective pedagogical approaches for online and blended learning. He teaches in the field of higher education teaching and learning, and his research focuses on transitions in academic and professional practice, including the use of digital technologies in learning contexts, learning in the spaces of Web 2.0, and the use of open educational resources and practices. His published research investigates issues for universities with educational technologies, professional practice, open education and intercultural communication.

Simon Huggard, La Trobe University

Simon Huggard has been the manager of the Digital Infrastructure team in the library at La Trobe University since 2012. He manages a team of staff responsible for the library’s Research Online repository, search, linking and discovery systems, library management system, copyright and audio-visual requests. Simon has written many articles and presentations relating to library systems and information access, and is a strong advocate for open access, Creative Commons licences and the provision of smart systems for accessing digital library content. Simon previously held positions at the State Library of Victoria and Monash University, Australia, where he worked closely on system implementation, customised web and application interfaces, usability and software development.

Annabel Orchard, Monash University

Annabel Orchard has recently moved to Monash University after three years at LaTrobe University, Australia. She has worked extensively in the innovation and development of multimedia for learning enhancement, and also in tertiary teaching, and curriculum design and development. Annabel has developed eLearning resources for the University of Melbourne, La Trobe University, the ABC, the Ian Potter Gallery, the Australian Department of Employment, Education and Training, and others. Recent projects at LaTrobe included coordinating the Mobile Learning Devices Pilot Project, developing digitised resources for flexible delivery via iTunes U, and participating in the Open Education Working Group. Annabel has taught Classics since 2000 at the University of Melbourne, Monash University and LaTrobe University. 

Nick Stone, La Trobe University

Nick Stone has worked as a researcher, lecturer and consultant at La Trobe, Melbourne, Deakin, Monash, RMIT and other universities in Australia. He works with the Australian Culture Resource Centre to prepare Defence Force personnel in ‘Cultural Intelligence’ for overseas missions. He has worked across different sectors, mainly in studies and practice of management, education and health. Over the past 14 years, he has specialised in teaching and research on intercultural learning and development across a range of disciplines. Nick’s recent work includes teaching ‘Intercultural Effectiveness’ and ‘Cross-Cultural Management’, evaluating and refining major reforms and innovations in health sciences education, establishing a Faculty Indigenous Engagement Strategy, and developing a new multidisciplinary subject on ‘Indigenous and Intercultural Health’. Nick’s near-complete PhD focuses on ‘Assessing Intercultural Effectiveness in Management Learning and Practice’.