Abstract:
The DETA Conference of August 2011 and the workshops on the use of open
educational resources (OER) were the catalyst for a project that aimed to design
and build a multidisciplinary online course in academic research writing, using OER
for undergraduate and postgraduate students at a Nigerian university as a resource
for research reports, assignments, dissertations, and theses. The project provided
an opportunity for collaboration among lecturers and IT specialists, thereby raising
awareness about the benefi ts of using OER and broadening the user base for these
resources. Some of the challenges encountered include the lack of adequate access
to the internet, possible lack of commitment to the project by some participants
due to pressures of their workload, unrealistic timelines, and lack of familiarity with
OER. The paper concludes with refl ections on the reasons for these challenges and
suggests recommendations for scholars planning similar projects.
Description:
Proceedings of the 5th biennial International Conference on Distance Education and
Teachers’ Training in Africa (DETA) held at the University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya, 30 July - 1 August 2013.
