EDCI: Blog Post 2

Open pedagogy or OER, open educational resources, is a teaching methodology that reenvisions how a subject is being taught versus what. If we break down the terms used, open refers to educational resources as being public domain and openly licensed. This means that the tools for learning and not only assessable but downloadable. This also is applied to the learning outcomes.  Instructor and student work alike are publicly viewable. Pedagogy is the practice of teaching academic subjects or concepts. It is the invitation to the student to become a part of the teaching process for more than just themselves but future students and even on a global scale. The access we have to each other these days with technology leaves the perfect platform for a new, didactic, learning method where students can participate in the co-creation of study.
This system of instruction is a reimagined design of learning that leaves room for open engagement with students, their instructors and the material. It creates flourishing academics that break down “facilitator” boundaries to further long-term goals rather than short-term memorization. By starting with mission statements to provide a motive for the course, and then utilizing open planning, open products, open-reflections and open process, educators engross students with the content and fertilize a healthier and more absorbed student body. Open Planning is the collaboration of content, lessons, tools, and teaching strategies with other educators via public access. Open Products refers to the publishing of students’ work, results and learning examples, for an audience larger than the teacher. This results in the understanding that the work is more important than just a grade and broadens the global conversation for learners. Open reflection is reflecting within a public document on what worked and what didn’t work to create communication with people possibly dealing with similar challenges. Open Process is exposing what resources such as software and tools were used and what learning hurdles came along with them. The significance of open communication is unpacking and collectively understanding what was successful and what was not for students and instructors. (UBC Program for Open Scholarship and Education, 2021)
Learning and teaching students to engage with material to reach long-term course goals is multidimensional and should taught as such. As Professor Schuwer claims, “Open Pedagogy is an extension of and not a replacement for didactical approaches a teacher can use” (Professor R. Schuwer, 2015) This explains how open pedagogy learning as a method is an addition to other learning environments such as direct instruction, inquiry-based learning, cooperative learning, and experiential learning. This course is a perfect example of open pedagogy. We are creating systems of learning for each other and future students and involving ourselves with the understanding of how you teach. (E. Werth & K. Williams, 2022)
Using these learning techniques in partnership with each other creates informed and engaged learners who connect the outside world with their education process through networking. The goal is to encourage students to direct their learning by sharing ideas, reviewing with peers and increasing student motivation. 

Kwantlen Polytechnic University (2023) Open Pedagogy, Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Available at: https://www.kpu.ca/open/pedagogy.

Schuwer, R. (2015) April Open Perspective: What Is Open Pedagogy?, Year of Open. Available at: https://www.yearofopen.org/april-open-perspective-what-is-open-pedagogy/.

The University of British Columbia (2021) What is Open Pedagogy | Program for Open Scholarship and Education, Open.ubc.ca. Available at: https://pose.open.ubc.ca/open-education/open-pedagogy/defining-open-pedagogy/.

Werth, E. and Williams, K. (2022) The Why of Open Pedagogy a Value-First Conceptualization for Enhancing Instructor Praxis. Smart Learning Environments, 9, Article No. 10. – References – Scientific Research Publishing, Scirp.org. Available at: https://www.scirp.org/(S(czeh4tfqyw2orz553k1w0r45))/reference/referencespapers?referenceid=3634524.

What is Open Pedagogy? – BCcampus OpenEd Resources (2021). Available at: https://open.bccampus.ca/what-is-open-education/what-is-open-pedagogy/.