[Oer-community] What have maps ever done for us?

Wed Nov 28 14:34:35 MST 2012

Hi Paul,

Myself and a few others are working on something like that, feel free to
email me off list if interested.

Thanks

Pat

On Wed, Nov 28, 2012 at 5:22 PM, Paul Stacey <pstacey at creativecommons.org>wrote:

> Andy:
>
> Thanks for this comprehensive description of what an OER map could do.
>
> I particularly want to support your call for an OER map of connections.
>
> This correlates very well with a similar post I made earlier to this forum
> suggesting we generate an OER World Map that is more of a social network
> rather than a content network. I see a stronger value proposition for an
> OER World Map that focuses on connecting what currently are isolated OER
> initiatives into collaborative networks. You suggest that a map of
> connections could enable organizations to highlight what other
> organizations they have worked with and identify networks of activity
> around different aspects of OER work to make it easier for connections
> between initiatives to form. I think this is totally bang on. Most OER
> initiatives are fairly isolated from one another and I think an OER Map
> that helps generate connections between initiatives could be incredibly
> useful. I particularly am hopeful that we can move to an OER development
> approach that makes it a priority to, even before development of OER
> begins, find others beyond the local need who have an interest and need for
> the OER being developed. An OER World Map of connections could help us
> fulfill the promise of reuse by connecting development efforts with those
> with a need for the OER once development is complete.
>
> In my earlier suggestion I took this one step further. I believe an OER
> World Map focused on generating connections could connect OER *users, *not
> just developers, into networks of collaborative effort. I think OER
> development today is largely separated from, and not seeking feedback from,
> end users. An OER World Map of connections could provide a means for the
> intended beneficiaries of OER to express needs/requirements, and give
> feedback on their experiences of OER use. Why not provide a means for end
> users to have input into defining upfront requirements for OER? It could
> pool the requirements and needs OER are intended to fulfill and distribute
> the development/reuse effort more effectively across those engaged in OER
> development and use.
>
> An OER World Map of connections could begin to form community around OER
> development similar to that which supports open source software development.
>
> --
> Paul Stacey
> Creative Commons
> (e) pstacey at creativecommons.org
> (w) http://creativecommons.org
> (me) http://creativecommons.org/staff#paulstacey
> (blog) http://edtechfrontier.com
>
>
> On Wed, Nov 28, 2012 at 5:57 AM, Andy.Lane <Andy.Lane at open.ac.uk> wrote:
>
>>  Hi****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> My apologies for this long email but I want to try and set out all the
>> assumptions for my argument.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> The challenge we were set, as I see it, is to try to specify a mapping
>> process that would be of use to the growing OER movement or community. We
>> have been presented with one or two exemplars and some discussion of what
>> it should feature but I want to go back to some first principles about why
>> mapping could be a useful venture. ****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Maps are representations of the world as we find it, to help us make
>> sense of that world and to act within that world. They are partial
>> snapshots of that world and depend to a large degree on the
>> representativeness and relevance of the data and/or information used to
>> construct them. That data can also be quantitative (numbers in most cases)
>> or qualitative (words in most cases) that are arranged in some spatial
>> form. They are also normally either representations of what the world is
>> like or what we think it ought to be like but should not mix the two
>> together.  The value of maps and many other types of diagrams is that they
>> show the relationships between things as well as the things themselves. And
>> in particular where there are lots of things and lots of relationships map
>> are able to show patterns that are not so evident from the ‘raw’ data. That
>> is why data visualisation is becoming an important area of study.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> So maps are there to help us ‘see’ things we may not otherwise have seen
>> and to make connections we might not otherwise have noticed. ****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> The question for me then becomes one of: what things and what connections
>> would I like to see represented to help me better understand the world of
>> the OER movement and to help me act within it.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Well the ‘things’ could be OER themselves (but there are lots of those
>> and they keep changing or getting added to all the time); people
>> creating/using OER (ditto); organisations creating/using OER (there are
>> fewer of these and change less often but their degree of involvement with
>> OER could be highly variable); websites ‘hosting’ or ‘promoting’ OER (could
>> be more of them than organisations – The OU has a number of such websites –
>> but they also do ‘die’ more often); and OER initiatives/projects (some of
>> these are multi organisational but they do show significant OER activity
>> but are also very time limited because of funding). The type of data to be
>> collected on each of these is quite different. Overall I am tending towards
>> mapping organisations as the primary ‘thing’ but with the websites and/or
>> projects they are involved as ‘secondary’ things to capture as a kind of
>> ‘linked’ data so the map can show those different takes if need be. Because
>> of the temporal issue I note above I also think we need data on when a
>> ‘thing’ starts and when it finished (if appropriate) as this will enable us
>> to see the changes (hopefully growth) in all three both temporally across
>> the globe but also within regions and countries (and so we need data on a
>> location for the organisation or all parts of an organisation is it has
>> multiple sites).****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Then there are the connections. The above mapping of things will
>> highlight some existing connections (e.g. organisations working on the same
>> project) but the fact that organisations are included could enable those
>> organisations to also highlight what other organisations they have worked
>> with or are working with and why (e.g. research; translating OER). If users
>> of the site can both add and amend entries with new information as it
>> arises and the purpose of the connection is flagged by an agreed set of
>> keywords then such a map would serve the purpose of highlighting networks
>> of activity around different aspects of OER work (publishing; science
>> teaching, assessment, translating, researching, outreach etc) and so make
>> it easier for folk in one organisation to find other organisations with
>> folk who may be interested in collaborating and sharing ideas and content
>> etc.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Overall the map could act as a mediating agent for people to find people
>> to share with proactively (not to find OER per se as there are other means
>> to do that as others have commented on). Sounds a bit like linkedin for
>> organisations but done through a map ... hmm is that idea copyrighted?!**
>> **
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Andy****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> A.B.Lane, Professor of Environmental Systems, Programme Director for
>> EDIS and Qualification Director for BSc Environmental Management and
>> Technology ****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>>
>> --
>> The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an
>> exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC
>> 038302).
>>
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>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Paul Stacey
> Creative Commons
> (e) pstacey at creativecommons.org
> (w) http://creativecommons.org
> (me) http://creativecommons.org/staff#paulstacey
> (blog) http://edtechfrontier.com
>
>
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