An investigation into social learning activities by practitioners in open educational practices

Authors

  • Bieke Schreurs Welten Institute, Open University, The Netherlands
  • Antoine Van den Beemt Eindhoven School of Education, Eindhoven University of Technology
  • Fleur Prinsen Welten Institute, Open University, The Netherlands
  • Gabi Witthaus Leicester University
  • Grainne Conole Leicester University
  • Maarten de Laat Welten Institute, Open University, The Netherlands

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v15i4.1905

Keywords:

open educational resources, networked learning, communities of practice

Abstract

By investigating how educational practitioners participate in activities around open educational practices (OEP), this paper aims at contributing to an understanding of open practices and how these practitioners learn to use OEP. Our research is guided by the following hypothesis: Different social configurations support a variety of social learning activities. The social configuration of OEPs is investigated by an operationalization into the dimensions (1) practice, (2) domain, (3) collective identity, and (4) organization. The results show how practitioners of six different OEPs learn, while acting and collaborating through a combination of offline and online networks. The findings of our study lead to practical implications on how to support participation in OEP, and thereby stimulate learning in (online) networks of OEP.

Author Biography

Antoine Van den Beemt, Eindhoven School of Education, Eindhoven University of Technology

Assistant professor, Eindhoven School of Education. My research concerns professional development of teachers, with an emphasis on ICT als learning tool.

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Published

2014-08-15

How to Cite

Schreurs, B., Van den Beemt, A., Prinsen, F., Witthaus, G., Conole, G., & de Laat, M. (2014). An investigation into social learning activities by practitioners in open educational practices. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 15(4). https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v15i4.1905

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 4 (2014)

Section

Research Articles

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