ERIC Number: EJ1017521
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Oct
Pages: 24
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1492-3831
EISSN: N/A
OERScout Technology Framework: A Novel Approach to Open Educational Resources Search
Abeywardena, Ishan Sudeera; Chan, Chee Seng; Tham, Choy Yoong
International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, v14 n4 p214-237 Oct 2013
The open educational resources (OER) movement has gained momentum in the past few years. With this new drive towards making knowledge open and accessible, a large number of OER repositories have been established and made available online throughout the world. However, the inability of existing search engines such as Google, Yahoo!, and Bing to effectively search for useful OER which are of acceptable academic standard for teaching purposes is a major factor contributing to the slow uptake of the entire movement. As a major step towards solving this issue, this paper proposes "OERScout," a technology framework based on text mining solutions. The objectives of our work are to (i) develop a technology framework which will parametrically measure the usefulness of an OER for a particular academic purpose based on the openness, accessibility, and relevance attributes; and (ii) provide academics with a mechanism to locate OER which are of an acceptable academic standard. From our user tests, we have identified that OERScout is a sound solution for effectively zeroing in on OER which can be readily used for teaching and learning purposes.
Descriptors: Resource Units, Shared Resources and Services, Computer Uses in Education, Online Searching, Metadata, Information Retrieval, User Satisfaction (Information), Feedback (Response), Higher Education, Information Technology, Open Universities, Distance Education, Educational Technology
Athabasca University. 1200, 10011 - 109 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 3S8, Canada. Tel: 780-421-2536; Fax: 780-497-3416; e-mail: irrodl@athabascau.ca; Web site: http://www.irrodl.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A