Toward a Critical Approach for OER: A Case Study in Removing the ‘Big Five’ from OER Creation
This paper examines the role of proprietary software in the production of open educational resources (OER). Using a single case study, the paper explores the implications of removing proprietary software from an OER project, with the aim of examining how complicated such a process is and whether re...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE)
2019-12-01
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| Series: | Open Praxis |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://account.openpraxis.org/index.php/up-j-op/article/view/62 |
| _version_ | 1797612710202966016 |
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| author | Kris Joseph Julia Guy Michael B. McNally |
| author_facet | Kris Joseph Julia Guy Michael B. McNally |
| author_sort | Kris Joseph |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
This paper examines the role of proprietary software in the production of open educational resources (OER). Using a single case study, the paper explores the implications of removing proprietary software from an OER project, with the aim of examining how complicated such a process is and whether removing such software meaningfully advances a critical approach to OER. The analysis reveals that software from the Big Five technology companies (Apple, Alphabet/Google, Amazon, Facebook and Microsoft) are deeply embedded in OER production and distribution, and that complete elimination of software or services from these companies is not feasible. The paper concludes by positing that simply rejecting Big Five technology introduces too many challenges to be justified on a pragmatic basis; however, it encourages OER creators to remain critical in their use of technology and continue to try to advance a critical approach to OER.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:45:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8561d0a94bb244c49ed655123b9b9369 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1369-9997 2304-070X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:45:48Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Open Praxis |
| spelling | doaj.art-8561d0a94bb244c49ed655123b9b93692023-11-17T10:20:18ZengInternational Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE)Open Praxis1369-99972304-070X2019-12-01114Toward a Critical Approach for OER: A Case Study in Removing the ‘Big Five’ from OER CreationKris Joseph0Julia Guy1Michael B. McNally2York UniversityUniversity of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta This paper examines the role of proprietary software in the production of open educational resources (OER). Using a single case study, the paper explores the implications of removing proprietary software from an OER project, with the aim of examining how complicated such a process is and whether removing such software meaningfully advances a critical approach to OER. The analysis reveals that software from the Big Five technology companies (Apple, Alphabet/Google, Amazon, Facebook and Microsoft) are deeply embedded in OER production and distribution, and that complete elimination of software or services from these companies is not feasible. The paper concludes by positing that simply rejecting Big Five technology introduces too many challenges to be justified on a pragmatic basis; however, it encourages OER creators to remain critical in their use of technology and continue to try to advance a critical approach to OER. https://account.openpraxis.org/index.php/up-j-op/article/view/62open source softwareproprietary softwarecritical approaches to open educational resourcescritical theory |
| spellingShingle | Kris Joseph Julia Guy Michael B. McNally Toward a Critical Approach for OER: A Case Study in Removing the ‘Big Five’ from OER Creation Open Praxis open source software proprietary software critical approaches to open educational resources critical theory |
| title | Toward a Critical Approach for OER: A Case Study in Removing the ‘Big Five’ from OER Creation |
| title_full | Toward a Critical Approach for OER: A Case Study in Removing the ‘Big Five’ from OER Creation |
| title_fullStr | Toward a Critical Approach for OER: A Case Study in Removing the ‘Big Five’ from OER Creation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Toward a Critical Approach for OER: A Case Study in Removing the ‘Big Five’ from OER Creation |
| title_short | Toward a Critical Approach for OER: A Case Study in Removing the ‘Big Five’ from OER Creation |
| title_sort | toward a critical approach for oer a case study in removing the big five from oer creation |
| topic | open source software proprietary software critical approaches to open educational resources critical theory |
| url | https://account.openpraxis.org/index.php/up-j-op/article/view/62 |
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