Short answer

Leverage Open Educational Resources (OERs) to build more inclusive and effective international collaborative learning experiences that foster intercultural understanding.

Field
User-Centred Design
Source
Journal of Educational Technology Systems (2023)
Method
Case Study
Evidence
Moderate effect

Integrating Open Educational Resources (OERs) into Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) courses can significantly foster intercultural competence among students by facilitating shared knowledge and content across diverse backgrounds. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Journal of Educational Technology Systems. Using Case study, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Leverage Open Educational Resources (OERs) to build more inclusive and effective international collaborative learning experiences that foster intercultural understanding.

Study
User-Centred DesignRecentModerate effect

Open Educational Resources Enhance Intercultural Competence in Collaborative Online Learning

Integrating Open Educational Resources (OERs) into Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) courses can significantly foster intercultural competence among students by facilitating shared knowledge and content across diverse backgrounds.

Journal of Educational Technology Systems · 2023

01

Key Findings

  • 01OERs provide a flexible and accessible platform for sharing content across international educational partnerships.
  • 02The use of OERs in COIL courses positively impacts the development of intercultural competence.
  • 03Collaboration between faculty, librarians, and instructional designers is crucial for successful OER integration in COIL.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Leverage Open Educational Resources (OERs) to build more inclusive and effective international collaborative learning experiences that foster intercultural understanding.

How to apply

When designing international online courses, actively seek out and integrate OERs that can be easily shared and adapted by students and faculty from diverse cultural and technological backgrounds.

Project actions

  • 01Explore OER repositories for relevant content for your design project.
  • 02Consider how OERs can facilitate collaboration between different user groups in your project.
03

Method & Evidence

AimWhat are the perceptions of faculty and students regarding the benefits and challenges of using Open Educational Resources (OERs) in Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) courses for developing intercultural competence?
MethodCase Study
ProcedureThe study involved co-planning, implementing, and revising assignments for two college courses with international partners, specifically highlighting the use of OER instructional materials. Faculty perceptions were gathered and analyzed in conjunction with student outcomes related to intercultural competence.
ContextHigher Education, International Collaboration, Online Learning

Variables

IVUse of Open Educational Resources (OERs)
DVIntercultural competence, Student and faculty perceptions
CVCourse subject matter, International partner institution, Online learning platform
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Highlights the practical application of OERs in a real-world educational setting.
  • +Emphasizes the collaborative aspect of instructional design and resource integration.

Limitations

The availability and quality of OERs can vary significantly, potentially impacting the learning experience. The success of OER integration also depends heavily on faculty training and institutional support.

Reliability & validity

The study's validity is supported by its case study approach, providing in-depth insights into a specific implementation. Reliability could be enhanced through triangulation of data sources, including student surveys and performance assessments.

Think critically

To what extent does the 'openness' of OERs truly translate to equitable access and effective intercultural learning, considering varying levels of digital literacy and internet access among global student populations?

05

Design Principles

"Design for cross-cultural collaboration by utilizing accessible and adaptable resources."

This approach democratizes access to learning materials, enabling richer, more equitable international collaborations. It allows for flexible curriculum design that can be adapted to various cultural contexts, directly impacting the student experience and learning outcomes.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Using free online learning materials in international online group projects helps students get better at understanding and working with people from different countries.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Reference this study when discussing the benefits of accessible resources in your design project's user research or ideation phases.
  • 2.Use the findings to justify the selection of OERs for a collaborative design task.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The integration of Open Educational Resources (OERs) within Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) frameworks has been shown to be an effective strategy for enhancing intercultural competence among students. By providing accessible and shareable content, OERs facilitate a more equitable and engaging learning environment, enabling students to develop crucial global competencies. This approach underscores the importance of resource accessibility in fostering international collaboration and understanding.

09

Source

Journal of Educational Technology Systems

Building Global Relationships: Open Educational Resources and Collaborative Online International Learning Courses

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about open educational resources enhance intercultural competence in collaborative online learning?
Leverage Open Educational Resources (OERs) to build more inclusive and effective international collaborative learning experiences that foster intercultural understanding. Evidence: Journal of Educational Technology Systems (2023).
Why does "Open Educational Resources Enhance Intercultural Competence in Collaborative Online Learning" matter for design?
This approach democratizes access to learning materials, enabling richer, more equitable international collaborations. It allows for flexible curriculum design that can be adapted to various cultural contexts, directly impacting the student experience and learning outcomes.
How can designers apply this research?
Leverage Open Educational Resources (OERs) to build more inclusive and effective international collaborative learning experiences that foster intercultural understanding.
What were the main findings?
OERs provide a flexible and accessible platform for sharing content across international educational partnerships.. The use of OERs in COIL courses positively impacts the development of intercultural competence.. Collaboration between faculty, librarians, and instructional designers is crucial for successful OER integration in COIL.
What research method was used?
Case Study.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from Journal of Educational Technology Systems.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When designing international online courses, actively seek out and integrate OERs that can be easily shared and adapted by students and faculty from diverse cultural and technological backgrounds.
What are the limitations?
The findings are based on a case study of two specific courses, which may limit generalizability to all COIL contexts. The study primarily focuses on faculty perceptions, with less detailed exploration of student experiences.