OER in Fiji is a new concept. This presentation is about OER in Higher Education institutions and how resources form OER adds value to knowledge and creates an Equitable Access to quality resources available free online. This presentation also includes Creative Commons licensing and the APTUS mobile learning device.

1. OPEN EDUCATIONAL
RESOURCES in Higher
Education
By Matai Tagicaki
Tagicaki, MN 2015, OER in Higher Education Fiji - HEI Presentation, © UNESCO and Commonwealth of
Learning 2011, 2015, used Under the Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 IGO
10/21/201
5

2.  Open Educational Resources (OER): OER are teaching, learning
and research materials in any medium that reside in the public
domain and have been released under an open license that
permits access, use, repurposing, reuse and redistribution by
others with no or limited restrictions (Atkins, Brown &Hammond,
2007).
 The use of open technical standards improves access and reuse
potential.
 OER can include full courses/programs, course materials,
modules, student guides, teaching notes, textbooks, research
articles, videos, assessment tools and
 instruments, interactive materials such as simulations and role
plays, databases, software, apps (including mobile apps) and
any other educationally useful materials.
Tagicaki, MN 2015, OER in Higher Education Fiji - HEI Presentation, © UNESCO and Commonwealth of
Learning 2011, 2015, used Under the Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 IGO
10/21/201
5

3. OER in HE context
 Many institutions are incorporating information and
communication
 technologies (ICT) into their management,
administration and educational
 programs in order to serve their students more cost-
effectively and to prepare
 them for the world into which they will graduate.
“DOER - Directory of Open Educational Resources Open
Educational Resources from Commonwealth universities
and educational institutions.”
Tagicaki, MN 2015, OER in Higher Education Fiji - HEI Presentation, © UNESCO and Commonwealth of
Learning 2011, 2015, used Under the Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 IGO
10/21/201
5

4. KNOWLEDGE DRIVEN ECONOMY
 higher education systems play major roles in social
development and national economic competitiveness
 Many institutions are incorporating information and
communication technologies (ICT) into their management,
administration and educational programs – WHY? – to provide
quality service for students.
 In many developing countries, however, access to hardware,
software and connectivity remain challenges –
 therefore critical to adapt pedagogical approaches and
learning materials to this environment while ensuring high
quality and relevant educational opportunities.
Tagicaki, MN 2015, OER in Higher Education Fiji - HEI Presentation, © UNESCO and Commonwealth of
Learning 2011, 2015, used Under the Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 IGO
10/21/201
5

5. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
 Accessing resources to add value to knowledge is not a
challenge anymore with the availability of ICT
 We search for quality for our students.
 To ensure that the correct standard of quality information are
accessed by our students, we filter and categorize information
to share.
 OER offers a platform that allows our Educators to access
quality informative resources to empower their pedagogical
content.
 Educators can become dynamic knowledge creators by
publishing referencing related work without all the copyright
restrictions.
Tagicaki, MN 2015, OER in Higher Education Fiji - HEI Presentation, © UNESCO and Commonwealth of
Learning 2011, 2015, used Under the Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 IGO
10/21/201
5

6. CREATIVE COMMONS
Licensing – CREATIVE COMMONS
LICENSES
Tagicaki, MN 2015, OER in Higher Education Fiji - HEI Presentation, © UNESCO and Commonwealth of
Learning 2011, 2015, used Under the Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 IGO
10/21/201
5

7. LINKS TO OER RESOURCE
SITES for HEI.
 OER University online
 Cambridge University
 Directory of Repository
 UNESCO – Virtual University
 Commonwealth of Learning OER Directory
Tagicaki, MN 2015, OER in Higher Education Fiji - HEI Presentation, © UNESCO and Commonwealth of
Learning 2011, 2015, used Under the Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 IGO
10/21/201
5

8. APTUS – Mobile learning Device
 Aptus is a learning mobile device
designed to create classrooms without
walls; have educational information
that is up to date available anywhere
around the world creating an equitable
environment for education.
 Aptus is equipped with:
 Own cloud - file sharing
application
 Moodle – Learning
Management System
 OpenSIS – Open Source
Student Information
System
 Samba file server – Used
to upload large
collections of content e.g.
video, audio, PDF files.
Useful to customize Aptus
to local content.
Aptus has installed:
1. Over 100,000
Wikipedia for schools,
Wiktionary, Simple
English Wikipedia.
2. Includes 3000
Educational Videos
from Khans Academy
3. Selection of
publications.
4. All Fiji Textbooks
available online for
the K12 Education
System has also been
uploaded onto APTUS.Tagicaki, MN 2015, OER in Higher Education Fiji - HEI Presentation, © UNESCO and Commonwealth of
Learning 2011, 2015, used Under the Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 IGO
10/21/201
5

9.  APTUS provides –
1. An equitable platform for access
2. Affordable access to quality resources
3. Online collaboration without internet
4. Dynamic digital learning environment
(LMS, SIS, Videos, Other Resources
without internet costs).
5. Dedicated learning environment that
is fun, exciting and explosive
6. Supports students with affordable
access to quality resources.
7. Minimum restrictions and barriers for
educators to be dynamic lesson
designers.
Ricky Chen and Dr Balaji
The inventors of APTUS from COL
Receiving an APTUS device
from the President of COL
Tagicaki, MN 2015, OER in Higher Education Fiji - HEI Presentation, © UNESCO and Commonwealth of
Learning 2011, 2015, used Under the Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 IGO
10/21/201
5

10. CURRENT APTUS PROJECT UP DATE
 I have been traveling rural schools
around Fiji with the Director Primary
Education distributing tablets and
conducting training.
 Introducing Aptus to HT,
demonstrating the dynamic
learning environment that APTUS
offers.
 The Director Primary Education has
commissioned the manufacture of
500 Aptus Devices @ US$100 per
device, freight will depend on
device weight estimated @
US$1.80.
 The devices are being assembled
in China by David Liu. The
specifications are provided by
inventor Ricky Cheng who works
for COL.
Future HEI students starting early
with digital learning
Tagicaki, MN 2015, OER in Higher Education Fiji - HEI Presentation, © UNESCO and Commonwealth of
Learning 2011, 2015, used Under the Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 IGO
10/21/201
5

11. END
Tagicaki, MN 2015, OER in Higher Education Fiji - HEI Presentation, © UNESCO and Commonwealth of
Learning 2011, 2015, used Under the Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 IGO
10/21/201
5