OER and FOSS: Catalysts for Innovation in Online Education

Abstract

In recent years, the emergence and development of Open Educational Resources (OER) and free and open source software (FOSS) have had a major impact worldwide, and various types of OER and FOSS are becoming more and more abundant. Although many educational institutions and teachers are actively considering using these resources and tools to enrich teaching content and improve students’ interest in learning, we have found through literature research that these resources and tools are not widely and effectively applied. Based on the analysis of the literature, the authors analysed and explored the roots and essence of this situation. After that, the application of OER and FOSS at the School of Professional and Continuing Education, the University of Hong Kong (HKU SPACE) and Chu Hai College of Higher Education in recent years was also investigated as case studies. Specific recommendations on how to use these resources and tools in teaching were provided, including the promotion of the concepts of OER and FOSS, innovation in the curriculum development team, the establishment of inventories of OER and FOSS, and more. The authors hope that this article will be able to explain the important role of the OER and FOSS in education and teaching innovation and provide effective design principles and templates so that more teachers and institutions can effectively use the OER and FOSS in practice.