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"This article provides a critical assessment of the potential of open educational resources (OERs) for open distance learning (ODL). After providing a definition of OERs it discusses the nature of OERs and explores the growth of the OER community. It also examines the different meanings that 'open' has when dealing with OERs and ODL before exploring the opportunities and possibilities that OERs afford. The article examines whether OERs can assist in the higher education (HE) crisis in terms of available places and whether they can also contribute to sustainable global economic growth. It also draws attention to the dark side of OER adoption, such as information imperialism and the danger that developing nations may only be consumers rather than producers of OERs. It concludes by highlighting the potential of OERs in ODL and draws attention to the need for specific educational practices and actions to facilitate the use of OERs in ODL."

"This paper describes the framework for the development of OER-based learning materials TCC121/05 Programming Fundamentals with Java for ODL learners in Wawasan Open University (WOU) using three main development phases mainly: creation, evaluation and production phases. The proposed framework has further been tested on ODL learners to promote greater use of OER repositories and further the acceptance of a wider range of learning resources. By using collective feedback sessions, the walkthrough of available OER resources to be integrated or assembled into the learning materials is illustrated in the course development cycle and the interaction among students and instructors and learning experiences of courses units' content are evaluated at the end of each of the courses with the production of external course assessor's reports (Quality Assurance). The learners' interactions with OER materials in LMS have demonstrated the development of a model for effective knowledge transfer using OER."

"Failure rates in first year calculus courses are high in most post-secondary institutions across North America and other parts of the world. This Inukshuk-funded open education project involved the development of five stand-alone pre-calculus learning modules. The design and revision phases of this project occurred between the fall of 2007 and late spring of 2009. These modules were designed to support learners enrolled in first year calculus by providing just-in-time instruction in five areas: algebraic operations, factorization, polynomials and rational expressions, radical expressions, linear and quadratic equations. One of the major challenges of the project was developing dynamic activities that could support the display of a variety of mathematical formulas. To this end an open source Flash-based authoring tool was developed called the Athabasca University Tutor Authoring Tool (AUTAT). This paper explores the design and development of the AUTAT based on the needs assessment and design principles discussed."

"Student-centred learning approaches like collaborative learning are needed to facilitate meaningful learning among self-motivated lifelong learners within educational institutions through interorganizational Open and Distant Learning (ODL) approaches. The purpose of this study is to develop blended learning platforms to promote sustainable living, building on an e-hub with sub-portals in SEARCH to facilitate activities such as "Education for Sustainable Development" (ESD), webinars, authentic learning, and the role of m-/e-learning. Survey questionnaires and mixed-research approach with mixed-mode of data analysis were used including some survey findings of in-service teachers' understanding and attitudes towards ESD and three essential skills for sustainable living. Case studies were reported in telecollaborative project on "Disaster Risk Reduction Education" (DR RED) in Malaysia, Germany and Philippines. These activities were organized internationally to facilitate communication through e-platforms among participants across national borders using digital tools to build relationships, promote students' Higher Order Thinking (HOT) skills and innate ability to learn independently. "