05-23, 17:00–17:20 (Europe/Paris), Salle H
Open Educational Resources (OER) provide higher education institutes (HEI)with an aid to face the challenges of improving teaching and learning. Yet many OER initiatives fizzle out. Brokers might be imperative for the formation and maintenance of inter-institutional relationships as they have the responsibility and the structural position to connect otherwise separate groups. However, no research findings on the role of brokers in cultivating communities around OER are available. This qualitative descriptive study draws upon Cultural-Historical Activity Theory to understand the complexities associated with the role of brokers in creating sustainable collaboration on OER across 15 HEI. The findings show that a small-scale, personal and content-oriented approach to encourage teachers to engage with the OER community was perceived as the most valuable. Brokers also experienced conflicts due to the demanding context they were operating in. Practical implications refer to supporting HEI that wish to initiate sustainable inter-institutional collaboration on OER.
