#232 Presentation

Wednesday 18 April 09:40 - 10:10 Bowett Room

Localization of OER in Nepal: insights from Himalayan knowledge-workers

Tiffany Ivins, Community Development Network, US

Conference Theme: Innovation

Summary: Strategies of OER localization conducted by youth leaders in Himalayan community technology centers of Nepal.

Abstract: The purpose of this presentation is to better understand localization strategies used by Himalayan knowledge-workers in order to make content relevant to those they teach.  The overarching academic theory that I explore is "localization unlocks the power of OER."
Although this concept has been stressed at conferences and symposia regarding the growing OER movement in developing countries (Wiley, 2007; Mackintosh, 2010; OERF, 2011), concrete evidence to these numerous claims is still lacking.
There are very few studies that explore the practical involvement of knowledge-workers and everyday activities related to OER localization.  My intent with this research is to build an evidentiary basis for these numerous claims by providing case studies, best practices, and strategies of localization in an effort for practitioners to improve the utility of OER in developing country settings, particularly in Nepal
This presentation specifically focuses on a sample of seven Nepalese technology centers to better understand how localization is defined, designed, and executed at a ground level.  I will illuminate obstacles faced by and strategies utilized by knowledge-workers who localize content for the disparate needs, interests, and ability-levels of learners in rural villages. I will conclude by offering key principles to support theory development related to OER localization.
This qualitative study employed interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and artifact reviews to identify patterns of localization practices and themes related to localization of critical content in Himalayan community technology centers of Nepal. This presentation provides valuable evidence of how localization is executed and concrete ways that localization could be improved in order for OER to reap efficacious learning gains for more rural people in developing countries across the globe.