Critical Reflection by Mature Students as Co-Developers of an Open Educational Resource in Foregrounding Their Learning

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56059/jl4d.v10i3.1081

Keywords:

critical reflection, students as co-developers, Open Educational Resources, mature students

Abstract

 

This study explored learning which occurred when mature distance education students co-developed an open educational resource (OER) with their lecturers using Smith’s critical reflection as a method to guide reflection on their learning. This study is significant since student learning on the co-development of an open educational resource could not be found in the literature. Within an interpretative paradigm, we used questionnaires with mainly open-ended questions to determine a particular group of students’ learning. Findings indicate learning about themselves, their interactions, and their contexts. The study puts forward specific implications to improve future practices based on the findings. The specific contribution is that students who engage in critical self-reflection change their perspectives, allowing them to self-examine and reflect on future actions. This learning experience assists students, lecturers and institutions of higher education in their approach toward critical reflection and the co-development of OER.

Author Biographies

Geesje van den Berg, University of South Africa

Geesje van den Berg is a full Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and a Commonwealth of Learning Chair in open distance learning (ODL) for Teacher Education. Her research focuses on student interaction, academic capacity building, openness in education, and teachers’ use of technology in ODL. She holds a DEd in Curriculum Studies and has published widely as a sole author and co-author with colleagues and students in ODL and curriculum studies. She leads a collaborative academic capacity-building project for UNISA academics in ODL between Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg in Germany and UNISA. She is the programme manager of the structured Master’s in Education (ODL) programme and has supervised numerous master's and doctoral students. Email: vdberg@unisa.ac.za (Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0306-4427) 

Patience Kelebogile Mudau, University of South Africa

Patience Kelebogile Mudau is an Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies, College of Education, UNISA. She teaches two modules of the MEd in Open Distance learning (ODL), Curriculum Development in ODL and Management in ODL. She is involved in coordinating the Online Teaching and Learning Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS), emanating from the Memorandum of Agreement between UNISA and Oldenburg universities. Her research interests are Open Distance e-Learning, Open Education Practices, and technology-enhanced learning. Email: mudaupk@unisa.ac.za (Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5389-6942)

Cosmas Maphosa, University of Eswatini

Cosmas Maphosa is a Full Professor of Education Management and holds a Doctor of Education degree in Education Management. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Open and Distance Learning with the University of South Africa. He has worked in the higher education sector since 2003 as a lecturer, researcher, senior academic development practitioner, senior lecturer, Associate Professor and Full Professor. He is currently the Director of the Institute of Distance Education at the University of Eswatini. He has published one book, six book chapters and one hundred and thirty-five journal articles in accredited scientific journals to date. Prof Maphosa has, to date, successfully supervised fifteen full-thesis PhD candidates. His research interests are in education management, curriculum development as well as open and distance e-learning. Email: cmaphosa@uniswa.sz (Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7818-4271)

Samuel Amponsah, University of Ghana

Samuel Amponsah is an Associate Professor and heads the Distance Education Department of the University of Ghana. Prior to joining the University of Ghana. He was a fellow of the GCRF/LJMU digital Fellowship and was a Postdoctoral Fellow with the American University in Cairo supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation through BECHS-Africa Scheme. Samuel is an Adjunct Associate Professor for the University of South Africa, a Visiting Fellow at Liverpool John Moores University and a Visiting Lecturer for Birmingham Christian College in the UK. His research focuses on adult learning, open distance learning and inclusive education. Email: samponsah@ug.edu.gh (Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5559-3139) 

Blandina Manditereza, University of the Free State

Blandina Manditereza holds a PhD in Curriculum Studies from the University of the Free State, where she lectures in Childhood Education. She obtained her First MEd and then Honours in Educational Management (Cum Laude) from the Central University of Technology. Currently, she is studying for a MEd Open Distance Learning (ODL)at the University of South Africa. In addition, she holds a BTech in Education Management from Tshwane University of Technology, a Diploma in Primary Education from Nyadire Teacher’s College, Zimbabwe, and a Certificate in Special Education Needs from Bradford and Ilkley Community College, Bradford, UK. Her research areas of interest include the following: Early Childhood, Curriculum Studies, and Language Teaching. Email: bmanditereza@yahoo.co.uk (Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2564-5860)

Jennifer van der Merwe, Zutari Engineering

Jennifer van der Merwe is a Learning Experience Design Partner at Zutari, an infrastructure, engineering and advisory practice. Before joining the world of consulting, Jennifer worked in Higher Education as the Head of Instructional Technology and Design at Regenesys Business School. Her master’s research focussed on the empowerment of working student mothers through distance learning, and she is currently enrolled for her PhD in Open Distance Learning at the University of South Africa. Jennifer received the Council Award for the best performance in a Master’s Degree (Coursework) in the College of Education for the academic year 2022. Email: jennifer900119@gmail.com (Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0336-9423)

Stephen Mongwe, University of the Witwatersrand

Stephen Mongwe is a UNISA Master’s of Education in ODL graduate. He is employed at the University of the Witwatersrand as a Health Sciences Faculty administrator in the Postgraduate Office. He worked in a variety of divisions before moving to the Health Sciences Faculty, including the Student Equity and Talent Management Unit and the International Students Office. Email: Stephen.mongwe@wits.ac.za (Orcid: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3197-7853)

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Published

2023-11-17

How to Cite

van den Berg, G., Mudau, P. K., Maphosa, C., Amponsah, S., Manditereza, B., van der Merwe, J., & Mongwe, S. (2023). Critical Reflection by Mature Students as Co-Developers of an Open Educational Resource in Foregrounding Their Learning. Journal of Learning for Development, 10(3), 316–332. https://doi.org/10.56059/jl4d.v10i3.1081

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 3 (2023): ISSUE 3

Section

Invited Articles

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Copyright (c) 2023 Geesje van den Berg, Patience Kelebogile Mudau, Cosmas Maphosa, Samuel Amponsah, Blandina Manditereza, Jennifer van der Merwe, Stephen Mongwe

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Received 2023-07-20
Accepted 2023-10-27
Published 2023-11-17