What is open? This was a question asked at the beginning of my MALAT journey. I find it fitting that I find myself reflecting on it again yet this time I have such a better understanding of what it means. Does open mean free to attend or open to all? Does open mean open educational resources? Or does it mean networked participatory scholarship? Open means many things to many people. People’s perceptions of openness are continuing to evolve.
For me, this week there were two big takeaways. First, my perceptions of OEP have been shaped by how a facilitator creates educational presence by supporting discourse, setting the climate, and selecting content. I know this may sound simple, but after the last few weeks and this week’s article by Cronin, I am sure that we can all agree that this is no small feat. I feel that everyone’s understanding of OEP is very personal. I also feel that at times many facilitators struggle to explain their use of OEP and at times do not realize that they are in fact using it.
The second takeaway was that a facilitator’s patience is so important to OEP. For instance, when technology problems arise, a little patience and care can make a substantial difference in a learner’s experience. I feel gratitude for the patience I was shown this week as I struggled with Hypothes.is in the role of learner. Testing is very important when introducing new technology but bravery to implement new technology should also be applauded. So, to sum up, I can imagine my perceptions of OEP as being like a bonsai tree. It grows a little each year, but it is always a good idea to revisit it, reevaluate it and give it a little trim.