OERu/Planning/Curriculum and programme of study/Inaugural Meeting - 2 May 2014

When: NZST (Click on link for local time.) Where: Google hangouts (link sent via personal email)

Agenda

 * 1) Welcome and aims of the meeting
 * 2) The "chicken and egg" challenge of developing product for a coherent OERu programme of study
 * 3) Review and determination of the aims and objectives of the working group
 * 4) Thompson Rivers University's "open credential" credential path from certificate through diploma through Bachelor's degree - Christine Wihak
 * 5) Proposed tasks for the working group
 * 6) * Audit of proposed OERu course contributions from partner institutions - Wayne Mackintosh (report from strategic planning group).
 * 7) * Audit of OERu partners offering a Bachelor of General studies or similar qualification
 * 8) * Other?
 * 9) Date of next meeting
 * 10) Additional members of the working group
 * 11) General

Links

 * Curriculum proposal for action from 2nd meeting of OERu partners
 * Tentative streams from "Twinkles in the eye" activity

Proposed aims of the working group

 * Develop a clear degree structure with streams and exit points whilst still providing for student flexibility and choice
 * Clear pointers to universities that can grant the whole Bachelor of General Studies degree.
 * Agree solutions for communicating degree pathways, cost of assessment and degree completion for prospective OERu learners.

Proposed objectives of the working group

 * Understand what partners are thinking of putting forward
 * Build on the initial thinking of possible degree pathways generated during the 2nd meeting of anchor partners.
 * Foster collaborations between partners in curriculum development
 * Foster reuse of courses and micro-courses in partner universities
 * Map a Bachelor of General Studies with clear streams
 * Consider certificates, diplomas and other exit points in the degree

Minutes and decisions

 * 1) Attendance: Sandra Wills (Convener), David Sadler, Jo Smedley, Christine Wihak and Wayne Mackintosh. Apology: David Bull.
 * 2) Sandra Wills shared the aims of the meeting namely to affirm the group, build clear pathways of study, facilitate the development of sufficient product and agree the next tasks for the working group.
 * 3) Discussed issues relating to the Bachelor of General Studies by sharing and comparing offerings at local institutions.
 * 4) Noted that the Bachelor of General studies: 1) is a popular credential in Canada particularly for mid career learners; 2) is used as a pathway towards other degrees, eg University of Tasmania; 3) is used as a flexible credit assembly mechanism towards a degree eg Thompson Rivers University; 4) Residency or matriculation requirements with reference to the minimum number of required credits to be earned from the conferring institution varies across the network 5) is not offered at all OERu partner institutions; and 6) that some institutions offer a specialisation endorsement(s) for the Bachelor of General Studies.
 * 5) Noted that not all OERu partners may be able to confer the Bachelor of General studies (or equivalent) but could contribute courses. Affirmed that institutions retaining decision-making autonomy was a strength of the OERu network.
 * 6) Reviewed the proposed aims and objectives of the working group
 * 7) * Resolved that "levels" should be added to the degree structure aim
 * 8) * Resolved that "equivalent" should be added to the Bachelor of General Studies aim.
 * 9) * Agreed the aims and objectives of the working group subject to the revisions above.
 * 10) Resolved that the Curriculum and programme of study working group will collaborate with the Strategic Planning working group in conducting an audit of proposed OERu course contributions from partner institutions.
 * 11) Noted that the Curriculum and programme of study working group will need to work from "both ends" namely bottom-up nominations for courses in the short term and working in parallel to develop top-down guidelines contributing to clear pathways of study.
 * 12) Resolved to conduct an inventory of partners who offer a Bachelor of General studies starting with a pilot of the institutions represented at the meeting to refine the instrument. This would serve as an input to guide thinking on developing the OERu programme of study. The following headings / items were suggested:
 * 13) * Type of institution (ODL, campus based etc)
 * 14) * Nature and strategic purpose of the degree (eg mechanism to assemble credit)
 * 15) * Minimum residency / local credit requirements
 * 16) * Streams or specialisation options
 * 17) * Structure of the Bachelor of General studies
 * 18) * Exit credential options (eg Certificate, diploma, degree etc)
 * 19) * Web links (student view and or policy document.)
 * 20) Christine Wihak shared links to the Thompson Rivers University General Studies credentials and the  BA in General Studies which could be used as an example to develop the inventory template.
 * 21) Resolved to initiate comparative summary of any regulatory barriers (eg quality assurance agency requirements, government funding requirements etc) which may impact on the OERu model.
 * 22) Noted the need to expand expertise of the working group.
 * 23) Resolved that the next meeting will be scheduled in a month to review the template for the Bachelor of General studies inventory.
 * 24) Meeting adjourned at 10.30 (NZST).

Action items

 * 1) Amend aims as agreed - Done --Mackiwg 00:56, 2 May 2014 (UTC)
 * 2) Consider range of expertise needed by the working group
 * 3) Share draft documentation / instruments for audit of proposed OERu course contributions for 2014 Done. Sent email requesting feedback on  draft version --Mackiwg 05:52, 7 May 2014 (UTC)
 * 4) Pilot template for inventory of Bachelor of General Studies.
 * 5) Establish task for analysis of regulatory barriers