Open Educational Resources (OER) in Engineering Education: From Awareness to Action

Conference Paper (2025)
Author(s)

Thomas Howard (University of Sheffield)

Matteo Di Benedetti (University of Sheffield)

Gillian Saunders-Smits (TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering)

Andrew Garrard (University of Sheffield)

Research Group
Robust Robot Systems
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17631273 Final published version
More Info
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Publication Year
2025
Language
English
Research Group
Robust Robot Systems
Pages (from-to)
2096-2099
ISBN (electronic)
978-2-87352-029-8
Event
53rd SEFI Annual Conference 2025 (2025-09-15 - 2025-09-18), Tampere, Finland
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34
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Abstract

There are considerable benefits to both Higher Education Institutions and the community in making education more openly accessible. As such, the awareness and appreciation of Open Educational Resources (OER) has grown considerably over recent years. In parallel, a noticeable shift is taking place in Engineering Education towards project-, problem- and challenge-based learning formats, which further aim to embed the attainment of transferable skills. OER has the potential to support the development of such new learning formats in a way that allows educators to leverage best practice without having to reinvent the wheel, yet it has yet to make an impact in this area. This workshop will guide participants in understanding, creating, and sharing OER to promote their more widespread use. We will begin by exploring what qualifies as an OER and recognising that we all interact with OER in various ways. From there, we will focus on how educators can create and share their own OER, identifying key challenges and practical solutions. Finally, we will explore how collaboration and community can support OER adoption, empowering participants to take their first steps toward developing and using OER in engineering education. The session will provide a structured yet interactive environment, ensuring participants leave with concrete takeaways and a stronger understanding of how to engage with OER in a meaningful way.