I'm a South African intent on being a contributor to education development, in the realm of Open, as freely accessible and unrestricted by issues of access or privilege. I am a researcher of what is potentially useful in education development, seeking applicable strategies for its immersion within a system resistant to innovation at times. This from the perspective experienced by the people 'doing' it. To many others, my colleagues, those lectured, taught or supported in my work in Higher Education, I'm a practitioner and an educator. However, I am ever most of all an energetic advocate of the potential of Open Education, and in particular Open Educational Resources (OER) as we try to engage and prepare those in education, either teachers or learners, far better for the ever changing demands of the 21st Century. These have been set out in the Sustainable Development Goals, and largely, attaining these ideals lies within education.
I willingly here engage on Open Education, the why's, and perhaps may be of assistance to support initiating discussion on the how's, including input into what is next. Contact me for further discussion: gino.fransman@nmmu.ac.za, Let's Open ways to engage for the upcoming Open Education Consortium's Global Conference 2017, to be held in Cape Town March 8 - 10. My research interests further lie in literacy and language for tertiary and career development, and innovating opportunities for graduate up-skilling being demanded for any success in the 21st Century.