Session
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: A 90-minute roundtable offers an ideal option for multiple stakeholders to ensure dynamic discussion, engaging online and onsite participants. The format foreseen, will be: an introduction (10 min); 2 rounds of panel discussions (20 minutes each); Each panel discussion will be followed by a discussion of 15 minutes; the concluding remarks (10 minutes) summarizing the outcomes will close the session.
This session delves into how the intersection between Generative AI, emerging technologies such as Blockchain and Open Educational Resources (OER) can foster sustainable open digital learning practices. It will focus on providing best practices and recommendations on how to harness these technologies to ensure that openly licensed educational content – that is digital public goods - supports innovation and open knowledge creation. This session will contribute meaningfully to the overarching goal of how digital technologies contribute towards peace, development and sustainability. Issues: One of the primary issues facing the intersection of emerging technologies such as AI and Blockchain with Open Educational Resources (OER), is how to ensure that innovation supports sustainable development in an inclusive manner. This session will examine how innovative inclusive knowledge sharing and knowledge building can support the building of the necessary capacities to ensure the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Challenges: Access and equity present significant challenges in leveraging emerging technologies for learning. While these technologies hold a promise for enhancing access to learning resources, there are concerns about exacerbating existing inequalities and impeding development processes. Ensuring equitable access to AI-enabled OER for marginalized communities requires addressing issues of access to technology, language barriers, and concerns related to inclusive and equitable access to learning content in a sustainable way for all irrespective, of inter alia, age, gender, physical ability and socio-economic status, as well as those in vulnerable situations, indigenous people and those in remote and rural areas, people residing in areas affected by conflicts and natural disasters. Opportunities: Despite challenges, there are significant opportunities for innovation in leveraging AI and blockchain for educational purposes. These technologies can enable personalized learning experiences, adaptive assessment systems, and new modes of content creation and delivery. By harnessing the power of AI and Blockchain, educators can cater to diverse learning needs, enhance learning outcomes, and foster a culture of lifelong learning. Additionally, leveraging open licensing and collaboration can empower educators to create and share high-quality educational content globally, contributing to the democratization of knowledge and education.
This session will be in an interactive, multistakeholder panel format with moderation from onsite and remote experts. The panel discussion will trigger discussions around these four main questions: How can policy frameworks about emerging technologies like AI or blockchain help make sure they're used fairly and openly in education, through OER? In what ways can emerging technologies, such as AI-driven adaptive learning platforms or virtual reality simulations, be leveraged to personalize learning experiences and address the needs of learners from diverse backgrounds ‘leading no one behind’? How might collaborative authoring tools and platforms enable educators to co-create and share OER materials, fostering a culture of knowledge exchange and community-driven learning? How can we work better together to use the power of OER and emerging tech to accelerate progress towards the SDGs? The expected outcome of this session will be to support the identification of priority initiatives by OER stakeholders that can accelerate sustainable development; and to support a debate of the critical intersection between policy, emerging technologies, and sustainable development, paving the way for informed decision-making and collaborative efforts towards achieving the SDGs but also with a view to guiding the future activities of this Dynamic Coalition. If the platform allows, we are planning to use a collaborative document editing platform for real-time collaboration on shared resources or notes, to make the session productive, inclusive and fun. Social media channels will also encourage ongoing dialogue and networking among attendees. At the end of the session, an open discussion is envisaged where both online and onsite attendees can participate. Finally, we should have identified a few priorities to address and a few very concrete actions to take.
Dr Javiera Atenas, Senior Lecturer in Learning and Teaching and Enhancement, University of Suffolk, United Kingdom/ Chile Dr Colin de la Higuera, UNESCO Chair in technologies for the training of teachers by OER, University of Nantes, France Dr Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information Sector, UNESCO Mr Mitja Jermol, UNESCO Chair on Open Technologies for Open Educational Resources and Open Education, Jožef Stefan Institute, Slovenia Dr María Soledad Ramírez Montoya, UNESCO Chair for Open Educational Movement for Latin America, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico Ms Zeynep Varoglu, Senior Programme Specialist, UNESCO
(tentative list, subject to availability) Dr Javiera Atenas, Senior Lecturer in Learning and Teaching and Enhancement, University of Suffolk, United Kingdom/ Chile Dr Colin de la Higuera, UNESCO Chair in technologies for the training of teachers by OER, University of Nantes, France Dr Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information Sector, UNESCO Mr Mitja Jermol, UNESCO Chair on Open Technologies for Open Educational Resources and Open Education, Jožef Stefan Institute, Slovenia Ms Sherlina Kaur, Education Manager, SDSN Malaysia Dr María Soledad Ramírez Montoya, UNESCO Chair for Open Educational Movement for Latin America, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico Dr Gihan Osman, Senior Advisor for Teaching and Learning Innovations, British University of Cairo, Egypt Mr Christian Ambaud, Programme Specialist, Direction de la Francophonie économique et numérique (DFEN), Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) Ms Anna Tumadottir, Interim CEO, Creative Commons, United States of America Ms Zeynep Varoglu, Senior Programme Specialist, UNESCO
Ms Zeynep Varoglu, Senior Programme Specialist, UNESCO
Mr Mitja Jermol, UNESCO Chair on Open Technologies for Open Educational Resources and Open Education, Jožef Stefan Institute, Slovenia
Dr Javiera Atenas, Senior Lecturer in Learning and Teaching and Enhancement, University of Suffolk, UK
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10. Reduced Inequalities
16.10
17. Partnerships for the Goals
Targets: SDG4: Open Educational Resources (OERs) and distance education modalities can increase access, equity, quality and relevance. Because OER can be reproduced at virtually no cost, they can be effectively used to reach vast numbers of learners, while supporting quality enhancements. Also, since they can be reused, revised, remixed, redistributed, and retained, OER can be adapted to different learning environments and ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. SDG 5, Target 5b “Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology (ICTs), to promote the empowerment of women” acknowledges the fact that despite the potential for ICT use to contribute to women’s empowerment, women’s use of ICT is greatly lagging behind that of men in the developing world. By giving free access to knowledge that could lead to women’s increased civic and political participation and engagement OER can have a multiplier effect in women empowerment. SDG 9 calls for the enhancement of scientific research and innovation, especially in developing countries. Promoting the use of open educational resources (OER) as an instrument for open science capacity building, to increase access to open science educational and research resources, improve learning outcomes, maximize the impact of public funding and empower educators and learners to become co-creators of knowledge. UNESCO supports Member States by strengthening their national capacities for open access to scientific information for enhanced scientific research, innovation and domestic research as a common good. Digital public goods are essential in unlocking the full potential of digital technologies and data to attain the Sustainable Development Goals. SDG 10: OER can play a key role in addressing the challenges of global digital divides and supporting inclusive access to knowledge for learning, particularly as digital platforms for learning become more ubiquitous. UNESCO’s contribution in shared principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all specifically as it relates to vulnerable populations such as the elderly, at-risk children and youth, internally displaced people and refugees, HIV/AIDS- affected individuals, religious and ethnic minorities and, in some societies, women , a meaningful contribution can be made in leaving no one behind for truly inclusive digital societies. SDG16.10: One of the major benefits of OER is that it allows for resources to be openly and freely exchanged, which can lead to wider adoption, use, and improvement over time. A large base of users and authors can lead to substantial improvement of resources through consistent feedback, remixing, and reuse. Moreover, networks of institutions and agencies can optimize the implementation of OER strategies by sharing time and costs, such as those related to technical development or storage of files, for example. OER plays a vital role in advancing SDG 16.10 by promoting access to information, education, and fundamental freedoms, while also fostering openness, empowerment, and lifelong learning. The principles of openness are access to information and other resources, participation in an inclusive and collaborative manner for the sharing and creation of these. SDG 17: OER and sustainable education align with SDG 17 by promoting partnerships, knowledge sharing, and innovation to achieve sustainable development goals. The OER Dynamic Coalition promotes international collaboration among governments, organizations, and individuals to advance OER initiatives globally. In higher education, there are many examples of consortia or networks acting cooperatively to benefit from OER. Also, in the Global Digital Compact, digital public goods are recognised as an enabler of public and private investment and digital cooperation.