This whole day event was an opportunity for colleagues from a range of JISC funded projects to meet up and share experiences. Over 60 people came along from universities and institutions throughout the UK. Whilst we are all working on the same sort of things (Open Educational Resources), we don't often get a chance to get together and find out what everybody else is at.
It all seemed a bit daunting at times with poster sheets, coloured post it notes, floating tables and all sort of exercises to break the ice and get people talking. I wasn't too sure that my colleagues would have much interest in an online stash of anatomy exhibits ..... However, I found that there was a wide range of other projects which were perhaps not main streaming but nevertheless of great value to a niche audience.
The networking activities seemed to slow down as lunch approached. However by the afternoon we had reassembled into some more focussed workshop groups discussing the real issues we face about getting Senior Management buy in for OERs, problems of consent and where to keep all these resources.
My strongest impression was there seemed to be very little plans for long term sustainability once the JISC funding dries up. We discussed the possibility of developing new business models - something very close to the "heart" of OVAM but I think much more thought and attention is needed in this area by us all if the good work is to carry on.
Finally at these events one always comes away having met some interesting people. There was Zac from JISC Digital, Gillian and Susannah from MEDEV (RIP), Teresa for Cambridge and Paola of course from JISC.
Thanks to everybody for putting the event on ..... and the great lunch!
It all seemed a bit daunting at times with poster sheets, coloured post it notes, floating tables and all sort of exercises to break the ice and get people talking. I wasn't too sure that my colleagues would have much interest in an online stash of anatomy exhibits ..... However, I found that there was a wide range of other projects which were perhaps not main streaming but nevertheless of great value to a niche audience.
The networking activities seemed to slow down as lunch approached. However by the afternoon we had reassembled into some more focussed workshop groups discussing the real issues we face about getting Senior Management buy in for OERs, problems of consent and where to keep all these resources.
My strongest impression was there seemed to be very little plans for long term sustainability once the JISC funding dries up. We discussed the possibility of developing new business models - something very close to the "heart" of OVAM but I think much more thought and attention is needed in this area by us all if the good work is to carry on.
Finally at these events one always comes away having met some interesting people. There was Zac from JISC Digital, Gillian and Susannah from MEDEV (RIP), Teresa for Cambridge and Paola of course from JISC.
Thanks to everybody for putting the event on ..... and the great lunch!
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