Open Learning News and Updates

Student Spotlight: Esther Oko, OER Assistant

In their own words, here is what one of our OER Assistants has to say about their term in Open Learning.

Esther Oko

Please introduce yourself.

My name is Esther Oko, and I’m currently studying Project Management at Conestoga College. I was drawn to the field of project management because I’ve always enjoyed organizing events and leading teams. In my program, I’m particularly excited about learning agile methodologies and how they can improve team collaboration efficiency.

How does this placement relate to your program?

Project Management involves planning, executing, and overseeing projects to achieve specific goals. As an OER Assistant, I have had the opportunity to be involved in the creation and organization of open educational materials, and handled various tools used for creating open educational resources while collaborating with other members of the team.

This experience directly ties to principles of project management such as planning and execution. Working as an OER Assistant has enhanced my ability to work in a team, which is also an important skill needed for successfully managing projects.

What’s one thing that you’ve learned about open education so far?

I have learnt a lot about open educational resources (OER) but one thing that stood out for me is how OER promotes accessibility and inclusivity in learning by providing free materials for everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, race or their financial situation.  

The best part is that these resources can be accessed at any time, on any device, in different formats and can also be downloaded or printed. It is good to know that OER exist as this helps to foster innovation, diverse perspectives in teaching practices, and lifelong learning, as they can be modified and adapted to fit specific needs without legal restrictions.

Is there anything about open education that surprises you?

One surprising aspect of open education is the extent to which it fosters global collaboration among educators and learners. The idea that individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and educational systems can come together to share resources, knowledge, and teaching practices in an open environment is quite remarkable.

You’ve been working on a wide range of projects with the Instructional Designers on our team. Can you tell us about one of these projects and what interests you about it?

One of the projects that stands out is the development of interactive online course aimed at enhancing digital literacy which is the English Language Speakers (ELS) project. I was tasked with generating AI voices on Listening, Pronunciation, and Ear training on various chapters.

What interests me is how the course was designed to be interactive and immersive using dialogue, puzzles, quizzes and voice prompts to simulate real-life scenarios that allow learners practice their competencies. I learnt a lot while working on this project, like the importance of using standard phonetics and tone when generating words using AI because English language learners may find words confusing if not properly pronounced. It was a rewarding project to work on and I am proud of the role I played in it.

From a student's perspective, can you share your thoughts on one of the open projects our team has worked on and why you think students could benefit from it?

One of the projects we have worked on that is beneficial to students and to me as an individual is the book Introduction to French, 2e by Rita Palacios. This OER provides free access to learning and understanding the French Language. The e-book covers the basics of pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary giving the reader an opportunity to practice speaking, reading and listening comprehension.

As students studying in Canada where French is the second language, this book not only provides the necessary grammatical building blocks, but helps students understand the use of common French phrases and expressions needed in everyday conversation.

What else have you been excited about during this placement?

I have had an amazing experience during my placement here as an OER Assistant. Being part of a team that makes educational resources freely available was incredibly fulfilling. It is very exciting to know that your work directly contributes to improving student outcomes and seeing firsthand how they positively impact students to learn adds a sense of purposefulness. Additionally, this placement has granted me exposure to various digital literacy materials and has connected me with like-minded individuals who are passionate about open education.

Esther’s assistance in development of the English Language Speakers project was incredibly valuable this term. With the help of her diligent eye, we are making great progress on the road to publication.