Behind the Scenes with a Video Training Platform: The Challenges of Researching the Provision of Open Educational Resources

Ayse Kok

Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey.

DOI: 10.4236/ait.2013.34009                

Abstract

Video training platforms are now being implemented on a large scale in organizations. In this paper, I look at a video training platform including open educational resources available for many employees with varying patterns and motivations for use. This has provided me with a research challenge to find methods that help other practitioners in the field understand and explain such initiatives. I describe ways to model the research and identify where pressures and contradictions can be found, drawing on a reflective view of my own practice in performing the research. Open educational resources are defined as technology-enabled educational resources that are openly available for consultation, use and adaptation by users for non-commercial purposes [1]. The bank subject to this case study has been the first organisation in Turkey that provided open educational resources for all its employees. The video platform (called “For @ Tube”) provides users with over 100 video lectures drawn from reputable universities around the world including Yale and Harvard. Other learning tools such as discussion forums, blogs and traditional e-learning courses have been made available to the users on the e-learning platform called “For @” since 2006. In this paper, I aim to introduce the new video training platform (“For @ Tube”) and outline some of the main research issues surrounding such an initiative. I seek to explore theoretical and practical approaches that can provide suitable tools for analysis. Activity theory is seen as a suitable approach for macroanalysis and its use is illustrated in terms of the complexity of large scale research. Activity theory, besides informing research perspectives, can be turned in upon the research process itself, allowing us to consider the challenges and context of the research. By using activity theory in this way and illustrating from a range of practical approaches, I demonstrate and illustrate a useful research approach.

Keywords

E-Learning; Open Content; Video; Action Research; Activity Theory

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

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