Open Courses: OER for Learning – a Canadian View

In this session, Prof. McGreal explores how open educational resources (OER) can be reused, remixed, and repurposed to meet global learning needs. Drawing on real-life practices from Canada, he shares insights into the development of open courses, the potential of micro-credentials for flexible certification, and the emerging role of generative AI in expanding access to high-quality, public-domain learning materials.

About the Speaker

Prof. Dr. Rory McGreal is a Professor at Athabasca University Centre for Interdisciplinary, UNESCO/ICDE Chair in Open Educational Resources, and Director of the Technology Enhanced Knowledge Research Institute (TEKRI). He is Editor-in-Chief of The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning (IRRODL) — Canada’s first open access academic journal.

A pioneer in distance and digital learning, Rory has created innovative online learning infrastructures like TeleCampus and the OER Knowledge Cloud, and led national and international initiatives. His global teaching and leadership experience spans North America, Europe, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean.