ODL Course Development and Tracking
Development of a Computer-Aided Tracking System
Guest Lecture (12
th
June 2012, Thailand)
Ishan Abeywardena MSc, MSc (Brunel), BSc (Bangalore), MIEEE, MBCS, MACM, MTA
Senior Lecturer, School of Science and Technology
Wawasan Open University
Penang, Malaysia
Currently pursuing PhD in Computer Science at University of Malaya, Malaysia
Desirability of an OER
D-INDEX
Desirability of an OER
If the user cannot easily use,
reuse and remix a resource with
available technology, the resource
becomes less useful to the user.
Less useful resources are less
desirable for teaching and
learning needs….
Desirability of an OER
Within the requirement of being able to use and reuse a particular OER:
the three parameters of Desirability can be defined as:
◦ level of openness: the permission to use and reuse the
resource;
◦ level of access: the technical keys required to unlock the
resource;
◦ relevance: the level of match between the resource and
the needs of the user.
(Abeywardena, Raviraja and Tham, 2012)
Abeywardena, I.S., Raviraja, R. and Tham, C.Y. (2012). Conceptual Framework for Parametrically Measuring the Desirability of Open
Educational Resources using D-index. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 13(2), 104-121
Measuring the Desirability
D-index = (level of access x level of openness x relevance) / 256
Abeywardena, I.S., Raviraja, R. and Tham, C.Y. (2012). Conceptual Framework for Parametrically Measuring the Desirability of Open
Educational Resources using D-index. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 13(2), 104-121
Sample Search
Top 10 search results returned by MERLOT for the keyword “calculus”
Search
Rank
Title
1 18.01 Single Variable Calculus
2 Calculus for Beginners and Artists
3 18.01 Single Variable Calculus
4 18.013A Calculus with Applications
5 18.02 Multivariable Calculus
6 Single Variable Calculus
7 Calculus Online Textbook
CC Lisence
CC BY-NCSA
CC BY-NCSA
CC BY-NCSA
CC BY-NCSA
CC BY-NCSA
CC BY-NCSA
CC BY-NCSA
CC BY-NC-
File Type
PDF
HTML/Text
PDF
HTML/Text
PDF
PDF
PDF
Original Search Results

The original top ten search results only
contain resources which are released
under the CC BY-NC-SA license.

6/10 resources returned are in PDF
format which make them difficult to reuse
and remix.

Resource ranked as number ten is a
protected resource which requires a
specific username and password to
access.
Application of D-index
Top 10 results when D-index is applied to the results returned by
MERLOT
Rank After
Applying
D-index
Original
Search
Rank
CC BY
File Type
HTML/Tex
t
HTML/Tex
t
HTML/Tex
t
HTML/Tex
t
5
MATH 10250 - Elements of
19 Calculus I, Fall 2008
CC BY-NC-SA
HTML/Tex
t
0.56
6
20 18.022 Calculus
CC BY-NC-SA
7
22 Single-Variable Calculus I
CC BY
8
25 Single-Variable Calculus II
CC BY
1
2
3
Title
Calculus for Beginners and
2 Artists
18.013A Calculus with
4 Applications
Calculus for Beginners and
8 Artists
4
14 Multivariable Calculus
CC Lisence
CC BY-NC-SA
CC BY-NC-SA
CC BY-NC-SA
D-index
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.75
PDF
0.56
HTML/Tex
t
0.50
HTML/Tex
t
0.50
Results After Applying
D-index

8/10 resources are in HTML/Text
formats which are the most accessible
in terms of reuse.

4/10 resources are available under the
CC BY licence which make them the
most open resources in the list.
Benefits of the D-index
The application of the D-index
would greatly improve the
effectiveness of the search
with respect to locating the
most suitable resources for
use and reuse
Acknowledgements

I express my gratitude to Assoc. Prof Dr.
Pranee Sungkatavat for extending me this
kind invitation

A special vote of thanks to Tan Sri Dato’ Prof
Gajaraj (Raj) Dhanarajan, Prof Dato’ Wong
Tat Meng, Prof Dato’ Ho Sinn Chye and Prof
Tham Choy Yoong for allowing me to take
time off of work at WOU and be here.

I also thank Ms. Rattip Phukkeson, Ms. Alisa
Meesmat and all other colleagues at STOU
for having me here.
References
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Abeywardena, I.S., Raviraja, R. and Tham, C.Y. (2012). Conceptual Framework for
Parametrically Measuring the Desirability of Open Educational Resources using D-index.
International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 13(2), 104-121.
Abeywardena, I.S., & S.C. Ho. (2011). Development of a computer-aided ODL Course
Development Tracking System. Asian Association of Open Universities Journal, 6(1), 43-50
Downes, S. (2007). Models for Sustainable Open Educational Resources. Interdisciplinary
Journal of Knowledge and Learning Objects 3. Retrieved December 9, 2011 from
http://ijello.org/Volume3/IJKLOv3p029-044Downes.pdf
Geser, G. (2007). Open Educational Practices and Resources - OLCOS Roadmap 2012. Open
Learning Content Observatory Services. Salzburg, Austria. 2007. Retrieved December 27,
2011 from http://www.olcos.org/cms/upload/docs/olcos_roadmap.pdf.
Hatakka, M. (2009). Build It and They Will Come? – Inhibiting Factors for Reuse of Open
Content in Developing Countries, EJISDC 37(5), 1-16.
Hilton, J., Wiley, D., Stein, J., & Johnson, A. (2010). The four R„s of openness and ALMS
Analysis: Frameworks for open educational resources. Open Learning: The Journal of Open
and Distance Learning, 25(1), 37-44.
Farber, R. (2009). Probing OER‟s huge potential [Electronic Version]. Scientific Computing
26(1), 29-29.
Joyce, A. (2007). OECD Study of OER: Forum Report, OECD. Retrieved December 12, 2011
from http://www.unesco.org/iiep/virtualuniversity/forumsfiche.php?queryforumspages_id=33.
Mello, J. (2012). OER Global Logo. Retrived April 5, 2012 from
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/access-to-knowledge/openeducational-resources/global-oer-logo/ .
Unwin, T. (2005). Towards a Framework for the Use of ICT in Teacher Training in Africa. Open
Learning 20, 113-130.
Contact
Ishan Abeywardena: ishansa@wou.edu.my
www.ishantalks.com