1. Open Learning Champions
A model for widening access to higher education

2. Overview
The Open University in Scotland offers pathways for learners from free, informal learning to formal HE study.
Working in partnership enables us to reach a wider group of potential learners, starting where the learners are.
Our network of Open Learning Champions (OLC) engage with learners who may be very distant from formal education.
Open educational resources (OER) can provide contextualised learning opportunities within these trusted relationships.

3. Pathways from informal to formal learning
Undergraduate courses
Courses and qualifications
Open degree
Personal interest
Career development
Access modules
Arts and Languages
Science, Technology and Maths
People, Work and Society
OpenLearn
Free open educational resources
Badged open courses
Preparation for formal study

4. Pathways from informal to formal learning
“There is a need to bridge the academic world and community learning… and OpenLearn offers the opportunity to do this.”
OLC Margaret uses OER to develop workshops for the East Lothian community learning programme and has engaged both adult learners and CLD workers keen to use the resources in their practice

5. Working in partnership
Since June 2015, we have run OLC workshops with:
Third sector organisations
Carers organisations (>20%)
Community learning
Libraries
University and college outreach / access
Housing associations
Community groups
Professional associations
Membership bodies
Community Jobs Scheme employers
Social enterprises

6. Working in partnership: Prince’s Trust
The Prince’s Trust have taken a three-pronged approach to using OER:
personal development for staff / volunteers;
self-directed study for young people;
staff incorporate in their work with young people to enhance their learning
“the flexibility of open learning makes it adaptable for staff and young people.”
Cath and Morven, two of eight open learning champions in the Prince’s Trust Scotland, which works with disadvantaged young people aged 13-30

7. Engaging with widening access groups
Our access activity engages learners who may be very distant from formal education.
The OLC partnership model allows us to reach many groups who are under-represented in traditional Higher Education.
More than 70% of learners working with OLCs come from widening access groups.

8. Contextualised learning
Open educational resources can provide contextualised learning opportunities within existing relationships.

9. Contextualised learning
“when the course was offered I thought, it will make me reflect on what I've been doing. The course really opens your mind and gets you thinking about what you actually do and what your value is. It made me think I could do this and when I went to the interview, the words just flowed.”
Jane undertook the Caring Counts reflection and planning course for carers which gave her the confidence to return to the workforce having cared full-time for 13 years

10. An effective model: learners reached

11. An effective model: learner outcomes
“Previous e-learning has been dry and isolating. This is fun, interactive and can be a really positive way of getting people back into education”
(OLC, Angus)
Learners gain confidence 32%
Learners gain digital badge(s) 14%
Learners continue their learning journey 50%
OpenLearn, FutureLearn 32%
Formal study with the OU (Access, modules, qualifications) 9%
Other formal study (college, university, accredited training) 9%

12. More information… Gill Ryan Learning Partnerships Officer
The Open University in Scotland
@gill_ie
Caring Counts
Open Pathways to Higher Education
Open Learning Champions
Cannell, P (2016). Revisiting barriers to participation. In: HE: Transforming lives through life-wide-learning? conference papers April The Open University.
Lane, A (2012). Widening participation in higher education through open educational resources. In: Okada, Alexandra; Connolly, Teresa and Scott, Peter J. eds. Collaborative Learning 2.0: Open Educational Resources. IGI Global, pp. 1–15.
Ryan, G and Hewitt, L (2015). Developing a flexible model of Open Learning Champions: report on findings from pilot sites in Dumfries and Shetland. The Open University in Scotland.