Open Educational Resources of Latvian Language Agency. Pedagogical Preconditions for Their Use

Abstract

In order to implement the aims of 21st century’s education – personal self- determination and self-realization –, it is necessary to unite the traditional education forms and methods with innovative learning technologies and resources. Besides the traditional learning resources, which usually are used under supervision of teacher in joint learning process, also new and innovative resources appear, for example, open educational resources (OER). Together with other factors, they ensure availability of education and promote the current factors of modern learning process: individualization and differentiation of the learning process, development of learning skills, media competence as one the crucial skills, independence and participation in the learning process. Although it is undeniable, that OER promote the quality of education; however, as polls and researches show, the main attention is paid to the creation and publication of OER, but there is a problem in the assessment of OER quality, purposeful and pedagogically reasoned use (Stacey, 2010). Latvian Language Agency (LLA) created a portal “Teach and learn Latvian” in 2013, where were placed OER for the Latvian language learning, that are structured in two parts: Teach Latvian and Learn Latvian. By analysing the discussion among teachers, the results of polls and observations in the teaching process, LLA is elaborating a concept on creation of OER, as well ensuring the creation of qualitative content and creation of pedagogically reasoned guidelines. The aim of article is to characterise the OER, created by LLA, and pedagogical conditions for its use in the context of modern education. The article: 1) deals with the current situation of modern education, that justifies the importance of OER’s creation and use; 2) defines the notion and essence of the term OER; 3) characterises the OER, created by LLA; 4) deals with the impacts of OER on the learning process, the problems in the use of OER and reveals the pedagogical pre-conditions for its use.