The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Centre of Excellence in Teacher Education (CETE) has launched 50 Open Educational Resources (OERs) aimed at supporting teachers and teacher educators. These resources are available in English, Hindi, Telugu, Assamese, and other Indian languages, covering key subjects such as English, mathematics, science, and social sciences. The OERs are designed to be used, adapted, translated, and shared across different educational settings.
- The 50 OERs cover teaching, learning, and educational practice across multiple subjects.
- Resources are available in several Indian languages to increase accessibility.
- OER A Guidebook accompanies the resources to help educators use and share them responsibly.
- The initiative aims to reduce inequalities in access to quality educational materials.
- Supported by Tata Trusts, the project builds on over a decade of CETE's research and fieldwork.
What are the Open Educational Resources released by TISS CETE?
The 50 Open Educational Resources released by CETE are digital materials that support teaching and learning. They include content on teaching English, mathematics, science, and social sciences. These resources have been developed over more than ten years through research and practical engagement with teacher education. They are multilingual, available in languages such as English, Hindi, Telugu, and Assamese, making them accessible to a wide range of educators across India.
How can educators use these OERs?
Educators can freely use, adapt, translate, and share these resources in their own teaching contexts. The resources are designed to be flexible so that teachers and teacher educators can modify them to suit their specific needs. CETE also released an "OER A Guidebook" to help educators understand how to find, use, adapt, create, and share OERs responsibly, ensuring proper attribution and ethical use.
Why are these resources important for education in India?
According to Badri Narayan Tiwari, Vice-Chancellor of TISS, OERs have the potential to address inequalities in access to quality educational materials, especially in remote and rural areas. By providing free and adaptable resources, the initiative helps enhance the capacities of educators who may have limited access to quality teaching materials. Technology plays a key role in democratizing education, and these OERs can have a transformational impact on society by making knowledge more accessible.
What support has the initiative received?
The OER initiative by CETE has received support from Tata Trusts, which has enabled ongoing work in teacher professional development, educational technology, and open education. This support has helped CETE move from creating resources for specific programs to sharing and curating a wider educational commons that can benefit many educators and institutions.
How does this initiative fit into CETE’s broader work?
The release of these 50 OERs represents a consolidation of CETE’s work over the past decade. CETE has focused on research, field engagement, and learning from initiatives aimed at improving teacher education and professional development. This collection invites teachers, teacher educators, and institutions to use, adapt, and build upon the resources to improve teaching and learning practices across India.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What subjects do the OERs cover?
A: The resources cover teaching English, mathematics, science, and social sciences.
Q: In which languages are the OERs available?
A: The OERs are available in English, Hindi, Telugu, Assamese, and other Indian languages.
Q: Can educators modify and share these resources?
A: Yes, educators are encouraged to adapt, translate, and share the resources while giving proper credit to CETE.
Q: What is the purpose of the OER A Guidebook?
A: The guidebook helps educators understand how to find, use, adapt, create, and share OERs responsibly.
Q: Who supported this initiative?
A: Tata Trusts provided support for CETE’s work in teacher professional development and open education.
