Chapter 5 - Caribbean Open Textbooks Initiative

This chapter considers both the role that Open Educational Resources (OER) can play in supporting school-level pedagogical transformation, and the policy approaches to initiate transformation in public school systems. Focusing on the context of Antigua & Barbuda, the chapter recognises that, for change to be effective, it needs to be driven at the systemic level, as this ultimately directs most public school systems’ operations. The chapter explores different steps taken, starting from the government’s commitment to information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, fostering a supportive policy environment, and developing a school ICT integration plan to ensure schools’ ICT needs and requirements. It describes the deployment of an OER Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) prototype, and the compilation of an online mathematics “textbook” from available quality OER. The chapter concludes by highlighting the kinds of systemic actions important for the proponents of OER to use in building sustained pressure for long-term, educationally effective systemic change.