Accessibility
The Directory of Open Access Repositories - OpenDOAR
OpenDOAR is an authoritative directory of academic open access repositories. Each OpenDOAR repository has been visited by project staff to check the information that is recorded here. This in-depth approach does not rely on automated analysis and gives a quality-controlled list of repositories.
As well as providing a simple repository list, OpenDOAR lets you search for repositories or search repository contents. Additionally, we provide tools and support to both repository administrators and service providers in sharing best practice and improving the quality of the repository infrastructure. Further explanation of these features is given in a project document Beyond the list.
The current directory lists repositories and allows breakdown and selection by a variety of criteria - see the Find page - which can also be viewed as statistical charts. The underlying database has been designed from the ground up to include in-depth information on each repository that can be used for search, analysis, or underpinning services like text-mining. The OpenDOAR service is being developed incrementally, developing the current service as new features are introduced. A list of Upgrades and Additions is available.
Developments will be of use both to users wishing to find original research papers and for service providers like search engines or alert services which need easy-to-use tools for developing tailored search services to suit specific user communities.
More information on the project is available here.
CARER+ - Developing Digital Competences of Care Workers to Improve the Quality of Life of Older People
An interdisciplinary and international team of 14 institutions launched the Carer+ project earlier this year for care-workers all around Europe. The project identifies and enhances ICT competences of care-workers who support elderly persons at home - anticipating a new and vital role for care workers. Introducing new, easy-to-use internet-based technology tools for elderly, in the next 2 years scientific research, a competence framework, curriculum and training tools in theory and practice, training for trainers and policy exchange visits as well as an open online learning space and community for care-workers will be put in place to realise the challenging aims of the project.
In today’s social care systems in most European countries, it is possible to receive the care needed at home, especially if one suffers from multiple chronic illnesses. Europe battles with an aging society and with the financial crisis holding a firm grip on European economy, it becomes increasingly crucial to take a close look on social care systems in place. For many elderly citizens the transition to a life in need of care is accompanied by lack of qualified caregivers, an absence of basic services such as transportation, no access to appropriate housing, and loneliness. Recent research has shown that a growing number of older people can be encouraged to use online services, and that modern ICTs and AAL (Ambient Assisted Living) technologies can radically change their lives. The key mediator between technology and ever-day life of elderly people are the domiciliary care-workers.
CARER+ is there to care for care-workers. It will create a unique a list of ICT knowledge and skill-based competences for domiciliary care workers with related certification process for digital competences of care-workers. Based on this framework and non-formal hard and soft skills, a special learning environment and resources will be put in place and disseminated. To make sure, the CARER+ framework works in real-life conditions, the project will pilot its framework and methodology in 5 countries with 500 care-workers. Following the lessons learned during the pilot phase, a complete set of guidelines will be developed to ensure transferability for all areas of the field. News and updates on project events and activities will be continuously shared on the web, on social online platforms and at events.
Details of on the project can be found at the project website: http://www.carerplusproject.eu/
Flexible Learning for Open Education (Floe) Animation
OpenStax College
OpenStax College is a nonprofit organization committed to improving student access to quality learning materials. The free open source textbooks are developed and peer-reviewed by educators to ensure they are readable, accurate, and meet the scope and sequence requirements of your course. Through partnerships with companies and foundations committed to reducing costs for students, OpenStax College is working to improve access to higher education for all.
Cyber-attacks on Distributed Control System
Spanish University UNED offers open access to its resources
The Spanish National Distance University (UNED) will be a pioneer in Spain as it will allow free and open access to all its teaching and research material.
Online courses, audio and video material, e-books, radio programmes, PhD theses, scientific journals, etc. The UNED will offer open access to its resources, having the possibility to reach half a billion spanish speakers around the world.
Open UNED will be an online platform with direct access to massive online open courses (MOOCs). Spanish and Latin American universities will be allowed to reuse all these resources to create their own teaching material.
You can access Open UNED here.
RODA
RODA reúne las colecciones digitales de archivos, bibliotecas y museos gestionados por la Consejería de Cultura y Turismo, de acuerdo con la Iniciativa de Archivos Abiertos (OAI-PMH) que promueve la Unión Europea. Se constituye como principal proveedor de contenidos de las colecciones digitales extremeñas a los agregadores/recolectores de contenidos Hispana y Europeana.