Perryman, Leigh-Anne, and Tony Coughlan. "The Realities of" Reaching Out": Enacting the Public-Facing Open Scholar Role with Existing Online Communities." Journal of interactive media in education (2013).

This paper discusses the limitations of the current top-down approach to Open Educational Resources (OER) provision, primarily serving higher education (HE) needs. It introduces the concept of a "public-facing open scholar" role, where academics collaborate with online communities outside HE to source OER tailored to their specific needs. The pilot findings indicate the viability and positive reception of this role, particularly in voluntary sector communities. However, privacy constraints and cultural nuances within communities need consideration. This approach has transformative potential beyond the voluntary sector, with institutional recognition crucial for its success in promoting free and open access to knowledge.