Reading the "international review of research in open and distance learning" it was interesting to me to read, article 26, universal declaration of human rights declares that "everyone has the right to education and that technical and professional education shall be generally available (united nations 1948) The OER (Open educational resource) movement starting with Richard Stallman in 1983 at MIT, through to all involved today in the Open Course Ware Consortium http://ocwconsortium.org/ are progressing toward that goal set by the UN. If we look at the moral view of free education to all, the idea of open course ware should be available to everyone. The other benefit would be to extend the providers profile within the on-line community, that in turn would lead to more enrollments in courses offered by the institution.
Can OER live up to the promise of delivery free education to all Maybe not in the very near future. To quote from the PennState article "It provides more options for learning and it expands access to resources" (Geith.c. 2008) I looked at an article from MIT that would confirm this, Nutrition and Productivity by Abhijit Banerjee, dept of economics, MIT http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm The article itself is available free and in full and is useful as a resource for use in the theory of nutrition but wouldn't be used in full as a distance course paper.
Do I think open and networked education threatens or enhances formal education. Enhances formal education defiantly, using open sources as resource helps flexible learning and student-centered learning, I can't see it as a threat, just another path to gather information from.
3 - average - provides examples of online learning and distance learning, mentions correspondence
3 comments:
It is good to see you have been reading about the benefits of open courseware. I would be interested to find out more about your closing statement, "using open sources as resource helps flexible learning and student-centered learning.."
In a past life I was a bioscience lecturer, and my favourite question to nurses and midwives was "why?"
With respect to open and networked education - why do you believe this philosophy will help "flexible learning and student-centered learning"?
In your posts, I would encourage you to start explaining in more depth why you agree with the material you are reading.In a previous post you were not so sure about open resources as this could prevent educators making money from them. I am interested to find out what has changed your mind.
Thanks Bronwyn for your comments, reading the blog again I probably haven't explained my reasoning very well.
To answer your question "why do I believe using open sources as resource helps flexible learning and student-centered learning"
From a commodities unit I have worked on using links to wikipedia on oils, vinegars and spices i was able to let the students complete their given workbooks at their own pace as well as from home or work if they wished, therefore flexible. And student-centered by leaving some of the questions in the workbook i.e. their own tastes and texture opinions on nuts and grains etc, ensuring they completed the unit but putting their own interpretation on their results.
The question you raised on my view on open resource material...you are right, I have held the view that my resources be solely available to create revenue or at least be just for currently enrolled students, but the more i read and work with these resources and ideas the more I'm open to looking at different views on the subject..."I'm Learning"
ah so the brain washing is working :) - nah it is all about "learning" more about these ideas, as you say.
Thanks for explaining what you were meaning re open resources and student-centred and FL.
Your approach with the workbooks is excellent...to push you further..have you thought about getting the students to develop their own workbook on a wiki page?
They could also do some group work and extend themselves with some problem-based activities using this method of interacting. This would create an evolving resource which you could use for subsequent classes.
See we never stop with the suggestions. :]
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