Monthly Archives: January 2011

The University of Open

Paul Stacey has a new post on his vision of “The University of Open”. From the post:

The University of Open is open to enrollment for students from anywhere around the world. The University of Open is open 24/7, has no place-based physical campus, and no residency requirements. Most significantly the University of Open moves the traditional correspondence model of education forward by adopting open pedagogies that leverage educational technologies, online instructional design, and emerging innovative ideas around open practices of teaching and learning.

Facing the Grind of Open Ed

Leigh Blackall has a new post expressing frustration with unsuccessful attempts to evangelize Open Ed at his institution. From the post:

I don’t enjoy working in education, demonstrating and proposing new practices to what amounts to being a non responsive, often hostile audience, with near zero connection to any measure of a local learning and research community, and all that after 7 years working at it too!

Edutopia Article on Open Textbooks

David Thornburg has written an article on the progress of open textbooks over the last few years. From the post:

The pairing of high quality with reduced cost seems counter-intuitive at first glance, but makes sense once you look into the open source community more deeply.

Identity Work at Wikipedia

Daniel Ashton has published an article regarding contributors to Wikipedia and how it shapes their identity. From the abstract:

Focusing on how Wikipedia ‘service awards’ can identify and distinguish editors, this paper explores the disclosure of knowledge as it is intimately bound up with identity work. Examining contributions/edits to Wikipedia as disclosures highlights processes of identity management and work.

Also, Mike Linksvayer on his experience with his own Wikipedia article.

MIT OCW End of the Year Stats

Audrey Watters has a new post giving MIT OCW’s end of the year statistics.

Interview With CICStudy

Stian Haklev has a posted an interview with CICIStudy, a Chinese site that points to OCW. From the interview:

What CICIStudy wants to provide is a stream of information that contains condensed wisdom. The goal of the platform is for people to be able to very easily receive high quality education (unequal distribution of educational resources has always been a problem).

Open Education’s Role in Ed Tech

Graham Atwell has a new post discussing the future of education technology and the role of open education. From the post:

Whilst we are still struggling to develop new financial models for such programmes, perhaps the major barrier is recognition.

Thanks to Stephen Downes for the link.

Explaining Networked Learning

Leigh Blackall points out a video by Dave Cormier on networked learning. From the post:

These videos would have been really handy to have around back when we were trying open networked learning courses at Otago Polytechnic.

Creative Commons Reaches Fundraising Goal

Melissa Reeder has a new post announcing that Creative Commons has reached its fundraising goal. This news is somewhat unexpected since they were down $200,000 a short while ago.

Open School of Education

Karen Fasimpaur has a new post wondering about an open school of education. From the post:

Many in ed reform have bemoaned the short comings of traditional pre-service education and in-service professional development. Importantly, it doesn’t model the values of the new participatory model of education that we hope teachers will follow.