| 12 – 25 October
In this topic we will explore the benefits and challenges of openness in education and learning. First, we will consider the usual conceptions of openness and access and ask how this phenomenon may differ from the perspectives of the educator and the learner. Second, we will focus on open educational resources (OERs), and the consequent development of open educational practices (OEPs). Third, we will look at issues around copyright and in particular the open licensing of content (Creative Commons) and how this opens up new opportunities for collaborative learning and development. Finally, we will take a look at the massive open online course (MOOC) phenomenon; the different models of MOOCs and how this affects higher education.
Activities for all learners
Introduction podcast and lecture
Start investigating open education by listening to our podcast. Listen to the diverse voices from colleagues across the globe discussing on what openness mean to them. Some of them are involved in ONL and some are colleagues from other contexts.
Next go to our Topic 2 Padlet page and watch an introduction to openness in education by Kiruthika Ragupathi (National University of Singapore) and Alastair Creelman (Linnaeus University, Sweden), explaining concepts like open educational resources (OER), Creative Commons, sharing, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) etc.
After you have watched the film please add your comments, reflections and questions on the Padlet page (see instructions on the page). All your comments will form the basis of a discussion webinar on 20 October.
Webinar
In the Webinar – open education on Tuesday 20 October, 11:00-12:00 (CEST) we will discuss many of the issues raised in the introduction lecture and get inspiration and practical tips from Kiruthika Ragupathi (National University of Singapore) and Alastair Creelman. You can also, during the entire week, share your thoughts in the #ONL202 Twitter community about your own professional experience of open resources, tools and open courses. See the event page.
Learning blog – reflection
Suggested themes for reflection in your learning blog:
- what openness means for your own practice
- is technology the primary driver for openness in education
- do you agree with the claim that knowledge should be considered a common good and be accessible as openly as possible
- how to find and use openly licensed resources
- advantages and disadvantages of open and closed technologies
- implications of different open course and MOOC formats in relation to your learning experience on this course.
A reminder: If you are aiming for a certificate you need to both write reflective posts within a blog and comment on others (see how to participate).
Activities in PBL groups
For guidance on PBL group work including the FISh design please see Learning activities.
SCENARIO
I’m interested in opening up some of my courses and sharing the resources in a responsible way, but I don’t really know where to start. What options are there for offering courses that are open? How do I get support from my colleagues and how do I introduce the idea to my students? What are the opportunities and dangers of “going open”?
Optional activities
Get that experience!
ONL is a type of MOOC, though not so massive as most of them. If you have no experience of a MOOC you may want to enroll in one, just to have a look. Class Central is a good place to search for MOOCs from all the main platforms in the world. Browse the different courses and see what you can find (you may have to register in order to see the activity).
Twitter
During this second topic you are encouraged to continue to use your Twitter account. Are there, for example, any open resources (OER) that you have found useful that you can share? Remember to use the hashtag #ONL202 when tweeting. |
AIMS
By the end of this topic, you will have had the opportunity to
- discuss open resources, open/closed tools and open participation courses
- reflect on different aspects of openness in your own context
- review in groups open features of the chosen activity/resource
- inquire into open educational practices related to a specific scenario
SYNCHRONOUS ACTIVITIES
 Webinar: Tuesday 20 October, 11:00-12:00 (CEST). Open education with Kiruthika Ragupathi and Alastair Creelman,
CHECKLIST
During this topic I have:
- Attended at least two of the PBL group online meetings
- Contributed actively to the group work on the scenario
- Contributed actively to the group discussion in #ONL202
- Commented on some colleagues’ blog posts
- Written my reflective blog post on topic 2
- Studied the recommended resources for this topic.
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