Remember this guy? His assertions garnered a deluge of responses - many countering his claims that post-secondary schooling was getting in the way of his education.
Perhaps Dan Brown should have a look at the University of the People, a tuition-free online University.
Harnessing multiple pedagogical models, UoPeople changes the way
in which education can be accessed. We utilize open source technology
and open educational resources to provide access to educational material
from some of the most prominent institutions. Distance learning allows those
in all corners of the world to access information.(HuffingtonPost)
in which education can be accessed. We utilize open source technology
and open educational resources to provide access to educational material
from some of the most prominent institutions. Distance learning allows those
in all corners of the world to access information.(HuffingtonPost)
University of the People is a truly global education model with students around the world, “from both under-developed and developed countries”. This global learning site gains further credibility with the claim that the University focuses on peer to peer learning. Broken into classes of 15-20 people from around the globe, the cultural addition to knowledge is limitless. Here is the sort of model that may close the knowledge gap.
Craig Watkins, author of the book and blog The Young and the Digital asks the question, “what is the potential for learning and engagement with mobile media in closing the learning divides that exist between low and middle income students?” His idea is that students need not only access to mobile devices but the proper scaffolding to unpackage their learning potential. For those of us who only use our computer for e-mail and facebook, this should be apparent. Can open source education like University of the People offer this support? Perhaps. With partners like New York University, Hewlitt Packard, the UN and the Clinton Global Initiative among others it certainly has clout. Can they provide the hardware and the mentorship needed to harness this open source peer to peer environment?
When viewed in conjunction with news that even Harvard is now making available TED talk style lectures via itunes, it really seems possible that the centuries old wall that keeps knowledge firmly in the fists of those in power might finally fall.
With a typical year at Harvard currently running around $40,000, an itunes fee seem like a bargain.
When viewed in conjunction with news that even Harvard is now making available TED talk style lectures via itunes, it really seems possible that the centuries old wall that keeps knowledge firmly in the fists of those in power might finally fall.
With a typical year at Harvard currently running around $40,000, an itunes fee seem like a bargain.
I really like the merits of free school.
ReplyDeleteWhat would we say as a society if people still failed to take advantage of such a great situation?
These kinds of initiatives hold great promise, and I think the biggest contributions they make at this period in our history is the deep value at their core -- that education transcends boundaries; it is absolutely critical to the survival of the planet; and it should be available to everyone.
ReplyDeleteNow, getting from there to achieving these principles is going to be fraught with problems, politics, and will lurch ahead and backward in fits and starts for a long time. But the underlying values will keep everyone moving in the right direction -- truly opening up education and learning globally.
When I was in New Zealand last term, I was invited to the inaugural meeting of the OER University. Canada has a good reputation globally for its leadership in distance learning and its participation on the world stage. The first meeting included a dozen or so people in the room, and another 200 people from 40+ countries online for a day of discussing how to move the initiative forward. It was fascinating being a part of this big vision and bold initiative. If you want to find out more about the OER University, check out its wiki at: http://wikieducator.org/OER_university
It's chockablock with great people doing great things.
One of the things that struck me at the meeting (actually hit me like a thunderbolt), was that the initiative was largely being built on a logic model that was quite traditional -- it would look a lot like a regular university, with careful attention being paid to certification, assessments, standards for course approval & program approval, degree granting status, etc. Ultimately it was about adding value to traditional institutions of higher learning. That's very important, don't get me wrong. But I could see that when you get a bunch of academics around a table talking about radical innovation and change, we tend to draw on what we know to define our visions. And I think, as valuable and necessary as these initiatives are, we will also see the models shift over time to be less controlled centrally, more adaptive, more open, more tuned to what learners want -- and less about how institutions define what is worthwhile and valuable. I really do think we need more free range thinking about what it means to be an "open" university.
Great input. I look forward to checking out OER.
ReplyDeleteAs for the utopian dream of 'free range education', I think that there has to be some central control. There are occasionally great moments where collectives come together successfully. But, for the most part, initiatives in sporting teams, financial institutions or school boards succeed or fail based on their leadership.
It would be foolish and an insult to the classification of history to forget all they we have already built. But it is important not to stagnate and to be sure the options we have invented are ALL available to our learners.
Monsieur Le Doubt - I didn't realize you had started blogging. Thanks for writing - it's good to read about what else is going on in that noggin of yours. Great & cool.
ReplyDeleteA couple of thoughts on the subject of online learning. I’m sure to be successful, adequate structure must be essential to some learners, and I wonder if that might be a principal challenge that must be solved. Speaking from personal experience, I’ve been impressed with ITunesU for years, but confess I have used it much less than I hoped I would. Something about the commitment of going to a course day in and day out has proved key for me to make progress. The ephemeral nature of a live lecture added a sense of urgency that a recorded play-when-I-want-to lecture hasn’t for me to date. I guess I would learn to learn in a different way, or those who could learn that way would be favoured. This is perhaps an obvious point that is often brought up early in online learning discussions, and I might be writing it as a confession as much as a point of discussion.
Also – you mentioned Harvard’s TED style talks on itunes. I wonder if it was influenced by this article:
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/148/how-ted-became-the-new-harvard.html
and it’s follow-up:
http://www.fastcompany.com/1682513/is-ted-the-new-harvard-reactions-from-around-the-web
Dunks:
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blended_learning
Blended learning is really where we are headed. Of course we all need structure to get things accomplished. Deadlines and incentives are all necessary components of motivation. Couldn't agree more.
Check out the link. I think you will like the idea.
Appreciate the comments.