Open Education: Totally pointless or a mean to modernize traditional formal education?
Open Educational Resources, Massive Open Online Courses, Peer-to-Peer Universities, … the Web provides ample of learning opportunities. But what does all of this mean? Do we witness the emergence of a parallel educational universe that is disconnected from traditional formal education as we know it? Open Educational Resources are great, but education is more then just resources. Massive Open Online Courses and Peer-to-Peer Universities are equally great, but are they any good in societies that are driven by formal degrees? Are they any good in the absence of teachers that provide support and close tutoring, as is the case in traditional formal education? Do any of those ‘Open’ learning opportunities benefit students in traditional formal education? Are we going to see a transformation towards voluntary and Peer-to-Peer run and donation based free / open traditional formal education? This talk aims to stimulate a critical debate whether or not Open Educational attempts are totally pointless or might be a suitable mean to modernize traditional formal education. It is argued that Open Education can open the door to the next generation of higher educational provision, but at this point in time universities have not yet taken the step. Open Education potential is great when not reduced to an alternative to traditional education, but rather as an enabler to combine free / open learning with traditional educational forms and to provide new and innovative services. By doing so Open Education could have a high socio-economic impact on developed and developing economies.
by Andreas Meiszner on July 1st at 12:00 in Track I
Dr. Andreas Meiszner is a senior researcher and project manager at the United Nations University UNU-MERIT (NL) and experienced international consultant focusing on education, innovation, and training. Andreas research and project experience are related to the fields of Open Education, Open Source Software and their communities, Open Educational Resources and Web 2.0 applications. Before entering the world of academic research Andreas has been working in various business sectors for more than 10 years and holds three higher education degrees in management from universities in France, Germany and The Netherlands.
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