Open Source
Open and Distance Learning. Learning and Culture
What culture can influence learning on computer networks? The open and distance learning should take into account the ethnic and cultural learners? The intercultural between particular and universal? Right to likeness or difference?
Hacia una cultura de la apertura: concienciando y posibilitando políticas en la Educación Superior en América Latina
En este artículo, se analiza el estado del movimiento de la OA e iniciativas REA a poco mas de diez años de su comienzo. Se revisan algunos ejemplos de proyectos que marcan una "nueva generación" del acceso abierto. Se identifica la falta de concientización y promoción del tema como el gran desafío que impide a América Latina involucrarse más en el movimiento. Finalmente, se identifica la necesidad de un liderazgo más activo de las partes interesadas y la necesidad de implementar políticas de apoyo a la sostenibilidad del OA y de los REA en esta región.
Article originally published in English at UNESCO-IESALC´s journal: Higher Education and Society, Vol 16, No 2 (2011).
In this article, we analyze the state of the OA movement and OER initiatives ten years from their beginning. We review some examples that mark out a “next generation” of the open access. We address the lack of awareness as the major challenge impeding Latin America to get more involved in the movement. Finally, we identify the need for more active leadership from stakeholders and the need for implementing policies to support the sustainability of the OA and OER in this region.
Articulo publicado en inglés en la revista Educación Superior y Sociedad, Vol 16, No 2 (2011).
OST'12: Open and Social Technologies for Networked Learning
Tallinn will host an IFIP open working conference on “Open and Social Technologies for Networked Learning”. Sponsored by IFIP Working Group 3.4 (Professional Education), the conference is jointly organized by Tallinn University and University of Tampere (Finland)
Open and Social Technologies play an increasingly important role in many educational settings. Social technologies are naturally entering primary, secondary and higher education where they blur the boundaries between formal and informal learning. Social technologies also enter the workplaces where they connect learners and bridge the boundaries between individual learning and organizational knowledge processes. Not only do these technologies connect learners independent of place and time, they have also been found to exert emergent properties. For example, wikis or social tagging environments are increasingly used for collaborative knowledge construction where new knowledge emerges from a large scale interaction of individuals. These properties and their impact on individual, group and organizational learning have only started to be researched.
Open Source Software (OSS) and Technologies have received extensive research attention due to some favorable properties contrasting with a traditional understanding of software development and the use of those systems. Many OSS issues are motivations for OSS developers and licensing bodies. However, important research areas in OSS are product and implementation success and the use of OSS in different educational and enterprise settings. OSS can also serve as a platform for providing services to user communities. Especially in developing countries, OSS provides an attractive opportunity.
Introduction to the first volume of the ELIG Book Series
This first publication in the series will be edited by ELIG in collaboration with the United Nations University UNU-MERIT and will focus on Open Education.
Commit to Open Education!
Sign the The Open Education Statement of Commitment and pledge your support for Open Education.
Education has the power to transform lives but too often access is restricted. Among those excluded are those who lack the right qualifications, who cannot pay the fees or who are unable to accommodate a fixed schedule. The Open Education movement seeks to remove barriers to education by freely sharing educational resources and adopting open educational practices.
The Statement of Commitment is intended for individuals to publically pledge their support for Open Education.
It has been drawn up by the Open Education SIG which aims to support, develop, sustain and influence policy in Open Education.
If you feel strongly about Open Education make a commitment by signing the statement here. (See who has already committed.)
Find out more about the Open Eduaction SIG on their home page.
OpenLearn has launched an Olympics 2012 Portal
As we count down to London 2012, give yourself a special insight into the world's most exciting sporting event with The Open University's collection of exciting interactives, academic insights and lots of free opportunities to take your learning even further in the world of sport.
OpenLearn gives you free access to learning materials from The Open University.
What sort of Olympian would you be?
What does it take to be a top Olympian or Paralympian? Our game will let you discover your perfect sport - and then enter our virtual games. Try Olympisize Me.
The first Olympics
Explore the Ancient Olympics and compare it with the modern games with this free unit, The Ancient Olympics: Bridging past and present. Using course materials, maps, timeline and quotes, this free taster will give you the chance to assess the ethical, philosophical and cultural importance of the ancient Olympics to the Ancient Greek World and understand the dual role of Olympia.
- For more free tasters, try Exploring sport online: Athletes and efficient hearts and The science behind wheeled sports.
Olympic Short videos
Our sports academics and Olympic gold medallist rower Sir Matthew Pinsent give their insights into the role of families, coaches and team dynamics in creating a top Olympian.
Athletes such as Usain Bolt and the GB basketball and rowing teams are also interviewed, offering real-life case studies of how their families, friends, team-mates and coaches help them reach the top on their sport. Watch the Olympic shorts.
Invitation to Policy Seminar on Mainstreaming Open Educational Practices
The partnerships of the OPAL (www.oer-quality.org) and CONCEDE projects (www.concede.cc) have the pleasure of inviting you to a Policy Forum on ‘Mainstreaming Open Educational Practices’ at UNESCO Headquarters taking place on Monday 14 November, 2011 from 10:30 to 18:00. The forum is addressing the important topic of mainstreaming of open educational practices into higher education and adult education. It is part of the UNESCO supported Open Educational Quality Initiative OPAL.
The purpose of the Policy Forum is to establish Guidelines for mainstreaming Open Educational Practice. OPAL promotes open educational practices – practices which support the production, use and reuse of open educational resources (OER). Open educational practices help learners, educational professionals, organizational leaders, and policy makers improve quality in higher education and adult education and training. The forum will be held in cooperation with the CONCEDE initiative which focuses on the innovative topic of quality related to user-generated content, with the intent of promoting concepts of quality in VET, Higher Education and Adult Learning.
The OPAL Initiative has been implemented through a consortium including the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE), the European Foundation for Quality in E-Learning (EFQUEL), and a number of European universities, and has been supported through the European Commission. More information can be found at www.oer-quality.org.
The November Policy Forum will examine the results of both initiatives (OPAL and CONCEDE) and their activities, and will seek to strategize steps for the future. The Forum aims to bring together decision makers active in establishing a strategy to move forward with the results of these Initiatives, and will concentrate on how to best capitalize on the use of OEPs for the benefit of quality educational provision supported through ICT.
If you are interested in registering in person or virtually for the seminar, please go to the following link: http://www.oer-quality.org/policyseminar.
A small number of travel grants can be made available to selected attendees. Kindly contact anthony.camilleri@efquel.org if you would like to be considered for eligibility.
Mainstreaming Open Educational Practices
The purpose of the Policy Forum is to establish Guidelines for mainstreaming Open Educational Practice. OPAL promotes open educational practices – practices which support the production, use and reuse of open educational resources (OER). Open educational practices help learners, educational professionals, organizational leaders, and policy makers improve quality in higher education and adult education and training. The forum will be held in cooperation with the CONCEDE initiative which focuses on the innovative topic of quality related to user-generated content, with the intent of promoting concepts of quality in VET, Higher Education and Adult Learning.
The Forum aims to bring together decision makers active in establishing a strategy to move forward with the results of these Initiatives, and will concentrate on how to best capitalize on the use of OEPs for the benefit of quality educational provision supported through ICT.
Visit the event page for more information.