Digital Dawn: Open Online Learning is Just Beginning

eLERU virtual campus' portal (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

by Professor Craig Savage, Professor of Theoretical Physics at Australian National University, on The Conversation: http://theconversation.edu.au

Craig researches in: theoretical quantum mechanics and relativity, foundations of physics, computational physics, and technology in higher education. He teaches substantial parts of the first year physics courses at ANU and was Associate Director (Undergraduate), of the ANU Research School of Physics and Engineering, 2008-2011.

Universities are traditionally seen as exclusive institutions for the few, not the many. But that is changing as a new wave of online courses throws open the doors of academia to all. Led by world renowned American institutions like MIT and Harvard, this push to democratise learning is being taken up in Australia too.

A New Way of Learning

In contrast to traditional higher education, which closes learning off from the world, open learning is transparent and accessible to anyone with internet access. Such openness could do a lot to improve standards at universities whose business models are driven by bums on seats, rather than mastery of a given subject.

It might also lift the morale of academia. Academics who are in control of what they teach, and who teach students who seek them out, may regain their professional freedom.

Around 7,000 online students recently earned the first certificates awarded by MIT and Harvard through their Edx partnership. That’s more than twice the number of degrees that MIT awarded at this year’s commencement.

Another 147,596 observers signed up to marvel at what an MIT course is really like. Substantially greater numbers are expected for the spring course offerings. Their first MIT course, Circuits and Electronics, was tough. University level maths and physics were prerequisites, and the exam would give many nosebleeds. But the high standards mean graduates are justly proud of the MIT and Harvard brands on their certificates.

New Kinds of Learning

Sal Khan, founder of the non-profit education provider Khan Academy, said in his recent MIT commencement address:

“The revolutions of our generation - in business, education, social structure and even politics - are not being catalysed by generals or politicians, but by highly empowered individuals like yourselves. [They] can see with clarity how the assumptions of previous generations no longer apply.”

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are in an experimentation phase. The spectrum ranges from the talking head, through to student centred learning, to the largest ones using best practice, research based instruction. Apart from being open and massive, MOOCs differ from traditional open university courses in the branding, and in the low cost, high flexibility delivery models.

Key innovations of the new wave of American MOOCs include the Khan Style Video, and the simulation lab. The Khan Style Video creates a remarkable intimacy between teacher and student.

The simulation lab is an environment in which exploration is encouraged, risks can be taken, and mistakes are forgiven. If you think this sounds too much like fun, remember that the pilots on your next flight may have qualified in a simulator.

The Next Step

MOOCs will take off, according to Udacity and Edx, once their student behaviour databases enable learning feedback cycles. The promise of datamining learning is one of the reasons it is researchers, and research universities, that are leading the new wave.

Harvard President Drew Faust said:

“Harvard and MIT will use these new technologies and the research they will make possible to lead the direction of online learning in a way that benefits our students, our peers, and people across the nation and the globe …”

Edx builds on the MIT OpenCourseWare project. It adds purpose designed best practice learning strategies, student community, labs, assessment, and certification.

But a pivotal unknown is how employers will use this certification. Will they favour traditional degrees? How will they use the information in the MOOC databases about an individual’s capabilities and mastery?

To read further, go to: http://theconversation.edu.au/digital-dawn-open-online-learning-is-just-beginning-7758?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+6+July+2012&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+6+July+2012+CID_d5b47b9a0726e8aec333c58e9fd9d7d1&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Digital+dawn+open+online+learning+is+just+beginning