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VLE, Open Source, Open Content, Web 2.0: Recent Experience of the OUUK in eLearning. EDEN Conference 2007 Naples, Italy 16 June 2007. Dr. Paul Clark Pro-Vice-chancellor (Learning and Teaching) The United Kingdom Open University. www.open.ac.uk. Plan of Talk. Short Resume of the OUUK
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VLE, Open Source, Open Content, Web 2.0: Recent Experience of the OUUK in eLearning. EDEN Conference 2007 Naples, Italy 16 June 2007
Dr. Paul ClarkPro-Vice-chancellor (Learning and Teaching)The United Kingdom Open University www.open.ac.uk
Plan of Talk • Short Resume of the OUUK • Development of OUUK VLE • OUUK’s Engagement with Open Source: Moodle • Open Content: the OpenLearn project • Web 2.0 and the OUUK • Conclusions
Overview of the Present Day OUUK • No required entry qualifications • 218,000 students, different age profile • 8 Faculties and Schools • 334 u/g courses; 179 p/g courses, 1500 doctoral research students • ODL research institutes; IET, KMi • Ranked 5th out of 140 institutions for teaching • Ranked 1st for quality of student support
Overview of the Present Day OUUK • No required entry qualifications • 218,000 students, different age profile • 8 Faculties and Schools • 334 u/g courses; 179 p/g courses, 1500 doctoral research students • ODL research institutes; IET, KMi • Ranked 5th out of 140 institutions for teaching • Ranked 1st for quality of student support
OUUK Model of ODL (95-05) • High quality printed texts • Websites (personal, course-based) • Email, computer-conferencing (student-tutor, student-student) • Computer-enhanced audio conferencing (Lyceum) • Computer-based assessment; • Secure online assignment handling • Digital resources from OU Library online • eBooks, simulations, A/V materials • Student Record System – separate system
Building the OUUK VLE • Major development project (2005-2010) • Integration of services to suit pedagogic and administrative needs • New versions of existing applications (conferencing, email, instant messaging) • New functionality (blog, wiki, ePortfolio, eAssessment, mobile learning) • Student tracking, AL-student communication • Access to full range of OU information • Release dates in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Open Source Activity at the OU: MOODLE • Open Source Movement: a collaborative production of software for the benefit of all potential users;Four reasons for adopting Moodle • Strong base for development of required functionality • Open architecture • Designed for co-operation and collaboration • Joining the Moodle community
VLE Functionality:2007 Forums Calendars Blogs RSS Feeds Wikis Federated search Instant messaging eAssessment Database News Choice myStuff (ePortfolio)
Staff and Student Development • Academic staff: new modes of teaching • Associate Lecturers (7500): New modes of support • Many parts of OUUK have to change at once
OUUK Open Content: OpenLearn OCI, OER: Ambition to share, redevelop and reuse MIT initiative: Massive sharing, little redevelopment OUUK initiative: OpenLearn
OpenLearn • Learning Space: 2700 hours of OUUK study materials • 2300 hours of study materials to follow • Lab space: download materials reversion and return • Usage: 500,000 unique visitors • URL: http://www.openlearn.open.ac.uk
Challenges to OCI, OER • Reluctance to version, use and return open content – connection with same phenomenon with learning objects • Financial sustainability of OER project – where’s the revenue stream to come from?
Web 2.0 and the OUUK Levels of discussion: • Evolution of Web technology: AJAX, REST, Open APIs • Business properties of Web 2.0 companies: Long tail, Network effects • Web user behaviour and its educational consequences
Typical forms of Web 2.0 Behaviour • Sharing information and experiences (blog, wiki) • Delivering a personal broadcast: (video clip on YouTube • Enlisting the “Wisdom of Crowds” to solve problems • Building an online community (social bookmarking)
Web 2.0 world characteristics(1) • Sharing user-generated content • Harnassing collective intelligence • Co-operative activity to build unique product (Wikipedia) • Forming online communities • Reusing and/or remixing content • Exploiting “network effects”
Web 2.0 world characteristics (2) • Users add value, seen as co-developers • Exploiting large data sources (Amazon, student tracking) • People-power • Personalised delivery • Open standards, open systems User becomes active, creative participant
Web 2.0 issues for higher education • Integration of public domain software • Web 2.0 and academic ethos • OUUK’s response to the opportunity and challenge of Web 2.0
Integration of Public Domain Software • Security? • Stability? • Student-tracting? • Integrated online experience?
Web 2.0 and OUUK academic experience • Web 2.0 experience and structured learning experience? • Web 2.0 and academic ethos • Net generation and OUUK student profileBUT • OUUK coming to grips with the impact of Web 2.0??
Bits of the way forward • Use and research Web 2.0 tools in OUUK VLE • Web 2.0 experiments already in operation (Biodiversity Observvatory • Focus on student response to current activity
VLE, Open Source, Open Content, Web 2.0: Recent Experience of the OUUK in eLearning. EDEN Conference 2007 Naples, Italy 16 June 2007