Open Educational Practices and the Open University in The
Netherlands
Ben JanssenMarch, 24, 2011
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Context
2006 start of OpenER project of OUNL as the first OER project in The Netherlands
2007 OCW initiative of University of Technology Delft
2008 Decision to build OUNL strategy on OER
2009 start of the Dutch national project Wikiwijs
Start of Networked Open Polytechnic 2010 start of OpenU 2010 start of Free Technology Academy
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OpenER@OUNL
OpenER
a project offering small open educational courses, derived from OUNL bachelor and master programs, launched in December, 2006
Objectives lowering thresholds for access to formal Higher
Educationwidening and increasing participation in Higher
Education
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Means
Offering of high-quality short open courses developed for self-study (each about 25 hrs)
By means of a ‘portal of temptation’ to HE In order to bridge informal learning and
formal education And offering official examination options
(earning Bachelor credits)
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Fundings
The Directorate Learning and Working, established by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Ministry of Social Affairs
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Total funding €660,000
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Some data
Much media attention More than 1,250,000 visitors 12% of visitors return 25 courses online (4 – 45 hours per
course) Costs for creation of OER: €3,000 -
€30,000 10% of students who registered for an
OUNL course reported to be influenced in their decision by OpenER
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Some data
Secondary schools are using OpenER courses for their students (including OUNL examination)
OpenER led to overall strategic decision to change towards a business strategy based on OER
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Spinoza@OUNL
Objectives: eminent Dutch researchers bring their body of
thought and views to a broad public
Means:develop and offer OpenER courses with all its
qualities (self-study, activating, interactive, different media, etcetera)
work with Spinoza Premium laureates (highest research award: 2,5 M€)
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National project Wikiwijs
To stimulate development and use of OER improve access to both open and ‘closed’ digital
learning materials support teachers in arranging their own learning
materials and professionalization increase teacher involvement in development and
use of OER extend options for customized education increase quality of education through more flexible
and up-to-date learning materials
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Wikiwijs will offer …
a Repository of open educational resources a Referatory to digital educational resources:
open and closed free access and access to be paid for public and commercial
easy to use arrangement and development tools for teachers / professors
end-user support for teachers when creating and using learning materials
Networked Open Polytechnic
Objectives
establish a second track through HE for Lifelong, Open and Flexible (LOF) learning in a professional / vocational context (alongside the Open University system for academic HE)
explore an innovative open business model: an open network, using open source, open access and open content (rather than cloning OUNL)
Networked Open Polytechnic
Means
Development of new educational programs in networks
Major NOP characteristics:- Open Educational Resources (CC-BY-SA)- modularity- assessment of prior learning (APL)- workplace learning - learning communities- regional offering in national infrastructure- link with professional practice
Free Technology Academy
The FTA is a joint initiative of:Open Universiteit of the Netherlands (OUNL)Universidad Oberta de Catalunya, Spain University of Agder (UiA) Norway Free Knowledge Institute (FKI), The Netherlands
Free Technology Academy
Offers online master course modules for IT professionals, students, teachers and
decision makers on Free Software & Open StandardsLearners can choose to enroll in an
individual course module or register for the whole program
Free Technology Academy
Learning materials are only freely licensed materials
Tuition takes place online in the FTA virtual campus and is performed by teaching staff from the partner universities
Credits obtained in the FTA program are recognized by the participating universities
The full master program can be completed at one of the universities
Contributions
Fred Mulder on national strategy and OER policy; holder of the UNESCO chair ‘Open Educational Resources: studies on strategy, implementation and impact’ ([email protected])
Robert Schuwer on OpenER and Wikiwijs ([email protected])
Lex Bijlsma on Free Technology Academy ([email protected])
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References
http://www.ou.nlhttp://www.opener.ou.nlhttp://www.spinoza.ou.nlhttp://portal.ou.nlhttp://www.wikiwijs.nlhttp://www.noh.nlhttp://ftacademy.orghttp://oer.unescochair-ou.nl
Contact: [email protected]