EDET 678 Emerge Tech Week 2 Blog

EDET 678 Emerging Technologies

Week Two Blog

Essential question: What do you see as the promise of Open Learning as an emerging technology/pedagogy/philosophy?

            Open Learning is a term and concept that I have run into a few times while studying in the Instructional Design courses. After reading a bit more about open learning, I realized that I was missing the piece that open learning is not only free access to learning materials for all but also the ability to take these learning materials and revise them if needed to have the maximum impact on the individual group of students. There are many open access courses, materials, etc. but the main focuses of these are for postsecondary students. It seems that there might be success in this open learning environments for postsecondary students. Pitt reports that the University System of Georgia used open textbooks (a resource of open learning) and the retention rates and completion rates of the course increased in the time semester of using the open textbook versus the semester of not using it. (2015) So why not use the fact of the positive impacts of open learning on postsecondary students and apply to K-12 education.

            A promise that open learning can provide for school districts is saving money on curriculum/textbooks that isn’t needed because the material that will be used for learning is free. Pitt compiled the information that Columbia Gorge Community College saved its students from needing to buy because the materials were provided through open learning. (2015) The district will need to have clear guidelines on the ownership of material that is being created in its schools. Graham et al. explains how “in some districts, teacher-created intellectual property is considered to be school or district property, while in others it is considered the creator’s property.” (Graham, et al) The same case is for student created material. When good material is created with open learning in mind, then the district needs to have guidelines for teachers and students to publish or provide these materials to the rest of the world to access through open learning.

            Open learning is an emerging technology for the K-12 scene of education mainly because we don’t know as a community exactly its impact is or can be to students and schools. Research is still needed and emerging technology is a piece of technology or idea that is still being researched. I have used open online course with one class of my students. The course is through Harvard that any person can sign up and then work through the guided practice, assignments, videos, notes, etc. to learn about the topic. The course I guided them through was CS50, which is a computer science class on how to code in different languages. All materials were provided and I was there to help the students. This is what we call a blended learning classroom and this was beneficial for the students because I could not have offered the course myself.

Resources:

Graham, L., LaBonte, R., Roberts, V., O’Bryne, I., & Osterhout, C. Open Learning in K-12 Online and Blended Learning Environments. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/10311797/Open_Learning_in_K-12_Online_and_Blended_Learning_Environments

Pitt, B. (2015). Gorge Open initiative saves 379 students over $35K in textbook costs. OER Impact Map. Retrieved from http://oermap.org/evidence/gorge-open-initiative-saves-379-students-over-35k-in-textbook-costs/

Pitt, B. (2015). Use of Open Textbooks shows increased retention and completion rates. OER Impact Map. Retrieved from http://oermap.org/evidence/use-of-open-textbook-shows-increased-retention-and-completion-rates/