Open University Makes Educational Resources Available Free Online
On Oct. 25th 2006, The Open University in the UK officially launched their open content initiative OpenLearn. Now all knowledge-seekers around the globe can access educational resources for free. They’re trying to get the educational word out to folks living far far away from the university experience, for what ever reason (geographical, financial, the aliens have them locked up and they can’t leave the house so they need to pursue that college degree via the Internet, etc.).
The Open University has always been ahead of its time. Here’s a BBC article about what the Open U has been up to for the last 30 years. The OU used to kick technological booty by televising their distance learning course lectures. Now they’re moving on up to more technologically advanced badassness. I’m on board with the whole idea of free access to educational resources (whatever happened to good old fashioned libraries, you freaks? Is paper not good enough for you people?). And, yes, I get it that paper and ink are so last season. It hurts me bad…Anyway, I think it’s a stupendous trend. Free stuff: good. Educational resources made available to everyone: good. The OpenLearn site will initially have some 900 hours of study in a variety of topics – from access to postgraduate level.
I do, however, have just the teensiest issue with wholly online learning. It’s the science girl in me. I can’t help it. I love a good lab table. Yes, very funny, in that way, too. I just think some stuff can’t be replaced. I get it that paper and pens (which I prefer to this super shiny MacBook) will go the way of the buffalo soon. And that printing up my photos in a darkroom is so old school. Alright alright alright, I have a hard time with digital photography. It’s wrong on so many levels! It doesn’t feel right or smell right! Never mind. Writing and photography the old fashioned way are not important right now.
So does that mean the future of learning can be online for everyone except science majors? What about art majors? They need studio time and hands-on learning. Design majors, music majors, architecture, theater. What are we down to? History, math, sociology, and languages majors can learn wholly online. Anything involving brains only and not your hands, yes?
Posted by Alexa Harrington