Hi
I’m
working on a mini-research project entitled “E-learning in ‘open
source’ education: exploratory study’” (as part of a short course
at University College London).
The
idea is that the “open source” way of working (used to develop software
e.g. Linux) can also be useful as an approach in education. So I’m
reviewing various education initiatives, like some addressed in this email,
that have elements of an open source approach to education. I’m basically
documenting the pedagogies, open source elements and uses of e-learning.
It’s
very much work in progress, but I wanted to make initial contact. I’ve also
had to do a draft abstract for my class a bit early in the research (reproduced
below for further info), but there will be a full spreadsheet review and report
later which I’ll release more generally e.g. to some of the other mailing
lists.
In
doing this review I’m also hoping to promote different approaches and
contribute to dialogue. There will be an open invitation workshop/focus group
in
Any
thoughts or comments are welcome. Also, if any websites have not explicitly
stated they are copyleft or similar, and ‘website owners’ would
like me to use logos and images in presentations, let me know.
Compliments
on all the good work going on and I hope to meet some of you in due course.
Brent
Cunningham
Learning
Technology Officer
Nursing & Midwifery
Rm 2.31
0207 848 3916
brent.cunningham@kcl.ac.uk
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/clinicalskills
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ipe/swipe.html
The
draft abstract follows:
This
study reviews a range of post-secondary education initiatives broadly within
the radical / critical tradition that exhibit an open source approach to
education, analysing their pedagogies, open source elements and uses of
e-learning.
The
open source idea is very successful in software development where there is a
peer-production process of community-owned 'open source' software. The
potential of this approach for education has been indicated (Staring et al,
2005; Dillon & Bacon, 2006) and this study is a qualitative review of
education initiatives that embody this approach, leading to a focus group
asking what can be learnt from these ideas.
Radical
pedagogy is a broad term related to alternative educational approaches
including critical pedagogy and popular education, and educational concepts
like collaborative and constructivist learning. History and influences range
through Foucault, socialism, Freire, de-schooling and anarchism to traveller
culture. Major themes are non-alignment, critique of power, non-hierarchical
self-organisation, political activism and critical consciousness (Smith 1996;
Wright 1989 and others).
The
research is evaluating the open source approach as a significant concept in
education thinking and identifying pedagogical and e-learning ideas or
techniques from such approaches that can be valuable for teaching and learning.
The
initial method is a qualitative literature and internet review of about 20
English-language initiatives with open source elements found by searching
within radical pedagogy and related arenas. The pedagogical philosophies and
practices are analysed into major themes and e-learning uses catalogued.
Pedagogical themes are further analysed to identify open source elements.
The
review has sensed a certain dynamic 'fluidity' evident in, for example varying
levels of activity, and also explicit in many of the practices and
philosophies.
The
pedagogies are typically politicised and often broadly anti-capitalist, working
for critical consciousness and social change. Other emphases include knowledge
as social, collaborative learning, lifelong and informal learning,
learner-directedness, learning through practice, independent thinking and
connecting with the local community.
There
are strong open source elements often implicit rather than explicit, but
directly referred to by some, and repeated emphasis on the collective
production and free exchange of knowledge with many calls for participation.
There
is general use of IT, wiki technology is popular for e-learning, and discussion
boards, community blogs and mailing lists. Many have document repositories,
often taking submissions. Others include chat, skill sharing forums, video and
radio. Some publish journals or newsletters and there are many real-world
events.
There
will be an open invitation focus group where this review is presented and some
examples used. We will discuss pedagogical and e-learning ideas and techniques
from these that can be worthwhile for teaching and learning and produce
summaries of the main points for further analysis.
This
investigation has successfully identified the use of open source type
pedagogies in a tradition of education initiatives and reviewed the e-learning
technologies used. The 'teacher' concept can still be felt, perhaps as a
"facilitator" role that participants fulfil. This is work in progress
and further dialogue, research and evaluations regarding these ideas will be
worthwhile.
Selected
references
Dillon,
T., Bacon, S., 2006. Opening education. The potential of open source approaches
for education.
McGettigan
, T. 1999.What is Radical Pedagogy? Radical Pedagogy (1999).
Smith,
M. K., 1996. ideas. key concepts and theories in informal education, lifelong
learning and social action. http://www.infed.org/ideas/index.htm. [Accessed
02-03-2008].
Staring,
K., Titlestad, O. & Gailis, J., 2005. Educational transformation through
open source approaches.
Wright,
N., 1989. Assessing radical education. Milton Keynes/Philadelphia: Open
University Press.
These
are the projects I’ve looked at in some detail so far:
Copenhagen
Free University www.copenhagenfreeuniversity.dk
exco|experimentalcollege www.excotc.org
Free
Floating Faculty www.kristinask.net/Freefloatingfaculty.html
Free
Highlander
Research and
The
Independent Art School www.independent-art-school.org.uk
manoa
free university www.manoafreeuniversity.org
MeineAkademie
www.meineakademie.tk
Minciu
Sodas www.ms.lt
mobilised
investigation http://manifestor.org/mi
New
University Coop www.newuniversity.ca
RAD.
EDU http://radical.temp.si
Toronto
Anarchist Free University http://anarchistu.org
The
Travelling School of Life www.tsolife.org
Vidya
Ashram www.vidyaashram.org
Wikiversity http://en.wikiversity.org
Background
presentation: http://www.slideshare.net/thebrentc/elearning-in-open-source-education