Pedro Sanchez wrote:
On 4/30/07, Daniel Cannon cannon.danielc@gmail.com wrote:
On 4/30/07, Michael Wehrle mwehrle@gmail.com wrote:
I just came across this list and wanted to pose a question to all list
members as I am new to wikiversity. Are free online degrees through wikiversity in the works? And if not, why not? What is keeping them from being able to offer completely free online degrees?
It's not really been too heavily discussed; however, at present time Wikiversity is simply way, way, way too immature for us to even consider becoming a degree-granting institution. Perhaps some day in the future, but by no means at this time.
-- Daniel Cannon (AmiDaniel)
wikiversity won't give degrees.
that was explicitly stated since its conception
so no, not now, not on the future
I don't believe that was ever stated, although there were many opposed to the Wikiversity concept in the beginning because this could be seen as a diploma mill as opposed to a legitimate learning center.
And this is something that must be fought against even if some sort of arrangement to offer high school or college credits (or even "CEU" credits) is ever developed that would be recognized through some sort of legitimate accrediation body. The standards needed to offer legitimate degrees are high enough that we shouldn't be deceiving anybody while Wikiversity is starting out that such degrees are going to be granted any time soon, if ever.
I did come across a legitimate educational institution a while back that wanted to co-sponsor an on-line learning experience through Wikiversity, where this other organization would be offering the actual educational credits and accreditation. I don't know how much follow-through happened on the idea, but it is something that has happened (they came to us, not the other way around BTW) and may happen in the future in other situations.
I would also have to say for myself that I would feel very uncomfortable before even educational credits of some sort are offered (even in a joint setting) without some sort of formal discussion happening about it not only on the Collequium, but also with the WMF board getting involved as well to formalize the arrangement. And for the standards to be very clear about what would be needed by both the participants as well as those who are setting up the instruction.
There is quite a bit we can do before we need to reach these much higher standards for much more informal learning experiences, such as is already happening on Wikiversity. Even if a (very) long term goal is to eventually reach the ability to offer a degree program. I would expect that it will take some time, meaning many years of effort, before we are going to even offer academic credits of any kind.
-- Robert Horning