[LINK] Online Education

[Tom Worthington]

On 30/05/18 13:31, Stephen Loosley wrote:

> ... incredible our every-day Internet has developed into and has now
> become ... for example ... free education ...

The techniques now being used for the free online courses were adapted 
from those developed for open and distance universities over the last 
few decades.

The "free" aspect of online education is perhaps is the least important, 
just as open source software is nit just about getting something for 
free. What is more important is access to education for people who were 
otherwise denied it, due to where they are, their work and family 
commitments. Also important is institutions cooperating on providing 
standardized courses.

> The very best universities and institutes of learning, offering well
> over 2,000 free courses, on seemingly every topic under the sun. ...

Keep in mind that "free" online courses are not necessarily as free as 
they seem. The usual approach is to allow students to participate 
without charge, but if they want a certificate of achievement, there is 
a small charge. If they want credit for a formal qualification, they pay 
more. I added up what it cost for one "free" program and found it was 
cheaper to enroll at the local TAFE.

Also the quality of free courses can be variable. Just the processes 
finding a suitable free course can be time consuming. I studied this 
topic at university, in an online (but not free) course. 
http://www.tomw.net.au/digital_teaching/use_open_education_resources.shtml


ps: I am speaking on education to the Senate Select Committee on the 
Future of Work and Workers, Parliament House, Canberra, Senate hearing 
room 2S1, Monday 2:10 pm. 
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Future_of_Work_and_Workers/FutureofWork


-- 
Tom Worthington, MEd FHEA FACS CP http://www.tomw.net.au +61(0)419496150
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Honorary Senior Lecturer, Computer Science, Australian National
University https://cecs.anu.edu.au/research/profile/tom-worthington