Three Generations of Open Education: Future Implications

Abstract

Inaugural Address, Institute of ODL, University of Mumbai, 24 February 2011, Three Generations of Open Education: Future Implications, Prepared by Prof. Asha Kanwar and Dr. Venkataraman Balaji, Commonwealth of Learning Presented by Prof. Asha Kanwar // My topic today is Three Generations of Open Education: Future Implications’ and I have prepared these remarks with my colleague Dr Balaji, Director IT & KM, COL. We will try to put Open Education Resources or OER in a historical context. As you know OER are educational resources that are freely available and can be used by educators and learners without having to pay license fees or royalties. I will return to what OER are later in the presentation. // I will first look at three generations of open education. I will then give you two examples of OER development that my organisation the Commonwealth of Learning supports and will finally raise some questions about the future implications of OER for the learner; for pedagogy and for higher education.