Opening Presentation - Open Schooling Workshop

Abstract

Opening Presentation, At the Open Schooling Workshop, Held in The Seychelles, 2 March 2009 By Paul West // Twenty five teams in six countries are collaborating to create course materials for grades 10,11 and 12. These course materials will be usable by conventional schools, open schools and for lifelong learners. I have been told that there are over 200 million children in Africa and Asia who will never receive an education, and will never even see the inside of a classroom. It is projects like this one that strive to make a difference in the world. // The Open Schools project has begun in earnest in 5 countries, and now it is your turn to take-up the challenge. Participants will engage in an active two-week programme, during which they will learn from each other and begin to write the course materials that they have committed to creating. After this workshop, participants will return to their regular work for the rest of the year, but with one exception; they have committed to set time aside from their regular work duties to create the self-instructional learning materials that will be used internationally. The managers of the participants have also committed to release them to enable them to carry out the task ahead that will culminate at the end of the year in a second workshop. At this time, materials will be finalised by peer review and published on the Internet.