The Open Course

Abstract

The article looks at the role of open courses in higher education. The OpenCourseWare (OCW) initiative at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) reportedly demonstrate that the interaction, access to the debate and negotiation of knowledge are the genuine benefits of the academy. One potential byproduct of open teaching and learning called massive open online course (MOCC) is discussed. Also emphasized is the importance of coherence in content and conversations to the learning process. An important dimension of openness in education is said to be the opening up of the teaching process.