Free Online Education Programs Increase Globally
Learning Management Systems Open Access to University Courses
Aug 23, 2009
Online course delivery is the greatest area of growth for universities and colleges. Many of these institutions broaden the use of the internet for course delivery by providing course content free and available publicly on university websites.
Education programs delivered online as open source content are often made possible because of learning management systems. These systems deliver, track and manage courses over the internet and allow for features such as online collaboration.
Online Education Program, Open Source Content Through Rice University
However, this type of online education is extending to provide university programs and courses online for free.
A good example of open source education content can be found at Connexions, a Rice University nonprofit organization that develops, shares and publishes scholarly content on the internet. Its Content Commons shares modules of course information that can be constructed into larger courses.
The content is free and reuse is permitted under the Creative Commons attribution license.
One of the most common course-sharing arrangements online is OpenCourseware. OpenCourseWare is a consortium of 200 higher education institutions and organizations worldwide offering free and open digital publication of educational materials organized as courses.
To participate in the consortium, institutions involved publish materials from at least 10 courses in a standard format under the university or college’s name. Also, these participating higher education institutions use a button on related websites indicating OpenCourseWare activities.
Learning Management Systems Make Online University Programs Possible
Hundreds of universities worldwide, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or M.I.T., and powerhouse King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia, share course content through membership in OpenCourseWare.
For example, MIT OpenCourseWare is a web-based space that includes almost all undergraduate and graduate subjects taught at the university. More popular course content includes Physics 1: Classical Mechanics, Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus.
Online Classes as Open Source Content Available Worldwide
As with other participating OpenCourseWare universities, the free course content does not lead to a statement of achievement, such as a degree or certificate, and no access to faculty is granted. Online classes consist of modules of course content delivered free and available for public access.
At King Fahd University, open and free online courses are available in a wide range of disciplines from Aerospace System Design to Organizational Theory and Design and Computer Control Systems.
Universities offering free online education programs with open source content are increasing in popularity as people around the world search for new knowledge. Learning management systems make some of these courses available online and higher education institutions benefit society by sharing information and building knowledge.
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