From 24 October to 2 December 2005 the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) will hold an internet discussion forum on open course content. The forum will explore the concept of open course content, its context, current initiatives, and issues and implications of its use.
This forum is the third in a series of forums which examine key issues related to the use of ICT in higher education.
The issue that this forum will focus on open course content is of great importance to higher education institutions because course elements and materials that are freely available on the Internet for consultation, use and adaptation constitute an important resource. If there is little or no awareness of availability, this resource cannot be exploited, and even with awareness of availability, there are challenges and barriers to its effective use.
With support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, IIEP has planned a series of activities to increase awareness, and support capacity building and informed decision making related to the provision and use of openly available course content.
The initial internet forum will link an international group of providers, users and interested individuals from developed and developing countries to explore the concept of open course content, its context, current initiatives and issues and implications of its use.
Information sharing and informal discussion of the main concerns raised in the final session of the forum will continue throughout 2006 in a Community of Interest. The discussion will feed into a complementary study undertaken by the OECDs Centre for Educational Research and Innovation to map the scale and scope of Open Educational Resource (OER) initiatives in tertiary education (for more information please contact Jan Hyl?n at jan.hylen@oecd.org).
For further information or to receive an application to participate in the IIEP discussion, send a request to Susan D'Antoni at virtual.university@iiep.unesco.org.
Source:UNESCO BANGKOK
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