Open Learning ‘17 launches January 23 … and you’re invited!

There’s a great deal of talk in colleges and universities about “open” these days. Open Educational Resources. Open Access. Open Pedagogy. Open Culture. As part of Virginia’s “Faculty Collaboratives” effort, the AAC&U and the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia are partnering to sponsor a free, online, and open learning experience called “Open Learning ’17.” Somewhere between a course of study and an informal conversation, the experience emphasizes collegial, interactive, networked learning and sharing. Who is this for?

·         Are you open to new ways of motivating student learning?

·         Are you curious about open education, but haven’t really learned much about it before?

·         Do you have experience with some aspects of open education and want to learn about others?

·         Are you an expert already?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, there’s a place for you at Open Learning ’17.

In Open Learning ’17, we’ll explore all the “opens,” as well as the historical, intellectual, and cultural contexts that give them meaning. Each week will feature both synchronous activities (such as webinars, Twitter chats, etc.) and asynchronous activities (readings, reflective blogging, resource sharing, and other ongoing conversations). Participants in Virginia, in other states committed to the “Faculty Collaboratives” project, and beyond, will work together as co-learners.  You don’t have to be an expert in open education; indeed, the majority of participants will not be. The goal is to create an “innovation hub” that reflects and helps to sustain a dynamic conversation about how openness in education can support the learning we seek in active, student-centered pedagogies.

You can join us at a variety of ways.  To get the most out of it, you should register a blog at the main course site http://openlearninghub.net so your ongoing reflections about the course can be easily shared with other participants. Step-by-step directions are at the “Join Up” link on the main menu: http://openlearninghub.net/the-stream/. If you don’t have a blog, please consider starting one; participants’ reflections (including yours) will be invaluable resources for all of us, during the course and after. If we’re thinking about open learning, it makes sense to practice open learning and experience some of these practices first-hand, including the great opportunities for creative expression that come from writing on the web.

You’re also welcome to follow along and contribute in other ways:

·         By following our Twitter hashtag, #openlearning17, and contributing your own thoughts via Twitter.

·         Or by simply following the activity on the hub: http://openlearninghub.net.

We want to emphasize shared creation of content, not just consumption—but the course’s open design makes it possible for people to choose how and when they want to interact with course activities.  In addition, each week is (more or less) independent from the others, so if you miss the beginning it’s not too late to jump in anytime.  If you’re only interested in one topic, dive in there! You’ll get the most out of the experience, though, by participating in the whole course.

Open learning helps us understand, and practice, a richly rewarding way to contribute to the public good. It’s also a form of experiential learning, a high-impact practice. As with any community, there are important norms. We encourage passion and expect civility. And we also emphasize that the focus is on reflective responses and engagement, not right or wrong answers.

Please consider sharing this invitation with anyone at your institution who might be interested. If you have questions, feel free to contact the Hub Director, Gardner Campbell, at wgcampbell AT vcu.edu (substitute @ for AT). We look forward to seeing you soon on the hub, and around the Web!