Open online learning ecosystem - Porto & Thompson
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OPEN LEARNING ECOSYSTEM FOR THE MILITARY IN THE DIGITAL AGE
Stella C.S. Porto, DSc & MDE Jacklyn Thompson, MDE
Master of Distance Education & E-‐Learning
The Graduate School University of Maryland University College
Link to Presentation in Prezi:
http://prezi.com/qyezaq8tj1jj/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share This presentation discusses how MOOCs, OERs, digital badges, and e-‐portfolios have converged as pieces of a learning ecosystem puzzle that supports an open and sustainable framework for lifelong learning for adults in all professional fields with special relevance for those in the military. Description The importance of educational provisions for those stationed abroad and their families has been a pillar for institutions adopting different forms of flexible education. There is also the understanding that adult learners, including the military, acquire skills and knowledge through activities and experiences in the workplace. There is a need for an explicit recognition and validation of such demonstrated experiences so they can be mapped onto formal education paths for further professional development. In recent literature it is hard to miss the references to MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), OERs (Open Educational Resources), badges and e-‐portfolios. These terms have in time converged as pieces of a puzzle that supports an open access framework for lifelong learning in the digital age. This presentation discusses how such pieces of this learning ecosystem puzzle fit together and what kinds of standards are needed in order to support a flexible and sustainable learning framework for adults in all professional fields, with special relevance for those in the military. E-‐portfolios have become a standard practice in the education and employment fields, and are well recognized as a major tool for supporting lifelong learning and learner-‐centered approaches to education. A digital badge is a way to display talents and competencies, both practical and academic. The idea is that a badge is a widely accepted digital symbol that acknowledges and recognizes certain skills and/or competencies. Thus, displaying badges in one’s e-‐portfolio is a natural method for portraying professional achievement. The amount of OERs currently available on the web is massive, but not always easy to find. Assessing the quality of such materials can also be a complex process. The adoption of these resources by institutions is slowly evolving, still depending on standards and quality assurance processes. For individuals with adequate readiness to navigate the web and the ability to learn on their own, OERs can be of significant value at no cost. Much of the impact of the MOOC wave in education is still unfolding. Since MOOCs are completely free of cost, they open up many possibilities for exploration of a variety of topics. Besides the push for being
translated into college credits, MOOCs can also be a promise of recognized education directly by employers looking for proof of competencies and abilities and not necessarily a formal degree. In this presentation, participants will learn and discuss about the challenges and promises of these different initiatives. They will be able to delineate how the pieces of the learning ecosystem puzzle should evolve, so they hold the potential of working perfectly together as a response to the needs of continuous professional development and recognition of competencies and skills for a broad range of adults, new and old to the job market, including military transition to civilian life. The focus of the presentation is on the synergy of these initiatives and how this opens up a bright path for military and veterans in pursuit of professional development within a highly accessible framework. Bibliography Batson, T. (2012). Definition of “ePortfolio”. Batson Blog. The Association of Authentic, Experiential and
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Masterson, K. (2013). Giving MOOCs some credit. American Council of Education. http://www.acenet.edu/the-‐presidency/columns-‐and-‐features/Pages/Giving-‐MOOCs-‐Some-‐Credit.aspx
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net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=37632 Open Educational Resources. (n.d.) The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
http://www.hewlett.org/programs/education-‐program/open-‐educational-‐resources Porto, S. and Walti, C. (2013). ePortfolios: The revival of a powerful tool for lifelong learning. The
evolllution. http://www.evolllution.com/distance_online_learning/eportfolios-‐revival-‐powerful-‐tool-‐lifelong-‐learning/
Sample college courses for free through MOOCs (n.d.) VestGuide.
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credit. The Chronicle of Higher Education. November 13, 2012. http://chronicle.com/article/MOOCs-‐Take-‐a-‐Major-‐Step/135750/