Embracing OpenCourseWare: A Critical Need for Higher Education Institutions

Strategic Insights -

Gary W. Matkin, Ph.D., dean of continuing education, distance learning, and summer session at the University of California, Irvine, is set to present at the 2011 OpenCourseWare Consortium Global Conference in Cambridge, Mass. Matkin and Larry Cooperman, director of UC Irvine's OpenCourseWare project, will discuss the importance of higher education institutions adopting OpenCourseWare (OCW) initiatives. This move will make free educational materials from the world's leading universities available to the public, enabling faculty at institutions worldwide to become agents of change and further the future of higher education.

Key Takeaways:

  • The OpenCourseWare movement is crucial for faculty and administration at higher education institutions to adopt and implement, making free educational materials available to the public.
  • Institutions can effectively use and support open websites by leveraging OCW to serve current students and faculty, supporting teaching and learning, and utilizing OCW initiatives to facilitate accountability and contribute to continuous improvement.
  • A successful OCW initiative requires faculty involvement and support, and institutions must become producers and publishers of open education materials to advance institutional recognition and reputation.
  • The OCW and open educational resource movements are intersecting with emerging trends in higher education, including using OCW initiatives to fulfill a public service role and serve underserved populations.
  • Gary Matkin, Ph.D., has been a leader in the OCW movement, serving as treasurer of the OCW Consortium and principal investigator of several foundation grants, including the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation's Open Educational Resources (OER) initiative.

Statistics:

  • Over 50 complete courses, 120 video lectures, and more than 1,000 learning assets have been published on UC Irvine's OCW website.
  • The University of California, Irvine's OCW initiative has allowed learners and educators worldwide to access UC Irvine's curriculum, promoting reach and accessibility.
  • As of 2011, UC Irvine was a leading institution in the OCW Consortium, with a significant presence in the global open education movement.
  • The OCW Consortium conference will bring together global educational leaders to discuss the impact of open sharing of knowledge on education and teaching worldwide.

Sources:

  • "Making OCW Indispensable: Getting Faculty Involved and Hooked" (Matkin and Cooperman presentation at the 2011 OpenCourseWare Consortium Global Conference)
  • University of California, Irvine's OpenCourseWare Consortium web page
  • "About UC Irvine" (University of California, Irvine)
  • "OCW Consortium" (OpenCourseWare Consortium)