Open Access News

News from the open access movement


Thursday, July 21, 2005

More on open courseware beyond MIT

Tufts University has launched a OpenCourseWare project. From the site: 'Great universities constantly expand their reach, working across traditional boundaries to grasp and meet the global community's most critical needs. This begins with sharing knowledge -- among colleagues, among departments, among schools and finally across countries and continents. Tufts OpenCourseWare is part of a new educational movement initiated by MIT where course content is accessible for free to everyone online....[Tufts] OpenCourseWare (OCW) seeks to capitalize on the potential of the internet to eliminate borders and geographic distance as obstacles to the instantaneous exchange of knowledge and new ideas. Unlike distance learning programs that charge tuition, provide formal instruction and limit participation, OpenCourseWare offers all course materials free to everyone with online access. Educators from around the world may upgrade their classes; students may enhance their coursework or pursue self study; the general public may glimpse the depth and breadth of what leading universities are offering and benefit from reading lists and lectures. OCW does not require any registration and is not a degree-granting or certificate-granting activity. It is instead an effort to share knowledge and make the best educational use of the Internet's potential. The project has already been embraced by students and educators around the globe, many of whom are from areas where educational resources are scarce or difficult to access. Tufts OCW is now in its pilot phase. This website represents only a sampling of Tufts course materials online, and will help to determine how best Tufts should develop its OpenCourseWare presence in the future.' (Thanks to Wired Campus.)