Week 15: Wrap Up

Blog your overall feelings about the course. On the content side, what did you learn? How will you use it after the class is over? What did we not cover that you realize now we really should have? On the process side, how could the class be better next time it's taught? What would you change? What would you keep? Is there anything we as a group can do after the course is over? Also, besides describing your experiences and tips, please have a look at the Open Education wiki on http://opened.wetpaint.com :: We can aggregate our experiences there, and use it as a platform for open education matters.

How come we already got to the end of the semester? Wow, it was so fast!
About the course: first of all, I do appreciate the fact that Dr. Wiley has offered the opportunity of this course to students of different institutions. I am very grateful. By participating in this course, I could be in touch with people of different countries, different cultures and different perpectives.

I have learned much in the past 14 weeks: for instance, I learned about different types of licenses, about open education itself and also about learning objects. Before this course, I only had a vague notion of what those issues were. Above all things, this course has made me reflect on many different subjects and has made me review some of my own ideas about education.
Once the class is over, I can use what I learned to implement open education opportunities - as much as possible. I have realized that open education is the strongest way to the democratization of knowledge. And I think that educators do have some responsibility here.

I cannot think now of something that the course has not covered, but I can think of something that could have been better discussed: learning objects. I think that we had just a little time in order to learn in more detail about LOs. I realize now that they are a crucial element in the open education world.

On the process side, I guess that the new edition of the class would benefit from more use of collaborative tools. Blogs are too static. I do not know until what extent I felt like a part of a group. Sometimes I felt loose and even uncomfortable to comment on someone's else blog. Also, I learned that having at least the pictures of the participants makes much difference in the interaction process. It adds that personal touch.

I enjoyed the fact that the mechanics of the course has changed a little to include our interlinked thoughts on what other people was saying. Another thing that I can suggest is adding some type of group work - this would make people create stronger bonds.

What I would keep? In my opinion the syllabus is very attractive on the content side. Also, I would keep all resources that were shared with the students. It was wonderful to have access to such rich materials - and for free. What I would change? Just the timing and extent in which some subjects are presented (like the LOs) and also more collaborative opportunities. Maybe having an open chat area, where people could "meet" and talk randomly. Maybe this would require adopting a different delivery platform and I do not know until what extent Dr. Wiley likes them.

About the last question, I am totaly lost. I am not sure of what we could do as group once the course is over. Maybe we have not grown as a group, properly (although I believe that I have grown individually by being exposed to such rich and diverse group of people). Well, maybe we can all still keep blogging on the issue of open learning (I know that some already do this, but I did not use to until taking part in this course). By continuing to share our ideas, we can move beyond what was covered in the course. I have taken a look at the Open Education wiki (great idea), as suggested by Thieme. Having it will be a nice way to keep us together around the theme of the course - in a creative and dynamic way.

Again, I am very grateful for the opportunity. I wish everyone Happy Holidays and much peace.