Openness in education encompasses diverse interpretations depending on one’s perspective. The varying usage and comprehension of this term, along with its complex and multifaceted nature, have recently been underscored by Bozkurt et al. (2023)*. Their analysis of 54 scholarly testimonials regarding the significance of openness in education illuminates these disparities. The concept of openness, coupled with open education practices, harbours the potential to effectively address challenges pertaining to accessibility, affordability, cultural resonance and educational excellence within distance education. These practices hold the capacity to support both individuals and institutions, enabling them to provide education that is comprehensive, flexible, and aligned with the needs and specific contexts.
The forthcoming COL-hosted webinar will explore the multiple dimensions of openness and open education practices, along with their inherent possibilities and challenges, across diverse contexts. It will provide practical examples of how individuals and higher education institutions can foster a culture of openness, collaboration, and innovation, leading to increased adoption of open education practices and the widespread availability of high-quality open educational resources.
Panellists for the webinar include Professor Geesje van den Berg, Professor Department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and a COL Chair in Open Distance Learning (ODL) for Teacher Education, Professor Patience Kelebogile Mudau, Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies, College of Education, UNISA, Professor Cosmas Maphosa Professor of Education Management, and the Director of the Institute of Distance Education at the University of Eswatini, Eswatini and Professor Samuel Amponsah is an Associate Professor in Open Distance Learning and currently heads the Distance Education Department of the University of Ghana.
Date and time:
Wednesday, 30 August 2023
South Africa/CAT 2:00 PM
GMT 1:00 PM
Pacific time 5:00 AM
To register:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WxJHe92lRPKXxC5Fq1tgdw
To download the webinar brochure:
https://www.col.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/23_ED_chair-webinar_rev1.pdf
*Bozkurt et al. 2023. Openness in Education as a Praxis: From Individual Testimonials to Collective Voices. Open Praxis, 15(2), pp. 76–112. DOI: https://openpraxis.org/articles/10.55982/openpraxis.15.2.574
