Professor Mark TaylorDean, Warwick Business SchoolUniversity of Warwick

Open and Online Learning

Napster moment?

The knowledge economy and eLearningo Advances in technology and their impact

on higher education

o Growth in production of information

o New modes of learning

The production of knowledgeYear Academic articles published

1726 344

1750 699

1800 3,066

1850 13,439

1900 58,916

1950 258,284

2000 1,132,291

2009 1,477,383

Source: University of Ottawa

The growth of online learning

Percentage of US HE students taking at least one online courseSource: Allen and Seaman, 2011

US HEI Presidents and eLearning

‘Online learning is critical to the long-term strategy of my higher education institution’Source: Allen and Seaman, 2011

Unbundling of the university offero The university offer:

Knowledge productionKnowledge disseminationStudent experienceSignalling

o MOOCs concentrate primarily on knowledge dissemination

MOOCs: Benefits• Philanthropic• Commercialisation• Brand recognition/enhancement• Recruitment• Accreditation of Learning• Licencing• Sponsorship• Impact on on-campus teaching

Potential Benefits of eLearning

o Distance learning: virtual growth without physical growtho Brand recognition/enhancemento Blended learning – combining on-campus and online learningo Improving student experienceo Addressing WP/WA agendao Withstanding variations in recruitment/changes in overseas

policyo Withstanding global competition

Emerging issueso Effect on internal structureso Completion rate? Is it all about passing a final assessment?o Impact on on-campus teachingo Who will the learner develop a relationship with - The Uni or the

platform providero Will one platform dominate? Google, Facebook, etco Is it real learning, or is it ‘edutainment’? o New entrants to the market – Increased private providers

o Why would an academic need to be at a Uni to deliver a MOOC? Rockstar academics = MOOCstars!

Professor Mark TaylorDean, Warwick Business SchoolUniversity of Warwick

Open and Online Learning