In 2002, MIT posted a bunch of course content online for free, intending it to be used as a resource for educators. What happened next really surprised the school. Educators did indeed make good use of the content – but over half of the site’s 755,000+ monthly visitors were simply independent learners looking for knowledge, as well as a great free education.

The reaction to and heavy use of the site suggested that the general public is very interested in acquiring knowledge. MIT’s posted content is what is now called open courseware, which is free material which can be accessed by anyone with an Internet connection. There are over 5,000 courses at over 150 colleges and universities around the world which currently make “open courseware” available, and the sites are extremely popular, and they’re growing to fill the demand. In 2007, Utah became the first state to publicly fund open courseware as it established the Utah OpenCourseware Alliance. It provides information and material from seven schools. Yale hopped on board in late 2007 as well and began offering open courseware, and it plans to make over 30 courses available, all of which will take the form of videotaped lectures.

Not everyone is 100% behind open courseware, however. Some doubt open courseware’s effectiveness as a teaching tool, arguing that real learning can only take place when people have an opportunity to interact with other students to discuss what they’re learning and reading about. One of the most interesting elements to open courseware is that, online learning environments where students can earn degrees, those using open courseware don’t get anything except knowledge and information. It’s a great way to fill in gaps on one’s education, but it doesn’t offer any “proof” of learning. However, some college programs do allow students to take a test to demonstrate their proficiency or prior knowledge in a particular subject – and open courseware is the cheapest way out there to acquire the knowledge, other than library books. However, the lack of discussion forums in open courseware has turned some people off, who turn to open courseware instead of online classes when their budgets do not allow them to pay for tuition.

Since its online courseware debut in 2002, MIT has made all of its 1800 courses available, and there are definite signs that many other universities are following suit. Open courseware brings to the forefront questions about access to education, free education and the importance – or lack thereof – of actual degrees.

Tags: Learning Technologies, Online Education