"OPEN" Learning Choices??

The word "OPEN" is popping up in the world of learning with great frequency.

At Learning 2012, we will explore several sides of how "Open" Learning may impact the workforce learning field:

• Open Courses: Massive course offerings, usually free, from institutions such as MIT, Stamford and most recently Google.  Learners can sign up, engage in lessons, take optional assessments and collaborate with others around the world.
• Open Learning Segments: Pioneered by Kahn Academy, therse are short, free,  3 to 12 minute learning "objects", which can be used by learners as nano-segments or integrated into a class.
• Open Content Models: Learners are encouraged and expected to use a wide set of open tools, content and expertise resources to master the content and context of a course. The designer is not specifying content - but pointing the learner to open learning assets.
• Open Social Collaboration: Learners access and collaborate with fellow learners or field experts using Open Social Networks.  For example, a learner in an HR Competency class might work with colleagues from LinkedIn or Facebook on a key example. 
• Open Learning Personalization: Designers move away from tight "Scope and Sequence" layouts for courses and instead build an Open Design Architecture, encouraging learners to master specific competencies, using a personally selected set of resources and assets.
• Open Learning Marketplace: Open Source tools are expanding their role in our field - from Joomla, the Content System of this website, to Moodle as a "free" LMS site to tools, apps and open marketplaces.

At Learning 2012, Elliott Masie will lead a set of discussions, LABS and activities aimed at exploring OPEN assets, approaches and marketplaces for workplace learning.  Stay tuned!