Open Course Ware

Dossier Open Course Ware

Delft University of Technology has joined the OpenCourseWare Consortium, with leading universities from around the world, offering the world free access to course content online. TU Delft OpenCourseWare (www.ocw.tudelft.nl) wants to use the internet to eliminate borders and geographic distance as obstacles to the exchange of knowledge. Unlike distance learning programs that charge tuition, provide formal instruction and limit participation, OpenCourseWare (OCW) offers all course materials free to everyone with online access.OCW includes not only lectures and books, but also, for example, old tests and video recordings.

The university’s decision follows a trend. Earlier MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) was a pioneer in making its teaching materials available digitally. The international Open Course Ware project has already been embraced by students and educators around the globe, many of whom are from areas where educational resources are scarce or difficult to access.

‘In making its teaching materials available, TU Delft wishes to contribute to a climate of open knowledge organisations operating in global networks’, explains Prof. Jacob Fokkema, TU Delft Rector Magnificus. ‘By making materials public you promote the exchange of information. As TU Delft we show how much we have to offer. This does not however mean that one can soon study at home to be an engineer and gain a diploma, using this public information. Contact with the lecturer, practical work and the like also form part of the programme. One still needs to be at the university for supervision and to sit examinations.’

Target groups of the OpenER project include scientists from outside TU Delft, potential students and ‘lifelong learners’, former students who wish to continue learning.

The TU Delft OCW initiative has started with a pilot phase (2007/2008). During this period MSc-material from six different disciplines have been published. This phase has now been completed. The project will be continued in 2008. Over time TU Delft wants to make all its teaching materials available digitally without charge, including lectures, books, tests and video recordings.

This Dossier answers the following questions

What exactly is TU Delft Open Course Ware?

TU Delft Open Course Ware helps to advance education by making high-quality educational content freely available on the Web for learners and faculty across the nation and the world. Open Course Ware not just includes lectures and books, but also, for example, old tests and video recordings.

The Delft initiative has started with a pilot phase (2007/2008). During this period MSc-material from six different disciplines have been published. This phase has now been completed. The project will be continued in 2008. Over time TU Delft wants to make all its teaching materials available digitally without charge, including lectures, books, tests and video recordings.

Unlike distance learning programs that charge tuition, provide formal instruction and limit participation, OpenCourseWare offers all course materials free to everyone with online access. Open Course Ware does not require any registration and is not a degree-granting or certificate-granting activity.

Why is TU Delft doing this?

The university’s decision follows an international trend. Earlier MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) was among those making its teaching materials available digitally.

TU Delft is participating in the OCW initiative because of the following reasons: Commitment to the goals of the Open Course Ware Consortium, namely seeking to capitalize on the potential of the internet to eliminate borders and geographic distance as obstacles to the instantaneous exchange of knowledge and new ideas; the international reputation and orientation of TU Delft in both education and research; the possibility to inform potential students about the courses offered by the TU Delft, the required prior knowledge and to prepare themselves in advance; sharing of knowledge and further development of international networks.

Who else is involved in the OCW initiative with TU Delft?

Delft University of Technology has joined the OpenCourseWare Consortium, with leading universities from around the world like MIT, offering the world free access to certain course content online. Visit other OpenCourseWare sites from around the world.

What are the target groups for TU Delft Open Course Ware?

Target groups of the OpenER project include scientists from outside TU Delft, potential students and ‘lifelong learners’, former students who wish to continue learning. Educators from around the world may upgrade their classes; students may enhance their coursework or pursue self study; the general public may glimpse the depth and breadth of what leading universities are offering and benefit from reading lists and lectures.

Peter de Moel, project leader of the pilot project and Professor of Drinking Water in the Faculty of Civil Engineering notes: ‘Many people who have had higher professional education and several years of working experience are employed at waterworks or waterboards. For this group we are offering a part-time Water Management Master’s programme. With the Open Educational Resources these people are able to get a better idea of what is being taught in Delft, before they actually register as students; they can get a feel for the material. This lowers the threshold, students are better prepared, and that makes the programme more efficient. OCW improves the exchange of information with such companies, who are not only our clients for teaching and research, but who also provide the working environment for graduates and our working field for study and graduation projects.’

What courses are already available?

The first MSc programs with courses in Delft OpenCourseWare are:

How does TU Delft OCW differ from other types of web-based education, including distance learning?

TU Delft OCW differs from other TU Delft web-based education offerings in that it is free and open, does not provide university credit, and grants no access to university faculty. TU Delft OCW is not a distance learning initiative. Distance learning involves the active exchange of information between faculty and students, with the goal of obtaining some form of a credential. Increasingly, distance learning is also limited to those willing and able to pay for materials or course delivery. TU Delft OCW is not meant to replace degree-granting higher education or for-credit courses. Rather, the goal is to provide the content that supports an education, whether it be for professor, student, or self-learner.
Many individual faculty members at TU Delft and other universities already use the web extensively to make standard course materials available to their students. Some colleges and universities now require a web presence for every class. But to a large extent, these websites are designed for and access is only provided to the students enrolled at these institutions. OCW is an unprecedented effort of a much broader magnitude, as the goal is to provide course materials free to the world.

 

© 2012 TU Delft

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