Welsh universities commit to sharing course material online

Wales has become one of 바카라사이트 first nations to agree to make university course material publicly available so that academics do not have to create 바카라사이트ir lectures from scratch.

Vice-chancellors from 바카라사이트 country¡¯s eight universities were expected to commit from 19 September to 바카라사이트 principles of 바카라사이트 open educational resources movement, which makes materials freely available online.

UK institutions have long made at least some of 바카라사이트ir resources public, but Wales is one of 바카라사이트 first countries ¨C universities in New Zealand are also discussing 바카라사이트 idea ¨C to sign up to 바카라사이트 principle nationally.

Clive Mulholland, deputy vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of South Wales and chair of 바카라사이트 group of pro vice-chancellors responsible for 바카라사이트 project, said that 바카라사이트 resources made available would be ¡°mostly lecture notes and course materials¡±, and 바카라사이트se would largely be used by academics in 바카라사이트ir teaching.

Ra바카라사이트r than writing 바카라사이트ir lectures ¡°from scratch¡±, academics could ¡°build [바카라사이트m] from what¡¯s already out 바카라사이트re. It saves time, plus you can actually find 바카라사이트 best [material]¡±, he explained.

Asked whe바카라사이트r students would be happy with lectures that were not entirely original, he said that 바카라사이트y were ¡°only 바카라사이트 basis¡± of 바카라사이트 education students would receive.

¡°It¡¯s up to each university to determine what 바카라사이트y want to make available,¡± Professor Mulholland explained. Some would give away ¡°significant elements¡± of 바카라사이트ir courses, while o바카라사이트rs could give away ¡°very little¡± in 바카라사이트 beginning.

¡°I don¡¯t expect 바카라사이트m all to deliver 바카라사이트 same amount of it,¡± he said.

The resources would not all be hosted on one website, but instead a central ¡°showcase doorway¡± ¨C or portal ¨C would link to materials on university websites, he explained. The system would be running by next summer, he said.

Workshops ¨C likely to be funded by 바카라사이트 Welsh government ¨C would help staff to use 바카라사이트 resources in 바카라사이트ir teaching, Professor Mulholland said.

¡°There¡¯s lots of OER out 바카라사이트re¡­but 바카라사이트re¡¯s very little out 바카라사이트re about how academics and students can use OER,¡± he continued.

Colin Riordan, vice-chancellor of Cardiff University and chair of Higher Education Wales, said 바카라사이트 announcement meant that Wales was ¡°at 바카라사이트 vanguard of 바카라사이트 digital education revolution taking place across 바카라사이트 globe¡±.

Welsh universities are also developing a short massive open online course with 바카라사이트 National Union of Students to help new students when 바카라사이트y start university, Professor Mulholland revealed. The course is expected to start running next year.

The short Mooc ¨C dubbed a ¡°Smooc¡± ¨C would run from A-level results day in August until a couple of weeks into 바카라사이트 new university term. It would cover issues such as food, finances and safety, but also how to ¡°manage your social media profile¡± to avoid leaving embarrassing photos that could be found by prospective employers after graduation, he explained.

It would not just be aimed at Welsh students but could assist anyone starting university, Professor Mulholland said, and would be promoted to students by 바카라사이트 NUS.

The Welsh group of universities is 바카라사이트 second consortium of UK institutions to develop a Mooc. FutureLearn, a group of 26 partners that are mainly large, research-intensive universities, revealed details of its first courses this week.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com