openSE

Open educational framework for computer science Software Engineering

Presentation by: Andreas Meiszner---

Project start: October 2009 | Initial duration: 25 monthSupported by: LifelongLearningProgramme, European Commission

openSE general objective

• To set up an Open Educational Framework for Software Engineering bringing together academia, formally enrolled students, fellow students, free learners outside of formal education and open source practitioners and enterprises.

• To systematically combine formal and informal learning within an unfettered informal learning environment.

• To stimulate participatory learning experiences and foster practical ‘hands-on’ sessions where learning activities and output become a learning resource itself.

• To enable current and future learners to benefit continuously and fully from others' achievements, regardless where these achievements have been made.

Further info at:

• www.openSE.net

• http://www.opense.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35&Itemid=72

openSE partnership

• Aristotle University of Thessaloniki – Greece (Pilot Lead)

• EPITA, Ecole pour l'Informatique et les Techniques Avancées – France

• Free Technology Academy - The Netherlands (Content Lead)

• IBM Europe – Belgium

• Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação - Portugal (co-ordinator)

• Tampere University of Technology, Department of Software Systems – Finland

• The Open University, Institute of Educational Technology (IET) – UK

• Universidade Rey Juan Carlos, Departamento de Sistemas Telemáticos y Computación – Spain (Technical Lead)

• University of Oxford - OSSWatch, Research Technology Service (RTS), Oxford University Computing Services. - UK (Learner support Lead)

• UNU-MERIT: United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and social Research and training centre on Innovation and Technology - The Netherlands (Evaluation Lead)

Often formal education - even if about open source - follows the traditional educational way that is: closed, isolated, disconnected, static, tethered, generic, made for consumption,…

openSE framework – should allow for...• A greater range of inputs – not just from the educator, but from all contributors so the collective is the source of knowledge, not one individual• A more personalized learning experience – learners can gather the elements of knowledge they require – but skip what they know already.• Greater sharing of knowledge – in higher education much of the previous input is lost, whereas in FLOSS the dialogue, resources, and outputs remain as learning resources => CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT & EVOLUTIONARY GROWTH.• Peer production – active engagement in producing something with a set of peers is a powerful motivational and educational driving force.• Real activities – engaging in legitimate activities that are not restricted to an artificial university setting also provides valuable experience.• Peer support – a large support network provided voluntarily by peers in a collaborative manner nearly 24/7.● Open learning environment – The sum is bigger than its parts, thus there is the need of providing new educational models and scenarios that are not limited to students formally enrolled at a course.●Provide certification and assessment options alongside, to make such a place financially sustainable, pilot new revenue models in the line of “learning for free & certification/assessment against fees”

openSE components

openSE framework – potential benefits

A richer learning experience for your students The opportunity to create a learning community, which is not possible within closed traditional educational settings To establish a learning ecosystem that is continuously improving and growing in a natural evolutionary way To assure that subjects meet actual demands, curriculum is up to date and courses are taught in the best way possible (double feedback loops) To work together with fellow educational institutions and open source communities and thereby sharing the burden of developing such novel educational provision In the long tale: To establish new revenue models, by e.g. providing free learners outside of formal education with assessment and certification options against fees (as said, the long tale)

Advantages for (higher) education institutions

Learn together with other students, free learners outside of formal education and enthusiasts from open source projects! Learn from reviewing and studying the learning project activities, outcomes and presentations from others – build upon what others did, this can be much easier than starting from scratch! Collaborate and get in touch with peers and practitioners within a real life situation! Find help! Socialize and experience learning within a joyful and interesting environment! Do something meaningful by contributing to actual open source projects, gain repute and expertise – add an extra to your CV!

Advantages for students & free learner outside of formal education (1/2)

Learn how to update your skills and knowledge self-dependently within a lifelong learning context Learn how to take full advantage of the web to support your own learning, to collaborate with others and use the tools required to do so Be capable to find sources at the web and to critically evaluate and analyze them Be aware about available free online and desktop software solutions that facilitate learning, knowledge exchange and collaboration Know how to find online communities, to engage in them for personal support, and to and understands the way they function In a nutshell: To gain today's required soft skills; like to communicate, collaborate and engage in discussions with others, defend your own work and thoughts and present them, know how to manage a project, or how to resolve conflicts

Advantages for students & free learner outside of formal education (2/2)

Share the burden of newbie integration to the open source world as a joint venture of higher education institutions and open source projects, and Therefore build up a synergy of scale Identify potential contributors early Students' contribute to the open source project, and might continue doing so beyond the course duration Help learners to learn by contributing to a given project at the same time

Advantages for open source projects

Continuous training & certification of workforceCollaborative curriculum development with educational institutions to assure that offer meets demandOpportunity to identify high skilled worker (e.g. students & free learners)New revenue opportunities through assessment & certification / collaboration with educational institutions… and likely many more

Advantages for enterprises

2008 FLOSSCom

2008 / 2009 AUTH

attempt

Open Source vs. Traditional education

•‘learning processes’ and ‘learning outcomes’ in open source projects are often visible and become learning resources for many others,

•meanwhile in formal education they are normally ‘invisible',

•or if they are visible they are disconnected from learning materials and often ‘lost for future students',

•with no connection between cohorts of learners amongst semester, courses, or the students’ contribution within open source projects

•with no continuity, no community, no ‘educational’ knowledge pool being in place

=> how can we overcome this?

A common space for students' project worksA common space for students' project works

Forges, Modularity and Learning Projects – self organized learning projects and spaces (I)

Tools & spaces – illustratedTools & spaces – illustrated

Tools & spaces – illustratedTools & spaces – illustrated

Tools & spaces – illustratedTools & spaces – illustrated

Tools & spaces – illustratedTools & spaces – illustrated

Next steps...

Agree on an overall sound organizational framework that details how the different stakeholders, courses, learning resources, tools and spaces would work togetherBuild on existing solutions from each partner, notably the hybrid model & initial AUTH course space See what realistically can be achieved within the scope of the openSE project

Organizational Framework development

Timing & milestones

Milestones

Critical Milestone

• WP 2, 3 and 4 in place for 1st pilot round January 2010

• Review of 1st pilot round, evaluation & as identified July 2010

• Review of 2nd pilot round, evaluation & as identified January 2011

• Review of 3rd pilot round, evaluation & as identified July 2011

Note: Sustainability framework including revenue models (such as assessment & certification of free learners against fees) to be in place and piloted during 2nd and 3rd pilot rounds.

Thanks for your attention!

Project website: www.openSE.net

For further information:on the concept, related research & earlier works please contact: Andreas Meiszner (meiszner@merit.unu.edu) with regards to the LLP funded project co-ordination please contact: Jose Carvalho (josecarvalho@spi.pt)