Alyssa Arbuckle

In “Pragmatism vs. Idealism and the Identity Crisis of OER Advocacy,” Rajiv Sunil Jhangiani comments on the divide in the open education community between pragmatic and idealistic approaches to Open Educational Resources (OER). The pragmatists argue that OER should be widely adopted because of the tangible, financial benefits for students; the idealists argue that OER represent an opportunity for radical pedagogy. Jhangiani argues that, in fact, a hybrid approach is necessary. Divisiveness will not further the movement, to Jhangiani’s eyes;…

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In “Open Education and Systemic Change,” Stephen Marshall suggests that universities in New Zealand need to undertake a substantial, system-wide change as the “degree education market is essentially in stasis and shows very little evidence of either innovation generating new options for students” (111). Although many people point to open education and Open Educational Resources (OER) as a potential cure for systemic issues, Marshall is not optimistic about this possibility. Namely, he argues that since New Zealand universities are largely…

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Open: The Philosophy and Practices that are Revolutionizing Education and Science draws together research and writing on Open Education. Primarily, the chapters reflect on Open Education initiatives, including the creation and use of Open Educational Resources (OER). Below, I quickly summarize a handful of chapters that are relevant to my current research into open social scholarship. “Iterating Toward Openness: Lessons Learned on a Personal Journey,” by David Wiley In “Iterating Toward Openness: Lessons Learned on a Personal Journey,” David Wiley discusses…

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In The War on Learning: Gaining Ground in the Digital University, Elizabeth Losh surveys the current state of networked technology in / and higher education, or as she terms it, the “digital university.” Throughout the book, Losh incorporates various case studies of failed initiatives in this realm, including in terms of behaviour (student, professor, and company), public relations, and outcomes. She highlights situations where professors become Internet sensations over their education performances — either due to their ridiculousness or their…

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In MOOCs and Open Education Around the World, editors Curtis J. Bonk, Mimi M. Lee, Thomas C. Reeves, and Thomas H. Reynolds  bring together 29 chapters on Massive Open Online Courses, widely known as “MOOCS.” The collection aims for depth and breadth, and there are many different MOOC and MOOC-like initiatives detailed, as well as a couple of notable alternatives to MOOCs. This collection is situated squarely in the realm of Open Education and its affiliated Open Educational Resources, or…

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Open Education: A Study in Disruption is a critical examination of the Open Education trend, with a focus on the United Kingdom. Throughout the book, Pauline van Mourik Broekman, Gary Hall, Ted Byfield, Shaun Hides, and Simon Worthington consider the capitalist model and neoliberal ramifications of Open Education, as well as its creative possibilities. They argue that Open Education has the power to displace mid-sized universities through a process of outsourcing instructional labour; lessening the importance of students being physically…

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