Abstract for World Universities Forum, January 2012

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On 8th January 2012 Dan Weinbren gave a presentation on ‘The roots and branches of the OU’s disruptive online environment’ to the World Universities Forum.

Inspired by the success of the World Economic Forum held each year in Davos, the World Universities Forum has developed into a key site for academic discussion on the current state and future possibilities of the university. Now in its fifth year the WUF enables the exchange of ideas between delegates from dozens of countries around the world, numerous academic disciplines, and a range of professional areas including research, university administration, business, and policy-making.  Read his abstract here:

Abstract: Many accounts of the expediential growth in online educational provision emphasise technological novelty at the expense of recognition of the pedagogy’s deep roots. The UK-based Open University, having developed computers for home use, commenced computer conferencing in 1988. By 2000, 100,000 of its students were online. Having developed degrees for part-time adult learners based at home, and a concept of education as a relationship which could provide learners with opportunities to construct their own understandings and be producers of knowledge as well as consumers of education, the University was well-placed to construct an appropriate, extensive, well-structured and expertly-facilitated online experience. This was determined not by technical convenience or mimicry of the familiar, but building on the University’s own “disruptive innovations” (to employ Christensen’s term). Founded within a framework of social democracy rather than Humboldtian traditions, it focused on enabling learners to study more easily and to gain accreditation. This assessment will position the University’s online presence in terms of its structure (it became the first “mega-university”), its unusual funding, its ability to support entrants without formal academic qualifications as well as postgraduates and informal learners, its distinctive multi-media blended pedagogy, and its relationship to distance universities.

One Response to “Abstract for World Universities Forum, January 2012”

  1. Kiri Says:

    Great presentation Daniel – really interesting especially about how the Open University impacted the feminist movement and opened up new possibilities to housewives at home raising the children – I’d never thought of that before hearing your presentation but it makes perfect sense. I’ll look forward to reading the paper when it’s published 🙂

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