Category Archives: Uncategorized

Blurring the boundaries between ‘taught courses’, ‘distance learning’ and open education

Posted on September 30, 2014 by Gabi Witthaus

Several UK universities that offer both campus-based and distance learning present their offerings on their websites as a choice between ‘taught courses’, ‘research programmes’ and ‘distance learning’ (or ‘online courses’ or some variant thereof). I think this terminology is interesting: … Continue reading →

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Opportunities for Peacemakers to become PeaceMOOCers?

Posted on June 2, 2014 by Gabi Witthaus

I have just completed a Post Graduate Certificate course in Mediation through through Robert Gordon University in Scotland (and am awaiting results of final assessments…) The course, which was run through the Law School, was fascinating and I thoroughly enjoyed … Continue reading →

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Seeking examples of accreditation of non-formal learning in Europe

Posted on May 31, 2014 by Gabi Witthaus

I am currently working with colleagues at Leicester’s Institute of Learning Innovation on a small study, nicknamed OpenCred, which will feed into the EU-funded OpenEdu project. The focus is on identifying practices in European institutions of higher and vocational education that support or enable the accreditation … Continue reading →

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Should MOOC students be grouped?

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Gabi Witthaus

I am currently participating in the Carpe Diem MOOC offered by the Swinburne University of Technology, under Gilly Salmon’s leadership. Although I’ve enrolled in many MOOCs before (going right back to CCK08 by Siemens, Downes and Cormier), this is the first time I’ve participated in one with more than a … Continue reading →

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Scaling higher education – the teacher presence conundrum

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Gabi Witthaus

Terry Anderson refers to a recent study by Tomkin and Charlevoix  into whether teacher presence makes any difference to students on a MOOC.  The findings are, at first glance, encouraging to those of us who are keen to see higher education … Continue reading →

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