If any of you read Tofugu’s blog EduPirate he talked about a system he called Open Credits and it was an idealistic view which may not ever be accepted. However times got on since then and I havn’t heard any advancmenets on his plan which is a shame.

Anyway me and my brother in law have been working hard on a new specification for Electronics anda few months ago a plan hit us. We currently call it ‘Project Ao’ (Although early names coming up are like ‘The Blue Room’ etc).

We decided to split it up into two phases and phase one is what I’m going to talk about and I would appreciate feedback.

Phase One is to set up a learning environment where students and teachers can register. Teachers would then set up their ‘Course’ on Edufire or the new video teacher site that I have currently forgot the name off. If a specification exists for the module then they can apply to be linked to that specification. (Ideally the teaching will cover all points laid out in the specification).

If the module does not currently exist then a tutor can lobby a new one which will then get it’s own room on the virtual environment. Their specification would be laid out in the template and they would nominate the open credits they believe it should be worth. After this the module will be flagged for pending review. A panel will be summoned in to a special room in the environment. This could be made up by someone who openly teaches the subject, a member directly involved in the development of Ao, A university professor, a person tutor, edufire tutors, heads of edufire, heads of other e-learning platform, and normal people. The panels would be about 5 – 7 people and the module would be passed by a majority vote. Once approved and teaching goes ahead students may receive these open credits (currently named Ao Open Credits) Modules would be subject to regular reviews.

In phase 2 I would like to look at getting open credits ‘Recognised’ and for this I think to avoid mockery assessments would be compulsory however over distant learning that can be hard.

Therefore assessments would have to be built of assignments, on-line quizzes and in the case of languages oral examination between the tutor and students. Which is why the platform I have chosen will be able to administer assignments and quizzes whilst allowing tutor to enter grades they have designated for oral examination.

A final point is Subject and modules. To help in the administering of classes. There would be a field for example lets take Japanese seeing as I believe that’s what most people study on here. This would be the field: Japanese Language (JP)
The modules could then be:
Holiday Japanese
Japanese 1A
Japanese 1B
Japanese 2A
Japanese 2B
Japanese Reading and Writing
etc etc.

With differing Credit values depending on their difficulty. The field will have a nominated leader (Usually the creator but may be subject to change) The module will then have a leader (Usually appointed by the Field Leader) and then the Modules will have all their accredited tutors (usually approved by the field leader, module leader, or panel during review)

After a student successfully completes a module they will be awarded with their open credits. This will appear on a profile page in due course. Note again in order to be in course with phase two users will have to use the name they would use on their CV (Curriculum Vitae).

Please now ask yourself these questions:

Is it worth it, will it work? (Phase one more than phase two)
Would you participate?
Would Students participate?
Could this idea be improved?

Financial notes: This would be funded though an advertisement which would go back into the hosting. Individual tutors are welcome to charge for their classes. We would ask of none of their fund, what they make is entirely up to them and they can keep every penny and thus if developers taught using this system whatever they were to make through classes on edufire or other providers would be theirs. Project Ao, field leaders, module leaders and panels would approve and make assessment material and thus they would be provided for free (if not by the tutors there will be an available option for them). Learning materials however will not be provided for free as standard (if a tutor makes their materials free then they are but Project Ao and Panels will not be obliged to provide it for free.)

Although you’re asking about phase one more than phase two, it is in phase two where the value of what you propose lies. You can add anything you like to a CV, but employers are usually only interested in accredited qualifications. You’d need recognised third parties (examination or awarding bodies) who can randomly sample the materials, modules, tutors and assessment criteria for the credits to have marketable value. It isn’t a bad good idea as it introduces some level of accountability and standards, but whether it is worth it is another matter (and may account for why it didn’t develop further before). You’re not talking about professional or product qualifications (such as Cisco) but competing in subjects that are already taught and examined in established conventional education.

Without meaning to pick holes in your scheme, you could have a retention problem based upon the validity majority vote of a panel made up of unequal expertise. Most examining/assessment panels are made up of people with similar knowledge/experience. Not saying that the university professor has all the answers but depending upon the subject I generally presume s/he will be more knowledgeable about the subject than a regular person or possible the tutor. Especially, since eduFire is an open platform where anyone can become a tutor. Giving someone who has spent years immersed in a subject the same vote value as the fly-by night or expert in something completely unrelated, devalues their knowledge and experience.

That is a key point for concern which I’m aware of. And phase two is the big part (which to be honest I don’t like and would probably leave to someone else to do xD).

Hmm, I have the code for the platform, and the platform will be useful in other ways so its worth a test anyway, I do wonder however, even if Phase two is/would be impossible, would people participate for community recognition? Or to back up their own individual learning objectives?

Might be worth spreading this conversation to the student area aswell now I think about it.

I’m sure some people would like to have that kind of objective just because it does set targets, introduces some form of standardization and once achieved is a form of recognition. But whether enough students are interested to make it viable I imagine is hard to assess without knowing more about student expectation and why they learn with eduFire. Obviously some students are seeking very specific tutoring in preparation for pre-existing exams and the tutors are supplementing the knowledge or providing opportunities for students to practise prior to their exams. These students are less likely to be interested in the scheme because they are preparing for a recognised qualification. However, I presume the majority of students are taking classes broadly for personal development (including just for fun) and they are the ones who could be interested but if it costs them more then it might not be sufficiently appealing.

But this is just my opinion Daniel. (I have been an assessor of a professional qualification and written qualification criteria. Although a million miles from what you propose, I quit when I saw colleagues would pass poor quality candidates because failing people is hard)

Interesting. I’m not sure if eduFire is ready for this at this stage of the game and if it really makes sense for eduFire. I see the platform more like online adult education. About 8 or 9months ago I suggested that eduFire offer certificates of completion so students would have something to show employers or potential employers. In retrospect, I’mnot sure if even that is really best for eduFire.

Sometimes we have to just go with the flow and see what happens. It wont improve until the infrastructure is in place. Maybe we need to prepare the ground and let the idea grow.

Well sometime this month I’ll get it up and I’ll let you guys know the results. Don’t expect anything amazing visually straight away.

If the open credit is completely out of the system then I’m sure there are many other uses that tutors and students can get out of this site.