Learner: The unscripted course
Context:
You have to choose between two courses. One uses an open learning framework where you will co-design a chapter for an Open Educational Resource. The other is a traditional course with a pre-set curriculum.
Dilemma:
A) Choose the open-learning course. You get to create a tangible, public resource and build a professional network, but you face a less structured path and a higher time commitment.
B) Choose the traditional course. The curriculum is predictable and the workload is manageable.
Story behind the dilemma:
In a master's certificate program, students in the "Ethics and Technology" course were tasked with a unique challenge: co-designing a chapter for a new Open Educational Resource (OER).
The project followed an open learning design framework, where students weren't just learning from a textbook—they were writing it. Students selected their own topics based on personal interest and a framework of ethics. They worked in "social pods" to give each other feedback and were also encouraged to connect with experts outside the classroom to refine their work. This collaborative, hands-on approach was designed to help students develop skills like critical thinking and build professional networks.
The process was intensive. It involved multiple rounds of feedback from peers, the instructor, a research team, and a professional copyeditor. While the course itself was 12 weeks long, the entire process of getting the OER published took about a year. Students in the program noted that while this participatory pedagogy was sometimes uncomfortable, it provided an authentic scholarly experience and helped them create relationships that extended well beyond the course.