MOOCs + Open Badge = EduOpen
On 21st April, at the italian Ministry for Instruction Universities and Research a project involving 14 Italian Universities was presented, which offers on a single platform various courses of a high level content, both in digital mode and open mode, on the lines of the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), a model that has been widespread for several years, in the United States as well as in Europe.
We returned to the same room where, one year ago, the main exponents of Open Badges and ePortfolio shared their experiences, this time to present an important step forward for the Italian academic system in terms of opening up and dematerialising acquisition and sharing of competencies.
From pre-university mathematics to cuneiforms or from Anglo-American literature to data mining: the courses cover a wide range of disciplines with each University focusing on its own strongpoints.
On Bestr, the EduOpen Open Badges
For each course Bestr offers an Open Badge to represent the competencies developed by learners who complete it. Over the next few months special Badges will also be made available to anyone who, apart from following the course, can demonstrate their competencies by passing an exam (perhaps online, in a secure manner, using the NICE network of examinating centres) or to anyone completing an entire series of courses and reaching the end of a genuine learning pathway.
Free access, even easier with IDEM
Access to the courses is free to everyone, but for university students and university employees it is even easier: they can access EduOpen simply by using their University account through the IDEM federation, which almost all Italian universities belong to.
Entry through IDEM is also activated on Bestr, where information on courses can be found and the relevant Badge can then be collected. At the end of each course the learner will be issued with an Open Badge, certifying the acquired competencies and enabling the learner to share them on LinkedIn and the other social networks, as well as the learner’s own University.
From MOOCs to university credits
EduOpen courses can generate university credits, which may then be exchanged between University Administrations: this mechanism is, in effect, activated by the representation of competencies using Open Badges.
On Bestr, every University (whether it participates in EduOpen or not) can endorse a Badge, thus expressing its recognition of the competencies it represents, and integration of Bestr with ESSE3 enables recognition of credits on the university careers of students holding a Badge endorsed by their University Administration - obviously specifically related to the particular course of studies and didactic activity of the individual student.
Further information
- What are Open Badges and why use them
- Open Badges of the EduOpen project on Bestr
- Integration of Bestr with ESSE3 for recognition of credits on university careers
- The launch of EduOpen on the Cineca website
- The speech by the President of Cineca, Emilio Ferrari, at the launch of EduOpen