Presentation given at EMOOCs 2017 in Madrid

1. Recognition of open learning and
the unbundling of higher education
Gabi Witthaus
EMOOCS 2017, Madrid
22 May 2017

2. Overview of presentation
1. Background and definitions
2. Flavours of recognition
1. Recognition of "home-made" MOOCs
2. Recognition of external MOOCs
3. External MOOC embedded in home degree
4. Challenge-for-credit
5. Recognition by portfolio
3. The disaggregated degree?

3. OpenCred Study (2014-16)
Witthaus, G., Inamorato dos Santos. A., Childs, M., Tannhäuser, A., Conole, G., Nkuyubwatsi, B., Punie, Y. (2016)

4. Credentialisation vs
recognition/ validation/ accreditation
Witthaus, G., Inamorato dos Santos. A., Childs, M., Tannhäuser, A., Conole, G., Nkuyubwatsi, B., Punie, Y. (2016)

5. Unbundling HE provision
Content Teaching
Support Assessment
Home institution External institution

6. Unbundling HE provision: using OERs
Content Teaching
Support Assessment
Home institution External institution

7. Credit transfer (1): recognition of
"home-made" MOOCs
https://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-12-29-monetization-over-massiveness-breaking-down-moocs-by-the-numbers-in-2016

8. Content Teaching
Support Assessment
Home institution External institution
Credit transfer (1): recognition of
"home-made" MOOCs

9. • Open University Netherlands - flexibly
structured Bachelor and Master programmes
with “free” credits
• UNED (Spanish Open University) grants credit
for selected MOOCs
Credit transfer (2): recognition of
external MOOCs

10. Content Teaching
Support Assessment
Home institution External institution
Credit transfer (2): recognition of
external MOOCs

11. External MOOC embedded in home
institution degree
• Technical University Munich: “Guided English
Self-Study” – 2 ECTS credits

12. Content Teaching
Support Assessment
External MOOC embedded in home
institution degree
Home institution External institution

13. Challenge-for-credit
• Athabasca University, Thompson Rivers
University, Excelsior College & Thomas Edison
State College in Canada offer challenge exams
(Conrad et al, 2013)
• University of Applied Sciences, Luebeck (with
Kiron)

14. Content Teaching
Support Assessment
Challenge-for-credit
Home institution External institution
Third party
(e.g. Kiron)

15. Recognition by portfolio
• “Learning Passport” proposed by VM-Pass
project – validation done by a central clearing-
house (Camilleri & Tannhauser, 2013)
• QUT, Brisbane – entrance to a Graduate
Certificate – RPL ePorfolio assesses skills,
professional experience and theoretical
understanding (Ruinard & McNamara, 2016)

16. Content Teaching
Support Assessment
Recognition by portfolio
Home institution External institution
Third party
(e.g. Kiron)

17. The disaggregated degree?
jam_232 on Twitter: https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8114/8620649403_6c2a9f150d_z_d.jpg

18. Thank you!
Gabi Witthaus
Email: g.witthaus@lancaster.ac.uk
Blog: www.artofelearning.com
Twitter: @twitthaus
Art of E-learning banner image by George Sfougaras

19. Camilleri, A.F. and Tannhäuser, A.C., 2013. ‘Chapter 4: Assessment and Recognition of
Open Learning’, in L. Squires and A. Meiszner (eds) Openness and Education. Bingley:
Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp.85-118
Conrad, D., McGreal, R., Mackintosh, W., Murphy, Al & Witthaus, G., 2013. Report on the
assessment and accreditation of learners using OER, Vancouver. Available at:
http://www.col.org/resources/publications/Pages/detail.aspx?PID=458.
Ruinard, E. & McNamara, J., 2016. Conceptualising Recognition of Prior Learning
Processes in the Age of Open Learning. In S. Reushle, A. Antonio, & M. Keppell, eds. Open
Learning and Formal Credentialing in Higher Education: Curriculum Models and
Institutional Policies. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, pp. 1–17.
Witthaus, G., Inamorato dos Santos. A., Childs, M., Tannhäuser, A., Conole,
G.,Nkuyubwatsi, B., & Punie, Y. (2016). Validation of Non-formal MOOC-based Learning:
An Analysis of Assessment and Recognition Practices in Europe. Seville: EU JRC IPTS.
Available at:
http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/JRC96968/lfna27660enn.pdf
References

20. Recognition of open learning and the unbundling of Higher
Education, by Gabi Witthaus, is licensed under a Creative
Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be
available at
www.artofelearning.com
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