Courseware Collections in the World
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| Courseware Collections in the World |
Open courseware refers to all the university course materials that are put on the web for free. They have impacted the education world in such a major way that students have come to rely on open courseware for most of their research projects and assignments on a massive scale. The fact that open courseware has made learning easy and free for everyone means that more than ever, the goal of education for everyone is alive. Open courseware has led major universities to offer free courses online. The numbers are constantly growing and now we have more than 100 of them.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
However, there is a downside to open courseware. The fact that you cannot earn credits may be a setback though some universities are offering tuition for those that complete some online projects. One of the universities that have really contributed to open courseware is Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 2001, they announced that they world be making most of their courses available online paving way to as academic revolution. Though it does not grant degrees, their courseware is important to self-learners by providing lectures, assignments and exams. In total, the MIT collection is by far the largest with 1,800 courses. The university reports a very positive response and promises to continue expanding their courseware.
Harvard Medical School
Other universities have not been left behind and we have a number with courseware collections. One of these is Harvard Medical School. Over the years, this school has built a reputation for producing the best doctors in the world. Now, they open their resources for the world to access for free. The Harvard open courseware initiative offers everything that is related to the field of medicine from medical student handbooks and course materials to resources that are listed under what is popularly called the “Virtual Patient” category.
IBM University
IBM University has also not trailed behind in this academic wave. The university has placed itself as a technology hub in the world. Their open courseware has helped researchers in higher education institutions to access and implement into their curriculum, the latest technology. They offer all kinds of resources related to software and hardware maintenance and training.
Josh Hopkins School & North Carolina State University (NCSU)
Josh Hopkins School for Public Health has added its course materials to the myriad of open courseware resources now available online. They offer courses ranging from adolescent to refugee health. Their site is now reputed to be one of the most comprehensive and educative on matters of health education. North Carolina State University (NCSU) opened an open courseware lab as early as 1998. Founded by Professor Michael Rappa, the lab has been relied on for matters regarding the use of the internet to promote open exchange of knowledge in the academic circles. This makes the university one of the pioneers of open courseware.
Oxford Internet Institute
Finally, we have the Oxford Internet Institute which offers courses regarding areas like social media, online security and safety, internet regulation, e-government and many search internet related courses. All these institutions are among the hundreds now providing open courseware and advancing the revolution.