Symposium for Teaching and Learning with Technology

David DiBiase makes a compelling argument for making lots of PSU's course-related intellectual property "open" for others to use. I accept his point that doing so will probably lead to benefits and increased enrollments, if he quality of the content we make available is good. He argues that students will still enroll in our courses even if the content is available, because what students really want is access to the professors and the certification that Penn State provides. I agree. But I think that there is another very valuable asset that should be added to the list, if we are teaching well.

Access to other students is a huge benefit that is not available through the open content alone. Learning is often largely a social activity. Students form study groups, and discuss content in other ways. "Learning communities" have been shown to be important to learning. Effective instructors use group activity, and student often form long-lasting relationships that serve them well for years after a course ends.

There is SO MUCH value added in a good course that we need not fear the open content movement. As Ken Udas said, many students simply can't afford to come to Penn State or other first rate universities. We can, and should, share content with them. We have a service mission, and this is one easy but important way to live up to that mission.