Launched in 2012, OpenLearning is a for-profit MOOC provider that was founded by Richard Buckland and Adam Brimo of the University of New South Wales in Australia. OpenLearning also offers website visitors the opportunity to create and teach courses through their servers. Visitors of the website can enroll in 376 courses and OpenLearning currently has a user base of 77,214 students. Although many of OpenLearning’s course offerings require a fee, a large number of the MOOC platform’s classes can also be taken for free.
Course Format:
Like many MOOC providers, OpenLearning courses typically use video as the main course tool. That being said, professors may suggest readings that align with the class outline. Additionally, instructors will have the opportunity to design activities and final exams for students to complete. Students can communicate with one another through the comments section of each video.
Course Offerings:
OpenLearning currently offers 376 courses in the areas of Computers and Technology, Business and Economics, Arts and Design, Humanities, Language and Communication, Math and Science, Engineering, and Education.
- OpenLearning’s Computers and Technology course offerings include classes on programming, ICT competency, developing Android applications, and game design.
- In the area of Business and Economics, students can enroll in classes that focus on Services Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and Personal Branding.
- OpenLearning’s Arts and Design course offerings include a course on popular image editing suite Photoshop, an Adobe product that has become an industry standard.
- The MOOC platform’s Humanities course offerings include many in the Malaysian language. OpenLearning’s English language humanities offerings include classes on poetry and architecture.
- In OpenLearning’s Language and Communication section, students will find courses on grammar and headline crafting.
- In the Math and Science section, students will find courses on Problem Solving and Forensic Psychology.
- OpenLearning’s Engineering section includes classes on Information Modeling, CDIO Training, and AutoDesk.
- The Education section offers courses on Gamification, the Flipped Classroom, and running a Massive Open Online Course.
Companies who wish to create an educational portal for their employees can also do so through OpenLearning. Through the site’s Institutions section, businesses can design a web portal, create and teach courses, and track student progression. Additionally, the website has been optimized to account for scale. As a result, employers will be able to add as many employees as they desire to their MOOCs. Classes can be organized by categories and OpenLearning offers employers the ability to restrict access to their materials so that only their employees can access the courses.
Students can enroll in courses that are either self-paced or on an instructor-determined schedule. Additionally, OpenLearning has also instituted a “Karma” system, which enables students to evaluate their instructors. As a result, students can ensure that they’re taking courses that have been well-received by OpenLearning’s user base.
Partners:
OpenLearning has partnered with the University of New South Wales to provide MOOC options in Australia. Additionally, the company’s partnership with Taylor’s University has created an opportunity for students to take Massive Open Online Courses in Malaysia.