OPEN LEARNING: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION

Open learning gets at a flexible, learner-driven education model granting more affordable, equitable access to learning and credentialing opportunities outside traditional academic gatekeepers. Powered by Internet connectivity and evolutions in big data, artificial intelligence and virtual reality, open learning platforms offer students customizable pathways to gain skills at their own pace unbound by geography, cost or schedule.

The core principles underpinning open learning involve removing barriers to education often rooted in existing systems like aged curricula, instructor shortages, campus proximity, meeting times or financial means. Instead, digitally-enabled formats empower individuals to control how, when and where they learn based on abilities and interests rather than circumstances. Materials derive not just from institutions but field communities collaborating openly.

Powering expanded open learning accessibility, online courses and microcredentials unbundle components of full degree programs for modular consumption. Course marketplaces then integrate offerings from numerous universities and alternative providers. Learners mix and match topics building unique knowledge portfolios. Gamified experiences adding interactivity and incentives further augment flexibility.

Advocates contend open learning unlocks more inclusive meritocracy and mobility while closing global skill gaps. Some economists argue societies risk worsening inequality without widespread reskilling for automated workplaces. More agile training for students and employees thus grows economically indispensable.

Concerns nonetheless persist around inconsistent quality control, credential recognition and student support in fully virtual settings. Hardware and internet barriers also inhibit equal availability while questions loom around sustaining costly systems without tuition or public funding offsets. Ethical use of learning analytics and learner data further compel updated oversight.

Open learning momentum seems inevitable though, generally speaking, as technology democratizes development and global competition favors skills accumulation over pedigree. Innovations in personalized recommendation algorithms, virtual reality and artificial intelligence should enrich self-directed experiences. Hybrid models blending aspects like peer collaboration, expert instruction and micro-credentialing appear primed to transform corporate training and higher education within the next decade.