Theorist: Don Tapscott
- Admin
- Nov 3, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 9, 2020
Four principles for the open world (Don Tapscott | TEDGlobal 2012)
Open Education
The Wiki definition of open education describes it to be "without academic admission requirements and is typically offered online. Open education broadens access to the learning and training traditionally offered through formal education systems. The qualifier "open" refers to the elimination of barriers that can preclude both opportunities and recognition for participation in institution-based learning. One aspect of openness or "opening up" education is the development and adoption of open educational resources." What this means is that, among other things, open education aims to eliminate barriers to getting an education by lowering cost and making it easier to disseminate information.
Openness
Collaboration - crowd sourced information is free and people are willing. Talent - social media is social production. Open market for uniquely qualified minds. Create goods and services and collaborate.
Transparency - WikiLeaks is an example. You have to have good products and have integrity to build trust.
Sharing: Embracing the Commons - sharing intellectual property. Technology disruption in the music industry. Pharmaceutical companies have a problem that they’re going to lose a ton of patents and lose a lot of money. They need to share data from clinical trials for humanity.
Empowerment - The distribution of knowledge and power. Decentralization of power. Open internet bringing freedom. New media in Tunisia caused by young people who wanted open internet to find jobs, be free. Technology can be used to save lives. “Wiki-Revolutions”, Arab Spring. The open world is bringing empowerment and freedom.
Drawbacks
When considering open education systems, specifically for use in developing countries, we need to look at inequalities built in the educational system. These include a potential lack of quality assurance systems for educators/materials, infrastructure limitations (some students don't have access to a computer or wifi network where they live), a lack of equal access to technologies required for students' full participation in online education initiatives, and questions regarding the use of copyrighted materials.
Hmm...
Open education led to the industrial revolution and the printing press gave us access to recorded knowledge. The internet is a networked intelligence. Bees swarm, fish school. Murmuration is a starling display, where they collectively chase away prey. Interdependence their interest is in the interest of the collective. What if we could connect ourselves through collective intelligence and collective consciousness?
Tapscott has a theory about openness that has four main components; collaboration, transparency, sharing, and empowerment. I agreed with his point that an open Internet and, free or low-cost education is key to the decentralization of power, which really spoke to me. He gave examples of how open Internet is key to democracy because it basically holds people accountable, no matter who they might be. His positive outlook on life and the future is inspiring. Tapscott’s segment on collaboration is similar to what John Seely Brown described as a digital “ecosystem.”
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