Talk:Open education and research at the University of Canberra

KCA

The UC Office of Development has requested James and I to present Open Education and Research and the University of Canberra at the Annual Conference of Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia (KCA) on 10 November 2010. Leighblackall 06:12, 22 September 2010 (UTC)

Notes on structure

The UC Faculty of Health, Associate Dean Education has offered assistance in preparing the paper to KCA. Advice so far has been to develop the argument starting from shared understandings of the value of Universities such as: access, development and advance of knowledge; independent critical thought and awareness; social responsibility and engagement; informed and empowered citizenry; sustainable productivity... Demonstrate that the intension of this paper is to promote those shared values... Point out the obsticles to realising those values such as restriction of access when access is technically near free; restriction in knowledge creation and engagement; credential inflation and elitism; questionable business models and partnerships impacting on core academic freedoms... Then introduce the 'solution' of open academia and teh OpenUC project. Leighblackall 06:25, 22 September 2010 (UTC)

Abstract

It is proposed that open academic practices be used by the University of Canberra to establish a significant point of difference in its research, development and teaching. The University has a role to play in leading the Australian sector towards a renewed era of knowledge creation, sharing and networking.

This paper outlines a number of significant problems with existing practices of knowledge protectionism and commercialisation, and demonstrates how open academic practices can address these problems and further the University's role in society. It explains evident risks and benefits in the adoption of these practices, and sets out policy, procedures and services that the University and its staff should use to leverage its position and capitalise on the opportunities available.

Bios

Leigh Blackall and James Neill are long time advocates and practitioners of open academic practices. Their recent collaboration at the University of Canberra has resulted in several events and submissions on policy, procedure and practices that are gaining wide attention within the University.

Leigh is an educational developer, focused on open education using popular media for networked learning. He is a Custodian on the English Wikiversity, and has maintained a popular education blog since 2004: http://leighblackall.blogspot.com

James is an an Assistant Professor in the Centre for Applied Psychology at the University of Canberra. He is a Custodian and Bureaucrat on the English Wikiversity. http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/User:Jtneill