Logan, UT (April 19, 2004) -- The Open Sustainable Learning Opportunity (OSLO)
Group announced today that Utah State University has partnered with MIT to
provide free human support for self-learners and others taking advantage of
OpenCourseWare materials at MIT.
In April of 2001, MIT President, Charles M. Vest, announced that MIT would
make the materials for nearly all its courses freely available on the Internet
over the next ten years through its OpenCourseWare (OCW) project.
OSLO Group Director, David Wiley, announced today the pilot launch of 'Open
Learning Support' (OLS), social software integrated with OCW materials that
will allow learners to connect with each other, form study groups, and receive
support for using OCW materials in formal and informal educational settings.
OLS supports USU's mission by engaging the public, cultivating diversity of
thought and culture, and supporting learning.
Open Learning Support:
- Is a space where individuals can connect to share, discuss, ask,
answer, debate, collaborate, teach, and learn
- Is not a degree-granting or certificate-granting program
- Does not provide formal access to university faculty
OLS currently serves seven courses from MIT's OpenCourseWare initiative.
OLS will be integrated with additional courses from MIT/OCW and educational
materials from other collections over time.
Open Learning Support is funded by a grant from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
