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In this topic we have discussed the advantages and challenges of open learning. I have a vary successful example of connecting a rather traditionally structured course to new concepts of open learning. A few years ago I have given a few lectures in a course from pharmacology field. In the lectures students encountered a number of, for them, new terms/words or examples for some processes they did not know from before. Apart from listening to my lectures, students were also supposed to prepare a seminar. I have suggested to them that they could each pick a term from my lectures to write about and prepare a Wikipedia-style article about that term. I have actually prepared a list of terms that they could choose from so that there would not be any duplicates. As the lectures were given in Croatian language, the seminars were also prepared in Croatian. All of the students did a great job in preparing texts. In the end I have suggested to them if they wish to try to upload them into Croatian Wikipedia. As many Wikipedia’s in smaller languages, Croatian Wikipedia has far less articles than English Wikipedia, and the prepared seminars would have been a nice contribution. Even though none of them had ever written an article for Wikipedia, all of the students accepted the challenge. They went all the way through learning how a new article should be submitted, referenced until finally published. The response from students was extremely positive. They praised the seminar as the most meaningful seminar they have ever had and they truly appreciated the fact that they have contributed to the largest online free encyclopedia, which all of us have used in a number of occasions. I was truly happy for their enthusiasm and I think it was a rather successful reach-out from a classical, closed academic course into the society by sharing our knowledge for the benefit of the society and contributing to open learning.

Topic 2: Open Learning – sharing and openness – every contribution counts

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