Knowledge Media Technologies for Open Learning in Online Communities

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to discuss about the uses of knowledge media technologies to promote open learning in online communities. The “openness” movement has been opening up new opportunites for e-learning such as free access to information, cooperative production, collaborative learning, and broad sharing. Open educational resources and freeware innovative tools provide new strategies for people to learn and work together. The project openlearn developed by OU – UK aims to disseminate widely high quality learning materials and tools for engaging online communities to learn, reconstruct and share knowledge around the world. Openlearn created in platform Moodle integrates three knowledge media technologies: MSG for instant messaging; Flashmeeting for web videoconference and Compendium for knowledge mapping. These three tools can be used to foster online communities for open learming. Teachers, students and researchers can find new peers and keeping in contact. Through knowledge maps they can select relevant network of information, interpret content, reconstruct and share meanings.