What does it mean “to open education”? Does it mean taking in anyone who wants to be a student and attend a course? The way we did in the community colleges years ago? We called it “open admissions.” Is that what we mean by “open teaching and learning?” Maybe. Online learning approximates the classroom-based encounter (but, of course, without the “residential experience”), especially when audio and video technology is used. Some would say you don’t need to have the “residential experience” at all as long as you can have “learning happen” any other way. For them, a good approximation is good enough (i.e., “no significant difference”). Others would settle for nothing less than the “hybrid classroom.” They want both. And it is for them that the well networked campus is designed.
About Yitna Firdyiwek
Yitna Firdyiwek is an Instructional Designer in the Office of Technology Strategies in the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Virginia. Until recently, he was with the University's Information Technology Services where he worked as Instructional Technology Advisor in the Scholarly Technology Group.
Yitna has a PhD in Instructional Technology from the Curry School and two Masters, one in Linguistics (George Mason University) and one in Creative Writing (Brown University).
From 1997-2009 he was actively involved in the University of Virginia's Teaching + Technology Initiative. He also worked with UVaCollab, the University's Learning Management System, where he developed the "interactive syllabus" project. He also focused on integrating external applications into the University's LMS. He is currently involved with learning technology initiatives and works with instructors in the College of Arts and Sciences on the design, development, and implementation of innovative approaches to technology integration in undergraduate courses.
Yitna is interested in the use of ePortfolios for reflective learning and authentic assessment, and has published collaboratively on these topics. He is also interested in practical designs for efficient teaching and learning management systems, as well as improvements of technology enhanced classroom environments.
When he is able to, Yitna keeps one foot in the undergraduate classroom developing and teaching a reading and writing course in the history and philosophy of technology.
Yitna is a naturalized US citizen (native of Ethiopia), and lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.
