UK distance learning university The Open University has revealed that it is launching a GBP5.65 million project to make a selection of its learning materials available free of charge to educators and learners around the world.
Supported by a $4.45 million grant from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the university expects to launch the learning materials website later this year.
The Open University (OU) explained that it will make a wide range of educational resources available from all study levels and from a full range of subject themes, including arts and history, languages, science and technology. The OU will also allow learners to access a range of study skills development material.
With over 210,000 students studying its courses, the OU says one site will be primarily aimed at learners, while a second site will be created for other course creators.
The vice chancellor of the OU, professor Brenda Gourley, said The university will be developing forms of open content e-learning which will reach less experienced learners and, we hope, encourage an appetite for further learning. The Open University will be the first in the UK to offer open content materials under a creative commons license.
