The idea of the NET-CLASS project is to organize a public free learning system based on the exchange of benefits from the joint creation, accumulation and use of learning resources. NET-CLASS is a form of organization of data and programs in the Internet space. This is not an educational institution, but an electronic textbook for use in the learning process. The educational material is created by the authors and students, the teaching is managed by teachers, the development of the project is directed by the members of the initiative group.
The author of the project is looking for like-minded people, partners and community support.
introduction
Many are taking steps to create systems for distance learning.
Most of the projects are still at the beginning of the road. The results are different and often negative, and the costs are very large. Building a training system is not an easy task, but the most difficult and time—consuming part is filling and support. A very efficient, resource-saving approach is required here. Examples of the most effective resource saving in similar activities can be observed in the field of creating programs using Open Source technologies.
The idea of creating a training system based on the principles of openness and freedom, existing on the basis of the exchange of benefits from the joint creation, accumulation and use of training resources lies on the surface, is being discussed, but there have been no cases of real implementation yet.
On the days of the LVEE-2008 conference, it is planned to open access to the project website NET-CLASS.NET , dedicated to solving this problem. NET-CLASS.NET It is based on the LMS Moodle (modular object-oriented dynamic learning environment) — free, open (Open Source, under the GNU Public License). Moodle stands out by focusing on the principles of Open Source not only in terms of program code, but also the approach to the learning process itself.
Many abandon expensive commercial systems and switch to Moodle. As of today, more than 39,499 sites from 199 countries have been registered. Many educational institutions have already chosen Moodle: – MDU Lomonosov Moscow State University (Russia), European Humanities University (Vilnius), International House – Foreign Language Courses (Minsk), Lyceum of BSU (Minsk). Websites containing more than 19,000 courses and more than 41,000 students have appeared. Open University UK reports more than 200,000 users.
NET-CLASS project
There are many open projects dedicated to the accumulation of documentation and the collective creation of knowledge bases, but there is no open Internet resource suitable for training yet. OPENNET sites are very good.RU, XGU.EN, they have good collections of documentation, means of collective work with them, but they are difficult to use even for lecture material.
INTUIT.RU contains a lot of excellent lecture material, but contains almost no elements of the organization of the educational process.
NET-CLASS will be able to provide not only lecture material. This is a different learning model.
It is equipped with advanced tools for creating textbooks and other means of organizing the educational process. This may differ markedly from traditional lecture materials and textbooks. The means of electronic textbooks allow you to organize and streamline the educational process, set certain goals, identify and fill in gaps in knowledge in a timely manner, facilitate the learning process by conveniently organizing various reference books, glossaries and other elements that can be replenished by both teachers and trainees.
learning environment
Moodle is based on the concept of social constructivism and is focused on creating social structures united by common goals of cognition. Of course, Moodle is also suitable for traditional lecture distance courses and to support full-time learning.
Each participant of training in Moodle can be both a teacher and a student at the same time. As a teacher, you stop being just a “source of knowledge” and turn into an inspirer, a role model of behavior in a group. You work with the needs of the group members and, by stimulating their interaction, direct them to common goals.
Learning turns into a process of collective cognition or research.
Moodle does not impose this, but still it is this type of behavior that Moodle supports best. Moodle allows you to organize and streamline the learning process well, set specific goals, identify and fill in gaps in knowledge in a timely manner, facilitate the learning process by conveniently organizing various reference books, glossaries and other elements that can be replenished by both students and trainees.
Some things require the development of add-ons:
– the assessment system should take into account not only the correctness of answers to tests and the completion of tasks, but also social activity, personal qualities, which will ensure competitiveness and other motivation for learning;
– group planning tools for course development and task allocation;
– offline development support;
– change of some access control principles.
who is NET-CLASS for?
The level of personnel training is one of the main elements that make up the efficiency and profitability of enterprises. It also determines the level of personal income of employees.
Enterprises, organizing their own or using someone else’s special training centers, primarily rely on the fact that a high level of remuneration and competition will encourage people to study independently.
However, “spontaneous” self-learning is extremely irrational, it takes up a significant part of working and personal time, its sufficiency is difficult to assess both for the trainee and the employer.
Given the considerable cost of training employees in training centers, training programs are based on a noble desire to give maximum knowledge and skills in a minimum of time. Of course, this is done by increasing the feed rate and reducing the control elements of the assimilation of the material. The results of such training are often formal and do not justify the costs.
Commercial training is mainly focused on commercial solutions, which further increases the burden on the consumer and the economy as a whole.
The planet has limited resources, the economy will have to develop rationally, and open technologies can serve as an example of rationality for many industries.
It is obvious that the time is coming for training systems built on the same principles of openness and sociality. Elements of openness in the field of knowledge exchange have centuries-old traditions in the academic environment, but the world sometimes does not change for the better, alas.
The limiting elements in the process of creating new knowledge, no matter what they are based on, copyright or any other right, are inherently restrictive, interfere with the process of creating, improving and accumulating knowledge.
An open learning system could not only contribute to the development of the education system, but also form a special culture, a special worldview based on the principles of humanity and other positive aspects of free human cooperation and mutual assistance.