Published 15 December 2006
Unlocking Access to Learning at the Open University with OpenLearn:
An Interview with Joel Greenberg of the UK's Open University
The Open University (OU) is the United Kingdom's only university dedicated to distance learning. Created during the 1960s, the government-supported institution was founded on the belief that communications technology could bring high quality degree-level learning to people who had not enjoyed the opportunity of a campus-based education. OU today has about 150,000 undergraduate and more than 30,000 postgraduate students, more than 25,000 of whom live outside the UK.
Joel Greenberg, OU's Director of Strategic Development, Learning and Teaching Solutions, also serves as a director of the IMS Global Learning Consortium. He joined the OU in 1978 as a software designer developing educational software applications. He currently is directing a number of new initiatives as part of the university's growing use of its virtual learning environment as a primary delivery medium. Most notable of these is
OpenLearn, which was launched in October 2006. IMS recently interviewed Dr. Greenberg about the OpenLearn initiative.
