Interview with Anne Margulies, executive director of MIT Open Course Ware(3)
Xing Zong: Now many institutions offer OpenCourseWare on line. Do you think there is competition? Or you think they will be good supplements?
Margulies: I see collaboration, not competition. There are now about 120 institutions around the world that have joined us in the OpenCourseWare Consortium. Together we are building a broad and deep body of educational materials that represents many cultures and different approaches to knowledge.
Xing Zong: Mr. Margulies, what do you envision the future holds for MIT OpenCourseWare?
Margulies: I feel that we are at the very beginning for OCW. We have built this unprecedented resource, and have just begun to understand how it can benefit users around the world and at MIT. We have some idea of how to enhance both types of benefits. Through the Consortium, we hope to make use of OCW materials more interactive, and provide better opportunities for community feedback. At MIT, we are already beginning to see projects and services built on the materials made openly available on our site, and we expect to see many, many more.
Xing Zong: Let’s have one China topic before ending our discussion. Have you ever been to China? What do you think of the distance education in China?
I have been fortunate to go to China three times over the last three years – to Beijing, Shanghai and Xian. On each trip I have met with many from Chinese universities who are translating and using OCW materials. We have been working with partners in Beijing, China Open Resources for Education (CORE) who are playing a leading role in the OpenCourseWare movement.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my visits and have been incredibly impressed with the people, the wonderful culture and history of China. I am hopeful that OCW can play a significant role in helping China to expand access to education.
