The purpose of this study is critically to review 'open education'. It seems that 'open education' involves two distinctive aspects, which may be called the 'epistemological' and the 'socio-philosophical'. The former is related to a methodological pri...
The purpose of this study is critically to review 'open education'. It seems that 'open education' involves two distinctive aspects, which may be called the 'epistemological' and the 'socio-philosophical'. The former is related to a methodological principle, and the latter is related to an ethical principle.
Those who regards open education as a methodological principle insist that we should accept open education, but even if we review open education in view of epistemological aspect, it seems that open education is a controversial theory of education. On the other hand, those who regards open education as an ethical principle insist on the importance of students' freedom and autonomy. They insist that teachers must give students a right to decide educational contents which they learn, but we cannot accept this kind of view of education.
It seems that 'open education' has many faults in view of both epistemological and socio-philosophical aspect. We, therefore, should be careful when we are going to apply the idea of open education to our educational practice.