Mike Sharples: Open Science and Open Learning

In my work, I apply a deep understanding of how people teach and learn to the design of new educational technologies. My particular passion is for open learning systems that support thousands of people to explore, study and converse together. The more people that engage with an open learning community, the richer the discussion and the more possibilities it offers for rewarding insights.

My projects at www.mikesharples.org include building the nQuire platform for citizen science investigations and informing design of the FutureLearn site for massive open online courses. Open education means not just open access to teaching resources, but opening up the entire process of learning, including knowledge sharing and research, to anyone with access to the Web.

Blockchain is an emerging technology to power open education. It can provide a universal record of achievement, allow people to display their creative works and ideas to the world. It can also be a way to manage a currency of educational reputation. In schools and universities, students gain reputation by passing exams, by producing essays or works of art, and by performing acts of community service. An educational blockchain can tie all these together. People gain credit by passing an exam or carrying out an intellectual task such as reviewing another person’s creative work. They can decide to donate small amounts of reputational credit to boost another person’s intellectual product or idea. As senior levels, it becomes a way to recognize talent and share knowledge. It opens new possibilities for trading reputation as a currency.

I am delighted to work with Knowbella Tech, a leader in blockchain for open science. Jason [Knowbella Founder and Chair] understands how to align running a successful company with a social mission of opening access to science for social benefit. Knowbella’s new platform with its Helix tokens will provide a convincing demonstration of how a currency of scientific reputation and reward can work in practice. Most important, it will support dedicated scientists around the world in gaining access to intellectual property, developing their expertise, and communicating their findings to those who most need the knowledge. Open science requires open minds.

In Knowbella I see an open-minded team of experts and leaders in science, business, marketing and technology.