Although I hesitated on a very busy day to commit to 15-minutes to listen to George Siemens’ new presentation “A world without courses,” I am thrilled that I did so. Although I am not sure he completely realizes it, I think he has answered the puzzle of how accreditation will occur in the new education that is emerging.
Putting it in the metaphor of the GoldenSwamp – - the swamp of the Internet that if full of the gold of knowledge for learning — how would accreditation for learning emerge from the perplexing messiness of the open Internet? Siemens mentions that the answer might be in what happens at eBay. Of course! Quality of merchandise, sellers and buyers emerges to gain respect and reputation. That, exactly, is accreditation, which Webster’s defines as: 1 : to put (as by common consent) into a reputable or outstanding category : consider, recognize, or acclaim as rightfully.
My guess is that it will not be online testing that will create what future applicants present to prospective employers as proof they are reputable or outstanding. Instead the facility of network platforms to accredit — as has been very powerful in eBay — will be harnessed to report grades of qualification for advanced study, employment, and professional competence.
