Barcelona (E), December 2012 - The Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) has initiated the Open Apps project, a virtual repository of all the successful knowledge developed by the University during its nearly twenty years of expertise in distance higher education. Through its website, visitors can find more than twenty "open apps": innovative applications and pedagogical experiences that have been developed and tested within the UOC for providing solutions to pedagogical and management needs.
In addition, Open Apps also offers apps and experiences that can be transferred, used and developed by other institutions.
An app to learn Japanese writing online, a tool to efficiently manage several networks and IP addresses, and innovative methodologies to enhance mathematics comprehension are a few examples already available at Open Apps. This platform will incorporate more contents as the project grows and evolves.
Depending on the "open app", the site will offer the source code with extensive documentation regarding user experiences, technical support, articles, etc. Moreover, the platform also offers the possibility of contacting the developers and creators who brought those "open apps" to life.
In fact, Open Apps also wants to attract potential collaborators to build a network that works on taking e-distance education to a higher level. Indeed, this project is inspired as an open innovation model and works like other "open" services such as Open Data and Open Access. For this reason, Open Apps is also looking for collaboration focused on furnishing the apps with new functionalities and sharing new educational uses and experience.
How does Open Apps work? Check the website, choose the "open app" that suits your needs, click on the 'I'm interested' button, and discover what the collaboration possibilities are. If available, download the source code, change it, improve it, adapt it to your needs, and then just let UOC know; we will add your enhanced version to the Open Apps repository. Cooperation and networking are deep in the core of the Open Apps philosophy.
