Pearson announced the launch of the OpenClass Exchange, a significant expansion to its open and free learning environment, OpenClass. With a focus on Open Educational Resources (OER) and institutional content, the OpenClass Exchange allows educators to search and access born-digital course collections developed from eTextbooks, course resources, modules and other educational content such as assessments, videos and more. Additionally, OpenClass now features built-in social tools that help educators and students stay connected and improve learning experiences. Directly from the OpenClass toolbar, users can:
- Browse preset researches
- Select from the featured items carousel banner or popular content;
- Perform keyword searches;
- Easily refine search results, using accordion navigation.
OpenClass is a new kind of learning atmosphere that goes beyond the learning management system and is currently being used by more than 6,000 institutions and non-profits. OpenClass is easy to set up and begin using immediately, and its features integrate seamlessly with Google Apps for Education. OpenClass puts the focus on learning, not on technology, to improve the experience of education. Openclass also offers a new notification function to help perpetuate conversations with new and established contacts. Users will automatically receive updates about OpenClass activity that may impact them. OpenClass also offers a new notification function to help perpetuate conversations with new and established contacts. Users will automatically receive updates about OpenClass activity that may impact them. For example, users will be notified when a new response is posted to a thread, an assignment is submitted or returned, and when they gain a new follower. Further, these notifications link educators and students to the appropriate page to act on the information.