MIT OCW’s Jon Paul Potts Visits CORE’s Lead Universities(III)----Xi’ an Jiaotong University 2005-04-01   Following successful visits to Beijing University of Technology and Zhejiang University, on the afternoon of April 1 Mr. Jon Paul Potts (Direction of MIT OCW Communications) and Dr. Meifeng Liu (Translation Coordinator for CORE) came to Xi’an and gave presentations at Xi’an Jiaotong University, one of CORE’s Lead Universities. In his presentation, Mr. Jon Paul Potts first reviewed the history of MIT OCW from concept formation to development, and he introduced the process of OCW’s course production and delivery and the current development situation. Next he gave further explanation of the format of MIT OCW, its use and results, including the click rate, user demographics, and report of users’ feedback. At the same time, Mr. Potts also provided convincing evidence about the great influence MIT OCW has had on MIT’s self development. Dr. Meifeng Liu introduced the mission and background of CORE, which came into being as part of the movement for open sharing of knowledge in the whole world. She also briefly explained CORE’s programs and their development. On the base of this introduction, she predicted that CORE, as a non-profit organization, would play a great role in promoting the quality of Chinese education and called on all universities to actively take part in CORE’s work and the movement of knowledge to open shared forms. Finally, Mr. Jon Paul Potts further explained the meaning of OCW and introduced other contents and tools of open sharing in the world. He also gave a positive prediction and expectation about the future movement of open sharing of knowledge. About 60 professors and students attended the presentation, which received warm responses. The professors and students also asked many questions about the content of subjects and translation of OCW and the translation of excellent Chinese teaching materials into English. Some of the professors were even aware that other American universities are pursuing OCW programs, and they expressed their hope that CORE would build more connections with other foreign universities in addition to MIT. Mr. Jon Paul Potts and Dr. Meifeng Liu’s visit and presentations played a great role in helping professors and related staff from Xi’an Jiaotong University to further understand MITOCW and CORE. It will also encourage Xi’an Jiaotong University to make progress in executing the program as a CORE Lead University. As the same time, it provided a good experience for CORE to further develop the work and how to present CORE in the future.   close