Open and Closed Systems of Learning and Knowing

Closed Systems Models	Open Systems Models
Topics are stable	Topics are unstable or being created
Problems or questions has a known answer	A problem or question has no clearn answer yet
Someone (teacher, expert, course developer) has the answer	No one person has the answer--it emerges from within a group or organization
The answer is "transmitted" through a familiar learning technology	The "answers" are obtained by groups in cooperation,who may not be co-located
Learner receives and knower gives	Knowledge needs to be captured, synthesized, generated, filtered and summarized
A structured (linear)approach is usually taken	An associative structured or networked approach is taken
Interaction with other learners or knowers is minimal (e.g. classroom lecture,DVD, or Courseware)	Interaction may be asynchronous or synchronous between co-learners
Packaging	Human Networking