User:Andreasmeiszner

I am a PhD researcher at the British Open University (The OU), more precisely at the Institute of Educational Technology (IET). My research focuses on informal virtual learning environments such as the FLOSS (Free / Libre Open Source Software) communities, by also keeping an eye on similar communities like wikipedia.

I am also the project manager of the EU funded FLOSSComproject on behalf of the coordinator SPI (Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação), Portugal.

The full title of the project is: FLOSSCom - Using the principles of informal learning environments of FLOSS (Free / Libre Open Source Software) communities to improve ICT supported formal education

As indicated by the title the project does not examine the benefit of FLOSS products in education (which I acknowledge do exist), but on the principles behind like the collaborative content production, the free and voluntary support, the open and transparent structures…

Thus the Wikiversity project, like also the OU’s OpenLearn initiative, are projects that are well in line with my current research interests.

My research in the education area began back in 2003 at the University of Aveiro, Portugal, with an initial focus on quality in ICT enriched higher education. In October 2006 I moved with my PhD studies to the OU.

Besides the world of academic research I also worked in various business sectors and functions during the past 11 years, having obtained three higher education degrees in management.

So finally, now that I signed up at Wikiversity I will go and dive a bit in, take a deeper look, and might surf the one or other wave.