My experience of online open education has consisted of the following
The Open University (this unit and E891)
The International Baccalaureate online workshops (www.ibo.org)
Cambridge English Teacher online professional development (http://www.cambridgeenglishteacher.org/)
I have found them all to be a little different, my current OU module is much more collaborative than my previous one and is much more directed by our tutor (which I like)
The IBO has quite specific deadlines as it is only 6 weeks in length sometimes shorter and has short targetted tasks, which must be completed in order to pass the course
The Cambridge course is relatively open ended as can be completed within one year, it is still graded via online tests so in my opinion valid and I receive a certificate from it also
I dislike courses that are vague, non-directed by tutors, relatively open ended and free as I feel they are then invalid in the eyes of many institutions and do not contribute towards accredited professional development
