Unlimited Magazine on Open Education

D’Arcy Norman points out that Unlimited magazine has recently devoted an issue to open education. Duncan Kinney writes an Open Education Primer. George Siemens and Max Fawcett debate massively open online courses (MOOC).

Details Behind Rice University Press Shutting Down

“ckelty” has a new post discussing Rice University Press shutting down (covered by OEN). From the post:

As a board member of Rice University Press, a former employee, and a participant observer in the whole experiment, I’ve had a worms-eye view the fiasco as it has unfolded. I won’t detail all the ways in which RUP is innovative, but for those in the business, i’ll just say: you should all be madly copying their ideas, because RUP had and has no real competitors.

Curriki lists 10 Source for Free Textbooks

Curriki has a new post listing 10 sources for free textbooks.

The Fundamentals of OCW

Peter Sefton has a new post on the fundamentals of OpenCourseWare. From the post:

There is an obvious advantage to being the one whose materials are out there being used.

Ways Tech Startups Can Disrupt Education

Audrey Watters has a new post on five ways tech startups can disrupt education. Openness is listed among many of the ways listed. From the post:

Our modern education system is, after all, not so modern, with many of its practices strongly rooted in a “factory” model circa the Industrial Revolution. But what does revolutionizing education really look like? And which startups working in education technology are really “disruptive”?

George Siemens responds. Thanks to Veera Uusoksa for the link.

OCW as a College Alternatives

Ashley Michelle Papon has a new post on alternatives to college, including OpenCourseWare. From the post:

“It’s kind of like a self-paced class, except that I don’t need to worry about receiving a grade when it’s all said and done,” King [open education participant] says. “I never learned well with a teacher just talking at me from the front of the room. I can read until I understand it.”

Microsoft Development Process Licensed CC

“crve” is reporting that Microsoft’s Security Development Lifecycle is being licensed CC BY-NC-SA. From the post:

This should make it easier for others to use and distribute the principles behind SDL and for programmers to integrate SDL components into their own development processes.

Yolink Adds CC License Functionality

Jane Park has a new post noting CC License functionality has been added to yolink, a browser plug-in that enhances search.

Potential Creative Commons Setback in the Czech Republic

Drew Wilson is reporting that a proposed bill in the Czech Republic may harm Creative Commons adoption. From the post:

The draft suggests that the government is preparing a bill that would require anyone wanting to take out a Creative Commons license to first submit their work to a copyright collective. After that, the creator has to prove that their work is authentic. Only then would they be permitted, under the draft legislation, to license their work under Creative Commons.

The Chronicle of Higher Ed and the Sky

Yesterday OEN reported that the Chronicle of Higher Education put an article on open courses behind a pay wall. That article is now available for free. Alan Levine has a new post discussing the article in part, but making larger points about openness in general. From the post:

Not only love, much more flowers best in openness and freedom. It’s not that complex.