The Free Knowledge, Free Technology (FKFT) 2008 conference is underway in Barcelona, Spain. Hosted by the Science, Education and Learning in Freedom (SELF) Consortium and the Free Knowledge Institute, the conference will focus on the production and sharing of educational and training materials on free software and open standards. The agenda runs in three tracks, including free knowledge and technologies in 1) society, 2) public bodies, and 3) education. The education track includes a Future of Education keynote by Stephen Downes.
As noted on the conference website,
FKFT 2008 Conference will bring together hundreds of people from different continents including government representatives, school and university teachers, IT companies, publishers, and NGO’s. By gathering together people from all these groups, we aim to stimulate both present and future collaboration between diverse disciplines, sectors and countries, through the medium of free software programs and the sharing of successful experiences related to free software and free technologies.
As highlighted within education section of the Free Knowledge Institute’s website,
The emerging open education movement combines the established tradition of sharing good ideas with fellow educators and the collaborative culture of the Internet and free software communities. It is built on the belief that everyone should have the freedom to use, customize, improve and redistribute educational resources without constraint. Educators, learners and others who share this belief are gathering together as part of a worldwide effort to make education both more accessible and more effective.
