Microsoft New Zealand has issued a press release announcing collaboration with the OER foundation. From the press release:
Microsoft, working alongside the Open Education Resource (OER) Foundation at Otago Polytechnic and the Ministry of Education, has produced a new, open source extension for Microsoft Word that allows documents to be saved in a Wiki-friendly format called MediaWiki, as used by the popular online encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Posted in Open Education
Tagged e-learning, higher education, ocw, oer, online learning, open science, openness, wiki
Jessica Adamick and Rebecca Reznik-Zellen have published an article on trends in repositories. From the abstract:
Noting a lack of broad empirical studies on subject repositories, the authors investigate subject repository trends that reveal common practices despite their apparent isolated development. Data collected on year founded, subjects, software, content types, deposit policy, copyright policy, host, funding, and governance are analyzed for the top ten most-populated subject repositories.
Posted in Open Education
Tagged commons, e-learning, higher education, oer, online learning, open content, openness
Gunnar Hellekson has a new post defending user design in open source applications. From the post:
The caricature of an open source community as a hotbed of chaotic, directionless free-for-all doesn’t match what we know about successful open source projects: they’re run by influential leaders who manage dissent and provide a clear vision for the project’s development.
The University of Kansas has issued a press release outlining their efforts towards open access. Although the glossy phrasing of press release may be distracting, there are some interesting ideas for promoting open access. From the press release:
To help encourage more departments and faculty members to make their research available via open access, the libraries have identified early adopters and “open access liaisons.”
Posted in Open Education
Tagged higher education, journal, library, OATP, open content, openness
Carrie Arnold has a new article on whether open access helps scientific progress. From the article:
If a researcher doesn’t have a subscription to a particular journal, Davis says, they will often just e-mail the author of the article or ask a colleague in another university. “It’s not a closed door. It’s more of a very porous sieve.”
Posted in Open Education
Tagged higher education, Internet, library, OATP, open access, open content, openness
Stephen Downes notes a recent submission to the FCC regarding the open Internet. Downes provides a thorough roundup of coverage.
Posted in Open Education
Tagged commons, copy right, copyright, Internet, openness
David Wiley has posted slides from a recent conference. The slides suggest varying definitions of “open” and the need to be inclusive to practitioners who use different definitions. From the post:
First, this presentation presents a strengthened and clarified definition of OER that includes (1) free, (2) 4Rs permissions, and (3) technology and media choices that do not interfere with users exercising 4R permissions. This is the “theory” in the title.
Posted in Open Education
Tagged commons, ocw, oer, open content, Open Education, openness
Scott Leslie has a new, eclectic post on Open Education Conference 2010 and Mozilla Drumbeat. From one of many fragments:
There are some deep differences not only between David and I but amongst many in this “movement,” but that is what I love about it, the willingness to still engage.
Thanks to D’Arcy Norman for the link.
Posted in Open Education
Tagged commons, conference, drumbeat, e-learning, higher education, ocw, oer, online learning, open content, Open Education, openness
Nicholas Whittier has a new post arguing for open source adoption in CS classes. From the post:
One thing I do see occasionally in my internet travels, that corresponds well, is advice from programmers to CS students who say, participate in an open source project – it offers great experience. I would venture a guess that the better CS students do just that.
Thanks to opensourceway for the link.
Anil Prasad P has a new post discussing a recent forum on “Taking OER Beyond OER”. From the post:
Academic bodies/institutions and Universities should be required, by law, to regularly develop and distribute Open Educational Resources relevant to their approved curricula for various courses/qualifications.
Posted in Open Education
Tagged e-learning, higher education, ocw, oer, online learning, open content, Open Education, openness
