The course is well structured, proposed in a really open environment ! Wikiversity is no doubt free (the GNU Free Documentation License ensures that). It is open, as wiki enables every visitor to incorporate new ideas in the course. I can adapt it to my specific needs (for example it can be translated in other language's wikiversities, e.g. french). Everybody can learn how to develop a similar course as all elements are available ! So everything seems OK !
But, as I discover the very interesting introductive document Open Educational Resources: What they are and why do they matter?, a question arised : Is this resource an open one ?
- technically : no. Pdf is readable (known as fully interoperable), but cannot be modified.
- socially : limited. The resource is accessible, but only on the author's page. OECD doesn't give access to this document (or maybe I don't use correctly Google). And again it is not possible to modify/translate it as no copyright is attached.
Few classical problems are behind this question :
- can we develop a open resource based on non-open resource ?
- how to mix those resources giving an open result ?
- what has to be retained when adapting a course in an other context ?
3 commentaires:
Jean-Marie,
You make an excellent observation. Should OER courses use non-OER materials? I believe we will cover this topic later, or I'll try and bring it up during this section of the the course. I believe there are a few things to keep in mind;
1) we have to start somewhere and until a lot of open resources exist we will have a blended environment (OER and non-OER mixed)
2) We could always ask Ilkka to re-issue the article under a CC or GPL license, therefore it becomes open. Particularly because we want to use it in another language.
3) Who funds the OECD? Don't we all through our gov't taxes? Therefore, I believe this paper should be Open cause we all paid for it anyway...
Peter,
You're completely right !
1) We surely can live in a blended environment, as we already do. Reuse of non OER materials like our old paper books and provide OER syllabus or course. We have to think to course and resources at different levels.
2) OK again. Classical fair-use is to directly contact an author, and ask for possible reuse. As it promotes collaboration, it surely heads to the right direction.
3) Funded workd should be Open/free/libre... There are different problems behind this, not only financial problems. Some colleagues just begin a social study on the different reasons why funded work in different administration are so relunctantly published and delivered to the "public". They hope to identify main locks.
This answer arises two points :
a) Can we then say that all educational resources of different public institutions should be open ?
b) I am not sure, that so many resources can be directly translated, as intercultural differences may can conduct to misunderstandings.
Salut,
point3: do you know the The Cape Town Open Education Declaration ?
Erkan YILMAZ
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