Open Source and Open Information is something I have been passionate about for a very long time. It started as a way to free computers from the proprietary systems distributed by computer manufacturers. The GNU not Unix movement helped to get this started. From the beginning the concept of "Free as in freedom of speech versus Free as in Free Beer" has been the balancing act of the Open movements.
Open Education, like Open Source comes down to a question of Freedom and access versus low cost (Stallman). Freedom is never free, as it always comes with a cost. It means that the responsibility for its use falls on the user. After all, if you exercise your freedom of speech you must be prepared for a reaction. Likewise if you use Open Source/Information you become a steward for the product or information. You become responsible for its use and abuse. If there is a security breach or the information is incorrect there is no one else who is responsible. That lies with you.
However the possibilities are endless. As great minds share those minds we all gain. If you can add your own mindshare to this, the world can become a better place. This opens access to those who may not be able to get information or software due to georgraphic or economic conditions. There is potential for crossing the digital divide as we democratize the electronic media. This is what Freedom is about.
An interesting side effect of the Open Source movement as a socialist concept... it allows the capitalist concept of Adam Smith's Invisible Hand of market forces work more efficiently (Smith, 1776). It levels the playing field a bit, as the cost of entry into new markets gets cheaper for businesses of all sizes.
Free the Software
References
Fenster, Free The Software. Retrieved from http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/yt-yK9MNPlwr2k/fenster_the_free_software_song.swf
Smith,A (1776) The Wealth of Nations. Retrieved from:http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/smith-adam/works/wealth-of-nations/index.htm
Stallman, R. Why Software Should Not Have Owners. retrieved from http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/why-free.html
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Static and Dynamic Technology
The Static to Dynamic continuum is an interesting topic of discussion and is truly mapping our progression into the future of learning. Static means not changing and indicates where technology has come from, and Dynamic basically means changing, or not static.
In information systems we talk about Dynamic services or content as coming from databases or real-time feeds of data. This means that as systems change, the information shared between the users of the data changes as well.
This is pertinent in modern learning systems, because a pdf generated from a word document today may not be relevant tomorrow. Text books stating Pluto is a planet became outdated as soon as the decision to make it a dwarf planet was reached. However eTexts that are fed from databases could all be changed at one time with a single change in a classification field.
Real time simulations and multi player game environments are good examples of dynamic environments in which both teacher and learners can become part of the same environment and explore context driven information. An interesting blog for Sloodle, a way to assess learning in Second Life within the Moodle open source learning environment, indicates the trend for bringing information and wayfinding together for relevant information.
We have a brave new world ahead of us and I am beginning to emerge from one who fixes and scales technology to one who develops learning and relevance. I often find myself developing mostly static content, however I am always drawn to dynamic collaborative learning. We live in exciting times.
Britt, R. (2006). Scientists decide Pluto’s no longer a planet. MSNBC. Retrieved from:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14489259/
Bloomfield, P.(2010).quizHUD cited in WCC2010. retrieved from:https://www.sloodle.org/blog/?p=213
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