Perspectives
I have used Flickr quite often for searching for CC licensed photos same with Google and license search. Every database with a quality assurance system is quite helpful, i.e. Merlot - most of them lack a critical mass of reviews (better) or votes (so please write a feedback if you use it!) (Braun, 2008).
It is recommended that prioritisation areas for selecting courseware is weighted towards:
- Areas of broadest utility - i.e. widely taught by a majority of providers, and applicable to large number of learners.
- Areas that will help deliver significant productivity gains or ‘transitional’ benefits towards a knowledge economy.
- Areas that do not duplicate good quality alternatives readily available elsewhere
- Areas of demand – i.e. users are ready to accept mode of delivery.
(Wyles, 2008)
All resources in the world are potential educational resources - we should use them and not to think that there is some mysterious “edu-add-value” one is adding in them. Most of the time the “mysterious” thing is simply “dogmatism” - someone want to tell you how things are, or an attempt to simplify complex issues - it’s enough to understand the things in this level. This is not to say that there isn’t need for good text and study books. There is, and they should be free cultural works (Leinonen, 2007).
The potential for non-profits and for-profits to use this technology to engage constituents and customers is immense. Keep in mind though, that the project is still young, but with something as game-changing as this, I am sure a rapid community will grow around the project to make it a big success in the months and years to come (Ko, 2008).
Sources
Braun, B. (2008, April 2).
Leinonen, T. (2007, August 15). Random notes on OER, Wikipedia in schools, OLPC, languages. FLOSSE Posse. Retrieved May 21, 2008, from http://flosse.dicole.org/?blog=flosseposse&archive=2007-08
Ko, Nelson. Speed geeking my latest open source passion (Kaltura) at Penguin Day. Nelson Ko's Blog. Retrieved May 22, 2008, from http://nelsonko.com/
Wyles, R. (Last updated 2008, March 27). OER stories: New Zealand OER Project. Retrieved May 14, 2008, from http://oerwiki.iiep-unesco.org/index.php?title=OER_stories:_New_Zealand_OER_Project
