Continue reading »]]>

With the economy in its current state, money -or the lack thereof- is a constant concern. The world of Higher Education is not immune to this problem, sadly. How do we create a model that’s sustainable and still provides the tools and education for the next generation of students to become part of the global community? What about technology as a lifeline?

FOSSELs (Free and Open Source Software Equipped Libraries) could point the way toward a potential source for shrinking expenses in a vital area: technology. By adopting a model that embraces Free and Open Source as its inspiration, Higher Ed institutions could explore lower operating expenses without sacrificing access to technology for students and faculty. Without the large expense of “brand-name” software, a significant amount of funding could be applied to the mission of education.

I have worked in a FOSSEL in my previous life in public libraries. The model, when properly implemented and maintained, has the potential to be a great asset with implications in all areas of education. Is there a real possibility that this could become a defining (or redefining) movement in education? If so, where does that movement start? What are the roadblocks to such an effort?

Continue reading »]]>

I propose a session discussing open-source educational materials, particularly open-source textbooks.

What would an open-source textbook look like? What is the difference between open source and open access? What are the advantages of an open-source textbook? What are the potential drawbacks of using an open-source textbook? of creating an open-source textbook? What other types of educational resources could benefit from an open-source model?

Over the past year, I have been building an open-source, online, multimedia textbook on Github for the four-semester Musicianship course sequence that I teach. I would be happy to demo this site briefly during the session, showing how I manage it, and how it can be forked, modified, and redeployed.

For more information about my project, please see this blog post.