Content for learning has long been confined to libraries, or resource collections owned by schools or individual teachers. More recently we’ve accepted that content for learning can come in a variety of media, including audio and video materials – including online.
Examples and links
The common characteristic of this content is that is has been created by content experts, passing through a formal publication process, and protected by traditional terms of use and copyright.
This paradigm is now being truly challenged. There is increasing interest at both organsiation and system level to create and share resources for learning using the creative commons licensing system. The creative commons provides a series of levels under which content can be licensed, determining the extent to which is can be freely distributed and/or altered or repurposed.
Digital technologies are creating increasing opportunity for learners to become content creators instead of simply content consumers. Ease of development of content in rich, multimedia forms as well as traditional print can now be achieved with desktop applications and uploaded with ease to sites for sharing.
Open education resources address several issues that exist for educators:
And the biggie..
Take-aways