Open+Content

=Open Content by Amanda Winter=

The term “open content” refers to resources that are licensed and freely available for modification, use, and redistribution. As described in the 2013 K-12 Horizon Report, open content projects focus on creating collections of shareable resources, with outlets such as Creative Commons providing alternative licensing standards to promote and protect an author's work while distributed openly within a network.
 * __Definition__**

A standard framework for determining the “openness” of content/resources follows the 4Rs:
 * 1) Reuse - the right to use content verbatim (copy)
 * 2) Revise - the right to adapt or alter content (e.g. translate)
 * 3) Remix - the right to combine original content with another medium to create a new resource
 * 4) Redistribute - the right to share the original content, any copies, or new creations

In 2001, M.I.T. announced their intention to make course content for several subjects available online, and thus was the birth of the OER and open content in education movement. As of 2012, it was reported that over 21,000 college courses were available online, with almost half available in a language other than English. According to the 2013 Horizon Report, the growing popularity of OERs and open content sharing is largely due to the recent implementation of open (digital) textbooks in K-12 schools, providing economic competition for their traditional, and more expensive hard copy counterparts.
 * __Applications to Education__**

OERs (Open Education Resources) are defined as freely accessed, usually openly licensed media and documents with applications to learning, teaching, assessment, and educational research. Examples include: open (digital) textbooks, video content, course instruction, lesson planning tools, etc. For educators, the 2013 Horizon Report suggests that OERs also provide a platform to share not only documents and media, but also educational insight, experience, and philosophy, while encouraging students to be active in finding, evaluating, and putting information into practice. As also noted in the Horizon Report, with the "flipped classroom" model, mobile learning and open content can be used in conjunction to create personal learning environments for students, granting individual access to an endless network of course materials, supplements, and educational tools.

With open content operating on a global scale, it is important that its use is fostered worldwide to achieve maximum effect. The Hewlett Foundation’s Education Program has provided support for OER models on an international scale by investing in organizations that expand networks and develop OER at the K-12 level, promote policies that grant greater access to learning through OER, and conduct research on the impact of OER on teaching and learning. Since 2002, they have funded over 50 OER initiatives with the goal of using information technology to equalize educational opportunities across the globe.
 * __Global Initiative__**

With the help of the Hewlett Foundation, [|UNESCO] (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has also developed an OER community designed to offer a collaborative platform and share information regarding the production and use of Open Education Resources.

__**Sample of Open Content related resources provided by the 2013 Horizon Report**:__

Curriki- Global community of over 46,00 resources, sharing K-12 curriculum and best practices for students, parents, and educators Share My Lesson - Online community allowing educators to view and exchange educational resources Guide to Use of OERs in K-12 and Post-Sec Education- (download SIIA guide) Comprehensive look OERs with respect to practical use and implementation

Resources: @http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_content @http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_educational_resources @http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/19/world/europe/19iht-educlede19.html?ref=education&_r=0 @https://openeducationalresources.pbworks.com/w/page/24836860/What+are+Open+Educational+Resources @http://www.hewlett.org/programs/education-program/open-educational-resources @http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/access-to-knowledge/open-educational-resources/ 2013 K-12 Horizon Report

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