[Author Prev][Author Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Author Index][Thread Index]
RE: [school-core] Proposed Coalition operating procedure change
Although I'm not opposed to revising the Coalition
operating procedures, I do oppose the wording on the revision, specifically
"software licensed to grant the right of users to study, change, and improve its
design through the availability of its source code and the right to distribute
the changed program," which seems to preclude open-resources. For example,
General Education Online is an open resource, and although we do provide source
code for the software powering our website, this is incidental to the project
itself, which is to provide an open directory of higher education facilities
worldwide.
The rewording seems to preclude such "open resources",
where the primary focus of the project is not software, per-se, but is instead
working to provide a resource to the education community. I would
recommend that if proposed change goes into effect, that open-resource is
specifically mentioned in the paragraph. I would also recommend that any
definition of FLOSS be added as a note after the text.
Original Proposed:
The SchoolForge website is a product
of the SchoolForge coalition. Coalition membership is by groups whose efforts
extend beyond this website, not by individuals. The website serves to provide
individuals a starting point towards learning about educational efforts within
FLOSS (software licensed to grant the right of users to study, change, and
improve its design through the availability of its source code and the right to
distribute the changed program,) and an opportunity for
non-technical/non-programmers users to become involved in projects that follow
FLOSS principals. Through these interactions, individuals are encouraged to
learn about, apply, and become active participants in coalition member efforts.
Revised Proposal:
The
Schoolforge website is a product of the Schoolforge coalition. Coalition
membership is by groups, not by individuals, whose efforts extend beyond
this website. The website serves to provide visitors a starting point
towards learning about FLOSS(1) educational efforts, including open-source
software and open resources available to the education community and an
opportunity for non-technical users to become involved in projects that follow
FLOSS principles. Through this interactions, visitors are encouraged to
learn about, apply, and become active participants in coalition member
efforts.
1)
FLOSS is....
Sincerely,
Michael Viron
President & CEO, General Education Online, A
Schoolforge Founding Member
Original:
The SchoolForge website is a product of the SchoolForge coalition.
Coalition membership is by groups whose efforts extend beyond this website, not
by individuals. The website serves to provide individuals a starting point
towards learning about educational efforts within FLOSS, and an opportunity to
non-technical (non-programmers) users to become involved in projects that follow
principals shared with the more technical aspects. Through these interactions,
individuals are encouraged to learn about, apply, and become active participants
in coalition member efforts.
Proposed:
The SchoolForge website is a product of the SchoolForge coalition.
Coalition membership is by groups whose efforts extend beyond this website, not
by individuals. The website serves to provide individuals a starting point
towards learning about educational efforts within FLOSS (software licensed to
grant the right of users to study, change, and improve its design through the
availability of its source code and the right to distribute the changed
program,) and an opportunity for non-technical/non-programmers users to
become involved in projects that follow FLOSS principals. Through these
interactions, individuals are encouraged to learn about, apply, and become
active participants in coalition member efforts.