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Re: [school-discuss] project idea: open source text books



I'm starting an e-publishing company that will deal specifically with publications pertaining to distance learning and alternative education practice and theory.

Of course 'text books' are a major part of this.

If interested, contact me direct.

Malc



2012/1/27 Charles Cossé <ccosse@xxxxxxxxx>
Also thinking about this for a long time ... here's the concluding sentences from something I wrote recently (all i've got time to "say"):

We genetically modify the foods we eat rather than wait around hoping they will
evolve those modifications.  Likewise, we can alter the software we feed  our children today by bringing together specialists and programmers, rather than waiting around hoping they meet by mere chance.

-Charles


On Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 9:46 AM, Unni Koroth <unni@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I have been thinking about this for past 3 years.

The problem is that Text books require the efforts of left and right brains. A team of designer and good teachers. Most of the times, a good physics teacher will not be able to produce quality graphics or interactive animation for the content he is making. And a designer wont understand the complex scientific concepts to create a quality graphics.

The open textbook movement can produce quality books when there is involvement from both designers and teachers. And when the designers understand the teachers content. Till then, this space will be ruled by proprietary companies.

I am ready to help if there is a solution that you can find in this sector.

A recent article written by me
http://yourstory.in/2012/01/4-predictions-on-the-future-of-education-and-learning-market-in-india-and-abroad/

On Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 9:03 PM, Mr. Klock <math@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I agree, Jeremy, and in fact am very enthusiastic about this idea.  I've been looking for open-content math texts for a while, and I haven't found anything I love on any of the existing text archives.

I'd be happy to be involved in authoring math and science texts, and I could probably help wrangle up some other co-authors, but I'm not in a position right now to coordinate the effort.

 James Klock
 Chicago, IL


On Jan 27, 2012, at 8:19 AM, Jeremy C. Reed wrote:

> I propose the group advocates and works toward open source text books.
>
> These would be open content projects that result in free digital and
> (optionally) very low-cost print textbooks and course work. This would
> be a public endeavor using open collaborative methods. The text and its
> related artwork and formatting and tools to create and re-generate will
> be freely and publically accessible and redistributable.
>
> Some side goals could be to save money for schools and better allocate
> tax payers money, such as increasing school teacher's salaries, and
> maybe better learning experience due to further media capabilities.
> (Another minor goal is so kids, like mine, don't have to carry around
> 20+ pounds of textbooks :)
>
> Maybe some ideas at:
>
> http://www.opencontent.org/
>
> http://archives.seul.org/schoolforge/discuss/May-2002/msg00194.html
> (Hey David where is your document now?)
>
> http://www.jasonheppler.org/open-source-scholarship-and-why-history-should-be-open-source.html
>
> http://teachinghistory.org/teaching-materials/ask-a-master-teacher/22276
>
> http://levine.sscnet.ucla.edu/general/intellectual/open.htm
>
> I know we talked a little about it before around May 2002, but sadly
> nothing came out of it from me. But it is time to do this again because
> I recently listed to an interview about Steve Jobs and their textbook
> plans.  Here are some related links:
>
> http://idealab.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/apples-textbook-partner-mcgraw-hill-reveals-ibooks-2-plans.php
>
> 350,000 downloads in 3 days
> http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2140927/apple-s-textbook-initiative-350-downloads-days
>
> http://www.apple.com/education/ibooks-textbooks/
>
> They may be "reinventing the textbook" but I don't think they are open
> source and may be, in fact, tied down to a proprietary platform.
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Unni Krishnan Koroth
CEO | Foradian Technologies, India | Keep it Simple, Sincere
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