Giving Knowledge for Free
Subtitle: The Emergence of Open Educational Resources
Edition: first edition
Publisher: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Published: June 6, 2007
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 147
ISBN-13: 9789264031746
Subjects: Educational resources & technology; Education; Education / Teaching; Educational Policy & Reform; Nonfiction / Education; Education / Educational Reform; Computer-assisted instruction; Distance education; Internet in education
Description: Learning resources are often considered key intellectual property in a competitive higher education world. However, more and more institutions and individuals are sharing their digital learning resources over the Internet, openly and for free, as Open Educational Resources (OER). This study, building on previous OECD work on e-learning, asks why this is happening, who is involved and what the most important implications of this development are. The report offers a comprehensive overview of the rapidly changing phenomenon of Open Educational Resources and the challenges it poses for higher education. It examines reasons for individuals and institutions to share resources for free, and looks at copyright issues, sustainability and business models as well as policy implications. It will be of particular interest to those involved in e-learning or strategic decision making within higher education, to researchers and to students of new technologies.