Diana Bang's ETEC 531 e-portfolio

I initially think of “open source” to denote free software, with available source code for universal access and use by anyone (whether it is used as is or as modified code).

Petrina, Volk & Kim (2004) define “open source” to be “processes of creating, distributing, using, modifying and sharing software programs without the fear of patent infringements in both commercial and non-commercial environments.” According to these authors, Linux is at the heart of current open source software movement which evolved into initiatives by others including Sun Microsystem’s Openoffice.org and MIT’s OpenCourseWare.

According to the Open Source Initiative (2011), the definition of open source doesn’t merely stop at accessible source code.  There’s a “top ten” list of criteria that open-source software has to comply with including:

1. Free redistribution

2. Source code

3. Derived works

4. Integrity of the author’s source code

5. No discrimination against persons or groups

6. No discrimination against fields of endeavors

7. Distribution of license

8. License must not be specific to a product

9. License must not restrict other software

10. License must be technology-neutral

(Source: Open Source Initiative, 2011 at: http://www.opensource.org/docs/osd)

On p.71 of our course textbook, Murphie and Potts (2003) assert that the open source movement argues that “basic software should be freely available to all and should be developed freely within a network of benevolent programmers constituting something like the “collective intelligence” advocated by Pierre Levy. Interestingly enough, the next open source movement for higher education (asides from course management systems) is the administrative side- with Kuali leading the charge. Jaschik (2009) discusses this at: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/07/06/kuali. Another useful e-resource examines what’s next for open knowledge and is available at: http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/chapters/0262033712chap27.pdf

References

García-Peñalvo, F. J. , de Figuerola, C. G., & Merlo,  J. A. (2010). Open knowledge management in higher education. Online Information Review, 34(4). Retrieved from http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=1876485&show=html

Gregg, D. (2009). UBC implementation- Kuali CM. Retrieved from http://www.it.ubc.ca/__shared/assets/UBC_Implementation_-_Kuali_CM_Presentation_by_Doug_Gregg9166.pdf

Huber, M.T., & Hutchings, P. (2008). Chapter 27: What’s next for open knowledge? In T. Iiyoshi & M.S. Vijay Kumar, Opening up education: The collective advancement of education through open technology, open content, and open knowledge (pp. 417-428). Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press. Retrieved from http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/chapters/0262033712chap27.pdf

Jaschik, S. (2009). The next open source movement. Retrieved from http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/07/06/kuali

Kuali Foundation. (n.d.). About the Kuali community. Retrieved from http://www.kuali.org/about

Murphie, A., & Potts, J. (2003). Chapter 3: Digital aesthetics: Cultural effects of new media technologies. In A. Murphie & J. Potts, Culture and technology (pp.66-94). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Open Source Initiative. (2011). The open source definition. Retrieved from http://www.opensource.org/docs/osd

Petrina, S., Volk, K., & Kim, S. (2004). Technology and rights. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 14(3), 1-16.

UBC Student Services. (n.d.). Kuali student: Background. Retrieved from: http://www.students.ubc.ca/mura/kuali/