The term, open, is so wide that by searching for content for this blog post, I have stumbled upon so many pages with many different understanding and applying of the term. There are, among others, pages on open education, open sources, open and free resources, open databases and free sites for publishing and sharing.

There are collaboration projects like OpenEdx invite developers to help build an online learning platform (http://code.edx.org/). Open and free education pages include WikiEducator, Interaction Design Foundation and Olé.org.

Opensource.com focus on open online publication and 3TU.Datacentrum offers tools to archive research data that is openly available. Graphic Mania offers free items and tutorials for graphic designers. Flotcarts.org.is an open source JavaScript plotting library for jQuery, that will make design time faster and should give pleasure to viewers and clients.

Some of these services and platforms are open and free to use; others are open for contributions and for sharing as well. They are not difficult to find when searching and they are inviting to use and join. They all ask for people and institutions to contribute.

I can learn and gain by people and institutions being open with their knowledge, developments and services, therefore I should and must contribute and share in return.

The mission of olé.org say why they are open. They would like to “remove barriers through open education”. They want every person to be able to have free education and not be hindered by any physical boundaries like disabilities, money, remoteness, poor resources and lack of teachers.

May one hope that by contributing to open sources will help educating and Ban Kimoon’s wish to realise.

“When we put education first, we can reduce poverty and hunger, end wasted potential – and look forward to stronger and better societies for all.”
– Ban Kimoon, Secretary of the General of the United Nations

Filed under: ETMOOC