Open Content and Ethics

Thanks to the Internet we have access to books, journals, almanacs, and encyclopedias on the Internet that would have only been available in a print format in the past. Sites such as Slideshare, Creative Commons, YouTube, and Wikipedia are now available for sharing and collaboration. They allow educators to access resources to use in lectures and presentations but it can be tricky to navigate copyright and sharing restrictions. The 2012 Horizon Report finds that open content such as lessons and classroom resources can reduce teacher workload. They also point out the open content can be updated frequently and be less costly than textbooks but they lack a peer review and editorial process. Currently, there are limited platforms to share resources, although the Creative Commons is available. While resource sharing is still in the beginning stages it is a promising development for teachers to be able to share lessons and resources they find successful in the classroom. The 2011 Horizon Report discusses how electronic books and journals can be innovative in education. Electronic resources are evolving so that it is easier to access books and journals through a wide range of devices such as tablets and phones. The technology has evolved so that books are more interactive. Audio files, videos, graphs, charts, and animations are available to enhance in books. Ancillary resources in textbooks and magazines also supplement books and journals subscriptions. While open content and electronic resources a widely available on sites like Creative Commons, and YouTube, it is important to remember that anything written and shared on the Internet is someone’s intellectual property. The author and creator needs to be cited and acknowledged as the “owner.” Often the creator of a resource will state how it can be used and re-used or altered.