Democracy, Disturbing Developments, and OER
I haven't had a chance to think this through yet, but I would like to note it for later reflection and to hear others' thoughts on the topic. In the "Who Should Own Ideas" section of Session 2 of the OERu course, Open Education, Copyright and Open Licensing in a Digital World (LiDA103), it was something Eben Moglen said at the end of his section of the video with Lawrence Lessig that sparked this train of thought.
He had been talking about distributors who did not take kindly to being displaced in the online era, when producers are able to easily distribute (and control) their work.
I am thinking about a disturbing trend of "leaders" of countries acting as strongmen, which means that they need to control information. We have seen that (yet again) just this week in the US with the Centers for Disease Control's recommendations regarding COVID-19. The report was quashed because, it was said by the White House, it was overly specific. Overly specific means that it didn't go along with the fantasy the White House occupant is spinning about things going better. And the recommendations wouldn't sit well with his base. Yet it means lives will be lost. Science is dismissed, experts are jeered and jettisoned. The impact on critical, accurate, and timely information is clear.
So where do OERs fit in? Open resources such as Wikipedia provide critical information and education to many. Wikipedia's impact can be felt when governments, such as Turkey's, that don't want such information shared ban it. Clearly, people who learn something other than the party line will themselves think outside the box and possibly provide sparks that will ignite. OERs can prompt this, if accessible. If the distribution system is not cut off.
Do you see other connections between OER and developing and maintaining democracy?
The era of president for life is over. We are holding elections here.
Here...we made this. It is called democracy. Would you like some? It is free.
(Eben Moglen)
(Eben Moglen)
He had been talking about distributors who did not take kindly to being displaced in the online era, when producers are able to easily distribute (and control) their work.
I am thinking about a disturbing trend of "leaders" of countries acting as strongmen, which means that they need to control information. We have seen that (yet again) just this week in the US with the Centers for Disease Control's recommendations regarding COVID-19. The report was quashed because, it was said by the White House, it was overly specific. Overly specific means that it didn't go along with the fantasy the White House occupant is spinning about things going better. And the recommendations wouldn't sit well with his base. Yet it means lives will be lost. Science is dismissed, experts are jeered and jettisoned. The impact on critical, accurate, and timely information is clear.
So where do OERs fit in? Open resources such as Wikipedia provide critical information and education to many. Wikipedia's impact can be felt when governments, such as Turkey's, that don't want such information shared ban it. Clearly, people who learn something other than the party line will themselves think outside the box and possibly provide sparks that will ignite. OERs can prompt this, if accessible. If the distribution system is not cut off.
Do you see other connections between OER and developing and maintaining democracy?
Thanks for this post - an important topic for ongoing conversation. Not sure if this is related, but COVID19 is the most significant crisis in living memory for education. However, most institutions are going through the crisis "alone" from an institutional perspective. Very little organic participation among higher education institutions in working together on shared OER solutions. We have a long ways to go before we see real democratization of knowledge. I'm not sure that a "charity begins at home" approach is the most sustainable pathway for the future.
ReplyDeleteGreat to have you on board and please send my regards to Tom.
Hi Wayne, hello back and thank you for organizing this learning experience! Congrats on the success of the course! Tom
DeleteI agree. Open access to information and social learning are essential to establishing and maintaining democratic cultures. We have been struggling to establish democracies for over 200 years, with only mixed results. Predatory Capitalism continues to undermine efforts to build open, just, and equitable societies. While the need for cheaper alternatives may be clear in the developed world, it is probably in the developing world where open education can have its greatest impact.
ReplyDelete