Giving Knowledge for Free

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.

subjects: Internet in education,  Distance education,  Computer-assisted instruction,  Internet en éducation,  Enseignement à distance,  Enseignement assisté par ordinateur,  Computer assisted teaching,  Educational resources,  Internet,  Leermiddelen,  Open access,  Teleleren,  Hoger onderwijs,  Open learning,  Internet en education,  Enseignement a? distance,  Enseignement assiste? par ordinateur