To Joyce Re: [eL4C32] Re: DISCUSSION ACTIVITY FOR DAY AS PART OF DAY 1 INSTRUCTIONS

[Mary]

My husband is thinking about publishing a book based on his lecture notes for a course that he taught based on his research. There is no published book on that particular topic yet. But writing up the course notes into book format is so labor intensive and time consuming that he will not publish the book without a paid sabbatical leave from his administrative and teaching duties.

So, I can relate to your desire to share your book as an open education resource, but being aware fo the financial realities of having to sell our knowledge in order to make a living. I, too, am very glad that students pay tuition so that my husband can earn a living for us.

On Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 12:42 AM, <Joyce.M...@esc.edu> wrote:

 I agree while in principle I would gladly give my knowledge, skills, and whatever wisdom I may possess away freely, I do have to support my family and am very glad that students pay tuition so that the college can pay me a living wage...so there is always a balance that I try to maintain by sharing with anyone who asks especially students who need extra help and encouragement...Today I have found myself wondering whether it would be better to publish the textbook I am working on as an OER or to continue to work with an old-fashioned publisher among other things I was wondering if an OER would somehow "get lost" in cyberspace...marketing is one function traditional publishers did fulfill.   How will folks even know that OER texts are available or is there an approach being considered.  Joyce

Angie <integ...@gmail.com>
11/24/2009 02:39 PM PSTPlease respond tolearning4con...@googlegroups.com

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 Subject   [eL4C32] Re: DISCUSSION ACTIVITY FOR DAY AS PART OF DAY 1 INSTRUCTIONS
 

I think that the community is always more informed than the
individual.  The old tale of three blind men and the elephant!  We are
all victims of our own knowledge and having a forum where others can
broaden and adapt that knowledge is in my opinion a greater benefit to
the whole than "protecting" it from "ratbags" as Sandy so eloquently
put it!

As a professional educator I pay my bills by selling education to
others.  However, I also feel it is my responsibility to share my
knowledge with others for the benefit of the greater good.  These may
seem like opposing principles, but I have to weigh and balance what I
can give away and what to "package" for profit.  My cost based courses
are often more closed system, while my no-cost courses are often open
authored.  For me the difference has been based on personal investment
of time, energy and other resources (including money).  Depending on
the educator's perspective both may be beneficial.  From the student
perspective I think open authoring wins hands down.

Peer review is essential to quality in any open editing environment.

Angie

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[Sarah Stewart]

Hello everyone

I agree that there is a very real tension between sharing when/where you can, and make a living....especially when you are working in the academic environment. My take on this is that what goes round, comes round. For example, I shared all my resources on eMentoring to a non-profit organization for "free". That has led to ongoing consultancy and project work. In an open environment, what you get paid for isn't the content or your knowledge, but 'you'...your facilitation, your project management, your communiocation skills...etc etc.

Does that make sense?

Sarah

Sarah Stewart
Project Manager & Education Consultant
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