Ahrash Bissell Interview Notes - July 20, 2009

From Commons Based Research
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Conducted with Erhardt Graeff via telephone on July 20, 2009, concerning California's 2009 Free Digital Textbook Initiative

Interviewee

Ahrash Bissell
Executive Director, ccLearn
Email: ahrash [at] creativecommons [dot] org

Notes

ccLearn is writing a grant proposal to fund a fellow to study the California's digital textbook efforts.

ccLearn's Observations and Strategy

Ahrash contends that:

  • Gov. Schwarzenegger's argument over the cost of textbooks (budget problems/need "free" educational materials) is a poor one. This connects low-cost/free to open source content which has an inferior quality connotation.
  • It's important to distance the OER movement from this initiative because California's goals do not represent the definition of OER that ccLearn espouses.

Need to better define what is and is not OER

  • Help people understand the constitution of what we call a textbook
    • Analyze the traditional textbook to show what the underlying processes are that are simply combined and bound together to produce a "textbook"
    • Prior to the internet, all of these underlying processes had to be owned/controlled by a single individual and then could be distributed in a book format; essentially
  • Essentially, a textbook is content + review + editing + publication in various media
  • Important: We don't want to propagate/lock-in the old-world model of single publisher books--not good for the public understanding of OER; i.e. simply paying a good author to produce content and then require they release it with an open license
  • Alternatively, breaking apart the underlying processes of a textbook allows for both non-profit and commercial organizations to take one or more aspects of the process and own it / create a market for it; this would allow component parts and materials to be funded.
  • For example: California can go through six steps of "the process" and another state can go through final 4 steps to tailor the educational material to that state's needs.

Long-term Strategy for ccLearn and OER

  • Working with only OER organizations is not sustainable for ccLearn's open education agenda; the cost argument makes traditional publishers look like antagonists
  • Approach: Make statements that no one would disagree with:
    • We believe that all learners should have access to materials that are accurate and up-to-date
    • And if we are all in agreement here, what isn't happening to make these things happen?
  • Creative Commons has been in dialogue with companies that would traditionally be seen as antagonistic
  • There is very clear opportunity for partnerships with hardware companies to offer readers

Recommendation: Don't shunt the cost issue but rather say that we don't have as many things to pay for training and resources, i.e. let's be more efficient and effective

Problems with the California Initiative

Language

Free and digital are the only words that are used in California's “Free digital resources” initiative

  • In the "bill" there is language regarding licensing requirements
  • Originally, all mentioning of free licensing was removed by publishers

Protectionism for Existing Textbooks

A new bill related to the initiative may mandate that none of the educational materials may be sanctioned for the next two years so that publishers of existing textbooks can recoup expenses incurred while enduring the most recent rounds of California's textbook adoption process.

All 'Free Digital Textbooks' will be relegated to Supplementary Material status

  • The bill will not put the submitted texts through the full textbook adoption process.
  • Process: If a publisher submits something that meets all of California's standards (it needs to go through the year-long review process) then you receive a mandate that classrooms use the content. Otherwise, it is supplementary failing meet ALL criteria and instead going through a lightweight process that is put on a "recommended" list--this where all free digital resources will go.
  • What if you get a textbook approved that meets all criteria but doesn't get mandated? What discretion will they give to teachers to choose materials?
  • Possibility: California collects all monies oriented for education at state-level and then re-distributes for equal resources at all districts. All non-mandated curriculum/resources are often funded through grants and other individual funding mechanisms (fundraising).
    Ahrash: wouldn't be surprised if this would allow for greater independence at schools.

OER Submissions

We know that Connexions and CK-12 have submitted materials for approval through the process set up by the bill; and they are likely to get their content improved.

  • CK-12 (submitted 8 of their textbooks) -- follow up with Neeru Kosla
  • Connexions (submitted only one?) -- follow up with Joel Thierstein

Recommended Contacts

Hal Plotkin, Special Assistant, Office of the Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Education

  • Was involved with the initiative in California from the beginning, also Martha Kanter (Under Secretary for Education)
  • Has been recently involved with the President Obama's American Graduation Initiative

Generally...

  • Representatives at the Hewlett Foundation and other major funders of OER initiatives.
  • Executives at CK-12, Connexions, and others who submitted materials

Navigation

Back to Contacts for EM
Back to Educational Materials

Retrieved from "http://cyber.harvard.edu/commonsbasedresearch/?title=Ahrash_Bissell_Interview_Notes_-_July_20,_2009&oldid=3641"