By Nina Paley http://www.mimiandeunice.com
New long post in 'Articles' section:
Thoughts on Open Source Education
This explores the current 'Don't ask, don't tell' culture when it comes to teachers and copyright (come on, we all photocopy sometimes, no?), followed by a look at the origins of copyright and ways how teachers can bypass this without "breakin' the law."
A wonderful example of 'open source' education this past year has been Jason Renshaw's English Raven blog. An experienced teacher and materials writer, he has shared some great ideas and practical tips for lessons. The best thing about them? The fact they are so simple and completely adaptable. His Wizard English Grid, for example, consists of blank squares. And that's it. Yet the number of different speaking activities you could do with it are endless. More recently, he has challenged teachers to do the same: share adaptable materials with teacher's notes. One teacher who has took him up on the challenge has started a new blog, Magpie Moments, to document how some of Jason's ideas are working in a different context and how she has adapted them.
This is the future: collaborative and open, without the need for gatekeepers (i.e. publishers) to decide what is to be printed or not.
