Well this is interesting: from the press release, "U.S. Department of Labor and Department of Education commit $2 billion to create open educational resources for community colleges and career training." I'd love to have my work funded under such conditions, but in Canada it's the opposite - I actually have to seek out permission, which is frequently not forthcoming, before releasing anything, much less making it free and open (this newsletter and my open source software allow me to skirt the very edges of that policy). So why does Dave Cormier think this could be the end for the textbook industry? First, government support removes the risk from using a Creative Commons license. Second, it's enough money. $2 billion will actually produce a measurable amount of educational content. And third, it's not the only game in town. Other open content initiatives are springing up all over. Cormier writes, "We really need to do this, I think, and I applaud the government for taking a run at it. I just hope they engage the open community for help. Please. We're all out here." I agree.
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