Open Sourcing Education in South Africa Mark Surman Open Philanthropy Fellow 22.07.07

Open sourcing education?

Today's talk Shuttleworth Foundation vision. Open (source) education projects in South Africa (and globally. Connecting into the free and open source community.

Shuttleworth Foundation vision.

Open (source) education projects in South Africa (and globally.

Connecting into the free and open source community.

South Africa Tremendous opportunity ... ... but struggling to innovate and compete.

Tremendous opportunity ...

... but struggling to innovate and compete.

Foundation vision

Foundation vision

Foundation vision

Foundation vision

Some education gaps Poor access to computers and Internet. One text book in classroom. Weak maths, science and analysis skills.

Poor access to computers and Internet.

One text book in classroom.

Weak maths, science and analysis skills.

Ecosystem approach.

TuxLabs Access to computers, Internet and educational content. Linux-based computer labs in 200+ South African schools. Sustained by Inkululeko, volunters and local entreprenuers.

Access to computers, Internet and educational content.

Linux-based computer labs in 200+ South African schools.

Sustained by Inkululeko, volunters and local entreprenuers.

Free Text Books Royalty free text books, written and maintained by volunteers. Grade 10 – 12 science and math complete, now scaling to more. Department of Education partnership in works.

Royalty free text books, written and maintained by volunteers.

Grade 10 – 12 science and math complete, now scaling to more.

Department of Education partnership in works.

Kusasa Students gain analysis and logic skills by learning programming. P2P, 'explore, discover and learn' approach built around Squeek and Python. Early stage development now, pilots in 2008.

Students gain analysis and logic skills by learning programming.

P2P, 'explore, discover and learn' approach built around Squeek and Python.

Early stage development now, pilots in 2008.

Open education movement Networking with open education activists. South Africans leverage and learn globally. Potential for policy change by collaborating with UNESCO, iCommons, etc.

Networking with open education activists.

South Africans leverage and learn globally.

Potential for policy change by collaborating with UNESCO, iCommons, etc.

Challenges Finding and grooming new leaders. Replicating, scaling and sustaining pilots. Getting policy makers on board, and implementing policy decisions.

Finding and grooming new leaders.

Replicating, scaling and sustaining pilots.

Getting policy makers on board, and implementing policy decisions.

Learning from open source Managing textbook communities -> massive peer production. Working across many languages, balancing local and global. Building global networks, and movements.

Managing textbook communities -> massive peer production.

Working across many languages, balancing local and global.

Building global networks, and movements.

Why does it matter? “ If we are to lift Africa from her current circumstances, we will need a generation of learners that are gifted with curiosity about the world, and the tools to understand and shape that world.” Mark Shuttleworth

“ If we are to lift Africa from her current circumstances, we will need a generation of learners that are gifted with curiosity about the world, and the tools to understand and shape that world.”

Mark Shuttleworth

Open Sourcing Education in South Africa http://www.slideshare.net/msurman/ open-sourcing-education-ubuntu-live 22.07.07