Wikimedia Deutschland/2013 annual plan/projects/p13

All 2013 projects | Key theme 3: Establishing free knowledge in society – Goal 4: Cooperations – Change 4.1: Connecting agents

Please note: The Project „Promoting free education“ has been merged with the Projekt „Tour of Free knowledge“. More about this on the diskussionpage. 

Project description: Promoting free education

• Wikimedia Deutschland will provide clear and concise information about the significance of free teaching and learning materials (Open Educational Resources, OER) in the education sector. (P13)

Contact / Project Manager

Elly Köpf (Education and Knowledge)

Total budget

€50,000

Implementation period

January 31, 2013 – July 31, 2013

What is the project about?

The project focuses on Open Educational Resources with the aim of clarifying what exactly this term means. We will thus bridge a crucial gap in the current debate.

Open Educational Resources are free teaching and learning materials that allow teachers and students to overcome the difficulties caused by photocopying restrictions and the limited scope to amend and adapt conventional materials. The project will inform education sector actors and education policy decision-makers about the value of free education and its impact. Wikimedia Deutschland will produce information materials and hold workshops at networking events in order to give education sector actors and policymakers an opportunity to discuss this topic with one another.

How will this project help us meet our annual goals?

If we want the various actors to network, we need to start by explaining what Open Educational Resources really are. So far, this field has been very widely defined. The concept of free knowledge can only become firmly established on a broad basis if people understand the added value that it provides.

Anyone who has used free content and played an active role in its creation will clearly see how useful it is and will support its propagation. Providing information must therefore go hand in hand with its practical application and both should build on Wikimedia Deutschland’s experience to date.

The information materials will be of a practical nature and can thus have a broad impact. This will provide the discussion on OER in Germany with the foundations it needs and with arguments that have been lacking so far.

What are the key milestones along the way and by when should we reach them?

No.	When	What
1.	April 30, 2013	We will review the networking seminars held so that the summary of the results can provide ideas on how best to shape future events. Can actors in the school sector be motivated to work for the dissemination of free knowledge? Can we reach decision makers in the school sector?
2.	May 2013	We will publish information materials aimed at defining and clarifying the concept of free teaching and learning materials in order to create a broad network of actors who are aware of the added value of free knowledge in the education sector and who campaign actively for it to be promoted.
3.	July 31, 2013	We will evaluate the project results and the transfer effects of the project activities on the education policy level so far in order to establish further key topics for use in networking (see the project “Tour of Free Knowledge”).