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How might we increase the availability of affordable learning tools & services for students in the developing world? Read the challenge brief

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Harness the Power of Educators Worldwide!

If crowd sourcing can be used to build a massive Wikipedia, solve math problems, write code for a free operating system, search for extraterrestrial life, etc., why not use it to build an educational system from the ground up?
Many teachers can find themselves frustrated by the educational curriculum that their government mandates they use to teach. Why not let them express their educational ideas and passion for teaching by contributing to the construction of an entirely new system? 'Open Source School' would be a platform for teachers and experts to contribute and write an entire curriculum for children from nursery school through high school. They could collectively construct year to year course abstracts and lesson outlines, building on each other's work. Educators could also collaborate on writing textbooks for each course to follow the outline structure. All of the collectively authored material for 'Open Source Schools' would then be made available for free, either as downloadable PDF files, a series of websites that can be accessed over the length of the course or paperback books that could be printed locally. Developing world educational systems could then utilize the entire scope of it without being financially burdened with the price tag. 'Open Source School' would also benefit from being continually tested, adjusted and updated by the teachers that continue to update and monitor the material.

Who would implement this?

  1. A local entrepreneur or small organization
  2. NGOs and Foundations

Cost

By utilizing the expertise of teachers worldwide that want to help those less fortunate than they, up-to-date educational materials co-authored by the 'Open Source School' community will be free to access by developing world educational systems.

Distribution & Delivery

Downloadable PDFs that can be viewed on a computer or printed locally and recycled at the end of the course. Or accessed via a website that can be used throughout the course to walk teachers and students through the material on a daily basis.

Adoption

It's free price tag compared to the expense of other educational materials would generate its own public visibility.

1

What sort of potential do you think this concept has to be a sustainable business?

Very high potential
it's good but it needs a lot of work before going much further
it's got too many open questions right now to say either way
2

How well do you feel it meets the local needs enterprising schools has identified? (English language, Math, Libraries, Technology, Professional Development)

It fulfills really well on the need its chosen to serve
It will help, but other solutions might serve the needs better
It doesn’t really address any of the needs that Enterprising Schools identified.
3

How well does this concept meet the needs of extreme affordability?

Really well. There are likely ways we can make this concept low cost.
Fairly well. It has good potential for an affordable cost, but more work would need to be done here.
Unsure. I can't yet see the ways it could be made to be low cost, but maybe it's possible.
Doubtful. I just don't believe this can be made low cost.
1

What sort of potential do you think this concept has to be a sustainable business?

2

What are your ideas for how this concept can be expanded into a sustainable and valuable business?

3

How well do you feel it meets the local needs enterprising schools has identified? (English language, Math, Libraries, Technology, Professional Development)

4

How well does this concept meet the needs of extreme affordability?

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Nick Shelton

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November 03, 2010, 11:26PM
I had a very similiar idea on this several years ago. I would love to see this carried out.

There is several groups doing this for higher edcation:
www.openstudy.com
www.ocwconsortium.com

www.ocw.mit.edu
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Demian Repucci

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October 06, 2010, 08:06PM
Ashley thanks for the comment! I agree that tapping the resource of experienced teachers would be a great way to build an effective educational curriculum. I bet it would even be self-editing in terms of those that get involved. The teachers who have lost faith in education, been burnt out, grown cynical, tired or whatever will most likely not be interested in contributing to the building of 'Open Source School' materials. So it will probably be the teachers that are the most passionate about education and that care about students in developing countries as well as theirs that will be inspired and motivated to work together and contribute. A system that builds on passion and excitement without the worry of being stalled by pessimists. Thanks again!
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Ashley Quackenbush

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October 05, 2010, 09:46PM
This is a fantastic idea, when it comes to education and improving a standardized system, I think is the best way to improve education is to utilize the experience and understanding of teachers who have spent their lives "learning" how students learn—they are the experts! I agree that this could be hugely beneficial to improving the quality and diversity of education developing world.
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Demian Repucci

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October 04, 2010, 07:19PM
Thanks Helen! Agreed! I can't help but think that a lot of educators would be excited to contribute and that it could be a great resource for struggling developing world educations systems.
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Demian Repucci

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October 04, 2010, 07:16PM
Paul, Thanks for the comment! Sorry I missed your concept. I will definitely take a look at it. If this concept goes forward there is a lot of potential for contribution and development. Thanks again for the reference!
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Paul Moynagh

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October 04, 2010, 06:22AM
Hey guys, I posted a similar concept "Moodle to the Power of Mooch". The Moodle Open Source Learning Management System with the MOOCH open community Hub allows anyone using Moodle (about 40,000 schools & universities around the world at the moment) to share any lessons they create with anyone else.
I reckon this could provide the platform you are after. I'd be happy to set up and run a prototype system to see if it's what you were thinking about.
See www.learningwall.org/demo for a business style demo.
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Demian Repucci

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October 04, 2010, 05:42AM
Thanks for the comment Simon! Great ideas! I totally agree that the program could be expanded to encompass higher education, supplemental education, trades, etc. I think you are right in that, like Wikipedia, it would require some sort of permanent IT staff support but, yes, easily covered by advertising or government subsidies, donations, etc. Your student question forums are a great idea! Not only would the students benefit from receiving answers to their study questions but I bet the education contributors would also. My mother is an elementary school teacher and I bet she would love to develop relationships with young students on the other side of the world by trading a couple emails every evening or so. It could not only give her a sense of pleasure in being able to help but it might also enrich the lessons that she teaches to her regular students during the day. Some great possibilities that could be developed here. Thanks again!
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Demian Repucci

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October 04, 2010, 05:34AM
Girish, Thanks for the comment! I agree that the convincing is key. But I also think that once educators understand that the 'Open Source School' project is a platform on which they can contribute their talents, expertise and passion for teaching to a greater good that is much bigger than themselves, they will be inspired to contribute their time and efforts. Also, it could be seen by teachers on a tight budget as a way to help less advantaged students in developing countries without having to write a check. Whatever the motivation, the incremental aspect of the platform would allow educators to contribute as little or as much as they have time for. An easy way to contribute no matter what the situation. Thanks again for the comment!
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Simon Tovey

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October 01, 2010, 04:00PM
I really like this idea. I believe it could be expanded to offer education courses at higher levels. It would require some permenant staff to direct/moderate and to handle IT and admin etc but this could easily be covered by some limited advertising on the site.

As well as fixed content this could also provide forums or something similar for students to ask question and recieve answeres from contributors.
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girish nathan

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September 29, 2010, 04:16PM
As long as we can convince teachers to work "pro bono" or non-gratis, this is going to be huge. As the poster asks, if Wikipedia is possible, why not this? Indeed, why not?! I wait to watch its execution into something real and would love to contribute time to teaching / uploading materials.
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