James Smith, Lisa Haskel: Open Source Learning

Experimentation, Risk and Responsibility: Questions for Open Source Learning - Held by James Smith, Lisa Haskel
29th March 2006

We will discuss the all-important balance between individual freedom and collective responsibility as it relates to creating free-software based learning resources.

The Ravensbourne Postgraduate Studies department has developed an open source learning and teaching strategy.
Open Source tools and related attitudes towards knowledge and collaboration play an important role in the ways in which information technologies are integrated into the courses.

We use tools such as mailing lists, webspace, wikis and weblogs, and run a small network with development servers.
Lisa Haskel and James Smith lead a discussion on the balance between freedom to experiment and the associated risks, and strategies to promote the necessary sense of group responsibility.

About the lecturer:

Lisa Haskel is currently on maternity leave from teaching the technical studies programme on the Network Media Environments course at Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication, though keeps a close eye on progress and looks forward to returning to work.

She also supports the internet related learning resources for the course, including development servers for students and on-line tools such as wikis and mailing lists. Since 1994 she has been a producer of conferences, workshops and residences that seek to discuss the social impact of technologies and support networks of people active in creating new media platforms and tools with social purpose.

Her projects include the tech_nicks and tech_2 touring programmes. She is also involved in collectives providing internet hosting to non-profit groups.

In 2004 she studied for a computer science degree, to help fulfil her aspiration to become more practically involved in building free software tools and services.