Free Technology Academy: towards a shared master curriculum on Free Technologies

[Michel Bauwens]

Via Wouter Tebbens:

 

With a network of universities and specialised groups we are working on
the development of a shared master curriculum on Free Technologies (FT).
We understand FT to include Free Software (OSS / Libre Software), Open
Standards, Free Hardware. And with specialised tracks on Free Culture
and Peer Production.

Our aim is to help the adoption of these technologies and production
methodologies through helping universities and higher educational
institutes to participate and incorporate (parts of) the shared
curriculum in their study programmes.

One of the things we are looking for is people and organisations willing
to contribute to the curriculum. A large part is already there, but
especially in the areas such as Free Hardware we could use more people
who are in the frontline of developments. If you're interested, read on!

This work builds further on what several universities and specialist
groups have started years ago and that we are now continuing together
under the umbrella of the Free Technology Academy (FTA).

Let me summarise then a few  main aspects that hopefully helps to
clarify our pursuit:
* we are building a common framework for a shared master curriculum with
shared norms, rules and procedures as well as copyleft educational materials
* this facilitates the autonomy of each university interested in
adopting parts of it, while assuring compatibility between programmes
and courses
* we like distance learning through the Internet, while also having
face2face options at concrete locations
* the developed educational methodology is based in full course books,
that are openly published under free licenses
* we are opening up the development process and feedback through
web-based tools, open standards and team work
* the books are generally worked through in (online) class rooms and
continuous assessment activities are done by the participants, guided by
a mentor from one of the universities
* did I say that we practice what we preach? Indeed, the technologies
used are free as in freedom.
* we strive for recognition of the course certificates by universities
* we strive for double degrees and ultimately for a joint degree
* we build the curriculum with all interested parties willing to use and
contribute to it. Only as a wider community or ecosystem can we develop
this in a sustainable way.

A draft for the shared curriculum we are developing in the FTA Campus
Wiki: http://campus.ftacademy.org/wiki/index.php/Master-Curriculum

Many of the courses are already active, here you can find the course
books: http://ftacademy.org/materials and courses are conducted for
example at the FTA: http://ftacademy.org/courses/programme and
recognised by the partner universities.

If you would like to contribute, even by just adding some useful
pointers, please do so in the course pages in the Master-Curriculum
wiki-page.

There are more people interested in working on this with us. And even
more willing to take the courses. I look forward to hearing from you
through this list, personal email or directly in the wiki. Your inputs
are more than welcome and very much needed.

best regards,
--
Wouter Tebbens
--
Free Knowledge Institute /Unlocking the knowledge society/
http://freeknowledge.eu/
Free Technology Academy /Online education about Free Software/
http://ftacademy.org/