Posted: 01 Jun 2012 05:00 AM PDT

State standards, open source, and Universal Design for Learning

Common Core State Standards and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) have designed standards and frameworks to support learning in the classroom. However, their approaches on English Language Arts and the use of digital technology and open source need to be better aligned.

Common Core State Standards is a state-led initiative to provide a set core of common knowledge for children to succeed in life and learning. Each state has the option to adopt the standards or not. It is primarily based on performance and on expectations of what children are to learn at every grade level and subject. The Common Core State Standards claims that this practice will help better prepare children for high school, college, the workforce, and a global economy. The standards are heavily based on print and book-based learning.

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An open source analogy: Open source is like sharing a recipe

Posted: 01 Jun 2012 03:00 AM PDT

I love listening to open source gurus explain open source to those who have never encountered it, and especially to those with little computing background. In conversations with folks who may have never heard the term 'source code,' open source advocates don't typically have recourse to related words like 'Linux,' 'copyleft,' or 'binary blobs.' That comfortable vocabulary suddenly fails them, leaving them frustrated and stammering.

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GovHack, GovCamp, GovJam aim to advance Gov 2.0 in Australia

Posted: 31 May 2012 02:00 PM PDT

Not one, but three upcoming events will bring more open government to Australia over the course of a week. GovHack, GovCamp, and GovJam will collectively allow citizens to interact with the public sector to collaborate, innovate, and share--advancing Gov 2.0 by using government data in new ways.