KEWL choice for African education
KEWL (Knowledge Environment for Web-based Learning) is an open source e-learning platform that is being re-developed to run on a free software platform rather than on Microsoft servers. According to project director, Derek Keats, ‘KEWL Next Generation will be developed into the most advanced learning management system in the world, using largely talent that exists within African higher education, other organizations, the African Diaspora, businesses, and partners from around the world.’
When asked why his team chose to integrate Creative Commons license choices into their platform, Keats said, ‘One way to raise awareness of the issues is to get lecturers to think about (these issues) when they create a course.’
Keats said that the current version allows educators to choose Creative Commons licenses merely by reference. This has meant that only those who already know about Creative Commons have used it to license their work. In the next generation system, educators must make a choice about the licensing of their content when they publish a course. Training courses accompanying the software will include information to help educators investigate which license fits their needs best. Courses marked with Creative Commons licenses will automatically be made available to the public under the appropriate conditions, and lecturers will be encouraged to make source images and other raw materials available as well.
From the project website: ‘Although world class software will be produced within this project, this is not a software development project. Rather it is a project about human development, about capacity building, and about creating opportunities for people through the formation of transnational alliances both within Africa and out.’
Creative Commons salutes a very KEWL initiative!