Using Open Source Theory in the Classroom

Applying a Theory of Technology in an English Classroom

1st:
The idea is to get students to understand the theory behind the technology they use daily.
- Identify the technology they use (i.e. message boards, chat, text messaging, or for our purposes, open source culture)
- Explain what it technically is (Open Source = a set of principles and practices that promote access to the design and production of goods and knowledge)
- Explain what it does, and why it works (Open Source theory = the creative practice of appropriation and free sharing of found and created content)

2nd:
Once they understand the concept or theory behind it, help students learn to apply it to the course content.
- If Open Source is to open up your work to the public to work together for a better product, then Open Source poetry is to open up your work to the public to work together for a better product.
- Example: http://opensourcepoetry.org

RULES
Of course, there must be guidelines and restrictions. This is school, after all.

Open Source Classroom Rules

• Rule 1: You are free to use and combine your work to create something new. The argument is that two heads are better than one, that someone else's idea may have some flaws in it that you can improve upon and keep it going.
• Rule 2: You still can't violate copyright. This is a new movement, so any work or works that were created before or without this or don't specifically claim otherwise ARE copyrighted.
  
• Rule 3: When you make someone else's work yours, it doesn't stay yours. You have to "pay it forward." That is, you can't take something for free then sell it for money. You must leave it open to be changed again by someone else.
• Rule 4: In my classroom, the Open Source rule would apply only some of the time. When it is decided in class that the assignment will be open source, feel free to use anything that is already free. But when it comes to many assignments (certain essays, tests, etc) I need to evaluate YOUR personal work and you MAY NOT appropriate, include, use, or copy anyone else's. (Hopefully this would rule out essay-buying or internet copying)