[Osdc-edu-authors] FLAT WORLD KNOWLEDGE: OPEN COLLEGE TEXTBOOKS - Disrupting Traditional Textbook Publishing’s Heavy Toll on America’s Future

[Sanford Forte]

Thanks, all. Good comments, and appropriate to the opensource.com venue.
"Church and State" caveat is valid.

I'll try to get something back to you this evening, or tomorrow, latest.

-Sanford

On Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 9:42 PM, Greg DeKoenigsberg <gdk at redhat.com> wrote:

>
> Thanks for this, Mel.  Comments inline.
>
>
> On Thu, 18 Feb 2010, Mel Chua wrote:
>
>  Thanks, Sanford! (Everyone else: I asked Sanford to send this draft to the
>> list so we could comment on it.)
>>
>> My thoughts (not gospel in any way, just thinking out loud):
>>
>> 1) Awesome.
>> 2) Long - and this makes me worry that folks may not read it all the way
>> through due to the length. What could we do about this, if that's something
>> we want to fix?
>>
>> We could...
>>
>> * write it in installments
>> * have Sanford publish the original "extended version" somewhere else
>> (Flat World Knowledge's website, maybe), cook up a shortened version for
>> OSDC, then link to the first from the second
>>
>
> I think I like this idea, and prefer it to running it in installments.
>
>
>  Either way, it needs to be boiled down to either figure out how and where
>> to split it, or how to shorten it. Here are the main points I see the
>> article as making.
>>
>> 1. Graduating from college is a goal that statistically tends to be good
>> for both the individuals who graduate and society at large. (Link to
>> citations elsewhere.)
>>
>> 2. Textbook prices are actively blocking a substantial number of people
>> from attending - and thus graduating from - college. (Link to citations
>> elsewhere, including student bloggers testifying directly to this.)
>>
>> 3. Data indicates that under our current college education/textbook model,
>> this situation is actually growing worse over time. (Link to citations
>> elsewhere.)
>>
>> 4. Students are aware of this problem and have spoken and acted out
>> against this for years; since they are powerless to change the main system,
>> they find workarounds like purchasing international textbooks on the black
>> market. (Link to citations elsewhere.)
>>
>> 5. Flat World Knowledge offers a working view of an alternative textbook
>> system. Here's how it works. (Link heavily to content already on the Flat
>> World Knowledge site explaining the business model, quality, pricing, etc.)
>>
>
> A particular +1 to this.  I want to be careful to separate church and state
> here.  Describing the problem and why FWK is well-situated to solve the
> problem: good.  Pitching the company with pricing info, etc.: not as good.
>
>
>  6. Call for participation, and/or open questions. (Not in original draft -
>> this is a section I would add.)
>>
>> My $0.02 - what do others think?
>>
>
> Also shorten the title.  :)
>
> --g
>
> --
> Educational materials should be high-quality, collaborative, and free.
> Visit http://opensource.com/education and join the conversation.
>
>
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-- 
Sanford Forte
Director, Business Development
Flat World Knowledge
13 North Mill Street
Nyack, NY 10960

Office:  (877) 257-9243 x201
Mobile: (650) 888-0077
sforte at flatworldknowledge.com
http://www.flatworldknowledge.com
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