[OSGeo-Edu] Certification of Gary's course

[P Kishor]

On 8/27/06, Charlie Schweik <cschweik at pubpol.umass.edu> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> > > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > > From: Gary Watry <watry at steam.coaps.fsu.edu>
> > > To: discuss at edu.osgeo.org
> > > Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 10:35:41 -0400
> > > Subject: OEGEO Logo - Bottom Line
> > > Bottom Line
> > > 1. can I use the OSGEO Logo on the front cover page
> > > 2. Can I put the logo on the Certificate of Completion along with our
> > > COAPS logo
> > > 3. Can I state in the intro to the course that this is a OSGEO
> > > recognized Course.
> >
> > I am trying to follow up on this as I have been out on the road for
> > most of past week. Last I saw was Ari's suggestion to discuss this on
> > the list, and he had mostly no issues with Gary's request. (or, is
> > this being discussed on the wiki?)
> >
> > Are we in a position to give Gary an answer on way or another?
> I believe Ari and I both thought it was fine. Not sure if others chimed
> in.
>
> > What are the implications for OSGeo having its logo appear as
> > endorsing a course?
> >
> > What vetting does a course need to go through before OSGeo's logo can be used?
> >
> > Who will do the vetting?
> >
> > Is this a case-by-case, ad hoc process, or does this need to be formalized?
> >
> > We have many practicing academics on this list. Please give us your
> > informed opinion.
> I guess a main concern in the long term would be if the course wasn't
> somehow a quality course and its implications/reflections on OSGeo. It
> raises the question of whether course content should be peer reviewed
> prior to being OSGeo sanctioned.
>
> But the more important right now to OSGeo is probably getting
> *something* out there and it certainly appears like Gary is doing great
> things. I will want to do a similar thing this fall, and would be happy
> if there was some peer-review of the material we are developing.

Definitely there should be peer-review. That is what the wiki is there
for. That plus any other suitable mechanism.

If a course is developed cooperatively by several edu members then it
will automagically be peer-reviewed (sort of like XP).

But even then, are their any legal implications to having OSGeo's logo
appear on a course? What does that imply? Does it mean, the course is
recognized, or certified, or endorsed (all those terms have different
level of involvement and responsibility, and hence, liability). For
expediency in Gary's case, perhaps "recognized" might have the right
level of nod toward his course.

>
> So regarding Puneet's last question: maybe we do a case-by-case for the
> next year, maybe, with then the idea that it eventually gets more
> formalized? I'm finding in my open source programming collaboration
> research that formalized processes are seen as barriers to
> collaboration. Right now, I think we want to keep the number of hoops
> people need to go through to contribute minimal.

I agree that formalization creates barriers, but that is the very
purpose of formalization -- to distinguish between those who have been
formalized from those who are not. I am not for it, but there may be
some who might seek such recognition. Besides, plastering OSGeo logo
on just about everything would certainly lead to some sort of
value-dilution, no?


>
> But at the same time, we want to develop a culture of good, high quality
> work, so we should all try to provide positive, constructive feedback if
> something looks like it needs some improvement.

I think "collaboration" is key here. A course that has been developed
by one person solamente will have to seek recognition from others,
while a course that has been developed collaboratively will, by its
nature, already be recognized by many. Hence, the first lesson would
be to develop lessons in teams, share, make them available for
constant and on-going input and critique.


-- 
Puneet Kishor http://punkish.eidesis.org/
Nelson Inst. for Env. Studies, UW-Madison http://www.ies.wisc.edu/
Open Source Geospatial Foundation https://edu.osgeo.org/