[OSGeo-Edu] Certification of Gary's course

[Pericles S. Nacionales]

Here's my $0.02...  as bottom line goes, I don't have a problem with 
Gary, Ari, or Charlie using the OSGeo logo for their tutorials.  I 
would, however, like to see these tutorials (with proper, OSGeo-accepted 
copyright license) in the wiki and we ought to continue discussing how 
we would proceed with certification.  We can always make changes to 
these tutorials if needed.

I haven't really heard anyone say they don't want to see Gary use the 
OSGeo logo.  If anyone has reservations, we would like to hear it.

One important question, do we (the education committee) have a say in 
approving the use of OSGeo logo or is this something that requires the 
board's approval?

-Perry

PS: By the way, Gary,do you really need to download winzip for this 
tutorial?  I thought current versions of Windows include an unzip 
utility.  For Windows 2000 maybe...


P Kishor wrote:
> 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.
> 
>