[OSGeo-Edu] Certification of Gary's course

[P Kishor]

On 8/27/06, Pericles S. Nacionales <naci0002 at umn.edu> wrote:
> 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.

I have no reservations, although I also must admit that I have not
been through the course materials. I don't have experience with course
materials, so I am depending on those with more experience in this.

The collective experience is the best, obviously... we all would agree.


>
> 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?
>


Well, that is not clear to me. Gary's request bounced to Frank, who
put in our court, and we've been batting around with it since then
(ok. enough cricket metaphors already).


I would think that "legal" (if there were such a thing) would have to
have a say in this, or perhaps the certification committee... are
their licensing implications wrt the tools being used in the course,
for example. This whole licensing thing is a minefield that looks very
murky to me. Which is why determining what "putting a logo" symbolizes
might be helpful -- recognize vs. certify vs. endorse, etc. etc. I
think a logo with the appropriate disclaimer would be perfectly fine
by me.

Gary's course would get an additional button, and the button in
question would get additional  eyballs.

>
>
> 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.


-- 
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/