High Tech Learning: Open Source
Part of the Free Software Movement, Open Source Software stresses freedom of access to the tools of technology. Although the software is generally available at no cost to users, developers must be aware of the restrictions based on copyright and licensing associated with the product.
Licensing Options
When you create your own projects, you may wish to add a license for their use. The two most common options are those supposed by the GNU or Creative Commons.
Sometimes referred to as "copyleft" instead of "copyright," this type of license assures freedom to share with or without specific restrictions.
GNU
Many software developers distribute their software under the 
GNU General Public License. According to the Free Software Foundation, "licenses for most software are designed to take away your freedom to share and change it. By contrast, the GNU General Public License is intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change free software--to make sure the software is free for all its users." They also state that "we protect your rights with two steps: (1) copyright the software, and (2) offer you this license which gives you legal permission to copy, distribute and/or modify the software." Finally, they remind people that "free software is a matter of liberty not price. You should think of "free" as in "free speech."
There are different types of licenses. For example, the GNU Free Documentation License is intended for use on a manual, textbook or other document to assure everyone the effective freedom to copy and redistribute it, with or without modifications, either commercially or non commercially.
Creative Commons
Creative Commons CCASL license. Creative Commons is a nonprofit organization that offers flexible copyright licenses to meet specific needs. Like the GNU licensing, there are different options. For example, at wikispaces they list four options when setting up wikispace based on Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike No-Derivitive-Works Non-Commercial 2.5:
- Attribution. You let others copy, distribute, display, and perform your copyrighted work but only if they give you credit. (Required for Creative Commons licenses)
- Share-Alike. You allow others to distribute derivative works only under a license identical to the license that governs your work.
- No-Derivitive-Works. You let others copy, distribute, display, and perform only verbatim copies of your work, not derivative works based upon it.
- Non-Commercial. You let others copy, distribute, display, and perform your work, but for noncommercial purposes only.
The OSTG (Open Source Technology Group) was founded in 1996 to provide unbiased content, community, and commerce for the Linux and Open Source communities. Their web SourceForge.net is "the" place to locate and document open source software.
Closed Source. The opposite of open source software, these programs have licenses that do not provide access to the program's source code. Closed source materials may be provided to end users free, however these users may not modify the code.
Open Source Resources
- Internet Archives - provides links to many open source materials including audio, video, text, and software.
- TuCows Software Library - largest site of freeware/shareware
Learn More
Copyright and Open Access in Collaborative Learning Environments
EdTechTalk: 21st Century Learning: Open Source - podcast
Open Source Resources for Education
Links to the materials in this section can be found in the navigation bar on the left side of this page. Continue to the 
High Tech Learning: Hardware page.