Hello everyone, Dialing in from Tasmania at the moment (where I have been spreading the word of OER Wikis).
Sarah's situation is the norm. Competition in research is unfortunately a global trend affecting the vast majority of disciplines. We are trying to turn that around one project at a time. In NZ, we have an incentive called the Performance Based Research Fund (PBRF). The government will award amounts of money to a researcher's institution based on their successfulness in getting their research work published in recognised ways. Many areas of research are highly competitive - largely because of the duplication of research. If researcher goes open, they may in fact discover their work is not unique, or that a competitor is so similar so as to benefit from openness while themselves remaining closed. This sort of free riding is common of course. What Peter suggests is sound I think. The open angle in research is a competitive edge at the moment and is assured to be unique (or easy to gauge its uniqueness). Researchers should be helped to see that, but so too should the people in charge of managing the incentives, like our PBRF. So, CoL could play a small part in trying to influence the measurements used in things like PBRF.. something like extra credits for research conducted in a open way. I wonder if CoL could secure funding for its own PBRF initiative? Awarding money to institutions and individuals who conduct and publish research openly, along with all the other criteria around quality, peer esteem etc. On Wed, May 28, 2008 at 8:54 AM, Randy Fisher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi Sarah, > > With respect to this situation, I recommend that you do exactly what you've > stated....and then some: > > Let your colleague know that: > > > - You recognize that you are not the leader ~ that have come into it as > a guest, so to speak. > - That the project is being led in Pakistan and for Pakistani midwives. > > - That you have explained all the pros and cons of open access ~ but > that you do not feel that it is your place to dictate to your Pakistani > colleagues, or anyone really. > - That you are respecting them, and how they conduct their activities ~ > and while you are a wee bit disappointed, you will inform them with > relevant > information as it becomes available.....if they decide to come onboard in > the future.... > - Be very gracious, and let them know that the door or window is always > open for them to come onboard at a later date... > - Also let them know that since you have such open values.....that you > will be trying to develop an unrelated small project with them (or without > them) here so they can see how open access works (with a reduced risk, > exposure, potential for embarassement, etc.) > - Let them know that you will communicate the merits, and advantages of > developing materials within the wiki, and developments in other areas that > could be of value to them, if they were to join our community. > - And, for now - also let them know that when you have funding > opportunities relative to this particular (open) project, or others where > they can add value, that you will inform them accordingly. > > > The key is to be respectful and gracious, open and communicative ~ and if > they don't come around today, then there's a pretty nice likelihood that > they'll come around tomorrow. (Of course, while you both are doing your > part, we in the community are also doing our part to help sustain and grow > our momentum. > > Hope this helps! > > - Randy > > > > > On Tue, May 27, 2008 at 1:32 PM, Mark Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > >> Probably a dumb thought, but have you thought about a controlled wiki? >> You can still use the concept of a wiki but restrict access to only those >> people you invite. I know it's not the same thing as WE. I've had to do >> this when students contribute to meet the districts rules for privacy for >> students. I use Wikispaces; it's free, and at least in the U.S. they'll take >> the advertising off education sites. Not sure what the international rules >> would be. At least it's sort of open access. >> >> >> >> On Tue, May 27, 2008 at 3:59 PM, Sarah Stewart <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> wrote: >> >>> Thank you for your answer, Peter. I know that my question goes against >>> the nature of this community, and against my own personal beliefs, I have to >>> say. >>> >>> The problem is: I am not leading this project - I have come into it as a >>> guest, so to speak. The project is being led in Pakistan and for Pakistani >>> midwives. I have gone through all the pros and cons of open access but I do >>> not feel it is my place to dictate it to my Pakistani colleagues. >>> >>> Maybe the answer is to work through an unrelated small project with them >>> here so they can see how open access works. Then , hopefully, they will see >>> the advantages of developing their funding projects here. >>> >>> best wishes, Sarah >>> >>> On Wed, May 28, 2008 at 2:46 AM, Peter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> Sarah, >>>> >>>> Welcome to WikiEducator. And it would seem you have quite the >>>> conundrum. In my opinion what you are asking goes completely against >>>> an OER / CC-BY-SA philosophy. A philosophy embedded in all that WE >>>> does. Asking a group of people who are committed to openness, WE and >>>> the CC-BY-SA approach to work toward protecting something for the >>>> purpose of gaining funding seems very skew. All this said, I can also >>>> appreciate the competitiveness that you find yourself in and the >>>> importance of funding to keep this obviously important project moving >>>> ahead. >>>> >>>> My first suggestion (if you want to draw on the WE resources >>>> available; infrastructure and people) is to abandon working in a >>>> competitive environment where secrecy is required for success. Have >>>> faith in the importance of the project, make the resources open from >>>> the start and put the other teams to shame with the quality of the >>>> work. If you do this I believe you will find funding from a source >>>> that is aligned with openness and non-secrecy. Secondly, I would >>>> consider approaching the research funding bodies with OER as a part of >>>> your research approach; I believe this would be the differentiator in >>>> winning the funding. I believe the funding body would be most >>>> interested in the impact of OER in midwifery education. Third and this >>>> relates back to my first suggestion, start actively seeking funding >>>> agencies that are more aligned with OER approaches. >>>> >>>> Then of course your stupid question could be outweighed by my >>>> naivety… >>>> >>>> Peter >>>> >>>> >>>> On May 26, 11:43 pm, Sarah Stewart <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >>>> > Hello everyone >>>> > >>>> > My name is Sarah Stewart (http://sarah-stewart.blogspot.com). I am a >>>> > senior lecturer in midwifery at Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin, New >>>> > Zealand and a colleague of Leigh Blackall. I am a new member of this >>>> > community and am enjoying learning all about wikieducator. >>>> > >>>> > I have recently been in communication with a midwifery educator in >>>> > Pakistan and we are keen to collaborate on several e-learning projects >>>> > together. I have suggested that we develop these projects on >>>> > wikieudcator so that we have access to the wider education community >>>> > for support and ideas. However, she is reluctant to do that. There is >>>> > a lot of competition in the area that she works in, especially when it >>>> > comes to applying for research funding. She does not want to make the >>>> > details of the projects public for fear of people using her ideas and >>>> > beating her to the funding. Obviously, I have to respect that >>>> > standpoint. However, I feel it is really important that we document >>>> > the development of this project, as it is an illustration of social >>>> > networking and international collaboration that will benefit a >>>> > particular professional group. >>>> > >>>> > My question to this group is: how can I utilize wikieducator to >>>> > record the the development of this project and make use of the >>>> > expertise available via wikieducator, yet honor the wishes of the team >>>> > in Pakistan for 'secrecy'? Or is that such a stupid question because >>>> > the answer is obviously 'you can't!'. >>>> > >>>> > I'd be really grateful for your views and any advice on where to go >>>> > from here. >>>> > >>>> > Thank you, Sarah >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Sarah Stewart >>> http://sarah-stewart.blogspot.com >>> Skype: sarah.m.stewart >>> Twitter: SarahStewart >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> > > > -- > ________________ > Randy Fisher - Facilitating Change and Designing Sustainable Ecosystems to > Improve Performance- for People, Teams, Communities, and Organizations > http://www.wikieducator.org/User:Randyfisher > > + 1 604.684.2275 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > www.hirerandy.com > > Skype: wikirandy > > > -- -- Leigh Blackall +64(0)21736539 skype - leigh_blackall SL - Leroy Goalpost http://learnonline.wordpress.com --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "WikiEducator" group. 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