Repository Information | Funding | Textbooks | Open Source/OER |
Copyright | Flyers & Handouts | Presentations | Orange Grove

Alphabetical list of online repositories
This list provides descriptions of and links to a number of online repositories covering a variety of subject areas.

Learning Objects Portal
The Learning Objects Portal is a collaborative effort between four adult educators from various parts of Canada who came together through common interest. Motivation was provided by the MDDE663: Critical Issues in Distance Education Technology course lead by Dr. Terry Anderson. MDDE663 is a course in the Masters of Distance Education program at Athabasca University.

Institutional Repositories, Tout de Suite
This resource is designed to give the reader a very quick introduction to key aspects of institutional repositories and to foster further exploration of this topic though liberal use of relevant references to online documents and links to pertinent websites.

Determining the Cost/Benefit of Learning Objects
This poster shows learning object examples, the cost and usage data being collected on each object, and how this data is then used in a cost analysis of each LO to determine cost efficiency.

Use and Abuse of Reusable Learning Objects
This article from the Journal of Digital Information seeks to assess the definitions of the term Learning Object, to articulate the foundational principles for developing a concept of LOs, and to provide a methodology and broad set of guidelines for creating LOs.

Funding for Repository Projects by State
This document reviews the current funding and planning activities of several state-wide repository projects.

Textbook Resources
Government report on textbook costs: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05806.pdf       

New Textbook Models:

• http://www.flatworldknowledge.com/minisite/
• http://www.opensourcetext.org/
• http://www.cafescribe.com/test.php
• http://insidehighered.com/news/2007/11/15/textbooks
• http://www.maketextbooksaffordable.org
• http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/print_on_demand_space_heats_up.php
• http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/index.php?id=2842&utm_source=wc&utm_medium=en  
• http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/04/15/textbook_costs/

Other Textbooks Resources:

• http://www.capetowndeclaration.org/read-the-declaration
• http://edlabor.house.gov/micro/coaa_textbook.shtml
• http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/07/AR2008020700627.html
• http://www.plos.org/cms/node/204
• http://campustechnology.com/articles/52879/
• http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/22/EDRTUJ346.DTL

Considering Electronic Textbooks? Beware the Learning Curve. This June 9, 2009 Chronicle of Higher Education’s The Wired Campus article summarizes Northwest Missouri State University’s experiences with e-textbooks, and links to a more detailed listing of lessons learned at: http://chronicle.com/free/v55/i39/39a01801.htm . 

Course Correction: How Digital Textbooks are Off Track and How to Set Them Straight. This report, produced by the Student PIRGs in August 2008, contrasts open textbooks with e-textbooks regarding their cost, printing options, and accessibility.  

Dspace/Fedora Collaboration Wiki
Dspace and Fedora, two of the main open source repository platforms have begun discussion about possible collaborations. This wiki offers information on this collaboration including recordings of the meetings.

Hewlett OER Report 
This report examines The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation’s past investments in Open Educational Resources, the emerging impact and explores future opportunities.  Central to the report is the idea of “The Brewing Perfect Storm” and the creation of an Open Participatory Learning Infrastructure.

Copyright Resources
These resources offer guidance on the issues of copyright and fair use.

• http://www.wcl.american.edu/pijip/go/bestpractices
• http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/resources/fair_use
• http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/resources/publications/fair_use_in_online_video/
• http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/files/pdf/copyright_backgrounder.pdf

Flyers & Handouts
If you would like more information on the OnCoRe Blueprint or would like to let others know about the project, please feel free to email or download and print any of the following informational documents.

• Blueprint informational flyer (1/2 sheet)
• Blueprint informational flyer (full sheet)

The Art & Science of Repository Creation
This PowerPoint, presented at the 2008 ITC eLearning Conference, discusses the goals and objectives of the OnCoRe Blueprint Project, a FIPSE funded initiative that seeks to provide a set of guidelines for states intending to create an online content repository.

List of Conferences