Open source E-learning in higher education: Problems, solutions and long-term sustainability of the approach

Abstract

Open source software has dramatically reduced the cost of computing. Initiatives to replicate this cost reduction in educational software have initially been slow to take off. Here the development and release of open educational resources are considered and the problems of overcoming issues of shared copyright with, and liability of, the institution (i.e. university) are addressed. Solutions for the long-term sustainability of open educational resources appear to be the commitment of external funding for their development and the scholarly recognition of the production of such resources.