Good news! Yale University has launched its open source courseware, Open Yale. There is only one Political Science course available, Steven B. Smith's Introduction to Political Theory, but I am sure it will grow.

What's really interesting is that the site includes video and audio pod casts. It is clear that the video recording is very professional. One might even conclude that Yale is using its open source for promoting its brand.

I have read that the professors selected to participate were mainly senior scholars who had won teaching awards. Apparently, Yale also insisted that the content of the lectures must not infringe on any intellectual property so professors were asked not to rely on published texts unless permission was obtained prior to filming. My hunch is that such precautions are unnecessary given the core notion of fair use and the fact that the lectures are not being distributed on-line for a fee.

Labels: open source, teaching, web technology