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User:Michael rowe: Difference between revisions
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==Basics== | ==Basics== | ||
'''Short description:''' Most academic textbooks are published in America or Europe, which brings with it several problems, not least of which is high cost, lack of contextual relevance and outdated evidence | '''Short description:''' Most academic textbooks are published in America or Europe, which brings with it several problems, not least of which is high cost, lack of contextual relevance and outdated evidence. | ||
'''Advantages of this approach:''' | |||
* The content can continually be updated e.g. links to new studies can be added immediately | |||
* The content can be distributed across geography and timezones | |||
* Digital multimedia adds a depth to the content that is impossible to achieve in print e.g. hyperlinking to relevant sources, embedded video and audio, and animated graphics are just a few possibilities | |||
* Individuals taking responsibility for only small sections, rather than an entire book or even chapter, reducing the time commitment from authors | |||
* The use of more permissive / less restrictive copyright licenses, allowing greater freedom in how the content is used (and paid for) | |||
* Print runs could be limited only to the number of students requiring that specific content, with individuals paying only for the content they need, rather than entire textbooks | |||
* A social and cultural relevance lacking in international publications | |||
* Encouraging student participation on multiple levels e.g. basic editing of grammar and spelling, checking of references and using digital multimedia (images and video) created by them | |||
* Ability to translate the content into any language (one advantage of less restrictive licensing) | |||
* The inclusion of content not normally associated with a particular topic e.g. adding a significantly more prominent ethical / human rights component to a chapter on stroke rehabilitation i.e the ability to take the content in new directions, limited only by the author's creativity | |||
* Finally, as an academic exercise, it will stimulate a national discussion / debate around both educational and clinical practices in South Africa | |||
'''Audience:''' South African physiotherapy clinicians, educators and students. | '''Audience:''' South African physiotherapy clinicians, educators and students. | ||
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# [http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Wikiversity:Main_Page Wikiversity] | # [http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Wikiversity:Main_Page Wikiversity] | ||
# [http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Main_Page Wikibooks]: I started a book on [http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Physiotherapy_assessment/contents assessment] a few years ago, which has been added to by a few others since then. I haven't put any work into it since I began it because I felt (at the time) that there was no-one else working in this space. Also, it's an international project, so not really relevant for this particular one. | # [http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Main_Page Wikibooks]: I started a book on [http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Physiotherapy_assessment/contents assessment] a few years ago, which has been added to by a few others since then. I haven't put any work into it since I began it because I felt (at the time) that there was no-one else working in this space. Also, it's an international project, so not really relevant for this particular one. | ||
'''Challenges:''' | |||
Of course, there are challenges to a project of this nature, not least of which revolve around controversial topics such as intellectual property and the management of the content generated in this manner i.e. who “owns” it. I would propose that the profession would own the content and it's generation should be seen as a contribution to the continuing evolution of physiotherapy in the country. Authors would be “paid” in terms of the community's recognition of their contribution and with the knowledge that better education and patient care will be a direct result of their work. Those who feel that the technological barrier is insurmountable could very quickly be shown that the technology has reached a point where it is almost invisible and that only a limited knowledge of computers and the Internet is required to participate. This could be achieved through workshops at conferences, or through students teaching staff! | |||
==Open Technology== | ==Open Technology== | ||