Voices, Stories of the History of Open Education (and what was special in 2001?)

The Plaza
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Open Education has a history and people around now who lived it. Dates, facts, and places, are fine to reference, but to me, the stories are always fascinating.

In their year of celebrating their 25th anniversary, Creative Commons hosted a panel on The Legacy & History of Open Education featuring a few of “those who were there” - Kathryn Kure, Cable Green, and Angela DeBarger, now available to watch again:

Earlier this year, MIT’s Open Courseware also celebrated their own 25th anniversary (I return below to asking about 2001), with this fascinating documentary on The Courage to Be Open: MIT OpenCourseWare and the Democratization of Knowledge, again with voices of those who were “there” including originators Hal Abelson, Dick K.P. Yue, and more.

During this year’s Open Education Week we saw the sharing of Sowing the Seeds of a Global Movement, Stories from California Trailblazers of Open Education by Barbara Illowsky featuring again, the stories of key people behind Open Education… “who were there”.

We have interactive timelines of Open Education, like the one from Creative Commons or an older one from the Knowledge Foundation Labs, but to me, the stories behind this are more interesting.

I’m thinking of the 30+ personal history series by Tony Bates, who “was there” for the launch of the Open University - I was fortunate to have Tony tell these stories in an OEGlobal Voices podcast

There are of course many many more “out there” (?)

In a number of different conversations recently, I’ve heard interest in sharing or collecting more of these stories. Is this of interest? Who has stories of their own?

And now I am going back to 2001 being the 25th anniversary not only of Creative Commons and MIT Open Courseware, but also the same year that Wikipedia was launched.

In the movies, 2001 may have been a space odyssey, but in Open Education, it seems like such a catalyzing time. What was it about 2001? If you were here, what do you remember? What else had a start then?

I am always keen to hear personal stories from “those who were there”. Anyone else?

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@cogdog thanks so much for highlighting Sowing the Seeds of a Global Movement, Stories from California Trailblazers of Open Education! @JamesGG

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And @judith you did not mention we are doing a podcast with you and Barbara in July!

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Of course, I remember so many more things after I publish, such as OERigin Stories published in Pressbooks, edited by Ursula Pike “Six women of color, leaders in the Open Education Movement, share their stories and thoughts on Open Education and higher education.”

And I have to acknowledge my top post represented a very North American perspective, being what I am most familiar with. We ought to consider how Open Education got started in all regions - what was the origin in Mexico? Japan? Africa? Indonesia? South America? many places that have stories.

Lastly, history is also happening right now!

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We are indeed! So everyone stay tuned… (and thanks for the opportunity, Alan).

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U.S. airline security increased late in the year.

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Help me understand what you are saying, Dan. I’m not making a connection.

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What was it about 2001? If you were here, what do you remember? What else had a start then?

And, in addition to tightening security on U.S. airlines:
September 14, 2001: Congress passed the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), empowering the President to use necessary force against those responsible for the 9/11 attacks.

October 7, 2001: A U.S.-led coalition (including the United Kingdom) launched an intense bombing campaign and ground invasion to dismantle al-Qaeda and topple the Taliban regime.

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Of course, now I am embarrassed. Indeed a huge backdrop for the world in 2001, and far from bringing people together.