The pros and cons of open hardware in the classroom
Over the past few years we’ve seen an explosion of “open” models, which emerged as a result of several different factors. The general motivation behind this movement includes the ability for the free sharing of resources and tools in an effort to promote economic efficiency by improving access to a much wider group of stakeholders.
To that end, I invite you — the reader — to take a walk with me to an undeveloped third-world country that can barely scrape by, but wants to provide a quality education to its next generation. What would you suggest they invest in?
Let’s take another short trip to a small-town school where, like so many other small schools, teachers have grand ideas, but less than grand budgets. What do we suggest here?
As initial costs fall, the threshold for participation becomes greater and the gap between resources smaller. It becomes much easier for open design and it’s cooperative nature to take shape, at the same time promoting tinkering and empowering the student to create something of their own making.
I took the time to talk with a handful of educators regarding the potential adaptation of open source hardware. Below, I provide a sampling of our discussions. As you read through their responses, I encourage you to take a moment to share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Does open source hardware actually costs more than proprietary solutions?
(in terms of setup, maintenance, and time spent adapting)
Jerry Isdale of Maui Makers believes that while all new technologies have a learning curve, the key is the support and the resources that are provided (e.g. course materials, sample projects, code, etc.) Support is pivotal, as people tend to want something that JFW (just freakin’ works). But all too often, even the best commercial products fall short of this.
Dan Green of the Immersive Education Initiative approaches this question from another angle, claiming it depends on your goals. He points out that from a business perspective, many schools have contracts for support from vendors that may preclude the use of open source hardware (or software) if not fully vetted first.
Using open source hardware can save an organization money, but what benefit does it offer directly, to students, teachers, and staff?
While saving money is a key factor to consider, Jerry thinks that an even more important benefit is the open platform itself, which allows users to readily afford their own personal version of the hardware (as opposed to more expensive closed source variants).
Open source options are invaluable in educational environments, Dan says. Where the point is to allow and encourage access to what makes something tick and provide a path for those curious or driven enough to find out how to extend it.
Why open hardware?
It goes back to the fundamental principal of it “just working,” Jerry says. Although with the right amount of support, you can reap the benefits of the experimental development aspect, allowing us to build locally from public plans that can be tweaked for our needs and shared back.
Which, of course, is the essence of any open movement.
Originally published at opensource.com.
