Opening of educational resources - Poland’s actions and perspective

Piotr Dmochowski-Lipski Director

Ośrodek Rozwoju Edukacji (ORE) (Center for Educational Development)

Ministry of Education - Warszawa, Poland

European Parliament Brussels, February 18, 2014

Presentation Topics

•  Strategy formulation and founding documents •  Focus: cases of “e-textbook” and “SCHOLARIS” •  Policy commitments, policy dilemmas, policy

controversies •  Conclusion and “into the future”.

Strategy formulation structure and relevant founding documents

•  “Europe 2020 strategy for jobs and smart, sustainable and inclusive growth”(European Council, June 17, 2010)

•  “National Development Strategy 2020” (Poland’s Council of Ministers, September 25,

2012)” •  “Poland 2030 Long-term Development Strategy. The third wave of

modernity“ (Poland’s Council of Ministers, February 5, 2013) •  European and national strategies set forward by the above documents are being

implemented through 9 integrated strategies covering all aspects of Poland’s development (economy, energy, national security, regions, agriculture etc.), including:

Social Capital Development Strategy

“Cyfrowa Szkoła” or “Digital School” – a EU co-funded four - pillar program to digitize Polish schools, based on

the open license content principle

“e-teacher” (training)

“e-textbook” (content – open)

“e-school” (equipment)

“e-student” (equipment)

e-textbooks •  62 e-books on 14 subjects, •  2500 educational resources, •  40% of teachers and students use e-books, •  for tablets, smartphones, computers, readers •  under a free license (CC-BY) (free and long-

lasting effect)

Subjects Three levels of education: Polish language History Biology Geography Physics Chemistry Mathematics Information Technology Computer classes Education for safety Early education Civics

KEY STAGE AGES SUBJECTS HOURS OF CONTENT

I 6-9 Early Education 1150 h

II 10-12 Polish language History Biology Mathematices Computer Classes

510 h 130 h 290 h 385 h 95 h

III 13-15 Polish language History Civics Geography Biology Chemistry Physics Education for safety Mathematices Informatics

450 h 190 h 65 h 130 h 130 h 130 h 130 h 30 h 385 h 65 h

IV 16-18 Polish language History Cicics Geography Biology Chemistry Physics Education for safety Mathematices Informatics

360 h 60 h 30 h 130 h 30 h 30 h 30 h 30h 300 h 30 h

5195 hours of content

“www.scholaris.pl” – open-license source of knowledge and teaching advice for teachers: multimedia, lesson scenarios, Khan Academy, arguments etc.

Policy commitments and policy realities of opening educational resources

•  Social expectations and prevailing society values are egalitarian (from both “leftist” and “Christian” angles) in the context of access to education

•  “What is 100% funded by public money should be free and accessible”

•  ACTA dispute proved strong generational pressure for opening of resources è

•  è introduction of “Open Resources Bill” in 2013. Subsequently postponed (if not abandoned) following criticism related to economic effects and constitutional issues such as treatment of personal property (i.e. copyrights)

•  Educational resources linked to cultural/arts resources (copyrights ! )

Traditionally influential social role of Polish artists in policy formulations

Stakeholders’ debate: elected officials, various ministries, lawyers, lobbies, creative industries,

educators, artists, NGO activists

“PROS” •  “What is purchased by public money should be

subsequently free” •  “European Commission supports financially and

politically the “e-textbook” project” •  “Treatment of educational resources only as

tradeable goods contradicts principle of free access to education”

•  “Free access does not preclude commercial exploitation if true value is added “

•  “Students and teachers already are accustomed to open educational resources (Wikipedia, Khan academy, Institute of National Remembrance, National Audiovisual Institute (NINA) etc.”

•  “Public domain in modern world include publicly-funded works, CC-type licenses”

“CONS” •  Free licenses should be an option not an

obligation. RFPs of programs such as “e-textbook” unfairly favorize one type of license (CCs) over other ( © )

•  “Free-license” movement is a de facto (even if not intended) business lobbying effort promoting revenues from network traffic over revenues from creative work. “Why government should promote foreign profits over artists and producers who preserve Polish language and culture”

•  “The policy will lead to destruction of Polish creative industries,”

•  “Public domain stems from copyright laws (70 year protection etc) and its meaning must not be expanded”

Conclusion: Poland’s commitments and perspectives

•  Poland’s Ministry of Education is committed to and will continue development of open educational resources.

•  Discussions nothwistanding, all political parties generally respond favorably to social expectations and do not actively contest government policies in this area

•  Poland will move carefully with regard to copyrights. Emphasis on voluntary transfer of rights, respecting constitutional protection of property

•  New EU financial perspective will include spending for digitization of schools (approximately 1,5 billion Euro)

•  Commercial entities (publishers, others) will seek ways to commercially exploit resources available under common licenses, whenever applicable and viable

THE FUTURE IS PROMISING!

Thank you! piotr.dmochowski-lipski@ore.edu.pl

www.ore.edu.pl

www.scholaris.pl www.men.gov.pl