Open Content for Nonprofits: Developing A Learning Game - Beta Version

Images from the Creative Commons Comic book and remixed for the card game

People, like me, who work in the nonprofit technology field are very aware of and are often advocates for Free and Open Source Software (F/OSS).  In 2004, a trio of nonprofit technology organizations, Aspiration (www.aspirationtech.org) NOSI (www.nosi.net) and the LINC Project (www.lincproject.org), established Penguin Days, an opportunity for nonprofit organizations to explore the range of issues and options inovlved in using Free and Open Source Software.

Penguin Days happen in different locations several times a year and for the past three years, a Penguin Day, takes place following the annual NTC: Nonprofit Technology Conference, the largest gathering of nonprofit techies from all over the world. The event began and still continues to be an important conversation about the challenges and opportunities nonprofits face as they adopt Free and Open Source Software.

For this year's Penguin Day, the topic of Open Content is on the agenda and I've been asked to facilitate a session.   The participants may have awareness of Creative Commons licensing, some may already be using it, but others may be new to the idea.  Further,  the idea of remixing and open content is something that is just beginning to spread in the nonprofit sector - so this session will be more of introduction and exploration of what issues come up as we try to use Creative Commons for content in the nonprofit sector.

I am not a lawyer or legal expert, but you don't need to be to understand and use Creative Commons licenses.   I wondered,  "How can I incorporate the use of Open Content ideas and demonstrate their value in the content of the session itself?  In other words, how I can walk the walk of using or remixing open content in a workshop setting?"

In researching instructional materials and resources licensed under Creative Commons license or in the public domain, I came across Lucy Chili's Copyright and Commons Publishing Game.  This became my initial inspiration or building on someone's effort to create a game to learn about the Creative Commons Licensing and Open Publishing!   Even better, the game was developed for Software Freedom Day!    

I wondered though whether I had to use a verbaitem copy of the game or whether I could create a derivative game based upon her game.   I found what I needed in this document.  I also emailed Janet Hawtin to ask her advice for adapting the game as a way for learning about the creative commons licenses.  She further expanded her metaphor of Unix Permissions and Open Content.   I was excited by this I'm bound to have some folks in the workshop who can certainly build on this idea!

Janet's game was a brilliant example of how content creators to learning about open publishing.  But, how to further adapt this game for people who work primarily with nonprofits?   I had to look no further than David Wilcox's Social Media Game.  David and I did a workshop at the LASA Conference back in January to introduce Social Media tools for nonprofits.  David has licensed this games as a Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike.  That means I can adapt and remix, as long as distribute with the same license and give David attribution.

Okay, so here's the here's the description for session:

While there is much discussion about the promise of "Open Source" software, there is much promise and potential in creation and utilization of "Open Content" for nonprofit needs. The building blocks for Open Content are the Creative Commons licenses. This session will use an open content training game that was created by remixing Creative Commons licensed instructional materials. The game will offer an opportunity for participants to discuss their open content ideas, questions and challenges. We will also take a look at other open content projects benefitting the nonprofit sector.

I want to use some of the excellent materails over at the Creative Commons site that introduce the why and what of creative commons licenses.  I've decided to start with these:

• Why Creative Commons: Get Creative Movie

• What: Choosing A License and Creative Commons Comic Book

• How: The Six Main Licenses

• Examples of Open Content for Nonprofits
  • NGO-in-a-Box
  • TechSoup Presentation:  Content Distribution in a Nonprofit World
  • Telecentre.org
  • Idealware
  • Unesco Open Training Platform

I loved the comic book characters and decided that I would use these for the artwork on the card game!  I will also use Flickr Creative Commons licensed photos for some of other cards as well as incorporate verbaitem David's Tool cards and Janet's publishing cards.   

My biggest question is what license should I choose for my version of the game?  I'm thinking it should be this one.

Here is a description of the card game:

The Creative Commons License and Open Content for Nonprofits Game

Purpose:  To trigger conversations about what creative commons licenses may be appropriate in different situations, and further explore the issues that may be raised in the context of nonprofit adoption of cc licenses for open content projects.

Props:

• Instructions (see below) 
• Pack of Cards Download cards.pdf
• Scenarios: one-liners about an individual, group, organisation, network or other situation where they implement an open publishing or content project.

Play of the Game

1. Workshop participant split into small groups (or maybe not)

2. Each group is given a one-line scenario.  They spend a couple of minutes expanding on this, and the likely open content project.  The scenarios might include:

-An international NGO that provides technical assistance, professional development, and networking for development professionals around the world.  The NGO offers a workshop on how to use online communities to support development practices.  It wants to publish the curriculum.

-A national organization that provides nonprofit technology consulting, services, programs, and education wants to publish an online magazine.  It wants to transition from "all rights reserved."

-A regional nonprofit organization is running advocacy campaign and is sponsoring a photo contest.  It hopes to use some of the photos in its publications.

3. Groups choose from a pack of cards to address scenario.  Cards are different options in the following categories:

-copyright and commons licenses (artwork from Creative Commons Comic)
-source materials (art work from Janet Hawkin's game)
-publishing tools (idea and text in some cases from David Wilcox)
-publishing projects (I hacked this)
-blank cards

4.  Groups do not have to use all the cards, can modify or add cards

5. After choosing/adding cards to address the scenario, the group reflect on issues/queries on the cards chosen.  What's going to be the big challenge?

If there's more time we usually go in to storytelling with a timeline at this stage - the group is asked develop the story of how people and groups use the tools in practice. Organisers to throw in crisis/opportunity cards to liven things up!

Next, we'd break into 3 small groups and each group would be given a pack of cards.  The cards would include: creative commons license cards (source material and published material), publishing tools/platforms, and types of publishing content/projects.   Each group would be asked to:

1.  Brainstorm a context - ngo, goals, strategy, type of project
2.  Pick tools, publishing license
3.  Discuss issues/questions that come up
4.  Bring everyone together for a report out.

More resources on my wiki - comments and feedback on this game most appreciated. 

• How to simplify?
• Instructional design advice?
• Are there types of publishing projects, tools, or licenses missing that are critical?
• Graphic design - need to make sure that categories or suits are clearly labeled on cards and there is some sort of color coding.
• David's game is licensed sa-nc-by and Janet's game is not cc licensed, but similar to free software.  What license should I choose for this game?  And, since I've published this post on my blog, which licensed with cc "by" license - is there a clear answer? 
• Anything else to think about?

Comments

[Kevin]

This is great stuff Beth. Thank you!

[Janet Hawtin]

It is interesting re the different licences.
Happy to talk about it further. Would David be interested in talking about it too?

My approach is to only require that people share what they make openly if they are aiming to distribute it.