[okfn-za] Siyavula details

[Mark Horner]

Hi All

As promised here is some information about the books that I mentioned at
the meetup.

Dept of Basic Education printing and distributing 2.5 million textbooks:
        
              * collaboratively authored
                
              * openly licensed
                
              * enriched with openly licensed rich-media
                
              * available through multiple channels
                
      * This is in parallel to the process of schools ordering textbooks
        off the approved national catalogue
        
      * Depending on volumes these books will cost DBE 1/5 to 1/10 of
        what traditional publishers books cost as royalty-free
        
      * Highlighted by the Minister of Basic Education at announcement
        of matric results - Minister's speech:
        http://www.info.gov.za/speech/DynamicAction?pageid=461&sid=24287&tid=53112
        
      * Books now have their own brands:
        
              * www.everythingscience.co.za
                
              * www.everythingmaths.co.za 
                
What is Siyavula actually doing now:

      * Planning the development of Grade 4-6 workbooks for the new
        curriculum in collaboration with SASOL Inzalo and St Johns
        College.
        
      * Developing a Grade 10 Life Sciences textbook
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tKnJe9VzXXY http://siyavula.org.za/2011/10/21/the-life-sciences-textbook-weekend/ (Project site to be up next week at: http://projects.siyavula.com/lifesciences10 )
        
Is it useful?

http://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/gordhan-accuses-limpopo-govt-of-sabotage-1.1216784 http://mg.co.za/article/2012-01-20-pupils-lose-out-while-textbook-squabble-rages-on
                
Cheers

Mark

-- 
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Mark Horner

Shuttleworth Foundation Fellow: Open and Collaboration Resources
Blog: http://www.markhorner.net