My Knowledge Portal

Citation:

DiMaria, F. (2011). A New Textbook Publishing Model for the Internet Age. The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education. Vol. 21, Iss. 14; pg. 8, 3 pgs

Abstract

Open- publishing is gaining its popularity nowadays. Since many students are renting or borrowing textbooks from their friends who took up those subjects, the publishing industry of textbooks is gradually decreasing its income. Due to this incident, many publishers are turning their business to open publishing-- an industry which eliminate those barriers that prevent economically disadvantaged students from accessing information and continuing their education by providing openly- licensed textbooks.

Many students and professors prefer using open publishing since it saves a lot of money for students, and it allows professors to customize their lessons, integrate videos or any variety of formats. In short, the providers of this services give the the leeways or let the professors and students to take control of the over-all content of the textbook.

3 Things I Learned

1. Open publishing should be introduced to students and professors so that they will have more chances of modifying and learning the way they are more comfortable.

2. Learning styles of different students would be reinforced with the use of open publishing.

3. More accessible textbooks would be used by economically challenged students by providing lower costs of open publishing.

Application

I never use an openly-license textbook before, that's why with the presentation of all the advantages of open publishing, I think it would be a great idea for all the members of the academe specifically in improving and innovating of different lessons.

Citation

Lavazza, L., Morasca, S., Taibi, D. (2011). A Survey on open source software trustworthiness. IEEE Software. September/October 2011.

Abstract

Trustworthiness is a crucial characteristic when it comes to evaluating any product, even more so for open source software, which is now becoming widely used. The authors conducted a survey to identify the reasons and motivations that lead software companies to adopt or reject open source software; they then ranked, according to importance, the specific trust factors used when selecting an open source software component or product. The motivations and importance ranking of factors might be useful for both developers of open source software (to make their products and components more useful for other stakeholders) and to future prospective open source software users.

3 Things I Learned

1. Most of the users value functionality and reliability when it comes to open source software.

2. The trustworthiness of a software is highly subjective since it depends on how, when and by whom it will be used.

3. Ethics and profit are among the least things that open source software supporters seemed important in evaluating the trustworthiness of a software.

Application

There are some features of open source software that are vague to me. I think a more in-depth discussion of the software itself must be published so that information professionals will taje it into consideration when it comes to catering library and information services.