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Open Source Education — GELC

Filed Under Analysis, Business Life, Outside the Box, Successful Blog, Trends | 4 Comments

Open Source

We know open source is only as good as the folks who contribute. It can be as successful and adaptable as Linux. It can be helpful as all of the WordPress plugins.

Open source can also get mired in policy and minutiae — you can trust the definition at that link; it’s by the experts on the subject. Such issues have to be what shut down Zeal.com. I had to take the insane Zealot test four times a day for days, until I passed it. The questions were about such tiny details my mind couldn’t absorb them. (See Dear Wikipedia and try being an editor for the DMOZ.)

Enter the GELC

Enter the GELC, something really exciting. The Global Education and Learning Community. Some really smart, talented, experienced people are working together on it. It has the goal of an open source learning curriculum. It could be as powerful as Linux. I sure hope it is. Right now, Dr. Barbara (”Bobbi”) Kurshan, Executive Director of GELC is trying to prioritize some ideas via her blog. [The formatting is mine.]

Several ideas include

  • a repository to build and distribute open source textbooks - which are probably the first curricula ever developed for teaching and learning
  • a place for assessing the progress of a learner
  • a virtual design center for creating a curriculum from open education resources
  • a repository of courses
  • and a community for discussion about open source curriculum.

. . . all of these ideas will become part of GELC. But, which one is unique? Which one will make GELC the “thought leader” in the open source curriculum arena?

What would you answer? One comment said, . . . drop this area. It’s a big turnoff currently. Is that what you think?

–ME ‘Liz” Strauss

Related in some way
Dear Wikipedia . . .
Out WikiPedia, Hello Encyclopedia of Stupid

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Longterm Traffic Building Tips For New Blogs

Filed Under Content, Guest Writer, Marketing, Survival Kit, Tips | 1 Comment

From: D. Keith Robinson

Many new bloggers, especially the professional or business kind, find it difficult, and ultimately a bit frustrating, getting people to come read their blog, especially via search engines like google.

I”ve been asked many times if I know why a site doesn”t show up in Google results after a reasonable about out time and what can be done to help move things along. Now, I’m not 100% sure of all the details, I mean, Google is in large part a mystery even to someone like me who thinks he knows quite a bit about how it all works, but I do think it takes time to build worthwhile traffic and the best way to do it is to keep at it.

A Successful Blog Takes Time

Don’t get discouraged if your site doesn’t take off right away. Most don’t and the best way to give your blog the chance to develop the way you’ve laid out in your goals is to keep writing and to spend some time, while you’ve got time, to lay the foundation for future success.

I’m all for diving right in and if there is one thing I can say is certain, it’s that success, no matter how you define it, usually brings with it a lack of time. It’s smart to do some planning and take care of some small details early on that will help you down the road.

Some Specific Tips for New Blogs

  • Look at your first few months as a time to work out the kinks. Keep adding fresh content to your site and work on your writing. Google always rewards content and (IMHO) good content is the best way to optimize your site for search and drive traffic.
  • Submit your site to the various Internet directories, particularly The Open Directory Project, or DMOZ. This can help. Here is a nice list of free directories and some tips.
  • I’m not a fan of link exchange programs, but if you were to do that, earlier on is the best time to do it. If you take a less shady (and more appropriate) approach to building your network of links; link to sites with similar audiences and topics. Take the time to comment on other’s sites and let them know you’re out there. Hopefully they’ll link back to you and you’ll be in a good spot with a better page rank down the road.
  • Work on other promotional ideas while you are still working your way into Google. Try some offline techniques and take time to do some networking. This will help lay the foundation for future successes.

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