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| Toolbox by by Neil T, flickr.com |
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One of the themes that is often raised in discussions within the iCommons community is this: open licensing is great for stimulating creativity for those who want to use it for their own works, but what effect can it have on civil society? How can using resources that are freely licensed make it simpler, better and faster for organisations, schools, NGOs and civil society groups to do their jobs?
In this month's '10 of the best' (this time, halved), we highlight the following five sites that are devoted to doing just that ' helping people get things done, better. And we think they're doing a great job of it.
Tactical Technology Collective
A non-profit based in the Netherlands, Tactical Technology specialises in creating new technologies for use by civil society in developing and transition countries. This is a complicated way of saying that, if you're an NGO in a developing country and you simply can't afford the licensing costs of the software that you need to do your job, these are the guys who will help you out. They have created a product called NGO-in-a-Box, which is a collection of open source software packages tailored to the specific needs of NGOs. So far, they have released an open publishing version (for creating, managing and distributing content), a security version (which is aimed at human rights, anti-corruption, and women's' groups) and an audio/visual version for any NGO wanting to use sound and images. They also run a project called eRiders, in which local ICT experts provide training, support and advice for NGOs. So go and visit Tactical Tech. Do it nowâ?¦
Tech Soup
Tech Soup is kind of like an online version of a junior school librarian. You know, a matronly, kindly lady who knows where every single book about every single subject can be located. Tech Soup is like that. This site has information on just about every technical subject any non-profit could ever want. And if they don't have it, they'll point you in the direction of someone who will. From hooking up hardware exchanges to helping build effective websites, Tech Soup is an amazing toolkit. Not all the content they feature is open source, but there is enough there for any commoner who wants to get started, and all of it is presented in refreshingly jargon-free language. A great resource for teachers, journalists, individuals or NGOs.
ItrainOnline
A fantastic resource for internet and computer training, with a particular focus on providing resources for the global South. ITrainOnline has masses of resources for trainers, non-profits and civil society groups, and offer information on skills as diverse as how to burn a CD, to wireless networking, to how to report on HIV/Aids. This amazing collection of material is licensed under Creative Commons licences, and is available in a range of languages, including Russian, Spanish, Arabic and French.
Consultant Commons
An online collaborative space for ICT specialists who work with non-profits, Consultant Commons has information on how to manage consultancies and is a great toolbox. They also have a 'healthy and secure computing' section, with a list of best practices and recommended technologies, and an active community who can help out with troubleshooting, give advice, and regularly review new technology. All the content (which is available in English and Spanish) is licensed under a CC BY-SA 2.0 licence.
School Forge
This is an excellent idea: a community devoted to promoting, assisting and developing the use of open resources in primary and secondary schools. There are links to, and reviews of various open software tools, but perhaps the most interesting feature of the site is the case study repository. Over 70 case studies of the implementation of open source projects in schools around the world (including China, South Africa, Slovakia, Bolivia and others), make this an invaluable resource for anyone who is thinking of implementing similar programs. Content is mainly in English, and some Spanish, all licensed with a CC BY-SA 2.5 licence.
Toolkit pic by Neil T CC: BY-NC 2.0
tags: international media-events
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