[Foundation-l] Global Text Project

[Jeff V. Merkey]

Erik Moeller wrote:

>FYI - we need to talk to these people.
>
>http://globaltext.org/
>
>Global Text Project
>
>    * The goal is to create a free library of 1,000 electronic
>textbooks for students in the developing world
>    * The library will cover the range of topics typically encountered
>in the first two years of a university's undergraduate programs
>    * The global academic community and global corporations will be
>engaged in creating and sponsoring this library
>
>The project will create open content electronic textbooks that will be
>freely available from a Web site. Distribution will also be possible
>via paper, CD, or DVD. Our goal initially is to focus on content
>development and Web distribution, and we will work with relevant
>authorities to facilitate dissemination by other means when bandwidth
>is unavailable or inadequate. Thus, while the goal, educating the
>disadvantaged, is the same as that of the $100 laptop project, we are
>not tied to a particular device or medium.
>
>We have experience with developing a free textbook, XML: Managing Data
>Exchange. This project started in January 2004 when a graduate class
>at the University of Georgia wrote the first version of the book.
>Subsequent graduate and undergraduate classes at the University of
>Georgia and elsewhere have improved and extended the book. It has been
>used as the XML text in a variety of classes, and in each case the
>class has been required to leave the book in better shape that they
>received it at the beginning of the term.
>
>Experience with this project and the success of WikiBooks has
>convinced us that we can further develop the idea of free and open
>content books to increase the value of these books to students,
>particularly those who cannot afford paper-based textbooks. We want to
>add several innovations to improve the quality of the books.
>
>
>  
>
This is a wonderful project and effort. I will visit the site and start 
translations into several target languages.

Jeff