[Foundation-l] Seeking clarification

[Nathan]

For a conflict of interest, interests must conflict. How do the
interests of Wikimedia and WikiEducator conflict? That isn't clear to
me. The goal is the same - the proliferation of easily accessible
knowledge. Ideally, they could exchange content so that neither has
anything the other lacks (depending on licenses, which I don't know
the details of).  FWIW, Erik is the deputy executive director.

Nathan

On Jan 21, 2008 8:12 PM, Jason Safoutin <jason.safoutin at wikinewsie.org> wrote:
> If I have to be the first to say it, I will. I know some of these links
> have been passed around here before, but for reference I will ad them,
> and then some.
>
> It has become clear to me, at least a few things anyway. One bing that
> there is clearly a conflict of interest on Erik Moeller's part. He is
> currently on the advisory board for Wikieducator:
>
>     * http://www.wikieducator.org/WikiEducator:Advisory_Board
>
>
> "/WikiEducator's Interim International Advisory Board was assembled by
> project founder Wayne Mackintosh to serve as a means of involving the
> community until the project has grown large enough to elect a Board
> through democratic means. Once 2,500 users have joined the wiki,
> elections will be held to select a successor Board./", says the website.
>
> Not only that, but Kultra has some involvement with Wikieducator, and if
> I am not mistaken Wikieducator is slated to be on WMF servers:
>
>     * _ Kaltura Collaborative Video Editing Extension Enabled:_
>       http://groups.google.com/group/wikieducator/browse_thread/thread/345c056f8304e25c
>
>
> The way I see it, Wikieducator is the same thing that Wikiversity is.
> Wikieducator is not to compete with Wikiversity, it is a means to IMO
> eventually replace it. Don't believe me?
>
> Wikieducator:
>
>     * *planning* of education projects linked with the development of
>       free content <http://freedomdefined.org/Definition>;
>     * *development* of free content on Wikieducator
>       <http://www.wikieducator.org/Content> for e-learning;
>     * work on building *open education resources* (OERs) on *how* to
>       create OERs.
>     * networking on *funding proposals
>       <http://www.wikieducator.org/Metawikieducator>* developed as free
>       content.
>
> Wikiversity: /*Wikiversity* is a community for the creation of learning
> activities and development of free learning materials. Students and
> teachers
> <http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Wikiversity:Wikiversity_teachers> are
> invited to join the project as collaborators in teaching, learning, and
> research. Wikiversity strives to be an open and vibrant community where
> you can explore and learn about your personal interests. Wikiversity
> hosts and develops free learning materials for all age groups. Please
> participate and help build collaborative learning projects and
> communities; at Wikiversity we learn by doing
> <http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Portal:Education/Wikiversity_model>, we
> learn by editing./
>
> So...what is different about the two? Nothing...other than a few more
> bells and whistles.
>
> We all heard about the wonderful amazing and quite eye catiching, The
> Encyclopedia Of Life - A collaborative encyclopedia to contain the
> entire earth's species....I thought that's what Wikispecies is? Not to
> mention that Erik is on their Institutional Council, which he also
> represents the Wikimedia Foundation. Again not another competition, but
> if you have been to their website, you will see what I mean about
> "replacement".
>
>     * http://www.eol.org/home.html
>     * http://blog.valuewiki.com/2007/05/09/encyclopedia-of-life/
>     * http://www.eol.org/partners.html#p3
>
> So let cut to the chase. What is going on in WMF? Why is the Executive
> Director involved with projects that are clearly designed to either
> replace or out do WMF projects? Why is the WMF involved at all? And why,
> is the Board of Trustees, the group the communities elected, not saying
> anything? Whats going on and who is making these decisions?
>
> In all respects, we have to right to know at least some things. As it
> stands, Kaltura is directly endorsing the WMF on its front page:
>
> http://www.kaltura.com/devwiki/index.php/Main_Page
>
> "/As recently announced
> <http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Wikipedia_Invites_Users_to_Take_Part_in_Open%2C_Collaborative_Video_Experiment>,
> the Wikimedia Foundation and Kaltura have begun a process aimed at
> bringing rich-media collaboration to Wikipedia and other wiki websites.
> The vision of this project is to enable the Wikipedia community to
> further enhance and enrich Wikipedia articles with rich-media content./"
>
> They mention Wikipedia three times in just the first paragraph...
>
> So who is in charge now????????????
>
> Jason Safoutin
>
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