R.I. joins #GoOpen initiative

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island has joined 12 other states in offering teachers access to free, openly-licensed digital materials to supplement traditional textbooks.
The #GoOpen initiative is coordinated by the U.S. Department of Education.
“We recognize the importance of providing our students with the highest-quality learning resources, and we want to make excellent online instructional materials available to our teachers, free of charge,” Gov. Gina M. Raimondo said in a prepared statement. “The #GoOpen initiative will accelerate our commitment to bringing our schools and classrooms into the digital age.”
Openly licensed educational resources are digital learning materials that can be used, modified and shared without breaking copyright laws or paying licensing fees. As such, they have the potential to increase fair access to high-quality education opportunities for all students.
Joseph South, director of the Office of Educational Technology at the U.S. DOE, cited Rhode Island’s involvement at a #GoOpen Exchange Friday in San Francisco.
“We are excited to work with Rhode Island to make openly licensed educational resources available to more teachers,” he said. “The smart use of digital-learning resources can increase equity and empower teachers.”
The chairpersons of both the R.I. Board of Education and the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education hailed the state’s commitment as beneficial.
“Not only can these online materials advance classroom instruction – these resources can also save taxpayer money, as they are available at no cost,” said R.I. Board of Education Chairwoman Barbara S. Cottam.
Other states involved in the initiative are: Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Rhode Island’s commitment to the #GoOpen initiative involves implementing a statewide technology strategy that includes the use of openly licensed resources as a central component and collaborating with participating states to share professional development strategies. A website will be created to document progress. For more information, visittech.ed.gov/open.

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