Open Education looks to use the internet, something that touches every corner of the Earth, to help educate people for free worldwide. Where there are books that are costly and most commonly outdated, we could use open resources online to help educate. OER's, or Open Education Resources, are online, free to use and are adaptable to classrooms and various situations. A large part that makes these OER's so amazing is that they would be free to use, available to anyone anywhere with internet access. This would truly be the Education reform we have been searching for, education would no longer be for the privileged few as it is now. Not just those who happen to born in certain countries and have the funds to put them through higher education, this education would be free for anyone and everyone.

I had personally never heard of this concept of Open Education or OER's until reading and watching videos on the Creative Commons website. Taking a minute to sit and think about this concept, I can't believe that this wasn't a thing sooner, that it hasn't already been implemented into every discipline and advertised in every corner of the world. For me one huge part that I find attractive about this concept is that information could be constantly updated. Classrooms today struggle with the relevance of material, especially since everyday new ideas and concepts are being discovered, constantly putting textbooks and other classrooms materials out of date before the years end. The cost of these materials adds up quickly, and lets just say that's in one classroom in the United States. For classrooms in developing countries the use of OER's is revolutionary not only because of its constant updates, but also its cost effectiveness.

The article "The Open Future" by David Wiley address this issue of OER's as well, but takes a look at where the materials would be coming from first. Using the term of "openness" as his springboard, Wiley examines the idea that society has made people more stingy with their sharing of knowledge although personal knowledge doesn't diminish with its sharing. He goes onto argue that by not sharing our knowledge in various capacities is selfish and limiting the rest of the world.

I am glad that I happened upon these two sources in the order that I read them as one spoke of all the wonderful opportunities we have with the sharing of education and technology and the other showing how yes, that is possible, but unfortunately we have become to stingy and selfish with what we believe to be "ours". Wiley uses the example of a university professor suing a company that was selling students past notes from his class. If used in conjuncture of a student taking the class or someone using it for personal gain, Wiley shows this as a person who has knowledge but has been taught by society to hold onto and not share it. This is the wall that document sharing has come up against, people holding onto their knowledge and not spreading it. After reading these articles and watching the videos I know that I personally will do what I can to help the Open Education movement by sharing what texts I can digitally as well as promoting this concept. I feel as if this is a basic human instinct, to share what you can for the betterment of other peoples lives. There was a very apt quote in one of the videos that said that sharing knowledge does not at any point diminish the knowledge that you have.