Open Learning Network

We have addressed the issue of OER remix and mash ups several times during our discussions and in our research activities. Both remixing and mash-ups, which originate from music and web development respectively, have been become popular social media activities.

Typically mashups have been about data visualisation, such as overlaying geo-tagged photos on online maps. Mashups need some technical skill to create and tend to rely on open application programming interfaces (APIs). Tools such as Microsoft’s Popfly, Google’s mashup engine and Yahoo Pipes – to mention just a few – have made the process more straightforward. Elaborate mixing of visual digital material into montages has also been possible with tools such as Thumbstacks and Yono; Googlelittrips can link literature and historical documents to locations. A new exciting ' mashing up the web' open course/study group at P2PU aims to engage learners in creative endevours.

'Nine Steps to Collaborative Composites' qthomasbower @flickr
 
The cultural and educational significance of remixing and mashups - within and beyond the technical, within and beyond open source software and content - has become the object of intense discussions and empirical investigation. Linking research, teaching and learning through mashups in several projects within the eHumanities, and the eSciences is becoming more widespread.
 
My interest is both academic and pedagogical. I came across an announcement for the launch this new book on Mashup Cultures, which I would like to share here. Edited by Stefan Sonvilla-Weiss,  this volume brings together renowned scholars (including Henry Jenkins, Mizuku Ito, David Gauntlett) and young researchers to review a colourful spectrum of media-theoretical, practical and -educational approaches to current creative practices and techniques of production and consumption - on and off - the web. Along with the exploration of some of the emerging social media concepts, the book unveils some of the key drivers leading to participatory engagement of the user. According to its blurb, the book presents a broader view of the effects and consequences of current remix practices and the recombination of existing digital cultural content.
 
 

Contents

• Stefan Sonvilla-Weiss: Introduction: Mashups, Remix Practices and the Recombination of Existing Digital Content
• Axel Bruns: Distributed Creativity: Filesharing and Produsage
• Brenda Castro: The Virtual Art Garden: A Case Study of User-centered Design for Improving Interaction in Distant Learning Communities of Art Students
• Doris Gassert: "You met me at a very strange time in my life." Fight Club and the Moving Image on the Verge of 'Going Digital'
• David Gauntlett: Creativity, Participation and Connectedness: An Interview with David Gauntlett
• Mizuko Ito: Mobilizing the Imagination in Everyday Play: The Case of Japanese Media Mixes
• Henry Jenkins: Multiculturalism, Appropriation, and the New Media Literacies: Remixing Moby Dick
• Owen Kelly: Sexton Blake & the Virtual Culture of Rosario: A Biji; Torsten Meyer: On the Database Principle: Knowledge and Delusion
• Eduardo Navas: Regressive and Reflexive Mashups in Sampling Culture
• Christina Schwalbe: Change of Media, Change of Scholarship, Change of University: Transition from the Graphosphere to a Digital Mediosphere
• Noora Sopula & Joni Leimu: A Classroom 2.0 Experiment
• Stefan Sonvilla-Weiss: Communication Techniques, Practices and Strategies of Generation "Web n+1"
• Wey-Han Tan: Playing (with) Educational Games - Integrated Game Design and Second Order Gaming
• Tere Vadén interviewed by Juha Varto: Tepidity of the Majority and Participatory Creativity.

 
Interestingly, the book seems to addresse questions of remix culture and pedagogy that are relevant to OER and the development of creativity, critical and participatory literacies. A definite future addition to my bookshelf; will look forward to reading and reviewing it. So, watch this space for future posts.