Commentary: Curriki.org, A New Way to Learn: Update

I have to admit that I have a nasty habit of saving Web sites to my cell browser to review later. I also admit that it has come in handy when I am waiting on line at the grocery, or waiting for the freight train to pass. So, the other day I went down the list while watching a train go forward and backwards across the only route I could use to get where I was going. I accessed Curriki.org, which I had marked with a star indicating it was worth a more in depth review.
Curriki was developed by Scott McNealy, the chairman of Sun Microsystems (talk about using resources efficiently). He wanted to develop a Website where you can get anything you want to learn, K - 12, browser-based and free. He used Wikipedia as a model to create a collection of online courses that can be updated, improved, vetted and added to by innovative instructors throughout the world. Curriki.org started in January 2006 and now has more than 450 courses percolating, and more than 3000 members. Anybody can study and learn any of the courses available. It isn't meant to replace schools but to supplement them, and the courses it offers may not be available locally. What a boon this is for small towns and school districts with limited resources. Teachers can access classroom-tested content materials and assessments that are current and multimedia-based. See it at: http://www.curriki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Main/WebHome

Update: 6/8/07:
Dear Curriki member Judith Sotir,
Thank you for being part of the Curriki community!
Curriki continues to work in support of a global education community - one that makes available the best content and curricula for teaching and learning.
We've been adding content and updating our tools to help you and the other 30,000 Curriki members-to-date develop, publish, and access open source curricula. Check out the new Curriki.org, including:
Currikulum Builder:
Available as of June 1, this first-of-its-kind editing tool enables members to develop curriculum materials through a collaborative, wiki-based platform. View the Stoichiometry lesson that one educator created using the Currikulum Builder here: http://www.curriki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Coll_rmlucas/Stoichiometry

To create resources or develop a collection of resources using the Currikulum Builder, or just to add one of your favorite resources to the Curriki repository, log in to Curriki and use the orange box buttons on the member home page. Use your personal member section, My Curriki, to access all your contributions and collections.
Content Partnerships:
Curriki strives constantly to build our repository of learning resources through partnerships. We are currently working with organizations in South Africa, Canada, the U.K., India, and the U.S. to bring more curricular content to the international community. Access the contributions of current "Featured Partners" here: http://www.curriki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Main/FeaturedPartners

Are you part of an organization or institution that can share high-quality content and curricula with the global community? Please send any information or inquiries to Curriki at info@curriki.org

Curriki is YOUR community, so let us know what you think of the site’s new features and tools, and send suggestions to info@curriki.org about what you’d like to see in the future. If you would like to volunteer to test new Curriki tools as they are built, review content, or lead a Curriki project, visit
http://www.curriki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Main/Volunteer.

PLEASE NOTE: As part of our recent re-launch, all resources that members uploaded to the Curriki repository prior to 6/1/07 have shifted from the Creative Commons 2.5 to the Creative Commons 3.0 license type, since the latter is the Curriki default license. If you do NOT wish to share resources under the Creative Commons 3.0 license, you must remove your resource(s) from the repository or change the license type. For information about license types, visit http://creativecommons.org/about/licenses/meet-the-licenses.

Thanks for being part of this unique open source education community!
--The Curriki Team