In this interactive, hands-on learning environment, students will research contemporary Open Source innovations, develop open source-related pitches, and create multimedia articles for the open access publication Opensource.com, the world's leading open source storytelling platform.

Something is "open" when it's accessible to, modifiable by, and sharable among anyone. This course explores ways in which principles derived from the open source software movement—principles like transparency, collaboration, meritocracy, and adaptability—are generating social, cultural, and economic innovations.

Students will trace the historical roots of open source thinking, exploring its ethical and philosophical dimensions. They will read widely across multiple domains, analyzing the impact of open source thinking on practices of knowledge production, strategies of organizational governance, and contemporary models of power and authority. Students will then examine case studies that demonstrate ways open source thinking has pioneered innovations in fields such as government, law, education, and health care.

In an interactive, hands-on learning environment, students will research contemporary open source innovations, develop open source-related pitches, and create multimedia articles for the open access publication Opensource.com, the world's leading open source storytelling platform. Working closely with Opensource.com editors, students will engage in authentic learning as they conduct interviews with open source thought leaders, practice creative collaboration skills, and contribute new knowledge to a global audience of more than a million monthly readers.