In this OEDC 2007 report David Wiley defined sustainability as ‘an open educational resource project’s ongoing ability to meet its goals‘ (p. 5). Wiley describes 3 models of sustainability for open educational resources: MIT model, USU model and Rice model. We are asked to have a look at the following 4 open education initiatives and think about what model of sustainability they could operate.
- single open online course
- run by 3 facilitators, think on a voluntary basis
- course is terminated, seems not to be updated
(there may be some activities within communities, for example on twitter still see hashtag #change11)
I see ChangeMooc as a one-time initiative without any further follow-up. None of the 3 models apply.
- does not create courses or resources they provide platform and marketing for open courses
- institutions (universities) can offer online courses/resources
- funded by the universities
- managed by team (technology, management, marketing)
- learners are not allowed to reuse course resources
From my point of view, coursera provides services not content. The content created and published by third-parties on coursera cant be reused. Don’t think this fall into Wileys definition of sustainability in relation to OER.
- does not create online courses or resources
- provides service: repository for resources
- funded by JISC
- managed by team (technology, management, coordination)
- resources created and shared by staff in UK Further and Higher Education
Mix of MIT model (jorum as platform) and Rice model (creators)
- creates and publish online courses / resource
- part-funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
- probably run and managed by staff at OU
- resources can be reused
Similar to Jorum, mix of all models
Just by quickly browsing information available on their websites i can’t see behind the scene how a project is really sustained. Sustainability is mainly about people’s involvement. I like the jorum user stories, they tell me more about.
Resource:
Wiley (2007), On the Sustainability of Open Educational Resource Initiatives in Higher Education
moltilearn 
It was interesting to read your approach to this activity. I can see that people have dealt with it somewhat different. I found it a bit difficult myself to find the necessary information. And as you say just surfing the net does not give you information on how a project is really sustained. I also in particular found more interesting information relating to Jorum than any of the other platforms.
Hi Inger-Marie, thanks for your comment. Personally i like user stories, when i understand the user then i can understand the system.