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對於新政府和新國會的開放呼籲

- January 31, 2016 in 公告

恭喜台灣在2016年1月16日完成了歷史上的新一頁。台灣有了新總統,也有了嶄新的國會。這次的選舉讓我們看到了一個口口聲聲說要改變、要與年輕人接觸的政黨在具有無比的執政優勢下,卻因為不願處置過去的包袱而裹足不前,在民智已開的年代仍犯下許多不可思議的政治判斷。在新國會開議前夕,我們針對新政府和新國會提出我們的呼籲。 呼籲:開放數位政府和國會 我們期待在所謂開放資料的議題上,在資料釋出,數據分析產生之結果等,在風險管理層面能夠實質重視隱私、人民基本權利、知識傳遞、受教權利、以及演算法所可能產生各種新型態的歧視;在制定社會福利政策上能透過透明公開過程,讓利益相關者可以藉由各種管道參與、交換、提供意見;在產經政策制定上,放棄只喊口號與追求時髦關鍵字的毛病。我們希望新政府的執行團隊能真正了解台灣各產業的發展狀況,並且找出問題與建構實際可行的解決方案,而非藉由艱澀的詞藻堆砌出不切實際的空中樓閣。而在所謂數位公共服務(包含國會),不是一廂情願的網站建置或是採購網路行銷,而是紮實了解數位公共服務的對象、需求、流程規劃等。在促成尚未上網的人們上網的部份,能運用開放和包容的網路,因為這是21世紀促成言論自由和賦權民眾的最重要工具。為了達成這些目標,確保一個安全和值得信任的網路是至關重要的。未來數位政府本身必須秉持著開放、包容和有意義的多利益相關者模式來發展。 呼籲:採取現代標準和規範 在前一任政府的執行下,我們看到與人民食品安全相關的「食品雲」計畫,從經濟部轉到農委會再轉到衛福部,至截稿時間為止,只留下一個不知其所以然的食品資料庫介面;我們見到了台灣各縣市政府都喊出了要進行「智慧城市」的改造計畫,但卻僅見到交通、資通業者和「整廠輸出」等概念云云,徒然未見以適宜人民居住角度出發的政策架構和資源配置規劃,對於城市財務部分的討論更是杯水車薪,僅留地皮翻新和規劃不良等蚊子設備等各種浪費;我們閱讀了相關政策白皮書,發現更多只是以新瓶裝舊酒的方式包裝過去技術移轉的手法,或因為法令的限制,造成產業的萎靡不振,或是農地的地主寧可選擇領取休耕補助,而不願意讓年輕人承租農地等;我們也看到了以往有e政府的討論區到後來的公共政策網路參與平臺vTaiwan等平台,先不論其公共諮詢模式是否適當,但最終都可能落於人亡政息。 我們認為關鍵在於這些具有資通訊和網路性質的政策執行,嚴重缺乏符合現代標準和規範的概念。現代標準規範的特點是標準的全球化,由以科技進步為動力的全球市場經濟來推動。在這一規範中,標準支持互操作性、促進全球競爭、通過開放的參與流程進行制定、並且在全球範圍內得到自願採納。這些自願性標準作為,旨在滿足市場和消費者(人民)需求的服務(公共)的基本模組,推動了創新。而創新,反過來又促成新市場的形成以及現有市場的發展和擴大。專案化的資通訊採購本無可厚非,但在每次執行階段確保符合現代標準規範,以免再度淪落為更多的數位蚊子館。 呼籲:回到主場的海洋政策 雖然立法院上一個會期通過了海岸法、海洋四法、國土計畫法和海域管理法草案,使相關事務管理有了法源依據,但行政院組織改造中,環境資源部遲遲未能定案,海委會即使草案通過,卻仍未成立,使審查過程中缺乏主管機關版本的草案,未來執行時必將面臨阻礙。而在現行海委會組織法中,並未包含漁業以及航運兩項最基本的用海行為,從新總統的競選政見中,對海洋與環境政策依舊缺乏整體規劃,將是一大隱憂。尤其我國對於海洋資源基本資料的掌握與透明度極度不足,如近來爭議的大型遷徙性物種(如翻車魚、蝠魟)是否列入保育類的問題,最主要的爭議點即是缺乏資料而難以判斷。歐盟在去年對台灣遠洋漁業發出黃牌警告,即是因「非法、未報告及未受規範漁業捕撈」(IUU fishing),並缺乏有效監督、控管與遠程漁船監管機制。另外一例則是我國仍在建置中的電子海圖,對於近岸航行安全與人道救援非常重要,雖然目前內政部預計2019年將完成全台實測資料收集,但電子海圖要能持續發揮效用,關鍵在於後續調查、更新與維護,對此亦未見相關單位的後續計畫。海洋國家的美好願景,必須建立在基礎資料與法規制度的落實上,否則亦將流於空談。 呼籲:勿盲目追求國際評比
宋國梧臺東,野人得燕石。誇作天下珍,卻哂趙王璧。趙璧無緇磷,燕石非貞真。流俗多錯誤,豈知玉與珉。 李白,古風五十九首

過去,由於台灣的特殊國際情境,因此在各種國際評比缺乏實質參與的平等機會。除了世界經濟論壇、世界銀行、OECD 經合組織的各種評比之外,最為突出的例子來自於開放知識基金會的全球開放資料評比。自2014年年中之後,政府開始注重如何與民間合作、接觸新的意見平臺、使用新的方式與不同的族群接觸,政府和國會都試著引進新的力量,但許多措施依然流於形式或是新瓶裝舊酒,把舊的政策用新的手法或是流行名詞包裝。最讓人莞爾是在開放政府資料評比,馬英九總統曾多次移花接木並且去脈絡的詮釋台灣在2016年度開放資料普查的成果。這點我們必須特別強調,普查專注資料集本身在技術和法律上是否可被稱之為「開放」,但其並不是一個衡量政府是否開放的評比,因為只釋出關鍵的資料集完全不足以成為開放政府的要件。 開放資料和開放政府間的模糊界線,我們在過去並不陌生,這也是過去十年來公民團體和透明組織熱烈辯論的主題。 對於其他傳統形式的評比,我們也見到部分台灣政府單位委託法人進行評比輔導的狀況層出不窮,雖然我們也知道亞洲部分鄰國也樂於採取同樣的作法,但在邁入更為成熟國家之際,我們不認為台灣的政府應該繼續為了追求評比成績而忽略評比的意義。 呼籲:國合機制多樣的參與 在國際間的角色,我們希望台灣能真正參與國際事務,不再受限於中國情結、也不再忽略與其他經濟組織的交流,對於不當依賴民間法人單位人員,回國後交付出國報告書了事的過去作法應該嚴正檢討。更重要的是,我們期待新的國會和政府對於國際現況有更為符合國際現實的理解。以國際和區域各種和網際網路有關的談判、溝通、協調機制 (mechanism) 為例,在聯合國貿發會議的資料庫內目前累積超過六百多種參與的機制,我們在表格內初步將國際議題對應到國會和行政機關,發現無法對應的狀況仍屬絕大多數。在長期對於國際現實的偏聽和偏廢之下,自然各種國際合作的架構就會將台灣忽略。也希望即將上任的政務人員們,睜開雙眼看看,民間不少人才的經驗是可以真正改善與轉變台灣。 呼籲:政權轉移的數位典範 在台灣,我們常見到在政權轉移時,上至與全國民生息息相關的政策措施,下至政府單位裡的人事轉換都缺乏細緻的移轉,許多政策或事務就如同斷了軌道的火車,停了下來,也無從繼續,就算是好的政策也因為利益的壁壘分明而停止執行。過去國會有哪些法案、哪些政策未完成,有哪些提議未經採納等,應該要也一併考慮採取現代標準規範移交,整理並且挑選應該開放給公眾閱覽標的。運用現代的方式讓民眾了解,避免重複過去轉移的歷史錯誤,採取更為包容和開放轉移典範。 之前我們曾經在一個談話中聽到: 政府開放資料是一件很不容易的事,畢竟要維持資料的穩定性、正確性,還要即時的更新,對於政府執行人員來說其實不是輕易的工作負擔。" "政策應該要由上而下的徹底執行,但沒有想到會是這麼的困難。不止是由上而下,或是從民間的由下而上,而是真正在執行的第一線人員,你需要讓他們去面對工作程序轉變的衝擊,有些人需要適應的時間太長,可能會反應不良,就會造成集體反抗或是打馬虎眼,造就目前一切四不像的成果。小結 對於新舊政府,我們都有許多期望,未來也會以同樣的態度來看待新政府在各項政策的執行與發展。在資通訊技術和網路便利的時代,已不是權威式、上對下的觀念與態度。我們期望在未來新任的國會議員和政府團隊,能夠更為數位化、開放化、海洋化、國際化,以及誠實面對台灣本身的各種問題。 參考:
  作者(按照筆劃順序):Crystal Tu, TH Schee, Yingchu Chen 並感謝諸位不願具名給予意見的朋友。

三百多個跨境數位和網路議題

- January 30, 2016 in 特稿

我和幾位朋友整理這份原始資料來自於聯合國貿發會議資料庫表單(累積到2014年中旬)的第一個目的,是盤點以聯合國(貿發會議)角度來看過去十年來國際上各種和網際網路有關的談判、溝通、協調的各種機制 (mechanism)。目前累積約有六百多個,但我只摘要三百多個。不過國際網路政策牽涉的範圍實在是非常廣泛,雖然在這邊提到了一些概念,但若要說能摸到入門磚,我想沒三五年是不可能的。網路數位政策或是歐盟談的 “Digital Agenda”,不但包含網際網路,更牽涉到目前政院所強力推動的 IoT 和 Industry 4.0。不過國內目前的談法仍落於扶植和拉抬業者的單一角度,嚴重缺乏了解國際現實的基本功夫。不同的國際合作架構,是需要長期參與才能培育出基本理解的。 整理這份文件的第二個目的,是找出每個國際或區域的機制是否能順利的對應到相應的國內政府機構或法人,以及目前的被執行的現況是什麼。我舉一例,例如電商跨境課稅(財稅面)有渥太華稅務框架條件可以援引,網路犯罪在亞太地區有 ARF 的一些機制能協助各國互相支援跨境追蹤,而台灣對應的機制是 TWCERT 或是剛轉型的行政院資安會報。在網路和國家安全這一部分有 NATO 的對應機構 CCDCOE 等,以愛沙尼亞為中心,東南亞國協 (ASEAN) 也常常參考他們的作法。而搭在這作法之上的就是如 FireEye 等業者積極提供各國政要安全解決方案,本次台灣大選也可以看到他們的公關身影。或是對於 5G 電信技術,ITU 的態度是什麼等等。 這個表格的第三個目的,是希望喚起台灣對於相關議題接觸方式的新作為。目前台灣政府對於數位和網路議題的處置仍屬於散彈打鳥,非常缺乏先有基本全局綜觀然後再行其事的意識。而部會之間對於跨境議題如何分工和協作,其作法也非常的有「古早的文書味」。聯合國是全世界最為精密和官僚的組織,其顢頇程度眾口鑠金,但該做的還是會做,有不少好的資料庫和出版物。在這方面台灣政府雖然不需全盤移植,但了解為什麼要這樣做是非常急迫的。我在觀察一年多來行政院和國發會的全國能源會議、「婉君訓練營」和智慧台灣白皮書之後,如何實質改善政府內部接觸國際和跨境議題(數位)的作法,或許已經冒出了一點苗頭,但目前仍看不出在內部有實質的突破。 第四個目的是提醒一件事:目前政府駐外單位部份在跨境、數位、網路和浮現 (emerging) 的主流議題缺乏以政府本位出發的基本必要作為。駐外單位乃政府意志延展,若無現代化推進國際政務的精神和作為,那麼反而是落得尾大不掉,阻礙拖累多於促事成局。目前駐外機構似乎分屬外交部、交通部、文化部、經濟部、部分國營公司(如台銀、台電等)和法人(如貿協、工研院等)等管轄,對於如何在外事場域 (foreign affairs) 推進軟性基建(如世行談數位紅利的提高),進而帶動本地和區域協作,很不巧的我聽到實際案例絕大部分是偏向負面的。也有一線國際業者常言「政府還是別來管事」之語,但我想實際上是因為台灣政府在外事領域缺乏經驗,反而常常幫了倒忙導致,而並不是「政府」概念股幫不上忙。 第五個目的當然也希望有更多數位事務的愛好者願意主動揭露更多國際的相關訊息,並且多方傳承能夠累積的經驗。當然是不是針對台灣也沒有那麼重要,但有機會針對當然更好。有些議題過去我在台北辦過的一些活動也曾討論。 先這樣。 作者:TH

Open Data Day Mini Grants: back for 2016!

- January 29, 2016 in community, Featured, Open Data Day, Open Knowledge

This year, on Saturday, the 5th of March, the fourth annual Open Data Day will take place. For us in Open Knowledge, Open Data Day is one of our favourite initiatives. This is a grassroot event that has no particular organisation behind it, and it is able to bring together people from all over the world to discuss, hack and promote open data. From Japan to Vancouver, Cape Town to Oslo, Brazil to Nepal, London and Greece, Open Data Day is a global celebration of openness. It helps us all raise awareness about openness of data in different fields across the world and It unites us once a year as a community. Last year, Open Knowledge International started the mini grant scheme to support Open Data Day events across the world. As a volunteer based event, we know how a small chunk of money can make a great difference – from getting food to your hackathon to hiring a venue to whatever you need. In 2015, with the support of ILDA, Sunlight Foundation and the Caribbean Open Institute we were able to give 28 grants all over the world and to enrich Open Data Day. This year We are happy to announce that we will keep giving mini grants to support Open Data Day around the world. Open Knowledge will be able distribute a total amount of $7500 USD between different groups around the world. The mini grants will be in the sum of $250-$350 USD each and will serve Open Data Day 2016 events only. The deadline to all applications is Sunday, 14/2/2016.
indonesia

2015 Open Data Day participants in Indonesia

How to apply for the mini grants scheme? First, add your event to the Open Data Day website and wiki. Then, fill out this FORM. NOTICE: Events that are not be registered on the Open Data Day website will not be considered for the grant. Who can apply for a mini grant? Any civil society group from anywhere around the world. We will give preference to current groups and affiliates groups that already work as part of the Open Knowledge Network, but we will consider other groups as well. Notice, we will not give this grant to governments. Is there any topic that the event should focus on? No, it can be Open Science, Open GLAM, Open Gov… As long has it has something to do with Open Data. :-) Are there any geographical restrictions? It doesn’t matter where your event is, you are welcome to apply. Please note that we will not fund two events in the same country, so we encourage groups to merge to one event as they can. What is the catch? Do I have to do anything in return? Yes there is a small catch, but only for the sake of knowledge sharing and smooth operations!
  1. Since Open Data Day is really around the corner, we ask you to provide us all information for delivering your grant, within 3 working days after you have been notified you will get the grant.
  2. We do ask you to write a blog post that describes your event and what the group learned from it. We believe that in this way the Open Knowledge Network can learn better from one another and make better connections between people and ideas.
If my application is successful, how are you going to transfer us the money? If your application was successful, you will be required to immediately provide sufficient Bank information in order to make payment. All payments will either be made via Paypal, or direct to you bank account. When will you announce if I got the mini grant? We aim to notify all grant winners by Friday the 19/2/2016.

The deadline to all applications is Sunday, 14/2/2016.

For more information please ask in our forum, and one of us would be happy to assist. – https://discuss.okfn.org/c/network-and-community/open-data-day

Como foi 2015 para a Open Knowledge Brasil: uma retrospectiva de nossos momentos

- January 29, 2016 in #EuVoto, brasil, ciência aberta, colaboração, Conhecimento Livre, Dados Abertos, Gastos Abertos, Open Knowledge Brasil, retrospectiva, São Paulo, sociedade civil, transparência, USP

Talvez seja certo afirmar que 2015 foi um dos anos mais movimentados da breve história da Open Knowledge Brasil. Com um início de reformulações para a instituição, o ano acabou se tornando bastante movimentado a partir de julho. Separamos, aqui no blog, alguns momentos dignos de lembrança. Logo no início de março, a plataforma virtual Eu Voto, iniciativa da Open Knowledge Brasil em parceria com a Fundação Avina, que permite à população votar em projetos de lei em tramitação na Câmara Municipal, foi lançada. No mesmo mês, houve um encontro visando discutir a governança da OKBr. Já em abril, nos dias 6 e 10, houve a primeira edição de 2015 do curso “Introdução ao Jornalismo de Dados”, em São Paulo. Realizado anteriormente em Salvador  e no Rio de Janeiro, esta edição foi oferecida pela Escola de Dados junto à Escola de Comunicação da Universidade de São Paulo (ECA/USP). O treinamento, gratuito, integrou o programa Partnership for Open Data (POD), uma parceria entre o Banco Mundial, o Open Data Institute e a Open Knowledge Internacional para acelerar a abertura de dados em países em desenvolvimento. Em julho, a OKBr promoveu, junto ao Eu Voto, o debate “Democracia e Internet: Criando uma cultura de participação política no século XXI”, que tinha como objetivo propor uma discussão aprofundada sobre as ferramentas tecnológicas para o uso e acesso a dados, decisões e construção do que é público, assim como sobre as novas iniciativas de participação política pela internet que estão surgindo no Brasil e no mundo. O evento contou com a participação de Marina Silva (Rede), ex-Ministra do Meio Ambiente e presidenciável nas eleições de 2014 pelo Partido Verde, Milton Jung, jornalista, âncora da rádio CBN e implementador da plataforma Adote um vereador; e Santigo Siri, co-fundador do Partido de la Red na Argentina, além de Ariel Kogan, conselheiro deliberativo da OKBr e idealizador da plataforma Eu Voto, e Heloisa Pait, professora de sociologia da UNESP,especialista em sociologia dos meios de comunicação e conselheira consultiva da OKBr. O mês também marcou o início da coordenação da Escola de Dados por Natália Mazotte, dando fôlego a uma série de novas atividades para o projeto ligado à OKBr.  
Agosto marcou o recebimento de um subsídio da Shuttleworth Foundation a nosso diretor executivo, para ajudar a conduzir a instituição. Também foi promovido um prêmio para um vídeo que explicasse a importância da Open Knowledge Brasil, que foi conquistado por Thiago Avila, pesquisador do Núcleo de Excelência em Tecnologias Sociais (NEES), Superintendente de Produção da Informação e do Conhecimento da Secretaria de Estado do Planejamento e Gestão de Alagoas. O mês teve uma agenda bastante movimentada, com a participação da organização em diversos eventos ligados ao conhecimento aberto, como Universidade Aberta, Inclusão Digital Aberta, Cidade Aberta, Paulista Aberta e Ciência Aberta. Este último tratou-se do lançamento do livro “Ciência Aberta, questões abertas”, que conta com capítulos escritos por colaboradores da OKBr e de atores ligados à nossa rede.
Em setembro, foi realizada a Con Datos e a desconferência AbreLatam. Alguns colaboradores da Open Knowledge Brasil participaram do evento e manifestaram suas impressões sobre as reuniões e sobre a comunidade de dados abertos, como Natália Mazotte e Marco Túlio Pires, da Escola de Dados, Thiago Rondon e Gisele Craveiro, assim como o diretor executivo da OKBr, Everton Zanella Alvarenga. Foi também neste mês que a instituição se manifestou abertamente contra o PL espião, projeto de lei que ainda está para ser votado e ameaça a liberdade de expressão na internet no Brasil. Ainda no dia 18 do mesmo mês, ocorreu o encontro Diálogos para Governo Aberto, organizado pela Controladoria Geral da União. A Open Knowledge Brasil foi uma das cinco organizações da sociedade civil escolhidas e subsidiadas para ir para Brasília. O principal objetivo do encontro foi fazer uma rodada de conversa sobre o Grupo de Trabalho da sociedade civil que participará da construção do 3º Plano de Ação do Brasil para a Parceria para Governo Aberto (Open Government Partnership – OGP). Outubro, por sua vez, foi marcado por nosso posicionamento em relação ao acordo que a Câmara Municipal de São Paulo fechou com a plataforma Vote na Web, ferramenta de código proprietário, paga e que pretere a plataforma que desenvolvemos e pretendemos usar junto à CMSP, o EuVoto. Consideramos que a situação foi um reflexo da falta diálogo entre a população e o poder público e, sobretudo, pedimos que as instituições públicas adotem processos mais transparentes, claros e coerentes. Ao final do ano, em novembro, a Open Knowledge Brasil participou do evento “Repensando as instituições e sistemas de participação no século XXI” no Columbia Global Center, no Rio de Janeiro. O movimento emergente do encontro se dedicará a pensar democracia digital e reformas estruturais no sistema político brasileiro. A reunião, realizada no dia 11/11, teve como um dos desdobramentos a conformação de um observatório em rede sobre democracia digital. No mesmo mês, nosso diretor executivo também esteve presente no Open Development Camp, em Haia, no painel “Breaking through silos”, com especialistas em organizações de tecnologia cívica (Everton Zanella, OKBr) ONGs (David Saldivar, Oxfam USA) e financiadores (Lea Gimpel, GIZ.de) discutindo suas experiências na empreitada de falar para além de seus pares. Como se nossa agenda já não estivesse cheia o suficiente, ainda em novembro, apoiamos o lançamento do Eu Voto Piracicaba, iniciativa conjunta do Observatório Cidadão de Piracicaba e da Rede Engajados. E fechamos uma parceria com a plataforma jornalística Aos Fatos, que produzirá histórias do orçamento para o projeto Gastos Abertos em troca do apoio que a Open Knowledge Brasil deu à sua campanha de crowdfunding. O início de dezembro marcou o começo do curso do projeto Gastos Abertos. No primeiro módulo das aulas, Pedro Marin explicou um pouco sobre orçamento público e Diego Rabatone falou sobre dados abertos e alguns conceitos importantes para jornalistas contarem suas histórias, como e o que é uma API. Já na segunda fase do curso, Natália Mazotte, coordenadora da Escola de Dados, apresentou os alunos a diferentes iniciativas de jornalismo de dados. Rodrigo Bugarelli ensinou os alunos a cruzarem dados, Marco Túlio Pires promoveu uma oficina sobre raspagem de dados e Natália Mazotte e Sérgio Spagnuolo mostraram aos jornalistas que participavam do curso ferramentas úteis para visualização de dados. O ano foi fechado com chave de ouro com nossa celebração, no dia 9 de dezembro, de um Termo de Cooperação Técnica com a Câmara Municipal de São Paulo. A data simbólica, do dia internacional contra a corrupção, marcou a assinatura de um documento no qual as partes se comprometem a desenvolver um programa de cooperação por meio de projetos, cursos e eventos, aprimorando o uso das tecnologias da informação e comunicação com o objetivo de ampliar e qualificar os espaços de participação cívica e estimular a transparência das instituições públicas. 20150303145302 20150303145306 20150301_170820 _MG_4668 _MG_4710 _MG_4801 _MG_4810 IMG_5515 IMG_5536 _MG_4663 _MG_4639 _MG_4813 IMG_5471 IMG_5549 _MG_4788 jorge Edital Governo Aberto Fernanda Campagnucci _MG_5023 _MG_5006 _MG_4909 GT de Ciência Aberta inclusao digital aberta helo e tom espacos urbanos IMG_5850 Kww18z8o9c4fgub3Vt1RFkJoU8Uuf6A9aIiYXh0J3kE Todos Abrelatam 2016 2015-09-18 15.57.33 abrelatam-condatos2 abrelatam-condatos abrelatam01 abrelatam02 11204399_10205361659027216_3455073508820645991_n 12232706_958350657570017_4666269818940930684_o 812337971_76644_12143393710532773371 2015-11-13 10.30.07 2015-11-13 09.45.14 aosfatosgastosabertos Pedro Marin aula Gastos Abertos cmsp2 cmsp1 cmsp3 Flattr this!

Research Results Part 4: Which Business Models for Data Literacy Efforts?

- January 29, 2016 in research

After researching the definitions of data literacy, along with the methodologies and impact of data literacy efforts, we looked into the question of business models: are there sustainable business models that can support data literacy efforts in the long term? Along with looking at how data literacy efforts can support themselves financially, we also looked for opportunities for linkages with other efforts.

No clear business model for sustainability

Many of the School of Data local communities and external organisations that provide data literacy training are using a mix of foundational funding and fee for service to sustain themselves. The organisations using this model are opportunistic in getting organisations and individuals to pay for trainings when they can, but a lack of understanding about data processes among clients is often a problem. At this point, there is not a clear ‘sustainable business model’ that would direct data literacy organisations towards longevity. To understand better the business models of established organisations working at the intersection of technology and social change, we looked at a two of them: Aspiration and Tactical Collective. 
Aspiration
Aspiration is a US-based NGO that operates globally, providing a range of services to build capacity and community around technology for social change. Over the last decade, under Allen Gunn’s (Gunner) leadership, Aspiration has gained a strong reputation for delivering trainings and events that focus on strategic and tangible outcomes while strengthening communities of practice.  Aspiration has championed an approach known as participatory events, developing knowledge-sharing and leadership development methodologies that prioritize active dialog-based learning. The philosophy and design focus on maximizing interaction and peer learning while making spare use of one-to-many and several-to-many session formats such as presentations and panels. Aspiration has been able to scale their model across a range of meeting sizes and purposes, from smaller team strategy sessions and retreats to large-scale events, such as the Mozilla Festival, which brings together over 1,500 participants. Aspiration’s services are in high demand, with clients ranging from both small civil society organisations to larger international NGO’s and foundations. They have seen a gradual reduction in reliance on grants, and now generate the majority of their funds through earned income from strategic consulting services, events, and trainings. In order to scale service delivery, program staff have all been trained in the unique skill sets required for delivering participatory events and providing strategic services within the Aspiration frame of analysis. The organization now has five full-time staff able to deliver both live events and strategic services.
Tactical Collective
Fee for service work on utilising data in social change has had an increased market in the civil society sector over the last five to seven years. However, many social change organisations have been unaware of the amount of resources and effort it takes to analyse and produce outputs such as data visualisations and info-graphics. A more mature organisation with experience in utilising information and technologies in activism, Tactical Technology Collective, attempted to better educate clients by engaging them in creation of design briefs. The unfortunate reality is that most advocacy and activist connected organisations look for low-cost solutions to their data problems. Often they will ask to get pointed to software that will enable them to do it themselves and for no cost.

Using collaborations and linkages to improve the understanding of data needs

A hopeful example in developing the capacity of organisations to understand the amount of resources needed to utilise data is in the School of Data’s Embedded Fellowship with Global Witness. Through a six-month engagement, the fellow, Sam Leon, was able to provide data trainings at all levels of the organisation – from senior management to the front line staff. This has helped the organisation, rather than just the individuals, to improve its data literacy.  What this points to is a need to differentiate between individual data literacy and organisational data literacy. While the School of Data curriculum addresses individual data literacy, efforts like the fellowship programme, that have long term engagements succeed in building organisational capacities. Being more intentional in articulating both the difference and how they complement each other will likely lead to a greater ability to raise funds and develop deeper relationships with allies. Other potential areas for linkages and collaboration on the School of Data Curriculum that could lead to greater sustainablity for data literacy organisations:
    • Schools and universities who are interested in expanding their course offerings to better address data literacy amongst students. An opportunity for chapters is to work with local academia in adapting the School of Data curriculum to address the needs of students who will potentially be using open-data in their careers. Teachers are also in need of training on the pedagogy in regards to understanding data and it’s contexts, as opposed to understanding how to use tools. Academic grants and funding could support this adaptation.
    • Civil society efforts that are working towards the release of data, particularly by governments, for use in the public domain. One area that has a strong need for greater data literacy is the open governments, transparency and accountability movements, whose area of expertise is in pressuring governments through advocacy campaigns to release data. Many do not have capacity to provide training to those who might actually use the data. In this regard, a conclusion of the International Open Data Conference in 2015 (as stated in its final report) poses the need for work to identify and embed core competencies for working with open data within existing organizational training, formal education, and informal learning programs.
    • Development initiatives, particularly those that are focused on supporting an emerging private sector that will be inspired by data for use in innovation.  Access and use-ability of open data could be exploited by the private sector in ways that could expand data literacy in emerging economies.  Current development initiatives could greatly benefit from engaging with School of Data chapters and engaging with the curriculum.
In order to sustain a long term data literacy initiative, it is likely that funding will need to come from a mix of foundational funding and fee for service work through expanding the diversity of clients, collaborations and linkages. As open-data usability and access continues to improve, it will be critical that Data Literacy organisations stay on top of future trends and continue to shape their curriculum to meet the needs of the communities they aim to serve. Hopefully, funders and social change organisations will also continue to evolve in their understanding of the importance of data and the resources involved in making it useful to stakeholders. As a network, the School of Data local communities will need to share information about how they grow and evolve sustainable business models. In our next blog post ‘Recommendations for Improving Data Literacy Efforts’ we will discuss the conclusions that we have made as a result of undertaking this research effort. Flattr this!

Thomas Edison Tells a Joke about a Liver (1906)

- January 28, 2016 in joke, liver, thomas edison

The great inventor Thomas Edison tells a joke about a healthy liver, recorded on his Edison Blue Amberol cylinder. I guess you had to have been there...

Thomas Edison Tells a Joke about a Liver (1906)

- January 28, 2016 in joke, liver, thomas edison

The great inventor Thomas Edison tells a joke about a healthy liver, recorded on his Edison Blue Amberol cylinder. I guess you had to have been there...

Hacking the Museum Experience

- January 28, 2016 in eSpace, Events/Workshops, Featured, Hack days

The Europeana Space project is exploring different ways of reusing digital cultural heritage by running pilots in six thematic areas (TV, Photography, Dance, Games, Open and Hybrid Publishing and Museums).  On March 17-18, 2016 the Museums pilot invites everyone to Venice for the Hacking the Museum Experience, focused on creating disruptive solutions to enhance the museums’ visitors […]

Robert Greene, the First Bohemian

- January 27, 2016 in Books, Drama, Literature, marlowe, robert greene, roger bacon, shake-scene, shakespeare, university wits

Known for his debauched lifestyle, his flirtations with criminality, and the sheer volume of his literary output, the Elizabethan writer Robert Greene was a fascinating figure. Ed Simon explores the literary merits and bohemian traits of the man who penned the earliest known, and far from flattering, reference to Shakespeare as a playwright.

CKAN extensions Archiver and QA upgraded

- January 27, 2016 in Data Quality, Extensions

Popular CKAN extensions ‘Archiver’ and ‘QA’ have recently been significantly upgraded. Now it is relatively simple to add automatic broken link checking and 5 stars of openness grading to any CKAN site. At a time when many open data portals suffer from quality problems, adding these reports make it easy to identify the problems and get credit when they are resolved. Whilst these extensions have been around for a few years, most of the development has been on forks, whilst the core has been languishing. In the past couple of months there has been a big push to merge all the efforts from US (data.gov), Finland, Greece, Slovakia and Netherlands, and particularly those from UK (data.gov.uk), into core. It’s been a big leap forward in functionality. Now installers no longer need to customize templates – you get details of broken links and 5 stars shown on every dataset simply by installing and configuring the extensions. And now we’re all on the same page, it means we can work together better from now on. ckanext-qa ckanext-archiver The Archiver Extension regularly tries out all datasets’ data links to see if they are still working. File URLs that do work are downloaded and the user is offered the ‘cached’ copy. Otherwise, URLs that are broken are marked in red and listed in a report. See more: ckanext-archiver repo, docs and demo images The QA Extension analyses the data files that Archiver has downloaded to reliably determine their format – CSV, XLS, PDF, etc, rather than trusting the format that the publisher has said they are. This information is combined with the data license and whether the data is currently accessible to give a rating out of 5 according to Tim Berners-Lee’s 5 Stars of Openness. A file that has no open licence, or is not available gets 0 stars. If it passes those tests but is only a PDF then it gets 1 star. A machine-readable but proprietry format like XLS gets it 2 stars, and an open format like CSV gets it 3 stars. 4 and 5 star data is that which uses standard schemas and references other datasets, which tends to mean RDF. See ckanext-qa repo, docs and demo images