The case for open data

The Open Knowledge Foundation (https://okfn.org/opendata/) sets out the case for open data, and the public and private value that opening data can being to society, including increasing accountability of government and business, increasing Participation of citizens in government, community and research, Tackling Global challenges that cross disciplinary, organisation and national boundaries, to open up research processes ,and by leveraging the ‘wisdom’ of the crowd to work on data.  

Suggested work:

• Read the Open Knowledge Foundation Handbook
• Look at the report on Open Data for the Scottish Government pdf
• Read some chapters from the Book Beyond Transparency (short and easy, but reflect on the issue of open government)
• Look at the Open Data Institute website, especially the case studies
Watch the video by

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 See also:

• City of Edinburgh Council Open data 
• CEC Open Data Portal
• The Five Star Data Framework 
• Try to find some of the examples of 'open data' on public portals, and some of the examples of the use of Open Data

Reflect on the following issues:

• What are the supposed values and benefits of 'Open Data'?
• How can different organisations and individuals benefit?

Make a list of the key Jargon terms you have encountered, and make sure you have a basic understanding of what they mean!

Further Readings:

NESTA funds a range of public service innovation. A recent report used open data to explore adoption of innovation among doctors in England.  

NESTA has a range of activities around Open data and open innovation under the rubric Digital Social Innovation