CK-12 Foundation
Encyclopedia
CK-12 is a non-profit organization based in California founded with the mission to reduce the cost of textbook materials for the K-12 market, both in the US and world-wide . They maintain the FlexBook open source tool for creating remixable texts, and as of July 2009 were developing 30 English-language open textbook
s, focusing on books for US high schools. While their initial efforts target the US market, they claim to have the worldwide market in mind as well.
and Murugan Pal
to support K-12 science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, CK-12 generates and distributes educational content via web-based open content material called the "FlexBook”. CK-12 is presently the only free service of its kind, and is being funded by the Amar Foundation and by Vinod and Neeru Khosla. They have partnered with Qoop
for printing technology, fuseproject
for design, and a number of other organizations (including Wikimedia) in developing their educational strategy.
issued a call for open textbooks for use in their high schools. CK-12 submitted five science books and three math books, more than any other publisher. They have committed to seeding their system and authors community with at least another 25 complete books.
Physics
Mathematics
Biology
The Foundation also has many books available for e-book download (in many cases completely free).
Open textbook
An open textbook is an openly-licensed textbook offered online by its author or through a non-profit or commercial open-licensed publisher. The open license sets open textbooks apart from traditional textbooks by allowing users to read online, download, or sometimes print the book at no additional...
s, focusing on books for US high schools. While their initial efforts target the US market, they claim to have the worldwide market in mind as well.
History
Established in 2007 by Neeru KhoslaNeeru Khosla
Neeru Khosla is the Co-Founder and Chair of the non-profit CK12 Foundation.She has a master's degree in Molecular Biology from San Jose State University and a master's degree in education from the Stanford University School of Education...
and Murugan Pal
Murugan Pal
Murugan Pal is a serial entrepreneur based in Silicon Valley, Bay Area, USA.Murugan is currently the co-founder & President of the CK-12 Foundation, a non-profit organization launched in 2006, that aims to reduce the cost of textbook materials for the K-12 market both in the US and worldwide...
to support K-12 science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, CK-12 generates and distributes educational content via web-based open content material called the "FlexBook”. CK-12 is presently the only free service of its kind, and is being funded by the Amar Foundation and by Vinod and Neeru Khosla. They have partnered with Qoop
QOOP
QOOP is a web services company that was founded in Mill Valley, California in 2005. They run the website QOOP.com, which is presented as a 'social commerce network' for authors, artists, media archives and publishers.- QOOP.com :...
for printing technology, fuseproject
Fuseproject
Founded in 1999 by Yves Béhar, Fuseproject is a San Francisco-based industrial design and branding firm. It works across a wide array of industries including beauty and fashion, furniture and technology....
for design, and a number of other organizations (including Wikimedia) in developing their educational strategy.
Recent work
In April 2009, the state of CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
issued a call for open textbooks for use in their high schools. CK-12 submitted five science books and three math books, more than any other publisher. They have committed to seeding their system and authors community with at least another 25 complete books.
Publications
As of mid-2009, some of the completed books include:Physics
- People's Physics Book
- Light
- Refraction
- Reflection
Mathematics
- Algebra 1
- Geometry
- Trigonometry
- Calculus
- Statistics
Biology
- Life Science
- Human Body
- Metabolism
- Zoology
The Foundation also has many books available for e-book download (in many cases completely free).
Further reading
- FlexBooks FAQ
- O'Reilly Radar blog, Feb 12, 2008 : "Remix and Share Your Own Text Books as FlexBooks"