So FHSST made the newspapers in South Africa! Well done everyone!

http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3435294

After the actual day the paper was released you need to be a subscriber to access the article so here is the full text of the article - there was also a large picture of Jaynie hard at work at her computer to go with it:

Free textbooks for the pupils, by the pupils
New initiative aims to make education accessible to all, in more ways than one

September 13, 2006 Edition 1

Carol Campbell

Science and mathematics education in SA will be given a major boost next year when specially developed, free textbooks are released.

What makes these physics, chemistry and maths books special is that they have been written and edited by SA's young scientists.

They are designed for Grade 10, 11 and 12 learners, and will be available for free. The copyright licence the books are to be released under allows anyone to create a modified version as long as it is also free. This is to encourage other people to use and build on these resources.

The Free High School Science Texts (FHSST) initiative is driven by volunteer contributions and funding from the Shuttleworth Foundation.

The work of the Shuttleworth Foundation will be on display at the International Science, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (Insite), hosted by the Department of Science and Technology at the Sandton Convention Centre in Gauteng, from September 24 to 27.

Team member and co-ordinator of the maths and physics books, physicist Dr Jaynie Padayachee, said the initiative was based on the idea of "open source", which is the free provision of information for the benefit of all.

"As scientists and mathematicians, we could see there was a desperate need for textbooks and to create interest and excitement in our subjects among young people," she said.

The books are written with the aim of being easily understood and
enjoyed by learners in remote rural villages, townships and affluent
schools. For example, experiments, as far as possible, will not need
fancy equipment or a laboratory.

"Hard copies of the books will be available to anyone who needs them,
but they can also be downloaded off the Internet," said Padayachee.

The FHSST initiative is the brainchild of physicist Mark Horner, who
launched the project while still a student at the University of Cape
Town four years ago.

"Education is crucial to everyone's future so we decided to do
something to help and support other education initiatives without
competing with anyone," Horner explained.

Padayachee said about 60 scientists and mathematicians have been
involved in the writing and editing so far.

"Many of the writers are still students or just out of university."

What this means is that the writers are in touch with their readers,
using language and style that a high-school learner will enjoy.

"Our goal is to keep the books simple. Important basic concepts are
clearly explained so that a learner's foundation knowledge is good."

The three books to be released in 2007 are for Grade 10, 11 and 12
maths, physics and chemistry.

"The learner will be able to keep the same book from Grade 10 to 12,"
she said.

The books will be constantly updated to ensure they remain abreast of
new developments.

Next on the cards are free textbooks in biology and computer
literacy.

There has been big local and international interest in the project,
especially from education initiatives in the US, with several
organisations requesting access to the content of the books to be
distributed via their open-source infrastructures. Local partnerships
include the tuXlabs project, Ikamva Lisezandleni Zethu, TeachOut and
the Hermanus Magnetic Observatory (HMO).

FHSST content, in digital format, can be provided for installation on
tuXlabs computers while mentoring and tutoring initiatives Ikamva and
TeachOut will have access to the content for use. The FHSST content
is also being used by the HMO as part of their "Moodle" site.

Together these partnerships fulfil the FHSST goal of helping rather
than competing with other education initiatives.

Internationally FHSST is collaborating with Sun's Global Education
and Learning Community and the Institute for the Study of Knowledge
Management in Education, both based in California, US.

These organisations are looking at the development and launch of
their own initiatives using FHSST content. It also has very close
ties with the Shuttleworth Foundation's Open Source group.

"In these relationships FHSST aims to provide a content resource
which enables the other organisations to deliver their educational
services more effectively and efficiently to those in need without
duplication of resources," said Horner.

FHSST has offered to act as a repository for any other SA initiatives
- and is available to store and share content on the FHSST site.

Imminent on the FHSST calendar is a competition for maths and science
teachers who have been asked to send in exercises they develop for
their learners for publication in future editions.

"We are putting up cash prizes for the best exercises and activities
that support outcomes-based education," said Padayachee.

For information on FHSST visit: www.fhsst.org

For more information about Insite, contact Cebisa Mfenyana on 011-661-
4062 or e-mail insite@kagisoexpo.co.za