"Open and Closed" Getting the mix right. Who gets to Decide??
Dr. Jon Dron
Dr. Terry Anderson
Dr. George Siemens

Despite the desirability of "Making Open the Default" as the theme of this year’s open access week, there are many reasons that can and should influence a person and an organization to restrict access to content. In this session we explore these reasons from theoretical, practical and pedagogical positions, noting that these decisions all revolve around issues of control. From a practical perspective, we note the need for more nuanced ways to control information than a simple choice of open or closed. We look two examples, the differentiated sharing allowed through permissions of networking systems such as Elgg, and the capacity to research rights as delineated in the various Creative Commons licences. From a theoretical perspective we note that capacity to make control decisions requires skill and authority, but helps build responsibility and ownership. From a pedagogical perspective we note value and challenges of opening works in computer forums, e-portfolios and resource sharing within and beyond the course.