Figure 1
The public open scholar role.
Table 1
Free autism-related online resources.
| Type of resource | Title | Producer | URL | Licence | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive courses (VLE) | Autism Spectrum Disorders | Geneva Centre for Autism (Canada) | http://elearning.autism.net/ | CC-BY-NC-SA | A suite of nine free modules aimed at parents and those working with school-age children and young people. Moodle VLE available in both English and French. |
| Autism Internet Modules (AIM) | Ohio’s Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) | http://www.autisminternetmodules.org/ | All rights reserved | 43 comprehensive & sophisticated modules - a broad range, similar in style to those of the Geneva Centre for Autism. 138,000 users. | |
| Interactive courses (Flash) | Inclusive education: Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders | Spanish Government | http://www.ite.educacion.es/formacion/enred/materiales_en_pruebas_2013/tea_2013/index.htm | CC-BY-SA | 10 modules in Spanish only. The first five offer relevant knowledge about people with ASD and their needs, and the following are guidelines for an oriented educational intervention. |
| Introduction to Autism | Southampton Hampshire Isle of Wight Portsmouth Autism Partnership Board, UK | http://www.forms.portsmouth.gov.uk/autismawareness/ | Not stated | 20 to 30 minutes e-learning module, powered by Learning Pool. Offers a Certificate of Completion for Autism Awareness | |
| US-style courses (videos & handouts) | Creating Classroom Connections for Children with Autism | www.danya.com - a US social impact company | http://www.autismonline.org | All rights reserved | One of ten free modules. It’s a 40-page pdf document with an accompanying 15-minute YouTube video. |
| Autism Case Training | US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/ACT/class.html | Not copyrighted - attribution only | Videos, PDF handouts, slideshows, guides and worksheets; 10 modules in total. | |
| Collection | Autism Toolbox | Scottish Government | http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/07/06111319/0 | UK Open Government Licence (similar to CC-BY) | A comprehensive package for schools from the Scottish Government. In total it’s a 224-page PDF document, but it can also be downloaded in nine separate parts |
Table 2
Free autism-related e-textbooks.
| Title | Author | URL | Licence | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Health | International Association for Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions. | http://iacapap.org/iacapap-textbook-of-child-and-adolescent-mental-health | CC-BY-NC | Chapter C.2 of the IACAPAP Textbook covers autism spectrum disorders. This colourful 27-page chapter is up-to-date and has reliable references. IACAPAP also publish a corresponding open-access (CC-BY) journal: www.capmh.com. |
| Treating Children with Autism | Eric J. Lund & Chris Van Dyke | http://lundvandyke.com/resources/download/autism-treatment | Not stated | A 176 page book written by two doctors who run a private Autism clinic. Downloadable as a complete book or as 15 chapters in PDF. |
| A Spectrum of Relationships | C. S. Wyatt | http://theautisticme.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/free-ebook-on-autism-and-relationships.html | Not stated | Free eBook on Autism and Relationships. The author reflects on his own experiences as a diagnosed high-functioning autistic individual. An 81 page abridged edition in ePub format. |
| A Parent’s Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorder | US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) | http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/a-parents-guide-to-autism-spectrum-disorder/index.shtml | Public Domain | NIMH’s useful 27-page booklet is offered in ePub and Mobi formats for e-readers, alongside the common PDF format, and is also published in Spanish. |
| The Good and Bad Science of Autism | Dr Neil Walsh & Dr Elisabeth Hurley | http://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/files/thegoodbadscienceofautism_v2.pdf | Free PDF download, all rights reserved | 94 pages. An attractive and easy-to-use book designed to introduce the reader to autism research. |
| Ohio’s Parent Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorders | Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) | http://www.ocali.org/project/ohio_parent_guide_to_ASD | Free PDF download, all rights reserved | A 274-page manual providing an overview of the world of autism spectrum disorders. Developed by Ohio parents, for Ohio parents. |
| Educating Children with Autism | US National Research Council | http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=10017 | Free PDF download, all rights reserved | 324 pages. Outlines an interdisciplinary approach to education for children with autism. |
Table 3
Search results for autism related online courses.
| Search term and search engine used | Universities | Colleges & private training companies | Lists & aggregator sites | Courses restricted to members or a particular location | Free/open courses from outside formal education | Erroneous results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| online autism course - Google UK | 16 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| online ASD course - Google UK | 15 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 7 |
| online autism training - Google UK | 5 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 6 |
| online autism course - Bing | 9 | 20 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| free online autism course - Google UK | 8 | 7 | 9 | 15 | 3 | 8 |
| Total | 53 | 63 | 51 | 44 | 14 | 27 |
Figure 2
Search results for autism related online courses.
Table 4
Results of searching aggregators for ‘autism’.
| Aggregator | Result of search for ‘autism’ |
|---|---|
| onlinecourses.com | It is not possible to search, only to select from categories; none were relevant. |
| openculture.com | Yale’s autism course x 2 |
| academicearth.org | Yale’s autism course x 3, plus 10 YouTube videos from various universities |
| oedb.org/open | 5 courses from universities: Yale, MIT, Liberty (x2) & University of California. |
| class-central.com | No results |
| topfreeclasses.com | No results |
Figure 3
Screenshot of the OpenCulture header.
Figure 4
Screenshot of the CYP-media blog.
Table 5
Publishers of resources in CYP-media.
| Publisher | Number of resources in CYP-media |
|---|---|
| Charities, government and other public-sector | 35 |
| Private sector | 2 |
| Universities | 22 |
| Aggregators | 0 |
| Media etc. | 12 |
Figure 5
Screenshot of Suzanne Schlechte’s Pinterest board on early childhood education.
Table 6
Publishers of resources in Suzanne Schlechte’s Early Childhood Education Pinterest board.
| Publisher | Number of resources in Suzanne Schlechte’s Early Childhood Education Pinterest board |
|---|---|
| Charities, government and other public-sector | 11 |
| Private sector | 8 |
| Universities | 7 |
| Aggregators | 4 |
| Media etc. | 4 |
Figure 6
The revised public open scholar role.