[Joakal]

Using a single very common word is horrible and will confuse people [0]. If they insist on using the word 'Open', I suggest capitalising it to 'OPEN' maybe?

I welcome cheaper education tools. However there doesn't seem to be anything 'open' about this. No open source code commitment, use is 'free' and students appear to need permission from the teacher to enroll. It seems that they should rename themselves to Online instead.

[0] https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Open

[dmerfield]

Our tool is Open in the sense that access to it for teachers and students is free. The reason teachers and students can't sign up right now is we're in closed beta.

- David, Co-Founder

[Joakal]

How free is free? Do they submit resources that only you can own the copyright to like IMDb does? Can anyone not an official student participate allowing public education?

How are you going to fund maintenance with no clear business model?

I hope it doesn't discourage you!

[dmerfield]

Open is free for individual teachers to use. We will not own resources submitted to Open.

And yes, anyone can watch any lesson on the site (another reason we're named Open).

Our revenue model is based upon service we intend provide to schools.

[jpwagner]

I think this path looks great. One obscure thing to be aware of in this space is the giant lurking patent troll (Blackboard.) Good luck!!