El segundo

In this quest, we are to review different articles and create a substantive post on the motivations of the movement. This is my contribution.

Open education as a movement has been principally motivated by true humanists; individuals who strive for the betterment of themselves and their fellows. It is an egalitarian based concept: provide access to education for even those who can't afford it. The followers of the Church of Later Day Saints have for years used educational projects as "a way for virtually everyone to help provide education for those without resources, enabling them to rise out of poverty." (Carmack, J.) Open education takes these types of religiously motivated projects a step further. Open education provides education for all regardless of religious believes or affiliations. It is still limited in the sense that many of the open education resources are not available in a variety of languages (many of the largest projects are in English) but the idea of education as a human right is at the heart of the movement. As Tomaskevi points out "problems in guaranteeing free and compulsory education all children revolve around funding" and money and the lack of it continues to be an issue even when education is "free" on the Internet.
Freeing educational resources from the constraints of financial limitations is idealistic for sure, just as providing free education is idealistic but this is the heart open education. Open education is also for some the "key to enabling other innovations and catalyzing improvements in the quality, accountability, affordability and accessibility of higher education." (Wiley, D.)
There is no question that deficiencies exist in education the world over. The open education movement can be (and is trying to be) a cure for these deficiencies. Outside of the developed countries where open education is being pioneered, it can be difficult for someone to understand the motivations behind the open education movement. The reason is simple: cultural perspective. In Latin America open education is limited to what other countries "export" to the region and it is a precious few who are familiar with the concept. Regardless open education continues to be a movement fueled by those who want to make the world a better place. And this, in my book, makes the entire journey worth while.
References
Carmack, J. (2004) The Perpetual Education Fund: A Bright Ray of Hope. Retrieved Jan. 15, 2009 from, http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=d20774536cf0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1Tomasevski,K. (2001) Free and Compulsory Education for all Children: the gap between promise and performance. Retrieved Jan.15, 2009 http://right-to-education.org/sites/r2e.gn.apc.org/files/B6f%20Primer.pdfWiley, D. (2006) Secretary of Education's Commission on the Future of Higher Education. Retrieved Jan. 15, 2009 from http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/hiedfuture/3rd-meeting/wiley.pdf