Announcing The Open Source Advanced Brand Strategy Masterclass

An idea came to my mind while having breakfast this Sunday. With all these Web 2.0 tools out there, there must a way to democratize professional knowledge and during that process further advance them. There are plenty of open source software packages out there designed using sound pedagogical principles to help educators create effective online learning communities, but do we really need them?  Here's the idea. I will run my Advanced Brand Strategy Masterclass (I started running this in 1999 and it costs $2,500 per person) but via my blog this time, making it truly open source and totally free. I will divide the three days workshop material into 8 lectures and each week I will post them with notes and links for studies. Participants will post their comments and exchange views. There will be no tuition fees and no text books. There will be no geographical and class size limits. All you need is a computer and a connection. 

The idea is to democratize professional knowledge, making the best resources available to more people who needs the for their job. With tools such as blogs, wikipedia, Flickr, Facebook, del.icio.us, YouTube and Google Docs we are about to join in something new.  Not only that, but the material we generate (notes, feedbacks, discussions exercises, research) will be useful and available for future learners who want to take this journey. Absolutely no fees involved. It is all about open source.

Honestly I am not 100% sure how it works. But it is probably the first of its kind that a program of this nature is delivered via a blog. You can organize virtual work groups if you wish. You will also be encouraged to deliver your presentation via YouTube and conduct group discussions via Facebook.  It will require a bit of self-organization. I think this is a really cool idea. I plan to start the first class on first week of Sept. So the first graduating class will have their photos on Flickr unles someone volunteers for a photoshop job. More info to follow.

Comments

[Bart]

Hi Idris,

awesome initiative and I definitely want to take part in your class! Maybe you should take a look at http://moodle.org, which basically is an OS learning community and pretty much has all the functionality you'd need (wiki, blog, ppt, podcasts, etc).

[Alessio]

Hi mr. Moore,
it's the first time that I write you a comment even if I am reading your post daily since May.
I think that this initiative it's amazing and really usefull. I'm looking for a master about strategy and Innovation for a long time, but here in Italy there is anything intersting!
I'll surely take part to your class!

[Paolo]

Hi mr. Moore,
I'm Alessio's friend and I'll surely take part to your class!
I read your blog every day.
I think that this initiative it's very interesting.

[Idris Mooee]

Buona mattina. Ho ricevuto più di 50 email dalla gente dappertutto dicendo che sono molto interessati unirsi. 6 dall'Italia. Vijf van Holland. seises de España. I am very exited and look forward for this new experience and interactions. I will start taking registration so we have a sense of total number of people.

Idris

[George Morgan]

Hi Mr. Mootee
This is a great and generoous idea. I am a grad of GSB and brading is an area that I need some education. I am interested in brand strategy on a strategic level not the executional level so this is just perfect. I am signing up.
George

[Kirby]

I'm in.

[John]

I also am in.

[Betsy]

Fantastic!!! Please let me know when it is!

[Betsy]

Fantastic! Please let me know when you have it!

[Richard Smith]

This is really exciting! In fact my boss attended your advanced branding class many years back when he was at P&G. He still has your binder in his office. Count me in. I probably invite some of other brand managers from other divisions. Richard S

[Rory MacDonald]

This is a very generous and inspriational idea - I love schemes which transpose open source thinking to new areas. I hope that in the true spirit of open source, you can gain as much from your pupils ideas as you put in.

I will be passing on the link to try and get some people on board to ensure this.

[Rory MacDonald]

Oops - will you be covering spelling and punctuation (-!

[dger]

I am definately in.

[Rahul Rangan]

I am fascinated. You probably don't rememeber me as I was there when you gave a presentation about "marketing" at the Harvard Marketing Club. I am really looking forward to this.
Rahul

[Matthew]

Love the idea - true web 2.0 fashion!

[Ash Mathur]

Breakthrough thinking - could start a new trend!

[Fascal Hukker]

Through the weblog Amazing Minds I found your masterclass and I would really like to sign my name on the list! What an amazing initiative.

Fascal Hukker

[Douglas Reid]

Hi Idris,

Scott Wilkinson forwarded this to me - it's an excellent initiative. Please add me to the list.

Douglas Reid

[dsilverbaum]

I am in to this.
Farsighted approach you have.
Thank you very much.

DS

[Fascal]

Hi Idris,
I would like to enroll too, thanks for the opportunity!

F

[cogger]

sign me up

[Alex Manley]

I am in. I'll see if I can organize my friends at Sapient and Fry to join as a group. This is really cool.

AM

[yaeko]

I am in! and I am getting my friends to join me too! -yt-

[Catharina]

Nice initiative! Gave you some attention on my (dutch) weblog:
http://www.kletskous.com/2007/08/07/vrije-software-in-het-onderwijs-negentiende-editie-free-software-magazine/

[christian briggs]

Hello Idris,

I'm teaching a class of my own this semester (as well as taking 3 myself and doing research), but i will participate as much as is possible.

Christian Briggs

[Asi]

Hi,

Looks very promising - i'd love to take part.

Best

Asi.

[Mitch Anthony]

Count me in, please.

Mitch Anthony

[Audrey]

Very cool, sign me up!

[Grace]

Great idea. Count me in.

[Jorge Suárez]

Looks very good to me. I'm in.

[Mark Mullen]

I'm looking forward to the class. Thanks for doing this. Good luck with the new venture.

-MM

[Morgan]

Was just waiting on the final announcement til I threw my hat in the ring. It's in!

[steven]

HOw do you register? I don't see any place to register???

[Kate]

This is fantastic. I'm in!

[David Lee]

Looking forward to it! I'm in.

[Dino]

Look forward to this Idris!

D

[André Galhardo]

Web 2.0 is about generosity.
Thanks, Mr Mootee... and count me in.
Best,
André G

Art Director
São Paulo, Brazil

[Flavio Azevedo]

Champion idea, Mr. Mootee!

Let´s make it happen here in Brazil too!

I am setting a group along with Andre, who joined a while ago.

Best!

Flavio Azevedo
Planner/Writer
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

[Tommi S.]

Please, count me in.
Thanks,
Tommi

[Sandy Harmer]

I would like to organize a group here too. Thanks

[Mohammad Bari]

Nice innitiative. I would love to be a part of it.