BBC Jam suspension drama – part 2

Mickey says: Don’t put me in a jar.

For the last two years milo and our partners AT have been involved in producing two BBC Jam projects. In November, Citizen UK, a resource for 7-11 year olds based on active citizenship and local democracy, was launched. More than 20 freelancers were involved in producing this Flash resource. This number doesn’t include the writers, translators, voice actors, volunteers, teachers and the hundreds of children that got involved in either testing the resource or participating on the events that we organised in the four UK nations.

Obviously with the above I’m implying that BBC Jam not only doesn’t hinder educational software development companies, but it encourages collaboration on multiple levels for the different communities of new media companies, freelancers, organisations, and more importantly, learners and their parents and teachers.

My readings of the blogosphere offered the following insights, as voiced by different (sometimes antagonistic) players in this drama:

Users:
Welsh worries
Don’s comment describing how his son loved using BBC Jam.

My Advice to BBC: Please provide any quantitative or qualitative research you have done on the use of BBC Jam

Freelancers/Entrepreneurs:
Some of them see the benefits that Jam has had on new businesses.
“Many of the experiences and skills brought about by the use of the innovations of the BBC will find their way into innovation by start ups. I speak from direct experience when I say this“

Other new media companies:
Andrew Chitty estimated that there is a loss of £20-30 million in business for new media companies.

Researchers:
Rose Luckin suggesting that Jam should have engaged with the new web paradigms – see UGC. We’re currently working on a Jam project that is aiming to re-define UGC, providing learners not just with a space to collaborate and express their ideas, but with tools to do so in new and engaging ways. 

Commercial sector:
BESA’s response to Jam’s suspension.

MacMillan’s CEO,Richard Charkin, celebrating Jam’s suspension.

Why would £150 M have such a devastating effect on the market otherwise? And who, other than a public service would want to undertake producing resources for, say, welsh blind 10 year olds? They are not a big enough market to produce enough revenue to justify what would require hefty investment

However it remains true that this service directly addresses the needs of learners in the UK nations in their own language and of learners with disabilities of all kinds.

Finally, there are plenty of high quality resources waiting in the wings to be uploaded to Jam. Let’s work it out so that this unfair embargo will not stop them see the light.

Update:
A very good comment again on techcrunch. “What needs to be said is that the commercial sector has benefited from over £550m… the commercial sector through their representive BESA should be hanging its head in shame and not gloating”