Stephen's Web ~ OLDaily

By Stephen Downes
October 29, 2002

Toward Participatory Journalism At TExpo today I have been hearing a lot of talk about participatory democracy (not that anyone used the term explicitly). It is not enough to merely provide services and regard citizens as consumers. I said that yesterday and was echoed today by such speakers as Keith Culver and Liss Jeffrey. This article contains some practical lessons along the same lines in the field of participatory journalism. And, I would suggest, contains the same lessons for those who wish to provide participatory learning (or participatory education). By K. Paul Mallasch, J-Log, October 25, 2002 [Refer][Research][Reflect]

The Resource Centres for Participatory Learning and Action Network Of course there exists a great deal of work already in participatory learning. This web site lists most of the most important resources, including ELDIS, a gateway to on-line information on development and the environment, and the Learning Group on Empowerment and Participation. It also links to sites describing specific methodologies and to sites describing participatory learning in specific fields. By Various Authors, Undated [Refer][Research][Reflect]

Knowledge and Learning We are in New Brunswick (as is no doubt almost every other region) working toward building networks and clusters. This article looks at success factors for such networks. Specifically, "When we look at these networks of companies, the thing that they most want to share and cooperate on, is the exchange of competence and learning." On the one hand, this should not be surprising, but, "It has previously been a widespread belief that networks function if they provide immediate economic benefits for companies. But that does not seem to be the case. Instead learning is the key." By Hans Siggaard Jensen, Learning Lab Denmark, October, 2002 [Refer][Research][Reflect]

eLibrary Articles Now Included in Inktomi Search Results Interesting. From my point of view, yet another reason to use Google. Now this is not because I am opposed to the selling of articles online, not specifically. But I want to be able to turn off the 'for pay' listings when I use a search engine. I want to be able to pay for one item if that's all I want, not an eighty dollar bundle. And I want the price to be reasonable, not some online valuation based mostly on the print price. And finally, if I have content for sale, I want it listed too. A search engine that lists the paid content of only its 'preferred business partners' is not a search engine at all, it's an advertising channel. By Paula J. Hane , News Breaks, October 28, 2002 [Refer][Research][Reflect]

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