By Stephen Downes
May 9, 2003
Learning Object
Repositories
Directory of learning object
repositories. "The sites and organizations listed below
either have generated learning objects and host their own
repository (i.e. Wisc-Online) or have provided guidelines,
templates, or frameworks for objects that are stored in
their repository (i.e. Apple Learning Exchange)." By
Patricia McGee, NLII, May, 2003
[Refer][Research][Reflect]
Course Design for Enhanced
Learning
A set of lessons providing an overview
of the principles of learning design, this tutorial is
intended to be used as a stand-along learning object
(thereby stretching the definition of 'learning object' a
bit, but hey, I can't complain) or in support of an
instructional design course. It's clearly written and well
organized, though the production values leave a lot to be
desired. By M. Kayt Sunwood, University of Wisconsin, May,
2003
[Refer][Research][Reflect]
Contributing to Scholarship in Educational
Technology Through Systematic Re-use and Evaluation of
Large Educational Objects in Professional Development
Settings
This paper needs a good edit in order
to obtain some sort of structure and clarity. It could use
a shorter title, too. But the point it raises is a good
one: "Teachers and schools buying curriculum, is a 'billion
dollar business'. Making a purchase in education is like
buying a used car -- Buyer beware! Clearly a set of
'quality standards' are needed to guide the review of
resources." But how, asks the author, do you convince
reticent readers to offer reviews? A system whereby the
reviewers assist the scholarship of education is needed, he
suggests, as he describes some of the mechanisms that would
lead toward such a system. By Jason Ravitz, IT Forum, May
9, 2003
[Refer][Research][Reflect]
Major Labels Caught Stealing $100m a Year
Well well well. Fresh from settling on a
collusion case last year, the music publishing industry is
found with its hand in the cookie jar once again, allegedly
cheating its recording artists out of $100 million. Yes
those recording artists, the people this whole copyright
campaign is supposed to protect. "On April 22, 2003, the
U.S. District Court based in Los Angeles, dealt a serious
blow to BMG and Sony, deciding that the two
major-label-owned 'record clubs' had no leg to stand on to
get the case thrown out of court, and would have to attempt
to prove to a jury that they just 'forgot' or were really
going to pay songwriters 'when they got around to it.'"
Wonder where the RIAA publicity is on this one. Or for that
matter, the mainstream media. By Moses Avalon, Music Dish
Industries, May 5, 2003
[Refer][Research][Reflect]
elearn.ca Blog
I was probably not
supposed to find this on the web (heh) but here it is
anyway, elearn.ca's new blog, still obviously very much
under construction (the Enter button doesn't work).
Interesting is the use of the Industry Canada logo and look
and feel - are they shooting for official status? You have
to think so. By Various Authors, Algonquin
College, May, 2003
[Refer][Research][Reflect]
Colleges in Crisis
I haven't
really followed this side of the equation in OLDaily,
concentraing instead mainly on the use of technology in
learning. But over the last year I've seen dozens of
stories of this ilk: tuitions rising, colleges closing or
merging, the system in growing disarray. The upshot is
this: if the richest nation in the world cannot afford to
educate its children the traditional way, what hope does
the rest of the world have? I have long argued that, as
alternatives became available, governments would be
increasingly reluctant to fund such an expensive and
inefficient form of learning. I was right, except for one
thing: governments aren't necessarily waiting for the
alternatives. They are cutting funding now. By William C.
Symonds, Business Week, April 28, 2003
[Refer][Research][Reflect]
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