OLDaily
In case you needed a handy list of open source content management systems (hey, you never know when it will come up). Has links to other lists of such systems as well. [Tags:
Open Source,
Content Management] [
Comment]
You've probably read about the use of the wiki in learning, but might not have been certain how to go about it. Author Renée Fountain looks at the use of the wiki in pedagogy in some detail in this e-book, covering pedagogical potential, production, templates, evaluation and examples. A number of
research links are also provided. [Tags:
Research] [
Comment]
Big news in the Moodle community as reports are coming in that the (British) Open University is moving to Moodle. More (but not much more) from the
Moodle discussion forum (you may need to login).
Open University press release (MS Word). Dean Taylor, the programme manager of the OU's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), says, "We see the development of Moodle applications, along with involvement of the Moodle Open Source community giving our students a great advantage in e-learning. Plus, the innovations added by the OU will be available to the entire Moodle community. It's a two-way creative street."
More. [Tags:
Online Learning,
Course Modules,
Discussion Lists] [
Comment]
I think this post serves as a useful caution. While we are quick to cheer programs like Google Print because it opens access to content, the author warns that Google's program is about commercialism, not content. "Google is all about capturing and monetizing the eyeballs of consumers, not getting better content to students." As an example of this, notes the author, take not at the "barrage" of advertising that accompanies any Google service. So higher education leaders should encourage Google to offer "greater access to learning materials in a non-commercial format." Or, they should abandon the Google initiative (and do it themselves). I think that while a good point is raised here, what we say before Google was an even more blatantly commercial publishing in a form that posed a real barrier to online readers. Authors and higher education institutions did very little (cases like OpenCourseWare excepted) to make their content available; many even tried to cash in on it. What Google is offering is better than what we had - and while I certainly agree with the criticism of Google, I am nonetheless not willing to go back to the days where I would have to travel to a university library to access academic content. No indeed. [Tags:
Marketing,
Google,
Academics and Academia] [
Comment]
Social bookmarking - the use of systems where groups of people share their bookmarks, and which sometimes involve 'tagging', or unstructured classification - can be used to support learning. As evidence of this, Tony Hirst offers a set of reflections on how social bookmarking can be used, some considerations about managed social bookmarking, and how to encourage students to engage in social bookmarking. Good stuff. Meanwhile, we'll add Tony Hirst's blog,
OUseful Info, into the list of edubloggers. [Tags:
Web Logs] [
Comment]
Social bookmarking - the use of systems where groups of people share their bookmarks, and which sometimes involve 'tagging', or unstructured classification - can be used to support learning. As evidence of this, Tony Hirst offers a set of reflections on how social bookmarking can be used, some considerations about managed social bookmarking, and how to encourage students to engage in social bookmarking. Good stuff. Meanwhile, we'll add Tony Hirst's blog,
OUseful Info, into the list of edubloggers. [Tags:
Web Logs] [
Comment]
James Farmer introduces us to a some new education blogs,
Teaching Generation Z, by Graham Wegner,
The Server Room, by (unknown) and
Smelly Knowledge, by Jeremy (something). I wish people would be more attentive about actually putting their names on their blogs - or at least a pseudonym. [Tags:
Web Logs] [
Comment]
I think we'll see more of this (and, indeed, am surprised it hasn't become mainstream already): schools sending records electronically to colleges and universities. "It's been the Holy Grail of admissions, to be able to transmit transcript data electronically," Nassirian said. "If Indiana pulls it off, it will be a significant. That would be marvelous and it would be a good omen for the rest of the country." [Tags:
Push versus Pull,
Schools] [
Comment]
What's interesting about this online application is not only that it is an easy way to tag books (though it is that) but also that the same basic application is being used to tag
computer programs,
facts and
ideas. next thing you know they'll be tagging buildings and bridges. [Tags: None] [
Comment]
For Canadian readers looking for funding: "Inukshuk invites you to submit an Expression of Interest for funding of: either an innovative and creative Content Development Project to develop multimedia and feature-rich learning content, applications or learning environments, or a Connectivity Project which results in the provision of wireless broadband internet access to unserved or underserved communities." Most deadlines for expressions of interest, but some (New Brunswick, PEI) are December 7. Inukshuk is sponsored by Rogers Communications, possibly with input from Industry Canada. [Tags:
Canada,
Wireless] [
Comment]
Interesting paper in which the author adapts Hettler's "six dimensional model that provided an objective representation of human experience and existence" (physical, spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional, and psychological) to a study of learning theories. The six elements are first compared to Maslow's hierarchy of needs and Salmon's online learning model (where I would think 'motivation' should qualify as 'psychological', not 'physical'). From this point of view, the characteristics of teacher centered, learner centered, content centered, and teaching centered theories are described. The treatment could be less of a caricature in some cases - it seems wrong to say, for example, of a lecture that "student knowledge, skill and ability are of little concern." Additional articles in the
most recent issue of IJEDICT are now online. [Tags:
Online Learning,
Experience] [
Comment]
Projects & Collaborations
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sorted according to topic category, author and
publication.
Research
Browse through the thousands of links in my knowledge base
sorted according to topic category, author and
publication.
About Me
Bio, photos, and assorted odds and ends.
Publications
You know, the ones that appear in refereed journals of Outstanding Rank.
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Articles
All my articles, somewhere around 400 items dating from 1995.
Audio
Audio recordings of my talks recorded in MP3 format. A podcast feed is also available.
Calendar
What I'm doing, where I'm doing it, and when.
Photos
A collection of my photographs. Suitable
for downloading as desktop wallpaper.
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Stephen Downes
Copyright © 2004 Stephen Downes
National Research Council Canada
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I want and visualize and aspire toward a system of society and learning where each person is able to rise to his or her fullest potential without social or financial encumberance, where they may express themselves fully and without reservation through art, writing, athletics, invention, or even through their avocations or lifestyle.
Where they are able to form networks of meaningful and rewarding relationships with their peers,
with people who share the same interests or hobbies, the same political or religious affiliations - or different
interests or affiliations, as the case may be.
This to me is a society where knowledge and learning are public goods, freely created and shared,
not hoarded or withheld in order to extract wealth or influence.
This is what I aspire toward, this is what I work toward. - Stephen Downes