Stephen's Web

OLDaily

by Stephen Downes
May 23, 2008

gRSShopper

OK, here it is: the release, under GPL, of my RSS aggregation and personal content management software, gRSShopper. This release is numbered 0.1 and readers should take into account this there is still a lot that could be added to the software. That said, it's the tool I use to run all my web sites (it supports multiple sites with the same installation). I have created a demonstration site where you can go in and play with the site administration tool. I will be adding some examples of the system's functionality over the weekend. The source code is available on SourceForge and also on the gRSShopper site. I don't expect massive numbers of downloads or WordPress-like popularity. Rather, I view it as one prong in my overall research effort, a demonstration, in code, of the concepts I talk about in writing. But I will help people who are trying to install it (within reason) and I will continue to develop and improve the software - and will welcome contributions. Stephen Downes, gRSShopper, May 23, 2008 [Link] [Tags: Content Management Systems, RSS, Research] [Comment]

Free, Cool, and Green: Webconferencing
Wolfgang Greller reports, "Vyew provides all the tools you ever wanted for online synchronous collaboration: hand raising, moderator/collaborator/reviewer/viewer settings, desktop share, drawing tool, import and showing of PowerPoint or other files (which you can annotate directly, polls and quizzes, text chat, synchronous or unsynchronous mode." Free, too. Wolfgang Greller, Wolfie's e-Blog, May 23, 2008 [Link] [Tags: Chatrooms, Conferencing] [Comment]

CourseFeed + Facebook = Social Learning
Does it? I'm not so sure. I really don't think Facebook brings a lot to the equation here. Gerry, Friends, May 23, 2008 [Link] [Tags: Books] [Comment]

OLPC 2.0: A Striking eBook and a Step In the Right Direction
The next-generations "will consist of dual touchscreens on a single spine and include keyboard, face-to-face, and ebook functionality. The touchscreens will be built by a start-up by former OLPC CTO Mary Lou Jepsen. These screens will be readable in direct sunlight, just like the OLPC." Too bad they'll be hobbled with Windows. John Biggs, TechCrunch, May 23, 2008 [Link] [Tags: Books, Portable Computers, Microsoft] [Comment]

Creating Evaluation Strategies for Simulations
My take on evaluations in simulations is pretty simple: if you land the airplane (at the right airport) without crashing, you pass. But I guess the world of evaluation in simulations is rather more complex than that. Clark Aldrich offers a reasonably detailed commentary on the topic. Clark Aldrich, Style Guide for Serious Games and Simulations, May 23, 2008 [Link] [Tags: Simulations] [Comment]

The Global Garage Sale: Sifting Through Cyber Debris
This site was recommended to me, and while I wish they would blog more, there seems to be good content here, such as this post featuring Will Richardson and the concept of Personal Learning Networks (PLNs). Yottabyte "imagines, creates, and franchises schools for students who will graduate into a world in which nearly all information is digital and accessible from nearly any location." It's a good vision, but I have to admit to being uncomfortable at the notion of franchising schools. Derek Brandow, Yottabyte Schools, May 23, 2008 [Link] [Tags: Schools, Accessibility, Web Logs] [Comment]

The Adventures of Bollywood Blackboardwala
Too funny. Blackboard meets Bollywood. Note: you'll have to start the videos playing manually by clicking on the small 'play' arrow. Michael Feldstein (who must search for 'Blackboard' daily - or maybe he reads the Chronicle) "didn't see this one coming". Randy Thornton is not just a 'blogger', he's an information professional and college instructor. You can also find anti-Facebook humour on his site. Randy Thornton, metamedia, May 23, 2008 [Link] [Tags: Video, Blackboard Inc.] [Comment]

Here Comes Everybody? Yeah, Whatever.
As usual, the meaning of 'everybody' is vastly overstated. "Is it just me or doesn't everybody find it oddly ironic that the comments on the Here Comes Everybody blog have been 'broken ' for nearly a month?" Darren Draper, Drape's Takes, May 23, 2008 [Link] [Tags: Web Logs] [Comment]

Students in S. Bronx Refuse to Take Test
I did this in grade 12. Since I was the only one to boycott pointless tests, they simply gave me a zero and I failed grade 12 English. No teacher was harmed or unfairly fired during the conduct of my protest. Unattributed, ASCD Blog, May 23, 2008 [Link] [Tags: Assessment] [Comment]

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