Stephen's Web

OLDaily

by Stephen Downes
July 30, 2008

Oscon in 37 Minutes
OSCON is the O'Reilly open source conference. This video features short snippets from the presenters summarizing what they are talking about. It's a good way to get a snapshot of the conference, and well worth viewing (but for the ironic counterpoint, see below). gregg, Rails Envy, July 30, 2008 [Link] [Tags: Video, Open Source] [Comment]

Why a Blackboard-Sakai Connector?
Interresting reading between the lines of this post from a Blackboard author explaining why a Blackboard-Sakai connector was developed. "...institutions want to share data and content between their respective mission-critical Blackboard implementations and their pilot Sakai instances... Blackboard clients want this integration, and this is why we decided to develop it." Um, yeah. Jan Day, Blackboard Blogs, July 30, 2008 [Link] [Tags: Blackboard Inc.] [Comment]

A Class Apart?
As the world congress in philosophy takes place in Seoul, some wonder whether the professionalism of philosophy has made it more difficult to describe our thinking of question of knowledge, ethics, etc., as 'philosophy' in other domains. For myself, though not employed as a philosophy professor (and therefore not a 'professional' philosopher) I do not hesitate for a moment to describe myself as a philosopher and my work as philosophical. I think it's good that philosophers are "rethinking philosophy today" as they, as a profession, stand in danger of making themselves irrelevant. Ah, but it wouldn't be the first time, and philosophy will survive. Via Tim Stahmer. Julian Baggini, The Guardian, July 30, 2008 [Link] [Tags: Korea] [Comment]

A Refrain About eLearning
News that the government of Kenya is recruiting 6000 (or maybe 14000) teachers is good. But this does not contradict the idea that e-learning reduces the need for teachers. Nor does it mean reducing the need for teachers is a bad idea. E-learning supports education in part because it potentially lowers the cost of education, reducing the need for staff, travel, physical facilities, and other major costs. But we still need more teachers, especially in Africa, where there is a significant shortage. James Kariuki, eLearning in Africa, July 30, 2008 [Link] [Tags: Online Learning] [Comment]

Academic Aesthetic 164: DEN NI 08
Very nice video documenting the Discovery Education Network National Institute for 2008. As TonNet says, "We should be broadcasting events with same experience this 'geek' educator does it." I like how the video focuses on what the participants are taking away from the conferences, rather than what the speakers are presenting. Art Guy, Academic Aesthetic, July 30, 2008 [Link] [Tags: Video, Experience] [Comment]

Of Jocks and Fags- A Bullying Memoir
Hm. One wonders how frequently this story is played out. Often enough, I would suspect. Clay Burell, Beyond School, July 30, 2008 [Link] [Tags: none] [Comment]

This newsletter is sent only at the request of subscribers. If you would like to unsubscribe, Click here.

Know a friend who might enjoy this newsletter? Feel free to forward OLDaily to your colleagues. If you received this issue from a friend and would like a free subscription of your own, you can join our mailing list. Click here to subscribe.