Stephen's Web

OLDaily

by Stephen Downes
December 12, 2008

Vaalsbroek

Stephen Downes, Flickr, December 12, 2008 [Link] [Tags: Flickr] [Comment]

Teacher Confiscates Linux CDs, Claims No Software Is Free
Obviously, more marketing is needed. This teacher, after confiscating the Linux disks, writes, "At this point, I am not sure what you are doing is legal. No software is free and spreading that misconception is harmful. These children look up to adults for guidance and discipline." Via Kairosnews. Lee Mathews, Download Squad, December 12, 2008 [Link] [Tags: Adult Learning, Marketing] [Comment]

Future of the University
Compilation of discussion at Online Educa Berlin on the future of the university. Jay Cross writes: "What should change? I suggested no tenure, no grades, no classes, no departments, campus rotation, and loosely configured multidisciplinary teams focused on solving the world's problems. I was not alone. The group was up for change." Playing the video was too much for my bandwidth (cost: 17 Euros per day), if you can believe it. But your average home internet should have no problem with it. Also, read more from Online Educa from Cristina Costa. Jay Cross, Internet Time, December 12, 2008 [Link] [Tags: Assessment, Video, Bandwidth] [Comment]

Fluid Learning
This is in general a very good post, and while some (such as the frst commenter) may disagree with the 'reate my professor' example, the author's central point holds, that the internet changes the levers of control in learning. "The lesson is simple: control is over. This is not about control anymore. This is about finding a way to survive and thrive in chaos." Via Dean Shareski. See also Inflection points. See also Will Richardson on this. Mark Pesce, the human network, December 12, 2008 [Link] [Tags: none] [Comment]

Web Conferencing Services
Tony Karrer writes, "I found a Google doc via delicious that I have a feeling wasn't intended to be public, but it has such a wonderful comparison of the various web conferencing tools that I felt compelled to copy it here and as a new Google Doc in case the document goes away. I also noticed that Wikipedia has a page - Comparison of web conferencing software - but it doesn't have pricing and a few other columns." It's interesting, looking at the options - I can't help feeling these web conferencing systems will become as common (and free) as the web browsers of today. Tony Karrer, eLearning Technology, December 12, 2008 [Link] [Tags: Conferencing, Google, Wikipedia] [Comment]

Why Are We Careless About the Experience of Teachers?
I continue to enjoy the Bridging Differences conversation, especially in its more recent incarnation. Consider this for insightful: "Consider how easy the average big-time columnists have found it to blame working people and unions for both our school problems and the auto industry's (with its 'unreasonably' high wages and benefits). In contrast, consider how we're reminded to forgive and forget the mistakes in judgment and action of the financiers and economic experts who failed us on an even grander scale." Deborah Meier, Bridging Differences, December 12, 2008 [Link] [Tags: Schools] [Comment]

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