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OLDaily

by Stephen Downes
January 19, 2010

10 more universities join the African Virtual University
Tiny Bates reports on an expansion to the African Virtual University. "The African Virtual University... is launching Open Distance and eLearning Centres (ODeL) in ten African countries over the next five months. The first launch took place at the University of Zambia in October with subsequent launches in Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Senegal, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe, the effort continuing until early 2010." Tony Bates, Weblog, January 19, 2010 [Link] [Tags: Africa] [Comment] [Tweet]

EU's IP Negotiating Strategy With Canada Leaks: Calls 2009 Copyright Consult a Tactic to Confuse
I winder whether Europeans know that their name is being used to distort Canadian copyright policy. "The document states that the trade negotiations are a 'unique opportunity [for Canada] to upgrade its IPR regime despite local anti-IPR lobbying.' It includes an assessment of recent copyright reform efforts, noting that two bills have died due to 'political instability.' The document adds that the copyright reform process was revived in 2009 with the national copyright consultation, but notes dismissively it may have been a 'tactic to confuse.'" Well, after that consultation, we're not confused. The consultation showed very clearly that Canadians are not interested in the reforms being proposed, which would render their being enacted a travesty of democracy. Michael Geist, Weblog, January 19, 2010 [Link] [Tags: Assessment, Canada, Copyrights, European Union, Patents] [Comment] [Tweet]

Virtual 3D Tours of the Winter Olympics
We have been just inundated with Olympic hype here, so you won't hear much about them from me. I remember the Calgary Olympics in 1988 - I was living in the city when they won the bid, and came down from Edmonton during the games to watch some hockey. They were boisterous and exuberant, but very friendly and not at all in-your-face. The Vancouver games are being marketed (heavily marketed) the Opposite way. Forget friendliness. Now we're going to "own the podium" and shout with almost militaristic national pride. That's not for me, and actually, I'm embarrassed about the whole CTV 'Believe' campaign. But I do want to share this link to a 3D version of the Olympics. Vancouver is a wonderful city and I know it well and enjoy sharing that. Meanwhile, so far as the Olympics are concerned, I'm seriously considering cheering for France. Or Andorra. Or... Byrne (No first name, apparently), Free Technology for Teachers, January 19, 2010 [Link] [Tags: Video] [Comment] [Tweet]

Connected Learning Possibilties
Nice story about children sharing stories about whales that is not improved one bit by the use of the term 'PLN'. Just saying. If you mean 'I contacted my friends' or even 'I contacted my network', just say that. Silvia Tolisano, Langwitches, January 19, 2010 [Link] [Tags: Networks] [Comment] [Tweet]

The changing role of Jorum: sharing using JorumOpen and JorumUK
Just announced: Jorum has now opened up for the sharing of resources through JorumOpen. "JorumOpen - released today - provides free access to a growing collection of open educational resources, for all to benefit worldwide, via Jorum's trusted source of designated learning and teaching resources. This latest collection contains and hosts a range of high quality resources, and we encourage further deposit of open materials, to feature alongside resources such as the entries submitted to the 2009 Jorum Learning and Teaching competition." There is also a Deposit Chooser to help you ubmit materials. Various Authors, Website, January 19, 2010 [Link] [Tags: Great Britain, Quality] [Comment] [Tweet]

Life, on the Net, is too short
I agree with the pundits, blogging isn't really about conversation any more. There was a time when it would have been interesting to map the links from one blog to the next to the next. Now they hardly link to each other at all. Blogging is now more about self-promoters, marketing, news, and some personal reflection. It's not all bad, and it remains pretty much the only place to find a decent thought longer than 140 characters. But it's not, as Hugh McLeod says, "'smaller', 'clubbier', intimate and, well, human. When the people I met were truly like-minded." That's not necessarily a bad thing; I never liked the 'clubby' aspects of the blogosphere. It's a new thing. Life, however short on the net, goes on. Harold Jarche, Weblog, January 19, 2010 [Link] [Tags: Marketing, Web Logs] [Comment] [Tweet]

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