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by Stephen Downes
August 2, 2010 6:12 p.m.

Murray Beach Provincial Park

Today is 'New Brunswick Day', a provincial holiday, so we went to the beach - specifically, Murray Beach Provincial Park. Enjoy the photos (especially the slide show version). Stephen Downes, Flickr, August 2, 2010 6:10 p.m. [Link] [Comment] [Tweet]

A Snapshot of the HTML5/Javascript Universe
Excellent overview of HTML5 and Javascript framework resources. Holton argues that the next educational multimedia platform "is HTML5, especially since java applets and flash don't work or aren't well supported on mobile and emerging tablet platforms (like the ipad and android tablets)." Doug Holton, EdTechDev, August 2, 2010 6:00 p.m. [Link] [Comment] [Tweet]

Hotseat - Backchannel Platform Coming to a Classroom Near You
Oh this is interesting - I spent a couple days upgrading my backchannel system, and see today that technologists at Purdue are coming out with Hotseat, a backchannel application. According the Hotseat website and the promotional videos, Hotseat will integrate Twitter, Facebook, and mobile device feedback into one stream. It doesn't appear to available to the world yet, but it looks promising. Check out the video below to learn more."

My platform, CChat (short for conference chat) does exist - I've been using it since 2007 and you can see it in action here - and what I did this weekend is to enable it to run simultaneous threads. It doesn't integrate Twitter yet, though - that's on the list, but it will take a day or so of figuring out. Right now, I want to set up a creation screen and admin guide, then it will be ready for public use. At that time (soon?), I'll post a note and you'll be be able to create your own conference thread chat for free (and Perl coders - I have net::Twitter installed, if you want to give me a function that aggregates a hash search, I'll add that too, with much thanks). Richard Byrne, Free Technology for Teachers, August 2, 2010 5:46 p.m. [Link] [Comment] [Tweet]

Canadian company develops thought-control technology which uses brain waves
Controlling computers using thought alone may seem a little far out now, but it's only a matter of time before some insanely popular game makes it mainstream. In the meantime, such technologies offer hope to people who can communicate in no other way. And when they break through, they will break through in a big way. "Basically this is ultimately going to be the way that we engage the world on daily basis." Canadian Press , Globe and Mail, August 2, 2010 5:11 p.m. [Link] [Comment] [Tweet]

Open Learning – what i have learned
I am pretty much in agreement with the eight hypotheses offered by Dave Cormier about open learning. This probably because my experiences are similar to his. He writes, "One of the biggest advantages of openness (and it is one of the things that connects all of the points here) is the messiness of the process. It allows for the unexpected good and bad, to pop into a learning scenario. It approximates real life in a way that is sadly lacking from the majority of our educational encounters. " Dave Cormier, Dave's Educational Blog, August 2, 2010 5:07 p.m. [Link] [Comment] [Tweet]

Are all textbooks created equal?
Mark Guzdial looks at a New York times article, $200 Textbook vs. Free. You Do the Math. The article profiles Scott McNealy, co-founder and former chief executive of Sun Microsystems, who has taken to investing time and a little money in Curriki, which produces open source curricular materials. McNealy and Sun Microsystems been involved with Curricki since 2007. In his commentary, Guzdial raises questions of quality control and innovation - the usual bugbears raised against open source. Some good discussion in the comments. Mark Guzdial, Computing Education Blog, August 2, 2010 10:45 a.m. [Link] [Comment] [Tweet]

PBS Frontline: College Inc.
The problem with running colleges like a corporation is that you are running colleges like a corporation. Which means, basically, as a pyramid system, shell game, or institute of higher speculation. As Mark Federman says, "There is considerable profit to be made by siphoning money from the federal purse now, to be repaid by anonymous individuals in the future." The post links to a 50 minute "'investigation' done by PBS's Frontline on for-profit, higher education corporations in the United States. " Mark Federman, What is the (Next) Message?, August 2, 2010 10:36 a.m. [Link] [Comment] [Tweet]

The Three Eras of Knowledge Management - Summary

Interesting look at what are called the three eras of knowledge management. The three eras are:
- leveraging explicit knowledge
- leveraging experiential (tacit) knowledge
- leveraging collective knowledge
Dixon writes, "Over the three eras, each new set of knowledge management practices has been created in response to an ever-expanding understanding of 1) where knowledge lives within organizations and 2) what knowledge is important to organizational success. We can anticipate yet greater understanding as organizations move further into the third era." Nancy Dixon, conversation matters, August 2, 2010 10:30 a.m. [Link] [Comment] [Tweet]

Virtual Desktops Are Hot Again
I think were still on the early side of the hype cycle for virtualization, but I think it's coming. It's worth taking note of articles like this, and as time goes by, articles that begin to talk more concretely about what virtualization is and what it entails. " Gartner estimates that the worldwide hosted virtual desktop (HVD) market will accelerate through 2013 to reach 49 million units, up from more than 500,000 units in 2009." Still very early, but watch this space. Gary Orenstein, GigaOM, August 2, 2010 10:27 a.m. [Link] [Comment] [Tweet]

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