Take Note: ‘Explain Everything’ app is THE top education app right now
jnxyz, ulearning Blog, August 25, 2011.

I don't know whether an application that works only on the iPad can be considered to be "the top education app" (unless your universe of discourse consists only of iPads) but I will certainly agree that a screencasting app for the iPad is a big deal, especially for educators. Amd the $3 price is right.

[Link] [Comment][Tags: none]

Taking OER beyond the OER Community
Various Authors, Commonwealth of Learning, August 25, 2011.

From the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) on WSIS (no link, because it requires one of those ridiculous logins): "Within the framework of a UNESCO - COL initiative: Taking OER beyond the OER Community, UNESCO and COL will be launching a new OER publication: UNESCO-COL Guidelines for Open Educational Resources in Higher Education (draft). The Guidelines are intended to help key stakeholder groups (governments, higher education institutions, teaching staff, student bodies, quality assurance/accreditation bodies and academic recognition bodies) as they assess the implications of OER for their future policies and actions. UNESCO and COL will be hosting an open online discussion on the publication in the OER Community during the week beginning Monday 19 September." There's a WSIS discussion opening, with the usual disincentives to participation.

[Link] [Comment][Tags: Open Educational Resources, UNESCO, Quality, Discussion Lists, Academia]

Great Literature Podcasts at Stanford
Bécquer Medak-Seguín, Hispanic Studies Forum, August 25, 2011.

So with my disconected life on the Island taking precedence this month I have been more interested than usual in podcasts and audio in general (not to mention the fact that I'm now always scouting for content for Ed Radio). Bécquer Medak-Seguín recommends "the show Entitled Opinions (about Life and Literature) with Robert Harrison. It is a radio show at Stanford University, but available to the world via podcast at their web page." Also worth a look is this post on e-learning podcasts from Connie Malamed. Also, in what appears to be a new podcast, Discerning tech.

[Link] [Comment][Tags: Podcasting, Online Learning, Audio]

Using WordPress as a Syllabus Database
Alexandre Enkerli, Disparate, August 25, 2011.

This is pretty smart. WordPress, like most blogging systems, is at heart a content management system. So using it to manage some sort of content, like a syllabus archive, is a good idea. So here, writes Alexandre Enkerli, is "a preliminary version of a syllabus database that I’ve been meaning to build for an academic association with which I’m working." Here are more screenshots and a self-contained version with theme files.

[Link] [Comment][Tags: Web Logs, Content Management Systems, Academia]