#ukedchat #fail: TES attempt takeover cover-up whilst Pearson muscle-in on grassroots Twitter teacher CPD
Doug Belshaw, Weblog, November 25, 2011.

This post wins hands-down for the worst headline ever. Maybe I should stop using original post headlines as titles for my own posts. Anyhow, the story (for those who cannot decipher the headline) is that Pearson education and the Times Educational Supplement (TES) have taken over running the grassroots #ukedchat discussion, and have thrown a cloak of secrecy over the attempt. "Not only was Pearson muscling in on the success of #ukedchat but that, in fact, the Times Educational Supplement (TES) was taking over the running of the weekly discussion. Those who had been told were hushed to secrecy." Doug Belshaw writes, "I can’t tell you how disappointed I am, despite the claims of the TES to the contrary, that #ukedchat – an example of grassroots innovation by teachers, for teachers – has been effectively 'sold off' behind closed doors." I think British educators should run an 'Occupy #ukedchat' campaign and take back their Flickr discussion. I'm not sure what they can do about the #ededchat wiki, though, but again, they should try to take it back.

[Link] [Comment][Tags: Flickr, Twitter, Great Britain, Mergers and Takeovers]

Statistics Canada to make all online data free
Carl Meyer, Embassy, November 25, 2011.

This is excellent news - maybe the same spirit will eventually permeate through other government departments. "'As of February 1, 2012, Statistics Canada will begin to implement a new dissemination model. Standard products readily available on its website—including CANSIM data, census data and geography products—will be offered free of charge,' reads one letter sent to a distributor dated Aug. 23, and obtained by Embassy." Statistics Canada currently charges money for these products. Via Michael Geist.

[Link] [Comment][Tags: Canada]