I saw this debate this morning and engaged with the topic and format. I like this way of presenting different perspectives on a hot-button issue and would like to experiment with it in WLStudio.

Haven't looked at this indepth--would this work for directory?

Excellent list of free tools

Already learned something from the Bonk MOOC--see this page for free hosted CMS and LMS technologies.

Just found out about this MOOC that starts next week (April 30--5 weeks long) by Curtis Bonk, a professor at Indiana University. It's on Instructional Ideas and Technology Tools for Online Success. I would like to see how he structures this class and learn a lot, too, about the topic. Every MOOC is a chance to learn!

Both the discussion method (Tweet-chat) followed by private reflection and public writing, as well as the topic--design thinking are fascinating to me. Written by David Kelly on April 24, 2012. Is method of learning relevant to WLStudio?

Is this what we need to do on a regular basis with WLStudio? #EdChat http://www.facebook.com/EdchatPLN This is a different type of group - #Edchat is Twitter based. In their own words, "#Edchat is a hashtag discussion among educators from all over the world on education related topics. It happens every Tuesday at Noon EDT and 7PM EDT. To join us simply follow the #Edchat hashtag on Twitter!" The Facebook Page keeps users up on discussion topics, and provides additional resources.

****This post by Derek J. Keenan explains his Social Professional Learning Model that served as his Masters Capstone paper at Alberta University, April 23, 2012. Its core is an action research approach to learning enriched by and anchored in social media. Substitute teacher with "other named professional" and it works for people in all types of work/interests. There is also a short (s cultivating connections with the people who have the same self-directed learning quest as you. The next step is reciprocating by publishing and sharing what you know or believe to be true. Throughout it is your experience that informs your participation and your participation informs your level of understanding--you are constantly learning and eventually building your personal learning network relationships to be there for you.

Written by K. Walsh, EmergingEdTech, May 17, 2009, 5 reasons on why teachers should use internet technologies. Some of these rationales could be adapted to WLStudio build RoI rationales 1. Professional Development 2. The Power to engage 3. Students use them already 4. It's not going away (it will only grow) 5. Businesses want workers who understand the internet

Emerging Ed Tech site with blog on how MOOCs will impact the future of college education, K. Walsh, April 25, 2012

Kristen Swanson, April 26, 2012, is using Word Press and Buddy Press and various tools in an experimental class.

I like this term "free-range learning" and believe it might be part of the Studio language. "Ms. Morgan borrows the phrase "free-range learning" to describe students' behavior, and she finds that they generally shop around for content in places educators would endorse. Students seem most favorably inclined to materials from other universities. They mention lecture videos from Stanford and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology far more than the widely publicized Khan Academy, she says. If they're on a pre-med or health-science track, they prefer recognized "brands" like the Mayo Clinic. Students often seek this outside content due to dissatisfaction with their own professors, Ms. Morgan says." Also this comment: I don't think academe has really come to grips with the very large role peer-to-peer sharing plays in the way students learn. We proved this interesting phenomenon this year in a very large online course that we were in the process of redesigning. One section of the course piloted the redesign, which had dropped the former textbook in favor of all online content, cut out 1/3 of the subject areas covered in the old version of the course and changed the assignment instructions and interaction modalities radically. Despite the fact that all students in the pilot section were fully informed that they were in a different and new course, and were required to go though an extensive introductory module covering all aspects of the new version of the course, including the syllabus, and were required to pass a test covering the course requirements and structure, we still had something like 5% of the students turn in work that was based on the old course assignments and old course structure. Some of them had apparently not read any of the assignment instructions from their own section, and were relying entirely on peers in other sections for information on how to complete assignments.

All about Livestream

rationale and components for WL Studio?

Review of John Thackara's new book that has bearing on designing online learning spaces.

exemplifies tool use and learning frequency

Connected Learning site may be something WLStudio should become a part of (don't know if it is possible) or emulate. I like: 1. their philosophy of learning AND the tools they use with Google +hangouts (free open tool and limiting the # of registered participants) 2. livestreaming the event live and allowing others to participate through chat box and 3. building an archive of past events.

MySciNet community site that has range of membership groups including Women in Science and Social Networking Etiquette

Online communities page for AWIS

Maybe this is a platform/technology that could serve as our primary online workspace for WL Studio--need to try it out!