Group items tagged

An account of someone who isn't bothered about learning and won't ive feedback to students in a Mooc. Scale might be a reason but that's not the rationale being used.

Making the move forward ...

There's a lot of talk about social media in learning but where's the action? Well, something's happening in social media and learning, and Facebook is looking like a front runner. 

"There are countless author and book production platforms to choose from these days. So why would you want to use a new one like PressBooks? In this TOC interview, I sat down with Hugh McGuire (@hughmcguire), co-author of "Book: A Futurist's Manifesto" and founder of PressBooks to help answer that question. I should point out that I'm a fan of the platform. In fact, that's one of the reasons we agreed to have Hugh create and produce "Book: A Futurist's Manifesto" on PressBooks."

Suggestion of  a license to make writing available to libraries. Idea seems reasonable on the surface but wonder if it will become divisive, especially the institutional sub-set.

"Given an expectation of digital literacy among students, why should we worry about student perceptions of CMS tools? For the same reason exemplary instructors stay aware of their students' general learning style preferences-to evolve their teaching styles to meet diverse preferences and maximize learning while also attempting to develop and enhance students' abilities to learn in different ways. Likewise, knowing the CMS tools that students find most effective establishes an important baseline for understanding student needs that can be addressed not only in a CMS but also through other online systems and services. The University of Florida (UF) conducted a survey investigating that question in spring 2009, during the university's most recent CMS evaluation and adoption decision to replace the existing CMS. This research bulletin presents the survey results to help inform other institutions with their own evaluation and adoption processes. The information will also benefit instructors looking to maximize their own use of a local CMS and/or to choose tools that enable personal learning environments, as well as specific tools for learning."

Why an LMS wiki is a misnomer - or rubbish by another name

"The University of Florida has faced sweeping budget cuts from the State Legislature totaling 25 percent over three years. That is a main reason the university is moving aggressively to offer more online instruction. "We see this as the future of higher education," said Joe Glover, the university provost."

"If the mission of the university is the creation of knowledge (via research) and the dissemination of knowledge (via teaching and publishing), then it stands to reason that giving that knowledge away fits neatly with that mission. And the branding benefits are clear."

"Our Space is a set of curricular materials designed to encourage high school students to reflect on the ethical dimensions of their participation in new media environments. Through role-playing activities and reflective exercises, students are asked to consider the ethical responsibilities of other people, and whether and how they behave ethically themselves online. These issues are raised in relation to five core themes that are highly relevant online: identity, privacy, authorship and ownership, credibility, and participation. For more information, download the Introduction to Our Space [pdf], FAQ [pdf], and Road Map [pdf]. All curricular units and lessons are free and available for download below. The full casebook [pdf - 133MB] can be downloaded using the link at the bottom of the page." Critiqued by @downes for not addressing the issue properly "This is "a set of curricular materials designed to encourage high school students to reflect on the ethical dimensions of their participation in new media environments." The content divides into five major subject areas: participation, identity, privacy, credibility, and authorship and ownership. I'm not sure these are the top five things I would list when thinking of ethical dimensions of new media environments. While it's useful that there is a section on flamers, lurkers and mentors I think there should be something about hate, racism and bulling. And while a section on credibility is a good idea, it should be based on the principles of reason and inference, not outrageously bad definitions like this: "Networking-the ability to search for, synthesize, and disseminate information." And this: "Collective intelligence-evidence that participants in knowledge communities pool knowledge and compare notes with others toward a common goal." Wow, those are just wrong. Maybe I need to review this and criticize it more closely."

Post arguing that teachers should keep a professional distance from their students. I think I profoundly disagree with this post, not around the act of staying distant but about the power differential built into his argument. Acting ethically and modelling good and realistic practice in life is more fundamental to a useful educational stance. This post refers I think to non-adults and emotional transference is something that teachers need to be conscious of. I'm not arguing that teachers should friend all their pupils online, rather that his reasons for this are flawed.

"This the 5th annual survey of learning tools that I have built based on the contributions of learning professionals worldwide. The 2011 list will be finalised on 13 November 2011."<--reason enough to postpone the cool tools workshop until mid November?

Professional Advisory by Ontario College of Teachers on the use of social media. Don't think I agree with it all but lots of reasonable stuff.

Interesting post flagging the info overload things that we have all come across. The second point in the 5 point list is part of the concept that Downes & Siemens have used in the Connectivism MOOC i.e. don't even attempt to read everything - that's not what it's about. Instead choose & filter your information, create networks and trust platforms for 3rd party filtering.

Account of the news reports on Charlotte Berry @talktoteens who was vilified for being a real person on twitter. (Straight from the Street of Shame school of disgraceful journalism)

Brilliant start to this article but not convinced that recording is total solution.

coffee shop meetings boost productivity and creativeness because of moderate level of background noise. More meetings in coffee shops to enhance WCEL team performance!