Online Self-organizing Social Systems: The Decentralized Future of Online Learning
Like the short item I posted to DEOS a couple of weeks ago and expanded in a number of posts copied (I think) to the Global Learn Day List, this paper discusses the concept of self organizing social systems in online learning. More...

Canadian Students put Wireless Learning to the Test
A consortium of post-secondary institutes and companies from the educational publishing and technology sectors have signed a contract to launch a mobile learning pilot program at two Canadian institutions during the 2002 fall semester, Seneca College and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). More...

High-Stakes Testing for Dentists??
Intended to be funny, this item goes overboard a bit ("His face had turned red, and from the way he was clenching and unclenching his jaws...") but the message is sound and the analogy useful: just as we would not evaluate dentists based on the number of cavities their patients have, so also should we not evaluate teachers based on their students' test results. In each case, too many factors are beyond their control: some parents don't send kids to the dentists until it's too late, for example, some eat candy and sweets, and some live in areas without flouridated water. More...

The Jack Principles
This item dates from 1997 and is directed toward teachers using interactive television, a technology on the wane. It is illustrative, though, because it lists a set of principles for "drawing the user into the pacing of the program." In my mind, these principles describe exactly the opposite of what teachers in an online learning environent should be doing. "Give the user only one task," suggests the document. Limit the number of choices they have. Make sure the user knows what to do at every moment. More...

How Object-Oriented Programming Started

It came up in a discussion yesterday so I did a quick search. For your enjoyment and edification. More...

3 Administrators Debate How Technology Is Changing the Faculty's Role
More stuff from last week's NLII in San Diego, this time from the Chronicle. Three administrators - Vicki Suter, Sidney A. McPhee, and Carl F. Berger - deate the impact of technology on traditional institutions. More...

World Bank's Global Development Learning Network
An important backgrounder. This short article describes the development and purpose of the World Bank's Global Development Learning Network. It describes a number of GDLN initiatives, including a project I am involved with to set up a distance learning centre in Bosnia in partnership with the University of Sarajevo. More...

The Asia Pacific e-Learning Alliance Urges the Private Sector to Partner With Governments and Academia in the APEC Region
This item isn't news, it's just another fluffy press release. But if you are interested in exporting e-learning content and solutions into Asia, you should be aware that these guys exist (if you aren't already): the Asia Pacific e-Learning Alliance is a coalition of companies formed to promote the benefits of Internet-based learning among members of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. More...

Cashing In on Smarts
There's not a lot new in this item - number crunchers will appreciate some of the ROI (Retern on Investment) information provided - but the article as a whole provides a major attitude check for people wondering how e-learning is progressing in the corporate sector. More...

Looming Cuts for Distance Education and Educational Technology in B.C.
No sources are listed, but this month's issue of The Node is reporting that the British Columbia, Canada, government is considering the closure of Tech BC and the Open Learning Agency, two of British Columbia's (and Canada's) learing distance learning institutions. More...