By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Stephen Carson[Edit][Delete]: Downes on OER Sustainability, OpenFiction [Edit][Delete] February 9, 2006
Some commentary and correction regarding my observations about MIT's OpenCourseWare contained in my recent paper on sustainable open educational resources. Some good observations, too: "no project can really sustain the costs of producing 'reusable' materials, even assuming they could determine what that meant. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Christopher D. Sessums[Edit][Delete]: Risky Business: Teachers and Pedagogical Change, Christopher D. Sessums :: Weblog [Edit][Delete] February 9, 2006
When I read about resistance to technological change, I frequently see it couched in terms of fear, as in this article. I think that's a myth - the image of people, including teachers, cowering from growth and development because they're afraid of change doesn't sit well with me, and doesn't reflect the experiences I've had talking with them. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Chris Lehmann[Edit][Delete]: Incremental Change, Practical Theory [Edit][Delete] February 9, 2006
Tom Hoffman writes that "expecting bloggers to change things quickly is a little unrealistic" and Christian Long observes, "I'm not sure when the rule was laid down that any blogging -- whether it be about education or technology or some wonderful hybrid or about collectors of guinea pigs or whatever your bag of raisins -- that it had to change the world on any level." In this article, Chris Lehmann takes the view that Hoffman and Long are right to recommend patience". More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Albert Ip[Edit][Delete]: Information, Language, Knowledge and Connectedness, Random Walk in E-Learning [Edit][Delete]Random Walk in E-Learning [Edit][Delete] February 9, 2006
Albert Ip comments on my discussion with George Siemens on subjectivity and objectivity. I'll leave my commentary until he finishes his piece, but I will observe at this juncture that his use of words like 'information' and 'knowledge' is very different from mine - dramatically different. This, for example: "I will use the word 'information' to represent everything external to me". More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Aaron P. Campbell[Edit][Delete]: In Blogging, the Benefits of Exposure Are Worth the Risk, TESOL [Edit][Delete] February 8, 2006
I, too, can avow that the benefits of blogging far outweigh the risks. Yes, there are risks - but I guess there are risks in any human interaction. But how else would I have been able to find a community like this, with friends around the world, a meeting of minds in common purpose? "So stop fearing online encounters, and give your students the freedom to explore the world through blogging. Allow them to use the language instead of merely studying it, and help them achieve the autonomy that will be beneficial to them and the society at large". More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Rob Koper[Edit][Delete]: Current Research in Learning Design, Journal of Educational Technology and Society [Edit][Delete] February 8, 2006
In learning design, writes Rob Koper, "The major research issues are at the moment [are]: a) the use of ontologies and semantic web principles&tools related to Learning Design; b) the use of learning design patterns; c) the development of learrning design authoring and content management systems, and d) the development of learning design players, including the issues how to use the integrated set of learning design tools in a variety of settings". More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Will Richardson[Edit][Delete]: Reinvention Chapter 2--I Quit, Weblogg-Ed [Edit][Delete]Weblogg-ed [Edit][Delete] February 8, 2006
Um, wow. Here is Will Richardson: "After 21 years in public education... today I notified my superintendent that as of May 15 I would be leaving the district for parts somewhat unknown. To put it simply, I quit." Yesterday I tried to put the case forward to OECD representatives about the barriers and hurdles placed in front of individuals in our field. Today we see Will Richardson leaving behind the institution that (apparently) has become more of a hinderance than a help to his work. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Javier I. Ayala[Edit][Delete]: Electronic Portfolios for Whom?, EDUCAUSE Quarterly [Edit][Delete] February 8, 2006
I couldn't say it more plainly myself. "The literature doesn't discuss e-portfolio use to meet student needs and concerns but to support administrative efforts to solve long-term curricular issues." And I agree with this assessment: "Implementers who have not thoughtfully addressed the key issues outlined here will eventually come crashing down. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Catherine Howell[Edit][Delete]: The Most Popular Educational Technology Diagram, Ever, EDUCAUSE Blogs [Edit][Delete] February 8, 2006
I didn't catch the significance of Josie Fraser's post when it came out, but this article helpfully contrasts the diagram it describes to the E-Learning Framework diagram "(which quickly became known as: 'Another Brick in the Wall')" and links, in turn, to a fascinating Flash visualization of some of the approaches in the educational space. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Jay Cross[Edit][Delete]: Push and Pull, Informal Learning [Edit][Delete] February 8, 2006
Good article on the distinction between 'push' (which is what spammers, advertisers, and other assorted low-life do) and 'pull' (which is what I've advocated for some time). Not surprisingly, as this article makes clear, traditional learning is 'push' and new learning is 'pull'. More...