By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Doug Lederman[Edit][Delete]: Opening Up Online Learning, Inside Higher Ed [Edit][Delete] October 9, 2006
Coverage of the 'launch' of the Common Cartridge standard (who came up with that name?) at the EDUCAUSE meeting in dallas today. "It is a set of specifications and standards, commonly agreed to by an IMS working group, that would allow digitally produced content âx" supplements to textbooks such as assessments or secondary readings, say, or faculty-produced course add-ons like discussion groups âx" to 'play,' or appear, the same in any course management system." According to the article, "all of them have vowed to begin incorporating the new standard into their products by next spring âx" except Blackboard, which says it will do so eventually, but has not set a timeline for when." Don't expect them to rush, though. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Wesley Fryer[Edit][Delete]: Podcast87: Stephen Downes on E-Learning 2.0- Learning Networks and Connected Learning, Moving at the Speed of Creativity [Edit][Delete] October 9, 2006
Wesley Fryer has captured and podcast my presentation to yesterday's Global Learn Day 10. As he notes, I will be presenting this content as a paper at ITForum next week. [Tags: Podcasting]. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Monica Shelley, Cynthia White, Uwe Baumann and Linda Murphy[Edit][Delete]: `It's a unique role!' Perspectives on Tutor Attributes and Expertise in Distance Language Teaching, IRRODL [Edit][Delete] October 1, 2006
The research in this report (n varies between 17 and 32) leads the authors to conclude that "Tutors who work within distance education differ markedly from their classroom counterparts in terms of the roles they assume, the ways in which they interact with students, and the attributes and expertise required of them." This may even be true, but I still have to ask, when are journal editors going to reject this sort of sham that passes as academic research? This is not to disparage the authors - they are simply doing what they have led to believe is the way things are done. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Dariya Mukamusoni[Edit][Delete]: Distance Learning Program of Teachers' at Kigali Institute of Education: An Expository Study, IRRODL [Edit][Delete] October 1, 2006
The September issue of IRRODL is out. This article describes a distance learning program in Rwanda. The location makes the article compelling, but that's it. The authors conclude, "Without clear communication, course tutors often cannot effectively facilitate the DL modules." One wonders why they felt this needed to be established. I wonder, certainly, why academic writing leaves me so dissatisfied. This needs to be examined. More...