By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Dave Warlick[Edit][Delete]: Cultivating a Classroom Learning Engine through Information Economics, 2 cents Worth [Edit][Delete]2 Cents Worth [Edit][Delete] February 7, 2006
Interesting observation on the best strategy for schools in an era when control over content has slipped from their hands. "The content belongs to us. It's controlled by us. ..and we are producing an increasing amount of it. So I suspect that Khosla is right, we will not be able to control the content -- even in our classroom (especially in our classrooms?)". More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Albert Boswijk , Thomas Thijssen and Ed Peelen[Edit][Delete]: A New Perspective on the Experience Economy, European Centre for the Experience Economy [Edit][Delete] January 25, 2006

"The experience economy is more than just 'excite me', 'feed me' and 'entertain me'," write the authors. A meaningful experience needs to be rooted in the individual experience, "his or her everyday world and societal context." But what does that mean? The authors do a good job of drawing this out, characterizing both the sensation, emotional impact and context of meaningful experience. "They have a high emotional impact, they have to do with letting go of old patterns, and discovering new frontiers." The having of a meaningful experience is itself an experience; the engagement of one's emotions and beliefs brings about (and this is my interpretation) what might be thought of as a secondary, reflective experience. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Gail Fosler: Advanced Economies Losing Lead In Education, Says Analysis by The Conference Board, The Conference Board November 2, 2005

There has been much angst expressed in western economies about the rise of the less wealthy nations. But I see this as an unprecedented opportunity, not only for the people living in those regions, but for us in the west as well, to draw from and learn from the rich variety that constitutes global culture. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. The Sharing Economy
I have been quite unhappy with our elected leaders ever since a certain Supreme Court decision here in Canada recently, one that portends the privatization of our health care system in spite our history of electing governments who promised over and over that they would protect public health care. Quite unhappy? Seething. So if you detect a certain edge in today's newsletter, it's because of yet another turning of the screw of cynicism and disillusionment. More...