By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Editorial: Developing Technology Policies for Effective Classroom Practice
This editorial describes a ""technological pedagogical content knowledge" (TPCK)" framework and proposes it to frame the use of digital video in the classroom. Their point is, "the full range of possibilities should be employed, matching the tool to the pedagogical goal and need." And they conclude, "Guidelines for best practice within the framework of TPCK, based on solid research on learning outcomes in classroom use, are needed to realize the potential of technology." Well yeah, but - is the best use of digital video in the classroom? Is the best use of digital technology in general in the classroom. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. The Must Join Calendar Group!
What's interesting about this post is not the group - it is Yet Another Social Network For Edubloggers (sheesh, are we done yet?) - but rather the syndication of events using RSS. Take a look at this example (you may have to 'view source' in order to see the RSS script). Notice the way xCal is embedded in the RSS statement. Now it's not exactly how I would do it - but it's good enough. It's calendar data in RSS. It's not iCal (I looked for an Cal feed but didn't find it) but it's pretty easily translated into iCal. But - and here's the kicker - wy should you have to submit your event into Yahoo, where it's only useful to Yahoo? What we want - and will get, mark my words - is a way to designate any blog post as an event announcement. This allows an application that harvests RSS feeds - like, say, Edu_RSS - to create a calendar of events. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. FOWA: Enterprise Adoption of Social Software (Suw Charman)
Summary notes of this presentation from Suw Charman. The content is interesting enough, but what really makes it work is the use of lolcats as slides. Now of course this is something that would only once in a while, for effect. But the design and methodology is something that should not be quickly discounted. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Laugh, and Your Learners Laugh with You. Maybe.
As one commentator says, "humour in online learning is a hard sell." But I agree with the need to take the content a bit less seriously. Humour can be tricky, but if you stay away from the stereotypes and the gutter, I think you can generally count on a reasonable response. In the meantime, the 'Enquirer' front page accompanying this article is a scream. More...