By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Unknown[Edit][Delete]: Personal Learning Environments and Virtual Learning Environments, myWORLD Open Source ePortfolio [Edit][Delete] January 11, 2006

This is a very useful analogy and might be the best approach yet to the divide between personal learning and learning management systems: "To explore hostile environments we bring micro-climates with us in the form of clothing, space suits, boots, sea kayaks, ships, aeroplanes, etc. I may well choose to enter a VLE clad in my PLE or go off exploring on my own or with friends without feeling the need to let the teacher know. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Gerry White: Learning Environment Design for Learners and Teachers, Education.au November 23, 2005

This working paper argues that while a learning management system is suitable for distance learning, the wider scope of e-learning requires not just an LMS but a set of tgools, characterized in seven layers or types of service. Good discussion, moving in the same general direction as other commentators cited here. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Unattributed: Virtual & Managed Learning Environments, Learning Link October 24, 2005

Stephen Powell writes in ITForum (which I can no longer link to, thanks to a new login barrier): "I have been working on an evaluative framework for Online Learning Environments... From this work we identified three broad categories that need considering when making choices about ILE. These are:
- Learning - Focuses on aspects related to the learning process and pedagogical design.
- Administration - Focuses on the organisational, management, and administrational issues with the institution
- Technical - Focuses on both the technical and infrastructure requirements and support required". More...

En application de la convention d’Aarhus et de l’article 7 de la Charte de l’Environnement, les citoyens ont le droit d’être informés et de participer à l’élaboration des décisions publiques ayant une incidence sur l’environnement. Plus...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Graham Attwell: Personal Learning Environments are Getting Closer, The Wales-Wide Web November 9, 2005
Kudos to the Personal Learning Environments Blog for posting the best logo I've seen in a long while (if you don't see it, your email reader does not support .png images). As Graham Attwell says of personal learning environments, "Instead of the learner logging in to a university based system the leaner is able to integrate multiple contexts and sources of learning and develop their own 'learning mix'. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. A Networked, Media-Rich Programming Environment...
There's a lot here, but follow this line of thinking: imagine that there is a language, but instead of words, this language is made up of small computer programs called 'blocks'. Imagine that these blocks can be combined to express thoughts. And that they don't just have to be organized in a sequence, but can be set up in patterns, inserted into common appliances, used, indeed, anywhere we might use a word today. Imagine a network that allows people to automatically send and receive blocks in predefined configurations and places. More...