Technology engagement for academics in third level: Utilising the technological, pedagogical and content knowledge framework (TPACK)
Orna O'Brien, Matt Glowatz, Journal of Applied Learning & Teaching, 2018/06/08
This article (12 page PDF) evaluates the use of the technological, pedagogical and content knowledge framework (TPACK) in academic learning contexts. The framework suggests that all three types of knowledge (ie., technological, pedagogical or content knowledge) may be needed in a given learning environment, and it is the role of the instructor to select and balance those. More...

D2L Bets on The Cloud and Advances in User Experience
Phil Hill, e-Literate, 2018/06/08
This is significant. Phil Hill described D2L's new technology deployments in contrast with Blackboard and (to a lesser extent) Canvas. As part of this he notes how the way institutions deoply LMSs has changed. "According to David Koehn, VP of Product Management at D2L:

• All new Brightspace implementations are on AWS cloud;
• Virtually all current Brightspace implementations use Continuous Delivery; and
• Approximately 50% of current customers are already on the AWS version of cloud deployment; and
• By the end of 2018, a large majority of customers will be on cloud deployment.

What this means is that universities won't be running their own servers any more. More...

This Chrome Extension Makes GitHub Look Like Windows XP
Justin Pot, How-To Geek, 2018/06/06
In honour of the very odd pairing of Microsoft with Git, where's a Chrome extension that makes Github look like Windows XP. More...

Release of Ed-Fi Data Standard 3.0 and ODS / API 3.0
Ed-Fi Alliance, 2018/06/06
The actual headline is a lot wordier and has too many adjectives, but this is a press release and for some reason press release writers have never learned to communicate in ordinary English. The release marks the release of the most recent Ed Fi data standard. More...

Connectively Full From First @ontarioextend Extended Lunch
Alan Levine, CogDogBlog, 2018/06/07

One thing I'll be watching closely after tofay's election in Ontario is the future of Campus Ontario. I most certainly hope their good work is able to continue. So on to the link: Alan Levine describes his first Ontario Extend Extended Lunch conversation. More...

Hax
2018/06/04
Phil Barker writes in an email, "have a look at what the HAX team are doing, they are making a universal front-end authoring interface. It allows you to do things like write Schema into your content as you go, or drop in pre-made chunks with metadata provided. And then publish the html to git pages (not quite automatic yet, but it works)." The source is available on GitHub. More...

Blockchain in the Life Sciences
Stephen Downes, Jun 03, 2018, Life Sciences Day 2.0, Ottawa, Ontario

Slides are of my presentation to the panel giving an accessible overview of blockchain technologies and explaining their relevance to life sciences. The audio is from the panel as a whole (the first minute is missing); it looks at the future of life sciences technology and features speakers from OBIO, CHEO and IBM as well as myself. More...