By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. How do Saudi youth engage with social media?
Nigel Stanger, Noorah Alnaghaimshi, Erika Pearson, First Monday, 2017/05/02
Interesting paper that reminds us (not that we should need reminding) that online behaviour can vary widely from culture. This report, which strikes me as fair-minded and relevant, makes the case by showing how Saudi Arabian youth use social media. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. This Week In Webo-plasmosis
Michael Caulfield, Traces, 2017/05/02
In what might be the worst-but-most-compelling analogy ever, Mike Caulfield draws a parallel between a parasite that spreads from cat to cat by infecting mice and making them less fearful of cats, and social media that spreads from site to site by infecting people and making them less fearful of advertising. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Microsoft unveils next wave of collaborative products for educators
Wyatt Kash, EdScoop, 2017/05/02
Just in time for the education buying season, Microsoft has launched a new education suite, "introducing $189 laptops, 3-D and collaborative apps, new Windows 10 S and tools for managing devices." Here's the Microsoft page with the news. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Report questions effectiveness of New Brunswick's tuition access bursary
Jordan Gill, CBC News, 2017/05/01

New Brunswick's free tuition program for low-income families was only launched last year, but the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS) is already criticizing it for not improving completion rates. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Student privacy experts poke holes in Electronic Frontier Foundation report
Corinne Lestch, EdScoop, 2017/05/01
I reviewed the criticisms (there are two authors) and think that they are more like 'chipping around the edges' than they are 'poking holes'. More...

Elle prendra part au premier gouvernement d’Emmanuel Macron et d’Edouard Philippe.
Depuis cinq ans, elle était à la tête de l’université Nice Sophia Antipolis. Frédérique Vidal a été nommée, ce mercredi, ministre de l’Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche et de l’Innovation. Elle entre donc dans le premier gouvernement d’Emmanuel Macron et de son premier ministre Edouard Philippe. Voir l'article...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Exploring the Deep Web: A Knowledge Vs Comfort Dilemma
Ludovico Ristori, Digicult, 2017/04/28
The thesis of this article is that the deep web isn't all bad, and that though it contains quite a bit that actually is bad, it is nonetheless worth exploring. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Presentation Advice from 14 of My Favorite Presenters
Dan Meyer, DyDan, 2017/04/28
Some of the advice in this post is pretty good, but not all of it (though to be fair it's a matter of perspective). Some speakers have a single presentation they rehearse and hone over time. More...