Smallest Possible Learning Online Tool
Alan Levine, 2018/05/21

This is a SPLOT (Smallest Possible Learning Online Tool) that introduces SPLOTs. Here's a bunch of SPLOTs. More...

Surveillance Art?
Tony Hirst, OUseful Info, 2018/05/22
As part of a course section "to get folk to reflect on how easily tracked we are through our computational devices" Tony Hirst introduces us to this art project called Artificial Senses, which “visualizes sensor data of the machines that surround us to develop an understanding how they experience the world”. More...

On “Fake News”

Scott F. Aikin, Robert B. Talisse, 3 Quarks Daily, 2018/05/22

We normally think of fake news as news that is, well, fake. But efforts to define it this way quickly run into counterexamples. More...

What Counts as Student Agency?

Marie Bjerede, Getting Smart, 2018/05/22

I once offered a four-part model of autonomy as my attempt to answer this question (and questions like it). So I find that this two-part model falls a bit short. It includes 'volition' and 'positive action'. But it leaves out epistemic status (that is, the knowledge to act purposefully) and outcome (the idea that your actions actually have an effect). More...

Making Sense of Open Education
OpenLearn Create, 2018/05/22
According to the website, "This will be an introductory-level course designed for global post-secondary educators interested in learning more about open education, open educational resources (OER), and open educational practices (OEP)." You don't have to sign up to view the materials (yay!) and these will be available when the course launches June 1. More...

12 Deeper Tips for Great Public Speaking
Stephen Downes, Half an Hour, 2018/05/22
Steve Wheeler posted a nice article called 12 Tips for Great Speaking today.He's had a lot of experience on the public speaking circuit and there's no doubt his tips hit the mark. I've also had some experience on the circuit, so I thought it would be useful to add to his remarks. More...

A Learning Design Methodology for Developing Short Learning Programmes in Further and Continuing Education
Lillian Buus, Marianne Georgsen, Journal of Interactive Media in Education, 2018/05/24

This paper addresses a common issue faced by designers who are working with instructors. More...

Progress report for Educational and Occupational Credentials in schema.org

Phil Barker, Sharing and learning, 2018/05/24

I've been watching a lot of discussion about this on the mailing lists and so think of this as a snapshot rather than the final word. More...

Government of Canada launches Future Skills Centre call for proposals and Future Skills Council call for applications
Employment and Social Development Canada, Cision, 2018/05/24
There's a lot of detail, but here's the gist: "$225 million over four years, and $75 million per year thereafter, in Future Skills. The Future Skills Centre and Future Skills Council will be tasked with exploring new and innovative approaches to skills development, identifying the skills employers will need now and in the future and sharing information to inform future investments and programming." Here's the backgrounder. More...

The Structural Consequences of Big Data-Driven Education
Zeide Elana, Big Data, 2018/05/29
Though such stories are an Audrey Watters hate read, there's no question big data and predictive algorithms are breaking into schools. The question is, what are the long-term effects of this. That's what this paper addresses. More...