By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Paula E Williams: Tools of the Trade: Learning Technologies for Distance Learners, Open and Distance Learning Association November 15, 2005

"No society has ever had to deal with tools as massively powerful as those that are emerging now," writes Williams. "The convergence of new learning technologies promises to realign our Nation’s economic future." And she asks, "As educators, how might we guide the emerging future?". More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Corey Murray: Project Inkwell Drafts Specs for School Tech, ESchool News November 15, 2005

I really don't like the way this item is written, sounding more like press copy than a news article. But the topic it covers is significfant: Project Inkwell will define 'one-to-one' technology specifications for schools. What that means wasn't really defined (instead, we got quotes like: "There is just something wrong with taking a business-built device and putting it in the hands of a seventh-grader". More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Various authors: Radio Diaries November 15, 2005

People who are podcasting - or who are thinking about podcasting - will find this link highlighted by Albert Delgado to be of use. The advice looks solid, and even if you don't do everything, keeping the points in mind will help your recordings. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Stuart Yeates: OSS Watch Releases Guide to the GPL November 15, 2005

Stuart Yeates reports, "OSS Watch have just released their latest IPR document, an overview and guide to the GPL. This is their sixth licence-specific document and sits beside their documents on ownership and licensing issues , software patents and dual licensing". More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Various authors: Acatopia November 18, 2005

Interesting comment, just sent to me by email. "Just search for a book you are reading, or a book you have read. You will then be able to ask any question you have, and help answer other readers' questions". More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Claire Hoffman: Anti-Piracy Message Stumbles at Colleges, L.A. Times November 18, 2005

For a good chuckle, read this item on students' reactions tgo the 'anti-piracy' message being offered on university campuses (L.A. Times - may require a login, sorry (but it didn't ask me for one)). "'Arrrrrrr!' shouted a group of students in the front row, prompting a chorus of pirate-like catcalls in the vein of Johnny Depp". More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Reuters: Did Sony 'Rootkit' Pluck From Open Source?, ZD Net November 18, 2005

As you recall, Sony placed virus-like software on some of its CDs that secretly installs malicious software on users' computers. Now evidence has surfaced that the company raided open source software to code the rootkit. There's a lesson here about piracy and large corporations, I think. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Various authors: http://www.imsglobal.org/ti/index.html, IMS November 18, 2005

From the email announcement: "IMS Global Learning Consortium, Inc. has released the IMS Tool Interoperability v1 Guidelines... The IMS Tools Interoperability (TI) approach addresses the growing demand for a reusable mechanism for integrating third-party tools with core LMS platforms." OK. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Steve Outing: Google Base: Now What Do We Do?, Poynter November 18, 2005

Google Base has launched and is sending a ripple of concern throughout the news industry, as in one fell swoop Google could obsolete their classifieds department. This advice, though, is sound and probably reasonable: "An all-powerful Google probably has the capability to wipe out other classifieds -- but I doubt that's the company's intention". More...