By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Lawrence Lessig[Edit][Delete]: Codev2 by Lawrence Lessig, [Edit][Delete] December 11, 2006
Lawrence Lessig (I don't know him well enough to call him Larry) has launched an update of Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace. I haven't read it yet, but I'm sure everyone will be reading it this week (download it for free from the net). More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Michael Geist[Edit][Delete]: Digital Info Strategy Requires Courage Before Cash, [Edit][Delete] December 11, 2006
Some pretty straightforward advice that would cost almost nothing to implement and would greatly increase access. "The government should mandate an open access model that would require that all taxpayer-funded research be made available to the public at no charge... Ottawa could also amend the legal deposit program... by expanding the program's requirements to also include a digital copy... Crown copyright should be dropped." Of course, while all of this wouldn't cost very much, it would require politicians to confront the publishers who benefit from the current system. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Scott Wilson[Edit][Delete]: Communities of Practice - The Patent, December 11, 2006
Yes, you read that correctly. I'm sorry. As Scott Wilson observes, "It essentially patents the idea of doing any kind of community-oriented knowledge management involving filesharing and forums involving one or more experts." How long before this becomes a full-blown crisis, and not the absurd annoyance it is now? Or are we at that point now, with absurdities like the Blackboard patent and lawsuit? See also Harold Jarche, who comments, "I remember a sign that was posted in the Officers' Mess in Wainwright, Alberta. It said, 'Let not common sense become so rare that it is mistaken for genius. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Vicki A. Davis[Edit][Delete]: Using and Citing Video from Google Video in your Student Movies, Cool Cat Teacher Blog [Edit][Delete] December 11, 2006
I know this topic will appeal to some people, but I also link it here to raise a point. Vicki Davis writes, "MLA has yet to determine how exactly to cite the wealth of electronic resources out there. If you know how to cite video, please help me..." Why wait for MLA to decide this? If you are citing video, you are ahead of the curve - you shoulds be setting the standard, and let MLA follow. By all means, ask for help. But don't ask to be told what to do. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Jay Cross[Edit][Delete]: From Counterculture to Cyberculture, Internet Time [Edit][Delete] December 11, 2006
Jay Cross outlines one version of the history of the internet and net culture, tracing its roots from the counterculture movement of the 60s via Stewart Brand and Kevin Kelly to the Long Now and Wired magazine. We children of the 70s know there is always another side to the idealism of the 60s, the side that has more to do with self-interest and making a buck than it has to do with saving the world. Just saying, is all. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Michael Feldstein[Edit][Delete]: Blackboard Patent Celebrity Death Match, E-Literate [Edit][Delete] December 11, 2006
Michael Feldstein opines about the recent debate between Blackboard's Matthew Small and the Free Software Foundation's Eben Moglen's (see the coverage from Seb Schmoller about the Blackboard patent and lawsuit. Feldstein is unhappy. "Some audience members were offended by Moglen," he writes, "describing him variously as 'a bully', 'a pimple', and 'our side's version of Rush Limbaugh'." Maybe so. But when you launch a war you need to expect to sometimes be attacked. And make no mistake about it, Blackboard launched a war. Mattyhew Small may be good at making people like Michael Feldstein feel sorry for him, but it's all tactic, not reality. The reality is that his company is trying to destroy Desire2Learn and that it is pandering to a court's basest sentiments to do it. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Various authors[Edit][Delete]: First National Report on Post-Secondary Education Paints Worrisome Picture for Canada's Future, Canadian Council on Learning [Edit][Delete] December 11, 2006
What are the goals and objectives of the post-secondary system in Canada? According to a report just released by the Canadian Council on Learning, they are as follows:

1. A skilled and adaptable workforce to meet the human resource needs of the country
2. Capacity for innovation, knowledge creation, and knowledge transfer
3. Active, healthy citizenry
4. Quality PSE and training
5. Access for all Canadians
6. Participation and success of under-represented groups
7. Lifelong learning
8. Affordable and sustainable PSE and training

As an observer I find it remarkable that 'workforce' and 'human resource needs' are so high on the list, though I do note that they mention 'access' and 'health' - no mention of fulfillment and happiness, though. More...