By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. On the Nature of Mathematical Concepts
Verena Huber-Dyson, Edge, 2016/07/19
I studied under Verena Huber-Dyson when I was in Calgary and was opened to a world where we question assumptions, consider alternative (but complete and consistent) forms of formalization, and a range of reasons why we ought to question our core 'truths' about mathematics and logic. More...
By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. How Companies Are Benefiting from “Lite” Artificial Intelligence
Seth Earley, Harvard Business Review, 2016/07/19
Artificial Intelligence as a Service (AIAAS) is here. As this article notes, "At the less-expensive end is a knowledge-based approach that organizes data and language into highly malleable and helpful blocks of information." For example, there's "a virtual assistant known as ABIe (pronounced “Abby”) to answer questions from its 12,000 agents (for All State). More...
By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Intelligent assistants are catalysts for digital commerce
Dan Miller, Derek Top, Nicolas De Kouchkovsky, Opus Research, 2016/07/19
It's important that we note that "we are entering a world where an intelligence assistant recognizes our 'intent.' This could spawn a massive consumer behavior shift, as AI-influenced bots would mean far fewer Google searches by humans." More...
By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Bridge International Academies
Bridge International Academies, 2016/07/15
This appears to be a prospectus (11 page PDF) for Bridge International Academies, a global education company specializing in offering low-cost learning to impoverished children. More...
By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Guidelines for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of MOOCs
Allison Littlejohn, Nina Hood, Commonwealth of Learning, 2016/07/15
Report (36 page PDF) providing "a set of guidelines designed to support decision making about the sorts of quality measures that are appropriate in different contexts." The report includes input from a 2016 experts meeting, in which I took part. More...
By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. MIL-CRED
Advanced Distributed Learning, 2016/07/15
"Imagine how helpful a fully vetted, fully automated, personally controlled digital resume would be for both the individual as well as potential hiring managers in military, academic, and corporate organizations," says the invitation to this webinar (register here). This work is very similar to the personal learning records project we were running. More...
By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Want a Deep Dive on How Silicon Valley's Best Will Fix Education? Here's The Full Interview With Max Ventilla, CEO and Founder, AltSchool
John Battelle, LinkedIn, 2016/07/15
That moment when things go off the rails. More...
By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Metaknowledge
George Musser, Aeon, 2016/07/15
This essay makes one good point and a bunch of bad points. The good point is that the 'wisdom' in the wisdom of crowds isn't going to be taken merely by counting votes or taking averages. More...
By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Are those hearts strings connected? – the power of fleeting connections in a digital pedagogy
Peter Bryant, digital stranger, 2016/07/14
Good post looking at the concept of 'fleeting connections' in some detail. As suggested by VTE Live, one of the purposes of a MOOC, as opposed to a community of practice, is to create short-term low risk temporary networks where people can benefit from the diversity and interaction without making a lifelong commitment. More...
By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Authenticity and Co-Opting Voices of Color without Permission
Rafranz Davis, 2016/07/14
I think there's some pretty good advice in this post, and it goes well beyond the warning in the title. More...
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