By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Chromebox and Chromebase - definite contenders for desktop replacements
David Andrade, Educational Technology Guy, 2014/08/20
I'm not yet ready to make the leap to Google's Chromebox and Chromebase but my recent experience with a Windows 8 debacle (downloaded videos that refused to play because I was not online) pushes me away from Mocrosoft and back into thinking there may be alternatives. More...
By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Top 10 reasons to trust Microsoft in the cloud
Tim Bush, Microsoft UK Schools News Blog, 2014/08/22
OK, I'll be pretty blunt about this: don't trust Microsoft in the cloud. I speak from personal experience: I paid Microsoft for online products (specifically, videos) and thanks to some back-end account problem, I cannot play those videos. My efforts over the last few weeks to fix this have been fruitless. Their online assistance helps for a bit, but then loses interest and stops responding. More...
By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Recent Research Review -- Reviewed (and Lamented)
Will Thalheimer, Will at Work Learning, 2014/08/22
I will admit that this article is an excellent read and that if you are in the field and haven't read it, you should correct this oversight immediately. If you really really don't have time this overview from Will Thalheimer will do nicely. I think that if you are supportive of mainstream research in training and development you'll have no issue with most of the contents and will appreciate the liberal selection of references to bolster the assertions made. More...
By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Deep Learning Tutorials
Juan José Calderón Amador, e-learning, conocimiento en red, 2014/08/15
There is a risk - and I see it instantiated in this post - of confusing two concepts with the label 'deep learning'. The one, typified by the chart at the top of the post, focuses on the distinction between understanding and mere memorization. More...
By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Punished for Its Mission?
Ry Rivard, Inside Higher Ed, Aug 09, 2014
There's more than a little hyperbole in this story, which describes a small liberal arts college that does not score well on metrics because it's designed to help people get jobs or university placements outside the state of Florida, where it's funded. More...
By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Personalization and the 2 Sigma Problem
Arthur VanderVeen, EdSurge, Aug 10, 2014
"Personalization." writes Arthur VanderVeen, "is defined as differentiating instruction and providing regular corrective feedback based on the needs of each student." But it's very expensive to do effectively for groups of students. More...
By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. BlendKit 2014: Choose Your Own Teaching and Learning Adventure
Melissa Loble, Canvas by Instructure, Aug 10, 2014
There was once this think called 'programmed learning' which was essentially designed as a series of branches and options (like a computer program). Originally pioneered by B.F. Skinner, it was all the rage for a while, but has virtually disappeared. More...
By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Mobile Learning - No Pedagogy Required!
Brent Schlenker, Corporate eLearning Strategies and Development, Aug 10, 2014
There's a bit of a discussion following this short post, not surprisingly. The core of the argument is this: "Pedagogy is defined (according to a quick Googling) as a method or practice of teaching. Mobile learning is not about teaching. Mobile learning is about...well...learning. What's the word for 'a method or practice of learning'?" Learnagogy? Learnology. More...
By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Can You Really Teach a MOOC in a Refugee Camp?
Steve Kolowich, The Chronicle: Wired Campus Blog, Aug 10, 2014
The answer - just barely - is "yes". It takes power, of course, and internet access. In this case, "Some refugees have day jobs in the U.N. compound, and Ms. Moser-Mercer arranged to have officials let two men watch videos and complete assignments when they were not working." But it seems to me that if power, internet and access devices could be provided not just to UN offices but to the camp as a whole there could be a significant benefit produced. More...
Conformément aux engagements pris par Frédérique Vidal à l’issue de la concertation sur le plan Bienvenue en France, le ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche et de l’Innovation notifie aujourd’hui aux établissements l’enveloppe de 5 millions d’euros qui a été dégagée pour la mise en place un bureau d’accueil des étudiants internationaux dans chaque établissement universitaire pour la rentrée prochaine. Plus...
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