Monday, February 19, 2007

memory madness

with usb memory sticks at under £7.00 for 1 GB and 4 gb under under £40.00. Can memory fall any lower

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/specials.php



U3 enabled sticks are getting cheaper to ! Will the applications running on a memory stick going to become reality in next 6 months ? The of course wireless USB is coming !


Friday, February 16, 2007

Thumb Drive Drive

Sadly this site is in the US but what an interesting idea anybody fancy setting up a UK based one. I am sure youve got old flash drives lying around if you have give them to your local school community centre doing ICT classes. I give mine to my sons primary school.

The Inveneo site is still worth a look.

the mission page http://www.inveneo.org/?q=mission

the thumb drive page
http://www.inveneo.org/?q=Thumbdrive


Do you have old thumb drives (otherwise known as USB Memory Sticks) at your office or home that you don't use any more?
We're collecting these drives to share with the organizations we work with. They can be used in 100's of useful ways by:

  • Students
  • Aid Workers
  • Small Business Entrepreneurs

Please keep sending them in to Inveneo here and we'll make sure they get out to people and organizations who can use them well:

Inveneo
760 Market Street
Suite 859
San Francisco, CA 94102



Cool new smartphone


It is well known love I me gadgets but am a bit device agnostic at times but this new offerring from TOSH looks good. Amazingly the usual harsh engadget liked it . Interesting as Toshiba made business decision to withdraw from the PDA market several years ago.


Toshiba's new duo may not steal the show together, but the G900 is officially ready to help redefine high-end smartphone devices. The behemoth features, as we mentioned an utterly unreal 3-inch WVGA (800 x 480) display, rear biometric scanner, 2 megapixel rear camera, front-facing video conferencing camera, 64MB of internal memory, miniSD expansion, tri-band HSDPA (yes!), 802.11b/g, Bluetooth, USB, video calling, and USB On-The-Go. The E01 is far more lower end, but still manages HSDPA, a 65k color display, A2DP Bluetooth, and that same 2 megapixel camera.

whens it going to launch and how much is it going to cost I might be in that queue . Gallery pics on engadget look good to http://www.engadget.com/gallery/toshiba-wm6-devices/157628/

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Towards Maturity - Summary and Towards Maturity: insights for employers and training providers (research into e-learning)

Report by e skills Towards Maturity is a suite of four reports intended to help employers, training providers and policy makers better understand the ways in which e-learning can support employer skills requirements. The research was undertaken by e-skills UK on behalf of the Skills for Business network of 25 Sector Skills Councils.

The research included more than 200 organisations across all sectors as well as 1,000 individuals. It represents one of the most comprehensive studies to date into technology-based learning in the business environment.

Towards Maturity –Summary

Towards Maturity: insights for employers and training providers - 4.7MB)

worth watching the website http://www.e-skills.com



For the report Towards Maturity: implications for policy-makers and Towards Maturity: facts and figures will both be available in March 2007.

Handful or is it an armful of Handheld learning research.

Gawd the worlds going Handheld crazy three lots of reports on use of handhelds and I hear from Merlin Johns excellent blog goldsmith The e-scape report from Goldsmiths TERU will be released shortly on the TERU section of the Goldsmiths website so that makes four :
http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/teru/


More detail on Merlins excellent blog at http://www.merlinjohnonline.net/

The previous post doubting handheld learning still being to early I think might be wrong .

From Futurelab



Learning with handheld technologies - NEW

By Fern Faux, Angela McFarlane, Nel Roche, Keri Facer

This handbook offers a guide and resource for those considering exploring handheld technologies for teaching and learning purposes. Four case reports show how different schools, LAs and individuals have attempted to tap the potential of handheld technology for learning, while a wider survey of handheld learning projects gives a sense of the range of work going on, along with contact information.

Read online version (8 web pages)
Open pdf version for best printing results (opens 229kb file in pdf format in same window)
Order free hard copy

From LSN

Mobile learning in practice: Piloting a mobile learning teachers' toolkit in further education colleges

UK college tutors taking part in the Mobile Learning Teachers' Toolkit project authored their own mobile learning materials (SMS quizzes, PDA learning games and mediaBoard activities) to cater for the specific needs of their students in their particular context. This publication reports on the impact of these mobile learning activities on teaching, learning and students' interest in learning and on how tutors integrated mobile learning into the curriculum. The challenges of setting up the project and some lessons learned are also discussed. Examples of the learning materials created and tips for using these tools with students are included to inform teachers who may be considering mobile learning for their students. sadly link to PDF isnt live yet but can be downloaded when the document is released.

http://www.lsneducation.org.uk/research/centres/RCFTechEnhanceLearn/mobile/


From Teachers TV view the video online at

http://vr-ttv-stream.lbwa.verio.net/ttv/C1133003_multi.wmv

In this programme Year 10 pupils at Saltash.net Community School, near Plymouth, spend two days testing out specially adapted software on PDAs.

The cutting edge trial of interactive handheld computers is specially customised for the classroom to enhance pupil learning and assessment. These are multi-functioned with a typing and drawing facility, they take photos and can voice record comments and ideas.

The pupils can look at each others work, which is continuously beamed up onto the teacher's laptop ready to be assessed and commented upon.

The trials are part of a prototype design and technology GCSE exam being developed for the DfES and QCA by Professor Richard Kimbell of Goldsmith's College, London.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Handhelds in e-learning - still to early

This comment by Mark Nichols Waitakere, NZ
I i have to disagree from European perspective connectivity is getting cheaper the tools to create http://ebcnzer.blogspot.com/2007/02/handhelds-in-e-learning-still-too-early.html your own content for learners are getting easier,cheaper better . But nice review of futurelab report
PDF

I am becoming device agnostic .

one report to watch is shortly to be published

Mobile learning in practice, a soon to be released review of piloting mobile authoring tools in FE colleges, published by LSN. Authored by Carol Savill-Smith, Jill Attewell and Geoff Stead. Full publication will be available from LSN.

this link takes you to the site but publication isnt live yet.

E learning awards 2007

No involvement personally in this at all But this might be of interest. The £99.00 entry fee is also interesting.

The 3rd annual E-learning Awards will take place in November 2007 in London.


The primary objective of the E-learning Awards is to recognise real
excellence in the e-learning industry. This may be an e-learning
programme, project or strategy that is judged to be the best in that
category for that year.


The Awards are judged by the eLearning Network, the industry’s
foremost e-learning association. Receiving an Award means that an
organisation has made more than a positive contribution to clients’
fortunes. They will have created or produced something that will be
looked at years later as something that is a benchmark, to which others
in the industry can aspire to.


More importantly those that receive the awards will have excelled
and will have been recognised in doing so, by the e-learning industry
overall.





http://www.elearningage.co.uk/goawards.htm

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Google Presently a full set ??

a geek article that suggests that google are going for ther full set with an alternative to PowerPoint!



http://blogs.zdnet.com/Google/?p=465

add this to:

  • Google docs Excel and Word
  • Google mail Outlook
  • Google Base a database
watch this space.





Text-message course helping newcomers learn English

Great story via my google alerts from project helping new comers to Canada improve there English grammar using m learning . Interestingly set up by Athabasca university who helped host mlearn2006 in October in Banff where I presented.


"in Alberta pen and paper aren't necessary in an Edmonton classroom where students are learning English with a new tool — text messages on their cellphones.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2007/02/09/text-classes.html

Under a pilot project, the students at the Mennonite Centre for Newcomers are testing "m-learning," or mobile learning, where they download an English grammar lesson, then answer a series of multiple choice, or true or false questions.

Students at the Mennonite Centre for Newcomers are testing mobile learning - downloading an English grammar lesson, then answering a series of multiple choice, or true or false questions.Students at the Mennonite Centre for Newcomers are testing mobile learning - downloading an English grammar lesson, then answering a series of multiple choice, or true or false questions.
(CBC News)

Athabasca University, a long-distance post-secondary school, created the cellphone lessons for those wanting to learn English as a second language (ESL).

"You're controlling it, which is so nice," said Tracey Woodburn of Athabasca University. "A lot of people have been telling me, 'Oh, I can do this when I am watching my kid's soccer practice or when I am on the bus coming to school.'"

Interesting project echoing the positive points many UK projects have found.

Friday, February 09, 2007

JISC/HEA Innovative Practice WorkshopPlanning and Implementing Innovative Practice with Mobile and Wireless Technologies

Got to give a huge plug to this event arranged by colleagues at JISC and the HE Academy.
Publication will be good to.

Registration is now open

Workshop: Planning and Implementing Innovative Practice with Mobile and Wireless Technologies

The JISC and the Higher Education Academy wish to invite you participate in a workshop on Planning and Implementing Innovative Practice with Mobile and Wireless Technologies.

There are four venues and dates to choose from. Register at the separate form for the event you wish to attend. Each workshop is limited to 50 participants so early booking is advised.

London Met University - 7th March
Register at http://survey.jisc.ac.uk/innovprac_070307/

University of Leicester - 21st March
Register at http://survey.jisc.ac.uk/innovprac_210307/

University of Bristol - 18th April
Register at http://survey.jisc.ac.uk/innovprac_180407/

University of Salford - 25th April
Register at http://survey.jisc.ac.uk/innovprac_250407/

Each workshop will explore the practicalities of implementing mobile and wireless technologies in an institution. As a participant you will explore technical, pedagogical and organisational change issues around implementation. A practical demonstration the hosting institution will provide an insight into the latest developments in mobile and wireless technologies at the venue. For a full programmes of each workshop see http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/elearning_innovation/eli_innov_wksp.aspx

The workshops are underpinned by the work of the JISC Innovations Programme and the Innovative Practice with e-Learning Publication. See http://www.elearning.ac.uk/innoprac

Further details and joining instructions will be sent one week before each workshop.

If you have any questions relating the event please contact Christina Ioannou jisc@inanyevent-uk.com or Eddie Gulc Eddie.Gulc@heacademy.ac.uk

Interesting way of recording and making conference sessions available.

This with my interest in on-line conferencing and video capture software this seems like an interesting solution that I also reckon they could deliver an augmented podcast . The main page is

http://www.2dot0.co.uk/index.htmPublish


The really interesting stuff to look at Somerset web 2.00 stuff and policy implementation stuff .
http://www.2dot0.co.uk/pages/archive.html

It doesnt replace being there but if you cant or need a future reminder a really useful tool..


I really love the plug for http://www.boveyclimateaction.org.uk/ on the front page who is the mystery guest that is appearing Monday ??? I am not there but If I find out I might even blog it or get a quote for the blog!


Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Web 2.00 on Youtube

I have to give a huge heads up to Ewan Mc Intosh blog http://edu.blogs.com/edublogs/
to finally making me think about Youtube (OK I know I am late to the party) I immediately found some thought provoking resources that link nicely with the interesting but slightly depressing EPIC video i blogged link here a while ago.

Really nice read write web intro movie

Web 2.0 ... The Machine is Us/ing Us
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE

More formal but great video again understanding web 2.00
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsa5ZTRJQ5w


I will look at YouTube more.

Monday, February 05, 2007

My Old school in technology forefront youtube assemblies and Suffolk school communicate closure via Bebo

found this on Merlins blog http://www.addysg.org.uk/merlinjohnonline/news.php?item.104


What is really really scary it is my old upper school !!!! Ghosts in the machine six degree of seperation what ever http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_degrees_of_separation what ever or just plain spooky .

Some of the buildings don’t appear to have changed I only live 24 miles away but havent been back to the school in 18 years might go back for a visit.


Sleepy Suffolk is a hot bed of web 2.00

Heres a great story from Another Suffolk School in his own words better than mine

Social networking solution to rapid school communication
problem
---

You've probably experienced the difficulties of
communicating a simple message using Chinese whipsers. Following a fire alarm
raised when gas was smelt within school we had 800 students on a field, on a
cold Thursday afternoon in November. They were instructed to go home as the
school buses had started to arrive, but must to their annoyance many students
had to leave their mobile phones and wallets in school until engineers arrived
to check the building.

The school office was also off limits until the
risk could be assessed and staff returned home not knowing what would happen the
next day. Once a decision had been made that school would remain closed on the
Friday staff started to receive information through the telephone tree with
department heads contacting their staff. The message that school would be closed
was also broadcast on the local BBC radio station, Suffolk radio. Not the
students first choice of listening matter.

These established methods
were not effective in reaching our students. My experience was:
After arriving home at 4:15 I started to receive messages on my Bebo home page (
http://chrisryall.bebo.com
) from students asking whether or not school would
be open the next day. As I hadn't yet been contacted by telephone I was only
able to assure students that I would post a message to my Bebo whiteboard when I
had information. I was contacted by about 6 students through Bebo, using both
private messaging and the public comments feature. About fifteen students also
contacted me using instant messaging and Email. One of these students whose
father is a teacher at our school was able to tell me that school would in fact
in be closed. After checking this via an Email to this teacher, who was far
ahead of me on the telephone tree I was then able to post on my Bebo whiteboard
that school was in fact closed.

Posting the information on a web page in itself was not the most powerful use of the Internet. It was the fact that so many students were connected to each other through Bebo and instant messaging that the news was able to travel so quickly. Many students found out that school
was closed through Bebo and instant messaging before visiting the school website to check the information or receiving an Email.

Once the news was published on the school website (http://gcus.net)it was automatically available as an RSS feed and Emailed to pupils and parents. A significant number of these
emails bounced back however from unavailable email accounts. Either from these
Email accounts no longer being used or our messages being identified as spam
because such a large number were sent out.

Bebo and the power of community won. The message was quickly relayed from hand to hand with students
then visiting the school website to check the validity of the message.

I received my message from the telephone tree three hours after I'd heard it
through Bebo.

A wonderful example of the digital divide was that students without access to the Internet (or who hadn't been contacted by friends and didn't listen to radio Suffolk) were the ones who arrived at school to find it closed the next day!

And when the engineers arrived, they couldn't find any damage to our gas supply.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So all this social networking is evil I think not !





Sunday, February 04, 2007

ICT and building schools for the future: an essential guide Becta Publication

this maybe of interest to those involved in BSF (Building Schools for the Future )



Aimed at school leaders, this useful guide looks at how technology is
integral to the Building Schools for the Future programme and
highlights key things that you should be thinking about in this area.

ICT and building schools for the future: an essential guide

You might also find the partnership for schools website useful http://www.p4s.org.uk/

BBC on Demand services consultation

This sounds less exciting than it is. If you listen to BBC podcasts are interested in how the BBC is going to evolve in the future to respond on demand TV audio etc please please respond and blog this request to your blogs to.

The BBC Trust is carrying out its first Public Value Test
(PVT) – a new procedure that must be applied when the Trust considers
applications from BBC management for the approval of new BBC services.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/consult/open-consultations/ondemand_services.html

The first PVT concerns the BBC’s proposed on-demand services.

Here you can find out how to take part in the public consultation on the BBC Trust’s provisional conclusions.

The proposed new services

TheBBC's Executive has been developing proposals to offer BBC programmes and content 'on demand'. made an application last August for the following:
  • Seven-day TV catch-up over the internet
  • Seven-day TV catch-up over cable
  • Simulcast TV over the internet (streaming of live television networks)
  • Non-digital rights management (DRM) audio downloads over the internet (podcasting of selected radio programmes)
link to consultation is here

Dapper: Blotter (Blog Plotter)

If your interested in checking and displaying your blogs popularity over time I might incorporate this but not now. Not quite a friendly as clustrmaps see my side bar but nearly .





http://www.dappit.com/dapplications/Blotter

Friday, February 02, 2007

learning e -learning blog

New Zealand is full of great people and Selena is one I met her at Mlearn2006 in Banff in October . She is doing great stuff with learners in NZ in areas such as baking apprentices. Really clever and thought provoking her post on plans for 2007 is worth a look. Great blog Selena your in my bloglines !!! She is really thinking of the new pedagogy that some of us in the uL like Geof Stead of CTAD are talking about . Power to you Selena



http://mportfolios.blogspot.com/

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Whiteboard Research



Thanks to Rob Talbot for this from Coventry College. DFES study 'e-Learning in Further Education: The Impact on Student Intermediate and End-point Outcomes' June 2006 is a useful read.



Full study at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/RR739.pdf



and research brief at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/RB739.pdf



Similar research from schools sector in London



http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/RR816.pdf





Technews

I know keep mentioning this but it can save you hours of time and gives a good summary tech happening relating to education The January edition of TechNews is now available.

Please use the link below to download TechNews as a PDF* file:


http://partners.becta.org.uk/page_documents/research/technews/jan07.pdf


TechNews archive

An index of downloadable TechNews analysis pieces and back issues is now also available on the TechNews web
the website is also in permanent links in my sidebar.

Friday, January 26, 2007

Merlin Johns Blog

You will notice in my link in the side panel I have added links to Merlin Johns personal blog Merlin in my opinion is one of the countries top technology journalists relating to education. He has a great blog ( I wish I could write so well.)


well worth a look another legend in his own lunchtime . Link is there permanently but is here as well www.merlinjohnonline.net

go on have a look !!

New Toy Gyro transporter


Just got a Gyration transporter a nifty presentation tool from the makers of my favourite presentation tool the GyroMouse and Keyboard .


Its a really small mini mouse but with 1 Gb memory built into the receiver that plugs into your PC that can transport your presentations around.


http://www.gyration.com/en-us/gyrotransport.html


Will blog how it goes !!

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

TWO E-LEARNING CONFERENCES, OXFORD UNIVERSITY

TWO E-LEARNING CONFERENCES, OXFORD UNIVERSITY
22nd and 23rd March
Said Business School

I sadly cant go but theses events look interesting !!!

The Shock of the Old 6: The Shock of the Social
One-Day Conference on Educational Technologies

Said Business School, University of Oxford, March 22nd 2007
http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ltg/events/shock2007/

The Learning Technologies Group at Oxford University Computing
Services is pleased to announce its sixth annual one-day conference
on educational technologies.

Shock 6 will explore the issues arising from the rise of social
networking tools, Web 2.0 software and related collaborative
technologies, and how best to make use of these innovative tools in
teaching, learning and research.

For more information and online booking please visit:

http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ltg/events/shock2007/

Beyond the Search Engine

Said Business School, University of Oxford, March 23rd 2007
http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ltg/events/beyond2007/

Beyond the Search Engine continues the successful ‘Beyond…’ series
of talks and debates hosted by the Learning Technologies Group at the
University of Oxford. This year the theme is plagiarism and academic
integrity in the modern world of social networking and private learning.

* Does the ready provision of information in the public sphere
detract from students’ ability to develop their own knowledge?
* Does the pressure to perform undermine students’ academic integrity?

The day will consist of talks by experts in the field, and two debates.

This event follows on from the Shock of the Old conference on ICT in
Teaching and Learning, 22nd March 2007, held at the same venue and
with similar charging.

For more details and online booking please visit:
http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ltg/events/beyond2007/

JISC conference proceedings as e-books

The JISC have produced three e books as proceedings of the Jisc Innovating e-learning online conference last March .

site with links http://andysblackhole.blogspot.com/

Worth downloading reading and reflecting upon

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Free web conferencing V room by elluminate

Ok it only allows three way conversations but it is free file ,application sharing and video conferencing. sound like a groove lite .

http://www.elluminate.com/vroom/ hey I wonder how goroove networks are doing ???

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Reflections on BETT 2007 The show and exhibits

The first of many posts .
My first reflection is the changing nature of BETT and it's audience.
It is now :-

  • Huge bigger (maybe better) with almost an American feel about it ! Though Olympia doesn't have the huge presentation theatres of US venues.
  • The current venue is quite difficult to orientate yourself in.
  • The international component is growing all the time huge numbers of European visitors and vendors had international sales people on stands.
  • Its still great and if I am honest getting even better.
My predictions were partially correct.
  • Wireless was every where in kit. Coolest kit in show was wireless see later .The problem now is to much wireless in terms of finding the network you want.
  • Handheld well wow what a prediction loads of handhled stuff Dave Whyley of www.learning2go.co.uk did a key note or two . Graham Brown Martin of www.handheldlearning.co.uk had a better placed and bigger stand that last year and was bonkersly busy . Future lab www.futurelab.org.uk where there and I gather had seminars that were over subscribed. Samsung and Intel were showing very cool ultra mobile PC's (yes they are still handhelds). Tribal CTAD were there showing there cool mobile offerings

  • Blogging was everywhere but not in your face it has the feeling of a stealth technology on education that along with other web 2.00 tools appear to be a small technology with enthusiastic followers ( how wrong they are !!) but will pop its multiple heads up and change the world !!! The fact BCS asked Terry Freedman and Miles Berry to present on Social software in the classroom was testimony to this , Both are complete legends in their own lunchtime. As regards suppliers study wiz seemed to have integrated a lot of blogging tools into there existing great offer
Kit at the show
  • Whiteboards every where prometheans new software looks cool, Mimio the whiteboard emulators just gets better for certain uses it appears to be thee solution. Smart had some interesting mounts and combinations with projectors.
  • The orange coloured for education only projectors ( a Becta suggestion I believe) were much in evidence a simple but great idea !!!
  • Sound speakers are getting such good quality (Bett was very loud !!).
  • Toshiba and Samsung laptops 3 g enabled and 8011N ready
  • Beautiful Apple stuff its looks so nice and works well ( I must buy one!!).
  • Go to gyration site and see the
its a wireless presenter combined with 1GB memory and I think non PC related presentation software. plug into any PC wander off and present its needs checking out more. At £130 odd pounds isn't cheap.
But my major reflection even if you were there all week you couldn't see it all and the chance and planned conversations with friends at the show was the only way to get an overview. A very verbal blog type approach maybe web 2.00 is gossip by another name !!!

Friday, January 12, 2007

Moodletxt

Interesting on again by TXTtools and plug in for moodle very clever eh details here

Lets talk about text event 27th March in Leeds

Interesting event by TXTtools with yours truly doing the key note details here

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

BETT 2007

Iis it really that time of year again going to be a the BETT from Wednesday to Friday .

Main aims

  • Survival
  • See whats news

  • Meeting with contacts
Any predictions

  • Handheld learning will continue to grow
  • Wireless will be everywhere
  • blogging will be everywhere in and out the classroom
I will try and blog but beware it maybe a bit rambling postcards from the edge of sanity so to speak .

Monday, January 08, 2007

Bill Gates hails digital decade

Some of us thought it was already here ;-)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6239975.stm
BBC NEWS | Technology | Bill Gates hails 'digital decade'

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Panorama software



Just been mucking around with autostitch software I mentioned a while ago software can be found at http://www.cs.ubc.ca/~mbrown/autostitch/autostitch.html

Install the free download and just drop your shots that make up your panorama and it does the rest. Here is an attempt from shot taken from drigg dunes in Cumbria looking back to the Western lake District very neat indeed, No work on my part apart from selecting the images it does all the rest !!!

Another reason to use Firefox 2.00

If your spelling or typing is dreadful ( mine definitely is !) Firefox 2.00 has a great spell checker built in. Great for your wiki writing or blog ramblings very cool.
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/2.0/releasenotes/
Mozilla Firefox 2 Release Notes

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

future lab blog

Thanks to Dan Sutch for making me awre of this really useful blog to watch in my bloglines from now on !!
http://flux.futurelab.org.uk/index.php/2006/11/28/hello-world
Flux » Blog Archive » Welcome to FLUX!

One Laptop per child blog

Worth a look described by the olpc team as Your independent source for news, information, commentary, and discussion of One Laptop Per Child's computer, the OLPC Children's Machine XO, developed by MIT Media Lab co-founder Nicholas Negroponte.http://olpcnews.com
One Laptop Per Child News

BBC news story is also worth a look http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6224183.stm
BBC NEWS | Technology | $100 laptop project launches 2007

http://andysblackhole.blogspot.com/
Andys Black Hole

Friday, December 15, 2006

Articles on mobile phones from the economist

The remote control for life is great phrase from this article from the economist this really is a must read article.
amazing stuff like this
Researchers at Nokia, meanwhile, speculate that within a decade, the cost of storage will have fallen so far that it might be possible to store every piece of music ever recorded in a single chip that could be included in each phone.
http://economist.com/science/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=8312260
The phone of the future | Economist.com

My Leonardo

Today I was Lucky enough to meet Project Manager for Universal Leonardo, www.universalleonardo.org , who is based at Central Saint Martins College of Art ; Design, the University of the Arts London.

The team are researching an art-and- science web-based project for schools focusing on Leonardo da Vinci and interested in integrating some of the Web 2.0 technologies in it. Being an interdisciplinary project which takes its inspiration from Leonardo, key skills that we would like to develop through the project are creative thinking skills, They feel that the use of social networking tools would be beneficial to the project. The project, provisionally called MyLeonardo, will be part of the Universal Leonardo web site. UL is a programme aimed at deepening our understanding of Leonardo da Vinci through a series of European exhibitions (of which the current Leonardo V exhibition is part), scientific examinations and web resources.

So bloggers out there any ideas how best they might make use of web 2.0 tools within the site specifically in a schools context and how to involve schools who would be interested in bringing together art and science. .

A really nice project the current websites great have a look at the build a monster and the phorensic investigations.

so come on any idea??

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Everything 2.00 Bob Stompel

A huge heads up to Bob Stumpel for this its quite simply a great blog .

http://bobstumpel.blogspot.com
Two huge things of note

The most brilliant Web 2.0 things in 2006
web2.0 2006 most brilliant

Great stuff there note sure about chick adviser is that real !!!! Hitchhikr sounds interesting share knoweledge on conferences.

Then Telecoms 2.0
http://bobstumpel.blogspot.com/2006/12/telecom-20.htm
Without a doubt, "social phone apps & services" are amongst the most interesting areas within the 2.0 zone. And I expect this category to explode in 2007. Bobs words but he is right the telecoms area and social networking mobility is going to go mental in 2007

Remote access keeps you in touch

Well as I live the mobile life this story rings to worth a read. is it really a story or not .http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/6161813.stm

Monday, December 04, 2006

2014 Vision Excellent video

Possibly the best blog I have read in recent months. From the Fischbowl from Karl Fischer 2020 Vision

I wish I had could write so well !!!

"
This post - and resulting presentation - has been kicking around in my head for the last month or two. One of the difficulties I've encountered with our staff development efforts is being unable to define a specific vision for what the future is going to look like. While I have many ideas about the changes that are occurring - and are going to occur - and the general direction we should head, I can't nail down specifically what school - or the world - is going to look like 5 or 10 or 15 years out. The pace of change is so great that it's nearly impossible to predict what's going to happen. And, for teachers that are used to the seemingly endless pendulum swings in education, that makes them hesitant to commit."

watch the video shades of blade runner or hope for the future its great.


EPIC video

Friday, December 01, 2006

Manchester plans free city wi-fi

Following on the announcement of free Wi Fi in Norwich Manchester is joining the push for free City wide WIFi networks!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6199382.stm

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Government 2.0

After web 2.00, e-learning 2.0 comes government 2.0 are we and political circles ready for this I think not . this artciles sounds like establishment 2.00 rather than government 2.00
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=19&entry_id=11228
The Technology Chronicles : Government 2.0


what do you think ?

Dion Hichcliffes web 2.0 blog

Dion writes so well this piece building on the web 3.0 debate and great links and background reading: Take a look at eight end-user mashup platforms available today link

The plea for tools to do the integration we currently do by cutting and pasting people in web 2.0 space dont want to do the coding themselves the tools are theyre but maybe not fully integrated but the there coming .

Great piece here on a better way to do things on the fly at here
Innovation Creators: A Better Way to Do Things on the Fly

Things are really gathering speed

Ban on MP3 transmitters is lifted

Specially for my friend Rob who has an I trip well now they are legal nearly. Interesting things is the link between car and MP3 player could also be link between apple Iphone or other phone mp3 players another step on the rise of the phone MP£ player device !!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6177820.stm

Monday, November 20, 2006

George Bush Sings Sunday Bloody Sunday

this actually was used at the recent web 2.00 conference http://www.web2con.com/ earlier the month in where else but San Fransico sadly they havent shared the presentations .
Those that know me well know I am a bit of U2 fan this google video clip is quite clever . A way from e-learning but clever video editing !

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6805063692754011230

Why CEOs should learn to love the blog

Interesting article in Guardian unlimited of a gap in blogging from carphone warehouses boss Charles Dunstone. Well the company have had some issues re its broadband service and he hasnt blogged at all for a couple of months.



Is this really bad form its portrayed as in the blogging world or has he just been busy ??





link



leave it up to you to make your mind up !!

Ilearning Paris forum 29th to 31st January

Ilearning Paris forum partnered with our friends from European Institute for eLearning – EifEL . this seems really interesting shame my French isn't good enough to participate in e portfolio strand though rest of conference is in English as well as French.

Main conference site
http://www.ilearnforum.eu

Contributions page
http://www.ilearnforum.eu/call-for-contributions





I am considering submitting a paper on mobility but will have to wait and see.

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Mars Exploration Rover Mission:1000th martian Day

Well I know its not e-learning but aren't these two little craft doing well

Mars Exploration Rover Mission: Press Release Images: Spirit

November issue of Technews

If your interesting in emerging tech education and ICT and you dont subscribe to Becta TechNews WHY not !!!

registration link can be found in my side panel
latest editions has got stuff on


  • trusted networks
  • growth in GPS related service
  • wimax
  • 8011n
  • semantic web
  • quad core processors
so going register and get in the loop !!! Look in the archive to !!

Well done to colleagues at Becta another hit !!!!!

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Apple iphone

Well I got it wrong the Apple people are going to add not only key pad pda style to the Apple IPod but also phone connectivity .

If I was any other manufacturer I would be very nervous indeed!! The march of the smart phone and the IPOD combine. Not here yet but coming

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=19&entry_id=11032


no wonder the knowing smile !!

Firefox 2.00

Just got my update and seems really good updated look and feel better feed subscriptions phishing protection and even more improved tabbed browsing ( is that possible ;-)).



things I like :

  • spell check on web forms
  • close button on each new tab
  • opens web pages in new tabs rather than new windows by default
  • The feed subscription your chosen rss reader aggregator is great

  • session restore feature remebering last page your were looking at and where you were in say filling a form

basically well done all you mozilla developers its great !!!!!



Tuesday, November 14, 2006

web 2.00 summit



























Interesting stuff from web 2.00 summit. If you have a summit does it mean web 2.0 is no longer subversive?.

Fred pointed me to flikkr site of Dion Hinchcliffes with some lovely graphics on web 2.00 I wish I did such nice graphics but a bit of googling and I found Dions Hinchcliffes excellent blog on web 2.00 http://web2.wsj2.com/

duly added to my blog lines. One of excellent graphics from flikkr site loaded to wet your appetite

Top Ten Lies of Web 2.0

Thanks to Fred garnett for pouinting this out made me smile

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=19&entry_id=10620


Interesting blog added to my bloglines !!!!

Friday, November 10, 2006

Kevin Hickeys Blogs Wikki & stuff


Kevin Hickey RSC Northwest ILT Inspire conference has done a great load of resources of blogs,wikki & stuff

http://del.icio.us/smilt

My bloglines

not social bookmarks in true sense  but I have shared my favourites with you http://www.bloglines.com/public/ajb1962

andy at the ILT inspire conference at South Trafford College

Currently at this event Kevin Hickey mentioned social bookmarks if you want to learn more look at the link from Educause from the states

7 Things You Should Know About Social Bookmarking

PDF handout on social book marking
7 Things You Should Know About Social Bookmarking

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

100 million websites on the internet



From the BBC
"There are now more than 100 million web sites on the Internet, which
gained 3.5 million sites last month to continue the dynamic growth seen
throughout 2006. In the November 2006 survey we received responses from 101,435,253 sites, up from 97.9 million sites last month."


 http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2006/11/01/november_2006_web_server_survey.html

But the question I pose how many do you and how many a redundant ???

Andy

Monday, October 30, 2006

ICT terms British Sign Language Glossary



 Site live 31st october mid day ish !!!



As some of
you know I put forward while seconded to DfES last year the idea of a glossary
of ICT terms in British Sign Language The site has involved the British
Computer Society Allowing there book of terms to be used as a basis for the
text and huge project involving consensus modeling of asking those tutors
working with learners how to sign complex and new terms. The company involved
with the work with the deaf community are our friends from Directlearn Judith
mole and Geoff Minshull (who have helped Becta run previous online conferences
and independently ran the VLE2 virtual conference last week.  The site goes live tomorrow Halloween Mid
morning an auspicious day because it’s also my wife’s fortieth Birthday. Url
for the site is http://www.slcresources4ict.net/



 



Please
circulate widely as it is a useful resource for those who want text based
definitions of ICT terms. A lovely example of appropriate use of technology!!



 



I will circulate
more formal press release type stuff later.



 



Andy



 



Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Mlearn2006 onto Mlearn2007

Well this link maybe useful if your saving your pennies to attend Mlearn2007 in Melbourn Australia.

Frist the dates 16th to 19th October . Met someone the organsing committee at Mlearn2006 in Banff and it going to be great !!! web link at http://www.mlearn2007.org/

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Uses of Mind Mapping in FE & HE Education! wikki

Got togive this a huge heads up if your a sceptic a convert or agnostic to MindMapping this site is really worth a look. http://mindmapping.pbwiki.com
It was started by Dave Foord E-Learning Staff Development Co-ordinator University of Derby who is a real expert on Mindmapping amongst lot of other things.

Personally I am using Mindmanger to present at Mlearn to and used it in conjuction with camtasia screen caputre software for my gadget gumption presentation at the recent and highly succesful vle2 online conference arranged by geoff Minshull and Judith Mole at Directlearn http://www.online-conference.net


Toreturn to Mindmapping Wikki resources added by JISC Regional Support centre Scotland have really got to be applauded Hugh and the crew have pioneered the use of MindManager in the UK see his recent posting on the wikki at Mind
Mapping and Learning Sequence Creation

great stuff.

Monday, October 23, 2006

M learning for work based apprentices in baking trades Selena Chan New Zealand

A real gem of a presentation on looking at using M-learning and mobile portfolios prsentation to follow but link to Selena blog at http://mportfolios.blogspot.com

Scybe

Scybe is this to good to be true not available yet but watch the video clip .

http://www.downloadsquad.com/2006/10/20/scrybe-the-online-productivity-suite-im-dying-to-try/
Scrybe - the online productivity suite I'm dying to try - Download Squad

The next Supporting Deaf People online conference will take place from 6th - 9th of November 2006.

Still at Mlearn 2006 but another interesting event in cyberspace .

A really interesting event that might be of interest to those working with Deaf people.
The Supporting Deaf People online conferences are aimed at Deaf people, interpreters, CSWs, teachers of the deaf, lecturers for deaf people, deaf studies or interpreting students, anyone who works with or has an interest in deaf people. This is the fourth in the series of highly successful conferences, and the 2006 conference promises the same level of cutting edge, high quality debate. For more information, see:

http://www.online-conference.net/sdp2006/introduction.htm

update from Mlearn 2006

after a unplanned but excellent day helping Jo Colley of Tribal CTAD on authoring mobile learning materials by tutors see a overview of the stuff they are doing !!http://www.m-learning.net/

The Mary Lou Jespen number two of the one child per laptop did a excellent key note Chief Technology Officer One Laptop per Child will link http://laptop.org
have a look designing a device from bottom up !

Friday, October 20, 2006

Mlearn2006 update

Well if you coming its still chilly fleece gloves hat and Jackets weather bringing your bathing suit the hot natural pools are great !!



If your not here is a link to the final programme here

Off for breakfast

Thursday, October 19, 2006

In Banff and its cold

Well got here 12.30 Canadian yesterday and seetle in Y mountain lodge functional fun simple accomodation with wifi $12 for 24 hours ( under £6) 0r 300 minutes for $20 (under £10) over any period. Its a bit chilly Banff is typical north american town or new zealand but very stunning scenery around. Not quite northern exposures photos at
link
cuurently up running a online conference session for Direct learns VLE2 conference http://www.online-conference.net/vle2006/introduction.htm 2.34 am here in Banff

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Wi fi on way to Mlearn

well all I have to say calgary airport dinosaur models and free wifi next to the banff airporter desk http://www.banffairporter.com/

Blog going international Mlearn2006 Banff in Alberta Canada

Sitting here at at 3.50 am after overnighting on a very comfortable Gatwick airport bench. I am remnided from the line from the Blues Brother "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses" I seem to remember next line was hit it!!!

or is it we are on Mlearning "Mission from god".




Lucky enough to be going to Mlearn2006 in Banff In Alberta Canada about to embark on the 10 hour flight going to blog the experience so come along from the ride.

Next blog will be from Alberta airport which free WiFi so I am told.

Fellow Mlearners from the UK will be arriving Bob Harrison, Jo Colley (CTAD) Dave Whyley (learning to go) and John Cook (London Metropolitan University) its going to be great and I suspect challenging to blog !!

Monday, October 16, 2006

make your own playstation psp resources



Geoff stead at CTAD has got to have the bigs heads up for this stunning bit of work.

The ability to produce your own content for Portable Play Sation (PSP) is just so so cool .

Visit his his blog bookmark it , put it on your public bloglines  http://moblearn.blogspot.com/2006/10/make-your-own-playstation-psp-resources.html

PSP think

  • reasonably priced,
  • Long battery Life
  • Bright Screen
  • Relatively big screen
  • SO so Cooool !!!
Well done Geoff !!!


Sunday, October 15, 2006

test



Thursday, October 12, 2006

Handheld learning 2006 the legend continues

From its humble ecletic begining last year at goldsmiths university it has grown to an event at prestigious 2 day event at QE2 confrence centre in the heart of Westminster .

Really great programme going to be doing a lot of blogging on the topic of M learning .

I also have to tell you first bit of excitement Geoff (Mr Mobile) Stead of Cambridge Training and Development who make the successful build it yourself mobile learing resource authoring tool to produce resource for the awesome Sony PSP as well as pocket pc it does currently. Link to story on Geoff Blog below and link to Geoff Influential blog on mobile learing in my link bar on the left.

http://moblearn.blogspot.com/2006/10/make-your-own-playstation-psp-resources.html

see you at handheld !!

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Back to school with a class of Web 2 article

This is a really interesting collection of tolls relating loosely to web two and learners but actually is just a lovely college of stuff some of which is new . Be afraid be very afraid

two part article thanks to Rob and Digg for giving me the pinter here .

Article 1 http://www.solutionwatch.com/512/back-to-school-with-the-class-of-web-20-part-1/

Article 2 http://www.solutionwatch.com/512/back-to-school-with-the-class-of-web-20-part-2/

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Google launch Literacy

Google are busy another launch today.


A resource for teachers, literacy organisations and
anyone interested in reading and education, created in collaboration with
LitCam, Google, and UNESCO's Institute for Lifelong Learning.



 http://www.google.com/literacy

The partners are as interesting as the project


 

Monday, October 02, 2006

Online VLE conference

VLEs: Pedagogy and Implementation, the theory
and practice of learning platforms and virtual learning environments




Only two weeks to go this really is a complete bargain and guilt free carbon neutral. Anybody who is anybody around learning platforms is presenting Martin D ( Mr Moddle) to name just one . Only £68 with no travel !! Its going to be great going on sign up.

http://www.online-conference.net/vle2006/introduction.htm




Tuesday, September 26, 2006

The mobile web .mobi domains

The numbers of people surfing or even paddling from there mobiles is low.

Launch of the dotmobi domains that subscribe to good efficient design for mobile use may start pushing the numbers up. Read the story at


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/5379170.stm

Learning & Teaching Scotland MFL Environment blogging

This is thanks to Becta research list and specifically thanks to Ewan McIntosh
New Technologies Research Practitioner. He posted about removing the next blog on blogger . Now removed from this blog and exposed me to some really nice resources on blogging and teaching.

 http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/mfle/creativeteaching/blogging/creatingablog.asp


Thanks Ewan.

Friday, September 22, 2006

Microsoft may offer web programs

I know in many of my presentations i have talked of google office and also the link between sun microsystems  ( who are behind  openoffice) as open source offline suite of basic tools.

Its seems Microsoft have been listening and is planning a free web based version of its word processing and spreadsheet programme
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/5370144.stm

interesting is this paragraph from the BBC site

No date has been set for when the free programs will show up on the net but the software giant told the Reuters news agency that it was "considering" new distribution and payment models for its software.

flexible roll up screen step closer

Only blogging this becuase a conversation I had after my workshop with a learning technologist working with midwifery students who asked me about roll up screens one to watch

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/5366534.stm

Web 2.0: open call for input to forthcoming TechWatch report

Help inform JISC's thinking on Web 2.00

Web 2.0: open call for input to forthcoming TechWatch report



As became apparent from the
recent ALT-C 2006 conference, Web 2.0 is hot. Everyone wants to know
more about it, and there are a lot of people who have very different,
and strongly held, opinions on what Web 2.0 is and where it's going.

We will be accepting submissions until 29/09/06. send expression of interest  techwatch@intelligentcontent.co.uk
with 'open call' followed by the name of the topic, in the subject line.

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Projector in mobile device

Not quite but this story suggests its not far off .

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/5359724.stm

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Mlearn 2006 here I come !!

Well I am lucky enough to be going Mlearn in Banff in Alberta

in the heart of the Canadian Rockies the
conference is the 22nd till 25th October I am lucky
enough to be flying out on the 18th . The downside is there is one I
am running a gadgetgumption presentation online on the 19th as part
of http://www.online-conference.net/vle2006/introduction.htm
. I have worked out being online interacting with UK
participants involves me being up at 3am for those logging on a 9.00am UK time

Mlearn is going to be really exciting as I am presenting a proof
of concept for showing British Sign language glossaries on a mobile device .

Link to event can be found at

http://www.mlearn2006.org

Link to programme (a bit empty at the moment) can be found

at
http://www.mlearn2006.org/program

Its going to be really cool and I promise to blog about it and I may evenuse my flickr account for photos of the conference, devices and off course the scenery.

Saturday, September 09, 2006

Learning Spaces Educause e book edited By Diana Oblinger and other learning space design references

Huge thanks for finding out about this from ALTC 2006 http://www.alt.ac.uk/altc2006/

review programme at http://www.alt.ac.uk/altc2006/timetable.html

plus from Seb Schmoller highly
noteworthy fortnightly mailing detail at
http://fm.schmoller.net/


This extensive work first available as an e-book one to read and use http://www.educause.edu/content.asp?page_id=10569&bhcp=1

Thiese other pieces of work might be off interest :-

The report from the UK based Space Management Group which looks at estates
issues in HE http://www.smg.ac.uk/

two extremely useful reports on future changes in HE http://www.smg.ac.uk/documents/FutureChangesInHE.pdf

and on promoting space efficiency in HE http://www.smg.ac.uk/documents/PromotingSpaceEfficiency.pdf

Finally JISC's recently published Designing space for
effective learning spaces well worth a read http://www.jisc.ac.uk/eli_learningspaces.html

Those involved with building schools for the future Reports/toolshttp://www.bsf.gov.uk

in the UK could well take note of these
pieces of work

Podcasting in Ireland

Found this lovely eclectic mix of academic and fun blog of the Becta research list (which by the way you can join at http://lists.becta.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/research ) iThe podcasting Ireland blog is by Bernard Goldbach and really is worth a look !! You can find it at http://www.podcasting.ie/
good one Bernard

Thursday, September 07, 2006

How to podcast tutorial

how good is this simple tutorials on podcasting

http://www.how-to-podcast-tutorial.com/


Thanks Jason Vanorden

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

ALT Gadgets and Gizmo' Session

Hi all

get my presentation from my edubloggers training blog at http://andyb.edublogs.org
blogger doesnt allow file downloads I want.

By the way audience was great !!!!

Google News archive

From Merv Stapleton at Sunderland College.

Google have released a news archive search which includes articles over the last 200 years from a variety of sources including the Guardian, New York Times and various aggregators.
http://news.google.com/archivesearch?hl=en&tab=wn&q



Tuesday, September 05, 2006

ALT C

Well only been here a while and Diane oblinger already coming up with challenging ideas,

  • Neuralplasticity
  • Multimodal communication
  • Do It Yourself culture (informal learning do it yourself)
  • Choice
    +MP3 players,
    +Timeshifiting

Amateurs as authorities
wikkipdedia ,blogging

  • Alternate reallity average of gamers in the state is 38 years old
  • Is it age or IT
    how many of you write long hand, take calls and not look at email at the sametime

Suggest the digital age is increasing the rate of change almost exponetional. Young people say its not technology its just the way it is.

Suggests the interface is shaping learning

  • world to desk top
    -distant experts
    -collaboration
    -mentors
    -communities of practice

Connecting

George Seamens connectivity link
Connecting in virtual worlds , collaborating by design
Hallways V Passageways these are important spaces for exchange collaboration

Active collaboration

Scale up program

Studio approach to learning
all work in progress is visible and shared.

Participatory
Integrative
Learning to be
National ecological observatory

Visual
Experiential
Reconstruction

shift between formal and informal environments role of space in promoting learning .

Debate of library or information commons
movable furniture
wireless access

e book learning space Diane Oblinger link

refreshing point of align technology with pedagogy don't mistake use for integration .

"The goal is organization that is making future rather than defending the past"

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Guide to Greener Electronics

Thinking of buying kit for home or college this is worth a read covers most manaufacturers

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/press/reports/greener-electronics-guide

Thanks Fred for making me aware of this one !!

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Optimus mini three keyboard




Borrowing one of these for this session at ALT C in Edinburgh first week in September !!
http://alt.ac.uk/altc2006/timetable/abstract.php?abstract_id=764
a lot more excitng than title of this posting !!

http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus-mini/overview/


Basicallly a add on allowing quick access to application button each button displays what you access when you hit it. ie video web feeds etc seems amazing !! Will post some reflections when i have used it !!!

15 websites that changed the world !!

Facinating article from the guardian !!!


http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,1843263,00.html

does make me think which ones I would list . Have to think on that I can feel a poll coming on !!

Big rise in broadband connections

Interesting statistic that 75% of home connections to the internet are now broad band !!!


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5278856.stm

Broadband britain !!

test

test

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

DfES website now using RSS feeds

Want to keep up to date with what Ministers and DfES are talking about subscribe to the RSS that can be found http://www.dfes.gov.uk/feeds/

This is a postive step !

DfES website now using RSS feeds

Want to keep up to date with what Ministers and DfES are talking about subscribe to the RSS that can be found http://www.dfes.gov.uk/feeds

This is a postive step !

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Friday, July 21, 2006

Search 2 technologies



A really interesting article on the evolving world of search and so called searcg 2 technologies often described as next steps for google and yahoo !!

Its so called third genration search techonlogies Richard MC Manus definition is really neat ;

  • First-generation search ranked sites based on page content - examples are early
    yahoo.com and Alta Vista.
  • Second-generation relies on link analysis for ranking - so they take the structure of
    the Web into account. Examples are Google and Overture.
  • Third-generation search technologies are designed to combine the scalability of
    existing internet search engines with new and improved relevancy models; they bring into
    the equation user preferences, collaboration, collective intelligence, a rich user
    experience, and many other specialized capabilities that make information more productive.

Examples: Swicki, Rollyo, Clusty, Wink, Lexxe

article link here



Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Access to Learning Award

Serious cash

If your library or similar organisation provides access to

information using computers and the Internet free of charge to users,
we should like to hear your story.

We invite you to apply for the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation’s annual Access to Learning Award. This award
recognises excellence in providing access to information through
computers, at no cost to the user. The recipient will receive an award
of up to US $1 million.

The award is administered by the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP).

Deadline for the 2007 award is 31 December 2006.http://www.inasp.info/ldp/awards/

English

English (244 kB)


Sunday, July 16, 2006

BlogSafety Forum


This stateside forum seems likely a healthy way to look at issues relating to young peoples use of social network tools like beebo and myspace rather than just banning them.

The BlogSafety.com forum, where parents, teens, educators, and experts discuss and learn about safe blogging and social networking. You might call this social networking about the social networks!  http://www.blogsafety.com/index.jspa   



Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Web Tools by Andrew Hill & Tim Rawe

Excellent glad to see the Eatern region e learning fair is still doing the business you must give it a look .

 http://ahi2000.com/studyzone/webtools/intro.htm This catalogue of interesting
web tools and free software is a development of a site used to entertain
and inspire visitors to an e-learning fair in early July 2006.


We welcome suggestions for additions and no
doubt some entries may turn out to be inappropriate or just not
very good - so regard this as a place to pop into from time to time
rather than a definitve guide.


We shall also be including examples of tools
in action and would be keen to have links to how you have found
any utilised to good effect.



It is an assortment
of tools and services from a wide range of sources, all of which
are accessible via the internet, and most of which do not require
a software installation on either your home machine or a college
PC.


We hope to encourage you to think
more about what the web can offer for a particular task or idea,
rather than thinking that everything must revolve around the PC
you're using.

testing rss feeds

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Copyright again . . .free beer

Stuck on a train and saved by a podcast of digital planet planet by the
BBC and there is a piece on copyright creative commons licensing and an
open source recipe for amongst a few other things a licence for a recipe
for free beer . So go on download the piece or listen again. At
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/downloadtrial/worldservice/godigital/r
ss.xml


I also discovered juice downloads simple show notes at the same time as
the audio posted below.

"On Digital Planet this week, Gareth Mitchell hears from Rio de Janeiro
how Microsoft now include a Creative Commons license for documents and
how the same scheme can get you a free beer. Clark Boyd reports from a
conference in New York on ?persuasive gaming? - video games that teach
about global conflict"

Enjoy

Andy Black