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Stephen Downes, April, 2008

Applications of Social and Collaborative Technologies in Education

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Fredericton, NB
April 8, 2008
Delivered to Symposium on Advanced Learning Technologies

Welcome to the home page of Stephen Downes. I work for the National Research Council, Institute for Information Technology, in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. I specialize in online learning, content syndication, and new media.

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I want and visualize and aspire toward a system of society and learning where each person is able to rise to his or her fullest potential without social or financial encumberance, where they may express themselves fully and without reservation through art, writing, athletics, invention, or even through their avocations or lifestyle.

Where they are able to form networks of meaningful and rewarding relationships with their peers, with people who share the same interests or hobbies, the same political or religious affiliations - or different interests or affiliations, as the case may be.

This to me is a society where knowledge and learning are public goods, freely created and shared, not hoarded or withheld in order to extract wealth or influence. This is what I aspire toward, this is what I work toward.


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Popular Articles

Technical and Philosophical Articles
At right, here I am raising the issue of Bill C-61, the "Canadian DMCA", with our local MP, Brian Murphy. The issue was just barely on his radar, which means people need to speak out.

If enacted, the Canadian DMCA will leave Canada with one of the most restrictive copyright laws for the digital environment in the world. Far from providing assistance to the digital marketplace, this law will have a stifling effect on creativity, innovation, consumer rights, and free speech in Canada. Follow the link and take action against Bill C61.



Read up on it for yourself. More links: Online Rights Canada, CIPPIC, Canadian Music Creators Coalition, Excess Copyright, Jeremy deBeer, Copyright Watch, Fair Copyright, CCER, Copyright for Canadians, Digital-Copyright.ca, Appropriation Art. And speak to your local MP today.

Web 2.0 and Your Own Learning and Development

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