Stephen's Web ~ by Stephen Downes ~ Site Title

Collaboration

Thu, 5 Jan 2012 14:32:44 -0400

May 21, 2013

Ewan McIntosh has wrapped up a nice series of posts introducing the role of collaboration in learning and then describing (inspired Hansen's book Collaboration) six major ways collaboration fails.
1. Collaboration is the key influence in the quality of teaching
2. Collaborating in hostile territory
3. Overcollaboration
4. Overshooting the potential value
5. Underestimating the costs
6. Misdiagnosing the problem
7. Implementing the wrong solution
To my mind, these failures of collaboration have led me to recommend a system of coooperation, based on network principles, rather than the full-blown engagement of collaboration. Your results may vary. [Link] [Comment]

Ewan McIntosh #TEDxLondon: The Problem Finders

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:24:37 -0400

May 21, 2013

Of all the things that could be fixed in education, of all the things that could be recommended to improve education, do you think teaching students to find problems to solve ranks anywhere near the top? I don't, and I think it's a ridiculous diversion of attention for the monied set to be focusing on this. But to hear the other side of the argument, here's Ewan McIntosh making the case that what society really needs are students who find problems. Because, you know, there's a shortage of them. Here's the problemfinders web site. For more on TEDx London, see Dave Warlick's backchannel. And Warlick on the so-called Education Revolution. Also, commentary from Oliver Quinlan. [Link] [Comment]

Why the cloud's important for education: saving $199,995 on one test

Mon, 4 Apr 2011 12:54:00 -0400

May 21, 2013

I definitely get this. My web server is hosted in the cloud. If I had a radio or video server, it would be hosted in the cloud. Why? Because it costs me a tenth as much as trying to do it at home, and the servers are more reliable. The same thing works for online exam servers. "DET estimated for them to host an online test for 65,000 students simultaneously would require a A$200,000 investment in server infrastructure... Paying A$40 per hour for 300 Microsoft Azure Servers, DET estimated the cost of hosting the online exam for one day was just A$500." See also, A Berkeley view of Cloud Computing.

Related, and significant: "Ahead of their province wide conference on Privacy and Cloud-Based Educational Technology happening on April 4th, BCcampus has released a background white paper on Privacy and Cloud-Based Educational Technology in British Columbia (PDF)." Via Ray Tolley. In this white paper, Victoria Klassen outlines the benefits and cost savings of cloud computing, then examines the privacy implications. [Link] [Comment]

Sugata Mitra: The Granny Cloud

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:46:10 -0400

May 21, 2013

I don't think this is a trivial observation. "he asked a girl to take on the role of the grandmother, standing in the background and applauding the self-directed learning going on with the 'My goodness, I couldn't have done that' empathy that all our grandmothers, or grannies, take on." And thus the Granny Cloud was born. Of course, it has to be given some sort of 'educational' role, " to tell stories, to stimulate fresh ideas and new ways of looking at the same old things." But I think the true value here is generated through the applause and the support. How valuable is it to hear "You done good" from someone you respect? You can't pay for it with any amount of money! [Link] [Comment]

The Learning (B)log: Darren Kuropatwa's class scribes

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:45:14 -0400

May 21, 2013

This is a look at how to integrate online writing with classroom activities. "Learning logs were a core part of my classroom practice," writes Ewan McIntosh, crediting "the effects they have on improving student performance in the bilingual schools of New Brunswick in my first year of teaching." This post links to a three-part podcast featuring Manitoba teacher Darren Kuropatwa, and the learning scribe. [Link] [Comment]

Facebook & privacy - research shows approaches that might help young people

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 06:47:09 -0400

May 21, 2013

What I like about this advice is that it cautions against using fear as a motivation for privacy management. "The main reason we heartily discourage young people from engaging with those they know they know is fear: fear of stalking, bullying or making friends with someone you've never met face to face... (danah boyd writes) 'The culture of fear tends to center on marginalized populations and is often used as a tool for continued oppression and as a mechanism for restricting access to public spaces and public discourse'." [Link] [Comment]

Facebook & privacy - research shows approaches that might help young people

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 06:47:00 -0400

May 21, 2013

Cyberbullying: the research reveals school itself is (a lot) more problematic than the open web

Sat, 4 Sep 2010 11:23:51 -0400

May 21, 2013

This is something I could have told you from personal experience, but it seems we always have to let the pendulum swing wildly the other way before we learn. "Research shows that digital risks are far outweighed, in fact, by challenges more close to home and school." [Link] [Comment]

Yes We Did, Rahaf Harfoush

Thu, 13 May 2010 16:39:10 -0400

May 21, 2013

When you have your own organization, you can do a lot on the fly, which is what the Obama team did. But when you are tied to a national government or major organization, where most teachers live, and as the Obama team now finds itself, your options are sharply limited (especially if you're ethical - if you're not ethical, well, see below). What would be more interesting, therefore, than the book about how the Obama team used social media to win the election, would be how to use social media (or some such thing) to effect change and/or run the country. Not such a simple proposition. [Link] [Comment]

Channel 4 signs worldwide-first YouTube deal: watch our telly on your interweb box

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:08:31 -0400

May 21, 2013

Unlike the U.S.-only deals that have characterized Hulu and many of the Google products (see below), this one is something that will actually be useful for the rest of us. "This is big news, as it marks the first time that a broadcaster anywhere in the world has made a comprehensive catch-up schedule available on YouTube, providing Channel 4 with additional advertising inventory and reach: YouTube last week announced it was serving over 1 billion video streams every day." Guess I'll have to acquire a taste for British humour. [Link] [Comment]

The MET School: Connections and Friendships

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 12:55:15 -0400

May 21, 2013

Ewan McIntosh introduces us to the MET School, "where no more than 120-150 kids are led in groups of 12-17 students by advisors. No 'teachers' in sight." [Link] [Comment]

Active Learning, the DS Lite and What Our Schools Should Look Like

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 14:27:15 -0400

May 21, 2013

Discussion of a recent report on the Scottish curriculum that emphasizes the importance of play for younger learners. "There is no long-term advantage to children when there is an over-emphasis on systematic teaching before 6 or 7 years of age." Ewan McIntosh remarks, "the same might not be said for older kids. However, there is much of this which does have a place somewhere in the early secondary curriculum at least." The definition of play changes, of course, as one gets older. But I doubt that the importance of it does. [Link] [Comment]

Assessment is for Learning - So is Blogging

Fri, 9 Jun 2006 07:50:56 -0400

May 21, 2013

It stretches the bounds of assessment a bit, but Ewan McIntosh managed to get in this talk on blogging in any case. I like the example he lists, with links. [Link] [Comment]