Technology, Diversity and Human Connection
Jun 19, 2026. Keynote, V UNEMI English Convention, Milagro, Ecuador.
In this keynote I outline the basic elements of connectivism and then trace the implications through a disssion of technlogy, diversity, and human agency, the major themes of the conference. There were a few tech issues up front but we got through them and it all worked out well.
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Framing the Discussion
Jun 17, 2026. Panel, Media & Learning Conference 2026, Media & Learning Association, Leuven, Belgium, via Zoom.
Short (five minute) introduction in which I describe personal learning as an architecture of agency, then a wide-ranging question and answer session where we discuss the role of media, dependence on new technology, learning outcomes, and correctness in the age of AI in learning.
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Personal Learning in the Age of AI
Jun 09, 2026. Panel, OTESSA 2026, OTESSA, Online.
This is a workshop that updates attendees on the development of open source technology developed by the author that supports continuous personal learning is a distributed environment. Includes: brief description of the fediverse and introduction to major fediverse services such as Mastodon, Bluesky, Peertube, etc.; demonstration of convergent fediverse discussion software; interactive practice using the software among participants to conduct an learning event; consideration of learning potential for personal learning environments; and demonstration of AI use as a tool for creativity and engagement (as opposed to answering questions or writing essays).
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Episode 61: Unpacking the Ethics of AI in Education
Mar 11, 2026. Interview, Simon Says Educate, Spotify.
We examine nine commonly cited AI ethical principles and makes the case that what gets labeled "ethical" in AI policy is often a reflection of political perspectives and underlying assumptions rather than genuine consensus. The conversation covers the contested nature of foundational principles like fairness, transparency, and accountability, and why each one dissolves under scrutiny into competing values rather than universal ethics. We discuss the cultural and contextual variability of AI guardrails, the dominance of risk-based ethics in education policy, and feminist Duty of Care theory as a largely overlooked alternative framework.
Download: href="https://www.downes.ca/s3files/2026_02_16_-_Simon-Says-Educate-Episode-61-Stephen-Downes.mp3">Audio,
MOOC Institute Interview
Mar 11, 2026. Interview, The MOOC Institute.
I am interviewed on the history, present and future of MOOCs by Saffron Mccullough for the MOOC Institute. Topics range from the origin of connectivism, neural networks and what they need to work, and the impact of AI on the future of learning. For more on the MOOC Institute, see https://www.moocinstitute.org/home
Download: href="https://www.downes.ca/s3files/2026_03_02_-_MOOC_Institute_Interview.mp3">Audio,
Connectivism, Distributed Learning and Digital Innovation in the Amazon
Nov 28, 2025. Keynote, VIII Congresso Amazônico de Educação a Distância, Instituto Federal de Rondônia, Rondônia, Brasil, via Streamyard.
This talk connects the principles of connectivism and networked learning to the opportunities and challenges of the digital Amazon. We will explore how distributed learning practices, open resources and local networks can enhance connectivity, innovation and entrepreneurship in contexts with limited infrastructure and rich sociocultural diversity and place it in the context of educating for understanding: explanation, comprehension, and the challenge for connectivism.
Download: href="https://www.downes.ca/s3files/Palestra_Encerramento_Conectivismo_Aprendizagem_Distribuida_e_In.mp3">Audio,
Training and Educational Data Analytics: An Overview
Nov 07, 2025. Internal Presentation, Internal, National Research Council Canada, Online, via MS Teams.
This is a presentation delivered internally to project partners to provide a background and overview of learning analytics. This doesn't go deeply into any particular subject, nor does it look at recent trends, but is useful as a no-nonsense introduction to the subject.
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The Fediverse Six Months From Now
Nov 05, 2025. Lecture, Reclaim Open 2025, Reclaim Hosting, Online, via Streamyard.
We'll look at some of the core issues underlying the fediverse, pointing to solutions if any have been found by then: identification and identity persistence, data and scale issues, and connection and consensus.
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AI Applications: A Taxonomy
Oct 30, 2025. Seminar, 2025 Annual Meeting, Digital Life Institute, Online, via Zoom.
This presentation offers a taxonomy of AI application defined along the lines of the benefits or uses we obtain from AI systems: descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, prescriptive, generative, and deontic. The purpose of creating such a taxonomy is to offer an alternative to risk-based or fear-based analyses of ethics in AI.
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Federated Open Learning Resources
Oct 30, 2025. Seminar, 2025 Open Education Conference, OpenEd, Online, to Denver, Colorado.
Federated social networks, such as Mastodon and Bluesky (and there are many more) add a venue for two essential components to AI-generated learning resources: conversation and creativity. This presentation will explore how the use of federated social networks will motivate learning in an age of automated content creation. Using as a model a personal learning environment developed by the author, it will explore what learning may look like, the role of on-demand OER, and the future role of educators.
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Convergent Discussions in the Fediverse
Jun 05, 2025. Workshop, OTESSA, Toronto.
This is a workshop that introduces new open source technology that supports 'convergent' discussions in the fediverse. The session includes segments on: the fediverse and introduction to major fediverse services such as Mastodon, Bluesky, Peertube, etc.; the dynamics on online discussion including especially the characteristics of 'divergent', 'linear' and convergent discussions; and a demonstration of convergent fediverse discussion software.
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Reframing Togetherness: Advances in artificial intelligence and the intersection of open learning
Jun 05, 2025. Lecture, OTESSA 2025, Toronto.
Outlines some recent advances in artificial intelligence, highlighting in particular their potential to impact open education, both positively and negatively. This means far more than online instruction and adaptive learning. It means more than open content and automated assessment. In particular, focuses on how AI is shaping and will transform how we understand ourselves as interactive, purpose-based and open learning communities.
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Design and Development of a Personal Learning Environment
Jun 02, 2025. Seminar, CNIE 2025, Canadian Network for Innovation in Education, Toronto.
The presentation outlines the technological and business model considerations addressing the challenges faced in the early years of PLEs, the elements of the system, and broader learning ecosystem requirements that will support PLEs in general. The is contrasted with the existing LMS infrastructure in order to highlight the pedagogical and economic advantages of an open and decentralized learning infrastructure, and advice will be provided to enable institutional support for a PLE ecosystem.
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Connectivism and Artificial Intelligence in education
May 16, 2025. Keynote, 3rd International Virtual Congress on Research, Innovation, and Educational Technology in Pre-University and High School Education, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, via Zoom.
What is the role of AI in education and its connection to Connectivist learning theories?
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On AI in Leadership and Project Management in Distance Education
Jan 28, 2025. Class, EDDE Doctoral Seminar, Athabasca University, Online, to Athabasca, Alberta.
What leadership approach provides maximum support for the exploration and appropriate implementation of AI in education? This is a talk I gave for the EDDE program at Athabasca University last night. Slides only at the moment; I hope to have audio and video soon.
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It’s time to redefine how we connect
Jan 26, 2025. Seminar, .
CList Announcement and Demo. CList is a personal learning environment (PLE) designed to support an individual learner connect and be a part of a wider learning network. It is open source, decentralized, and designed to be easy to install and use. View it here: href="https://ple.mooc.ca">https://ple.mooc.ca
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Assessment of Barriers to Educational Technology Acceptance
Oct 26, 2024. Seminar, CELDA 2024, Zagreb, Croatia.
This presentation summarizes major factors - technology acceptance models, risk matrices, validity measures - used to assess a survey of instructors on their acceptance of instructional technology. Transcript.
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Just In Time: Creating Dynamic Open Learning Resources Using GAI
Oct 08, 2024. Seminar, Open Education 2024, Providence, RI, via Zoom.
With the recent development of broadly effective generative artificial intelligence (GAI) this has led some to suggest that open learning resources can and should be developed at the time and point of need. The GAI could address each of the issues with static online learning resources (SOLR) by addressing it based on the learning need at the time of that need, as described by the specific prompt and the context of application. This presentation will provide an overview of the technology required to support such an approach. Transcript
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Intelligence Artificielle, E-learning et Réseaux Sociaux : Comment la technologie révolutionne l'enseignement
Sept 26, 2024. Panel, Première édition du Forum national des enseignants, Ministry of Education, Morocco, Rabat, Morocco.
Cet événement rassemble actuellement plus de 3000 acteurs de l'écosystème éducatif lors de la première édition du Forum de l'Enseignant avec des experts renommés tels que id="ember845" class="ember-view" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/stdownes/">Stephen Downes, Maha G. et Mounir Ghogho
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Artificial Intelligence in Education: Context, Rules and Limits
Sept 22, 2024. Keynote, National Teachers Forum, Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports in conjunction with Mohammed VI Foundation for the Promotion of Social Works of Education – Training, Rabat, Morocco.
We are going to talk about artificial intelligence in education in broad, general terms. I will first discuss what AI is and how it works, ever so briefly, and then look at the three major topics of the conference: context, rules and limits. I interpret context as 'use', and will consider the many ways AI can be used in education. I interpret rules as 'principles' and consider what are the core principles governing how and why we use AI in education. And I interpret limits as practical guidelines, and consider appropriate mechanisms for teaching and learning, governance, and security. Transcript
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