http://www.downes.ca/ News and opinions related to online learning and new media. en-us Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:59:23 -0400 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:59:23 -0400 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Edu_RSS stephen@downes.ca stephen@downes.ca http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=242 Slides][Audio] In this online presentation for APOP (Association for the Educational Application of Computer Technology at the Post-Secondary Level-Montréal) I discuss the concept of decentralized learning. I begin with the physical model, as instantiated in the Connectivism course, then outline the epistemology of knowledge production, then describe the pedagogy of personal learning, and conclude with success factors. A long Q&A in which we discuss numerous issues follows. APOP (Association for the Educational Application of Computer Technology at the Post-Secondary Level-Montréal), Montreal, Online via the Via Conferencing System (Seminar) March 17, 2010 [Comment] ]]> Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:18:37 -0400 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=242 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=241 Audio] Conversation with a group in Holland about recent developments in social learning. I focused mostly on the idea that the intent of social learning is to generate practice and experience with idea of growing or developing personal capacity (as opposed to learning as the 'transfer' of knowledge). We also talked quite a bit about the use of social networks and communities as a mechanism for evaluating learning. Participants were: Eline Noorberger, David Berg, Gerlinde Podt, Christine Marck-Apperloo, Jan Nieuweboer. LearningWave, Holland, via Skype (Seminar) March 16, 2010 [Comment] ]]> Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:22:01 -0400 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=241 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=240 Audio] This short talk summarizes the pedagogical model of personal learning that to me underlies the design of connectivist learning network methodologies. The presentation itself echoes some recent themes, while the questions took me into some very new ground reflecting on the learning experience itself. Part of the Networked Connectivism, Distributed cognition and PLNS panel at the Virtural Worlds Best Practices in Education conference hosted by Beth Davies (SL name: Michigan Paul). Moderator: LoriVonne Lustre. No slides; audio only. 3rd Annual Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference, Second Life (Keynote) March 12, 2010 [Comment] ]]> Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:52:30 -0400 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=240 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=239 Slides][Audio] Same slides as a few days ago, but the audio is very different, as this was a formal presentation. As before, I outline the major trends in personal learning that we are seeing in technology today, and I more clearly draw the connections between some of the separate trends - for example, personal creativity, interaction and networking, and simulation and immersion. Audio at http://www.downes.ca/presentation/239 Excellent sound quality. IT Madrid, Online to Madrid, via DimDim (Keynote) February 9, 2010 [Comment] ]]> Tue, 9 Feb 2010 09:53:11 -0400 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=239 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=238 Slides][Audio] Audio and slides from my presentation last night, Trends in Personal Learning. Review of major trends in technology - personal access, content creation, presentation and conferencing, networking and community, immersion and simulation, augmented reality - and discussion of how these define and inform personal learning. // Archive Info Name: FlexEd Virtual Session - 02/04/2010 11:56 URL: http://161.50.50.74/launcher.cgi?room=FlexEdRoom_2010_0204_1156_37 , Canberra, Australia, online via Wimba (Lecture) February 4, 2010 [Comment] ]]> Thu, 4 Feb 2010 14:39:26 -0400 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=238 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=237 Slides][Audio] In this talk I outline the differences between learning using a personal learning environment (PLE) and learning in an LMS. I argue that a PLE does what an LMS cannot do - it is designed to stimulate learning through an immersion into a community, as opposed to learning via presentation of facts. Pedagogy thus becomes the facilitation of skills for participation in such communities, which I tie to my critical literacy framework. Learning Futures Festival, Leicester, UK., via Elluminate (Keynote) January 11, 2010 [Comment] ]]> Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:42:54 -0400 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=237 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=236 Slides][Audio] In this presentation I describe a novel approach for the management of digital rights expression. The technique, which leverages JSON - Javascript Object Notation - does not involve parsing or processing of rights data, and not only does it solve the cross-domain scripting problem for rights expressions, it also provides an alternative to the language-based digital rights management patents held by ContentGuard. Here is the text of the paper. 6th IEEE International Workshop on Digital Rights Management, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (Lecture) January 11, 2010 [Comment] ]]> Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:37:37 -0400 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=236 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=235 Slides][Audio] The role of open educational resources is to function as a vocabulary in which we converse. The main emphasis of this presentation was to speak of their role in the development of networks - these networks are the characteristic result of conversations. International Seminar on Open Social Learning (OSL), Barcelona, Spain (Keynote) December 1, 2009 [Comment] ]]> Tue, 1 Dec 2009 03:17:18 -0400 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=235 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=234 Slides][Audio] In this presentation I describe how new technologies are being designed in order to adapt to a rapidly changing and complex world. In this picture, learning is not a matter of knowledge acquisition and memorization, but rather, personal development in such a way that we become able to navigate and work with this knowledge and content in the same manner, with the same capacities, as the expert. This is a type of learning that is based on the creation of tools that support a mesh network; this network, in turn, supports the conversation and interactions that foster the development of an expert character. MEFANET 2009 Conference, Brno, Czech Republic, via MVU Videoconference (Lecture) November 25, 2009 [Comment] ]]> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:08:00 -0400 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=234 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=233 Slides][Audio] Reprise of my talk from last week, in more detail and some new slides. The internet has introduced us to a world in which we can communicate with each other in a wide variety of media. Where formally we could only talk and sing to each other, now we can create videos, author animations, link to videos and images and cartoons, and more, mix and match these in a complex open-ended vocabulary. What it means to be literate in such an information age is fundamentally distinct from the literacy of the 3Rs, and teaching new literacy an evolving challenge for those of us still struggling to learn it. This talk looks at the elements of 21st century literacies, redefines critical thinking for the internet age, and suggests a redefinition of what we think of as 'core' curriculum. Elluminate session recording (with video) at http://eci831.wikispaces.com/11-24-09 ECI 381 (Alec Couros), Online to Saskatchewan via Elluminate (Lecture) November 24, 2009 [Comment] ]]> Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:17:12 -0400 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=233 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=232 Slides][Audio] The internet has introduced us to a world in which we can communicate with each other in a wide variety of media. Where formally we could only talk and sing to each other, now we can create videos, author animations, link to videos and images and cartoons, and more, mix and match these in a complex open-ended vocabulary. What it means to be literate in such an information age is fundamentally distinct from the literacy of the 3Rs, and teaching new literacy an evolving challenge for those of us still struggling to learn it. This talk looks at the elements of 21st century literacies, redefines critical thinking for the internet age, and suggests a redefinition of what we think of as 'core' curriculum. Educational Computing Organization of Ontario, Richmond Hill, Ontario (Lecture) November 12, 2009 [Comment] ]]> Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:44:51 -0400 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=232 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=231 Slides][Audio] The internet offers society the opportunity to provide access to a free or affordable education for all. This concept is known as 'open education' and is the subject of various projects, such as 'Open Education Resources' (OER) or the Open Courseware Project (OCW). This talk will look at the principle of open education, talk about major projects, describe the role played by educational technology, and outline some of the challenges. Educational Computing Organization of Ontario, Richmond Hill, Ontario (Lecture) November 12, 2009 [Comment] ]]> Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:43:38 -0400 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=231 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=230 Slides][Audio] This is a guest presentation to a political science class at St. Thomas University in Fredericton. I look at an introductory and fairly typical chapter on globalization and outsourcing, and then argue that changes in political and economic organization run counter to the model proposed. In particular, the development of a network-based society runs against the model of corporate structures described. This all is set within a context of 'four struggles' that have shaped political and other conflict through history and today. St. Thomas University, Fredericton, NB (Lecture) October 2, 2009 [Comment] ]]> Fri, 2 Oct 2009 15:58:47 -0400 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=230 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=229 Slides][Audio] In this presentation I describe the concept of the internet as a form of global consciousness. I look at the idea of human nature as it has traditionally been represented but suggest that a more appropriate model is that of a collection of neurons. With this model I analyse what a global consciousness would look like - not collaboration, as in the organization of a company or a nation, but cooperation, as in the actions of autonomous but interdependent and connected individuals. Text written for the talk is available online (this is not a transcript). Ars Electronica Symposium on Cloud Intelligence, Linz, Austria (Keynote) September 6, 2009 [Comment] ]]> Sun, 6 Sep 2009 03:07:27 -0400 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=229 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=228 Slides][Audio] The panel page was here. The UStream recording appears not to exist. Slides exist but I don't have access to them at the moment; they will be posted later. The audio recording is available; enjoy. D2L Fusion 2009, St. Paul, Minnesota (Panel) July 16, 2009 [Comment] ]]> Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:21:55 -0400 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=228 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=227 Comment] ]]> Tue, 7 Jul 2009 09:10:36 -0400 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=227 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=226 Comment] ]]> Tue, 7 Jul 2009 09:07:07 -0400 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=226 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=225 Slides][Audio] In this presentation, I mix the presentation of the theory - chaos, complexity and mesh networks - with the practical technical development leading toward the personal learning environment. A second audio file is also available. Ed Media, Honolulu, Hawaii (Keynote) June 24, 2009 [Comment] ]]> Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:51:55 -0400 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=225 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=224 Slides][Audio] Photo by Storrao Description of the transition from linear adaptive learning systems to open networked based object oriented environments. Overview of the CCK08 online course, and description of the idea behind the PLE. See the paper associated with the presentation (note that the presentation actually delivered differs from the paper). See also this short video clip of part of the talk. Challenges 2009, Braga, Portugal (Keynote) May 14, 2009 [Comment] ]]> Thu, 14 May 2009 09:18:22 -0400 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=224 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=223 Slides][Audio] Discussion of social media with and for journalists in Atlantic Canada. Atlantic Journalism Awards, Moncton (Keynote) May 2, 2009 [Comment] ]]> Sat, 2 May 2009 10:47:54 -0400 http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?presentation=223