September 28, 2012
The 'Course' in MOOC
Stephen Downes,
Half an Hour, September 28, 2012.
A discussion taking place on the OER-Forum Discussion List - the proposition is that MOOCs of the connectivist ilk should not really be called 'courses' or education'. Needless to say I resist this proposition. "First, MOOCs taught us that rather than depend exclusively on "knowledgeable facilitators (instructors, TAs, field experts, etc.)," which are very expensive, a community working together can support itself.... Second, MOOCs taught us that an education - properly so-called - may be obtained in this manner, and the learning thus obtained demonstrated and recognized via the production of artifacts and actions related to the subject of the learning."
Welcome to Bootsnipp.com, home of free HTML snippets for Twitter Bootstrap
maks Surguy,
Bootsnipp, September 28, 2012.
This is a gallery of web page effects you can create with the Twitter Bootstrap code (how can a company be at one so good and so bad?). I'm really developing a feel for JQuery and Bootstrap - I'm having so much fun with this, I can't wait to roll out some production stuff.
Using gRSShopper feed filter rules
Stephen Downes,
gRSShopper, September 28, 2012.
I've set up a feed filter for the next version of gRSShopper. The code isn't out yet, but I thought you might like to see the filtering rules system. I've tried to keep it as simple as possible, because I always forget stuff like this.
Students weigh in on value of massive open online classes
Sam Hayes,
Daily Collegian, September 28, 2012.
Interesting blend of forward-thinking and traditionalist inertia: "Danny Weng, a senior Management Information Systems major at UMass, said he thinks MOOCs are an “awesome” idea and wishes he could fit one into his busy schedule. 'I can’t take one at the same time as school,' he said. 'It’s just too much work.' Weng said he thinks MOOCs can help students learn about topics outside of their fields of study. But he also said he cannot see the free education system promoted by MOOCs replacing the traditional University system. 'The University is a business,' Weng said. 'There are not going to be free credits (offered at UMass) anytime soon.'" And that's the problem in a nutshell - the university is a business.
[Link] [Comment][Tags: Schools, Information, Online Learning]
How to Synch 32 Metronomes
Ikeguchi Lab,
YouTube, September 28, 2012.
I've run the self-syncing metronopne video before, but not this one - it shows how 32 metronomes on a single flexible surface synchronize themselves sinply via feedback through the underlying medium. You can actually see the platform sway in the video. I love the lone holdout (at the right hand side) who is slowly brought over to the majority's way of doing things. Via Cynical-C.
Assessment Interoperability Framework
various Authors,
, September 28, 2012.
Rob Abel writes, "in support of the historic U.S. Race to the Top Assessment (RTTA) program the U.S. Department of Education has been working with the IMS Global/SIF Association partnership on the Assessment Interoperability Framework (AIF). Via this collaboration APIP is "synching up" with the U.S. Common Education Data Standards (CEDS) initiative. This is of course very exciting because RTTA represents almost all U.S. states - and APIP will enable not only new modular assessment architectures, but also much needed accessibility features for millions of learners. We are pleased to let you know that after a year of working on the AIF, we are excited to announce that the first phase of work is ready for prototyping and logical testing." The draft CEDS elements can be found at https://ceds.ed.gov/aif.aspx.
[Link] [Comment][Tags: Accessibility, IMS Project, Assessment, Tests and Testing]
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