Anti-MOOC really is the new black
Jonathon Rees, More or Less Bunk, August 15, 2013

Jonathon Rees declares MOOCs dead (but still in need of dismemberment). It's not clear how he reaches this conclusion based on Siemens's observation that criticizing MOOCs is now in vogue. But whatever. If he thinks free and open education no longer poses a threat to systems designed to serve an elite (and overcharge the masses) then fine. But the only thing past its best-before date is co-option and commercial exploitation of MOOCs. Free and open education will, meanwhile, prove surprisingly resilient.

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Cell Phone Photos Privacy Risk Warning
Hoax-Slayer, August 14, 2013

If you are one of the slew of people circulating those 'Cell Phone Privacy Risk' video warnings, please stop. Yes, yes, photos taken with cell phones or smart phones can have GPS information stored in the photo metadata (called EXIF data). But, first of all, this data is removed by Facebook and Twitter (not Flickr though). And you can very easily turn off your GPS before you take a photo. But more to the point, why bother? It's not like nobody can determine the location of anyone without mobile phone GPS data. Just walk on the street, and you can immediately verify the locations of hundreds of random people. So stop spreading unwarranted fear with these videos. It's ridiculous. (p.s. thanks Shirley Ryan Downes for the link).

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Facebook Guide for Educators
The Education Foundation, August 14, 2013

Personally, beyond allowing people to use it if they wish, I would be very reluctant to use Facebook for educational purposes, and I would never make the use of Facebook (or Twitter, for that matter) a requirement. Anyhow, those of you using Facebook in learning might find this brief (17 page) guide to using Facebook in education useful. Via Don't Waste Your Time.

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