IBM: really serious about Social Software

No doubt about it.

Check out Xing Premium to see what I mean.

Augmented Identity or Bogus Reality?

Wonderwebby poses some intriguing questions on identity and lifelogging (Sounds like dandelife.com).

One nuance I sense is: Perhaps you can disclose the real you through your mental models (Read: tags you use).

Remind me to look up "Manny Pukyaw".

[via Janette Toral]

Sketchcast - a new way to express yourself

For folks who like writing dirt art, this could be a natural extension.

[via Joey Alarilla]

Here's an intro to SEO.

New Constructivism in Learning

Elisabetta Cigonini posted a copy of the paper "Social software for knowledge construction and management in formal online learning" co-written with Maria Chiara Pettenati, Jose Mangione, and Elizabeth Guerin for the Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education. More here.

That piece adds yet to the growing recognition (by Academics) of 2.0 Technologies as a layer that could upgrade the formal learning environment (Read: As a subset of Lifelong Learning) of 21st century learners.

I like the part about PKM Skills (CREATE, ORGANIZE, SHARE) which seem to echo the 2D2C of Social Software.

Full pdf file is here.

You have two weeks to get a "$188" Laptop

for $400 apiece in the US and Canada in November.

Brian Bergstein reports that by opening sales at http://www.xogiving.com, "Give One, Get One" will delight computing aficionados, because the XO is unlike any other laptop. More here.

Seems like sometimes one needs to be really creative in marketing socially relevant projects.

It's not the technology ...

... it's the people.

rellis wrote what initially looked like a tongue-in-cheek account of a work-in-progress open professional staff development program around Social Software in the Classroom. More here.

I like the part that deemphasized the hierarchical, I'm-the-teacher-you're-the-student- you-listen mindset. Indeed, in teaching, we learn.

Overall, it made me realize that blended learning could be the sweet spot.

WOV sighting of the day

Imagine.Program.Share




... from the Lifelong Kindergarten Group of MIT Media Lab, "makes it easy to create your own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art -- and share your creations on the web."

[via Paulhami]

"If They Build It, Will We Come? "

Written by Michael Feldstein in 2006 but still fresh in the light of Facebook's growing popularity.

I like this part (very interesting yet just as challenging):

"We need that Box-’O-Stuff, where they save their first assignment drafts and where it becomes natural and automagic to keep all subsequent drafts. Then we need easy hooks so they can suck that content out of their boxes and post it on whatever MySpace-like application (whether integral to the LMS or a third-party service) suits their specific portfolio purposes. The main focus then becomes on teaching them what to put in the portfolio and why, rather than on how to build the widgets." More here.

4 Pillars of Education+ 2D2C = 21st Century Lifelong Learning

Below are excerpts from "Learning: The Treasure Within. UNESCO report on Education for the 21st Century" loosely plotted on Discover, Disclose, Connect, Co-create.

1. Learning to live together (Co-create) "which involves developing an understanding for fellow people, for their history, traditions and spiritual values. This pillar enables people to develop a new awareness which - based on an understanding of our growing interdependence and a joint analysis of future risks and challenges - leads people into carrying out joint projects and solving insurmountable conflicts in an intelligent and peaceful way."
2. Learning how to acquire knowledge. (Discover) "Against a background in which technological changes are coming thick and fast and in which new economic and social patterns are forming, the main focus is on making sure that general education is as wide as possible and that people can go on to deepen their knowledge in selected subjects. Indeed, this kind of general education is the key to a life-long process of learning. It whets people's appetite to learn over a lifetime - while at the same time providing the foundations to do so."
3. Learning how to act. (Connect) "This pillar is not just about doing a job but, in general terms, about acquiring the skills to cope with different and often unforeseen situations and about learning how to work in a team. Indeed, it is these characteristics that current educational methods tend to neglect. In many cases it is easer for pupils and students to learn these competencies if they are given the opportunity to try out and develop their skills. It's about enabling people to get work experience and community work while they are still in education. Indeed, a great deal of importance should be attached to all methods that mix education with experience."
4. Learning for life. (Disclose) "This was the issue at the heart of the Edgar-Faure report called how we learn to live, which was part of the UNESCO report on the objectives and future of our education programs, published in 1972 by UNESCO. The recommendations of this report are still relevant today. Indeed, in the 21st century everyone will be required to demonstrate independence, judgment and more personal responsibility if common objectives are to be reached. Our report also underlines another requirement, namely that none of the talents lying dormant like hidden treasures in every individual should be allowed to go unused. These talents, to name but a few, include: memory, logical thought, imagination, physical ability, an aesthetic sense, the ability to communicate and the natural charisma of a group leader. In actual fact these abilities only serve in underlining the importance of more self-knowledge."

Adapted from dadalos.

Skrbl

Your shareable online white board. Click here for a sample whiteboard.

Perhaps there's "life" for juveniles doing time

Mark Frauenfelder finds "Art blog of juvenile criminals spending life in prison"

Here's an excerpt from an inmate's blog:

"I am currently in prison for the rest of my life. When I was 17 years old I was arrested for shooting a man three times. This man died of those gunshot wounds and here I am now 32 years old serving a life sentence. When I was a teenager, I was very angry because my life growing up was rough. I lived in a home where drugs were abused and fighting was normal. My hood was just a larger version of my home and I began to imitate the negative behaviour I saw others do. I was a follower and didn't even peep it. I wanted to get money, but instead of using my skills as an artist, I tried selling heroin, crack, and then sticking up people and places. Like a fool I thought I was doing something "slick," but all I ended up doing is becoming a weedhead, alcoholic, and thug with nothing positive to show for all my stupidity. I do have a life sentence though. I couldn't listen to THE TRUTH when people who were concerned about me spoiled my high. They told me to go back to scholol and get my life together. I was too hard headed. Now, after being stuck with no chance of getting out, I wish I would've listened. People probably try to encourage you, do you listen?"

More here.

Could be useful to those "responsible" for Cris Mendez' death.

Teachers as Innovators

Dannno shares a slide presentation of what it would take to get ready for the "Friendster" generation.

Under $100 Computer

They promised.
They delivered.

[via eSchool News]

DnaTube.com

"DnaTube is a scientific research site providing video based studies, lecturers and seminars. By using DnaTube.com, you can:

1. Quickly upload your experiment videos or seminars you join. And share your videos and help other people in science community"

... among other things.

Heres an example:

Synthesizing Oligonucleotide



[via Paolo Massa]

"IBM throws weight behind OpenOffice"

Thus reports Lawrence Casiraya of Inquirer.net.

Here are some excerpts:

"IBM is contributing significant technology that will help make OpenOffice more accessible to those with disabilities," the statement said.

"In addition to actively contributing to and participating in the community, IBM will also include versions of OpenOffice in its products in the future."

Should be good for an ultimate move towards Webtop or Webware.

This Portable Water Filtering System



... in a bottle can distill either 4,000 liters or 6,000 liters without changing the filter.

[via Abroath]

"Web 2.0 Science"

Flip Tomato's planned series on the emerging role of Web 2.0 in Science might just be worth watching.

Here's how he started it.

Been too busy with mentorings.org

... not to mention that I needed to "connect face-to-face" with offline people. Will keep you posted. Check out my direct posts here. My blogger posts don't resolve via RSS.

Quote of the day


"[I]t wasn’t just about teaching, that it was about (...) personal learning, too."

- Will Richardson

See the larger context here.

Epsilen: The New York Times 2.0?

"Some current Epsilen users describe Epsilen as an academic 'MySpace' and 'FaceBook', connecting peers to share knowledge and exchange objects."

Perhaps people who were once confused and twice cautious will now listen.

"European bosses unimpressed by web 2.0"

Ian Williams reports that:

"The majority of senior managers at European organisations are failing to invest in web 2.0 technologies owing to a lack of understanding of the business benefits, new research claims."

More here. Perhaps an excerpt from Diane K. Danielson's review of "The Starfish and The Spider" is apropos: “but who is the president of the Internet?”

Better yet, maybe we could get some guidance from Tom Coates' blog entry of 2006 vintage: What do we do with 'Social Media'?

Specialist Social Networking Sites

Ross Dawson discusses the role of specialist SNS to professionals (or Communities of Practice) and draws up a list from physicians to women-only executives here.

Indeed, Friendster, Myspace, Bebo et al. have set the categories. Now it's time for niche SNS.

[via Matt Moore]

Coincidence?

• An intriguing "debate" between Stephen Downes and Gary Stager focuses on Web 2.0 and school reform.

• A smaller effort aimed at engaging 21st century learners takes place somewhere in Asia. You may wish to follow the quadratic equation session with gifted students at the Philippine High School for the Arts.

The experience was humbling yet edifying.

Giving back to the community

Amadeo (a small town South of Manila), is known for the Cafe Amadeo, a unique blend of four types of coffee and possesses the aroma of jackfruit.

Now you may wish to consider this as a plug for hometown. As my other blog declares:

"Si solamente por los niños."

Department of Information & Communications Technology

... as a separate top executive agency in Philippine Government?



Sounds promising. This I gotta see.

What kind of an IT user are you?

"If you want to know how you fit in on the typology of ICT and internet users, an online quiz should give you the answer."

Follow the Pew Internet link here. (Warning: a little bit culture-bound)

[via FERL]

I took the test and was routinely classified as an omnivore. So what is your ICT user profile?

"Social software in knowledge-intense organisations"

In Jiri's Notes, Jiri Ludvik seems to suggest the need to take the Social Software talk to the next level. In particular, Jiri notes:

"Weblogs (& wikis) have been around for long enough for us to move beyond the experimentation stage and to come up with strategies on using them to make a real business impact."

Looks like it's getting more compelling by the day. Now my humble opinion is: Educational institutions really need to align skills training programs along this path.

Social Software and Happyness









[via Susanne Goldstein]

Makes me wonder about the nature and degree of the connection.