SOBCon08 Lessons to review with JJL

for loading into the VoiceThread on SOBCon08 MP3 File

Blogging changes: simplicity desired

I will stop updating this blog and continue writing on life long learning at Steve's 2 Cents. The full reasoning and explanation behind this change can be found here. I thank you for your readership and conversations. I hope you'll continue the conversation at Steve's 2 Cents. Subscribe to Steve's 2 Cents here for RSS or here Enter your Email Powered by FeedBlitz Life long learning doesn't end. It just evolves and adapts to the world!

reading declines, amazon introduces new device

On the day when the Boston Globe article digests a report on how reading is declining amongst the nation's youth, Amazon introduces a new reading device. The report incorporates national studies that have been carried out since the NEA's 2004 report, "Reading at Risk," found that literary reading - fiction, poetry, and plays - had crashed over 20 years among adult Americans. The new report, titled "To Read or Not to Read: A Question of National Consequence," focuses on reading in general, and it reaches down to younger age levels. While not all studies are exactly comparable in some details (such as time spans), overall they trend in the same direction. To obtain the full report or executive summary, go here. I won't rehash the basic features of Kindle, but I will try to compare it with the Sony Reader--now in its second generation and Kindle's primary competition. I will also talk about what I see as the strong and weak points of the Kindle design. Disclaimer: This is all based on what I've seen and read. I haven't seen a Kindle in person. Yet. Read CNet's review by Peter Glaskowsky comparing the Kindle and the Sony Reader here. Will Amazon's device help increase readership? How can we help increase reading? Updated: Forbes has a good article here Seth Godin has his reasons

Free Rice

Via a Reuters item on InformationWeek's IWDaily, I heard of this cool fund raiser. Free Rice You build your vocabulary and generate grains of rice to be donated to some one. I must caution you that I found this to be an addicting game for wordsmiths!

Self-conscious

When we are self-conscious, we cannot be wholly aware; we must throw ourselves out first. This throwing ourselves away is the first act of creativity. So, when we wholly concentrate, like a child in play, or an artist at work, then we share in the act of creating. We not only escape time, we also escape our self-conscious selves. From Madeleine L'Engle in A Circle of Quiet.

Bronwen Clune on Heutagogy

Heutagogy is the process of allowing learners to decide what they want to learn, how they want to learn it and when they want to learn it. It enables the students to become responsible for their own learning. The project aims to use Web 2.0 technologies to engage and motivate the students and then mentor and support them while they complete a project based outcome. The word for today is heutagogy. Read more about this from Bronwen Clune!

FreeConference - new service

As a FreeConference user, I received notice about their new service. Why use InstantConference? Enjoy features not included with FreeConference reservationless service » Multiple access codes all under one dial-in number » Free Recording » Post conference summary reports Just like FreeConference, we don´t bill you anything for conferencing New features coming soon! » Outlook Conference Manager » Instant Web Conferencing InstantConference Overview Instant dial-in number and access codes No online scheduling or reservations needed Dedicated number; your account never expires Additional access codes available under the same dial-in number Up to 150 callers Questions? How It Works Tools & Tips Have a question?

PodCamp Boston 2 - October 26-28, 2007

PodCamp Boston 2 is rapidly approaching. We are into August and October 26-28 feels like it is just around the corner. It was a great event last year and I expect this year to be even more so. There are already 290 registered for this event. Are you in New England? You should consider participating! Even if you are outside the Boston metro area, this should be a good excuse to get here and participate! The PodCamp website with additional info can be found here: Register here: Technorati Tags: podcamp, PodCamp Boston, podcast

Boston Media Makers: Halley, Steve, and John listening

Boston Media Makers: Halley, Steve, and John listening Originally uploaded by shersteve Part of learning is listening. The sharing that took place today at the Boston Media Makers monthly meeting was insightful as proved by the intent listening looks on Halley, Steve and John's faces. Do you have your listening look ready to learn?

leadership thrust upon them

It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well. Dumbledore to Harry, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Main St Construction

Main St Construction Originally uploaded by shersteve The walls are rising Straight clean lines Steel and wood Angled support Extra angles critical until complete The building will then stand on it's own Angles hidden within What angles for support do you have? Are they exterior or interior?

what you bring forth will save you

"If you bring forth what is within you", Jesus says in the Gospel of Thomas, "what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is in you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you." Sounds like a riddle right? But it's actually pretty simple. The potential to free yourself --- or ruin yourself--- is entirely up to you. And just maybe instead of focusing on the destination, we ought to look at the journey. Jodi Picoult - from the interview with the author at the end of The Tenth Circle.