Networked Learning Conference, nuanced take on MOOCs

I am a bit late with checking out the Networked Learning Conference but I find that most of the papers are available. Look for the links to PDF. This could be a form of Content Marketing. For sure there will be requests for libraries to invest in the hardback version when available.

I will take some PDF on holiday over the next fortnight or so but not sure when I will get to study it all. Depends on the rain, quite a possibility near Ambleside.

But meanwhile here is a direct link to a paper by Chris Jones that includes quite a lot about the MOOC activity that is getting harder to ignore. I find the critique thread at academic conferences is often so strong that technology progress is quite difficult to identify. And from the Guardian coverage such as Peter Scott I realise that many UK academics have a case against the MOOC idea for a variety of reasons. But on a skim read there appear to be circumstances in which a MOOC could be supported. Or could have been once. More later when I have had more time to read.

My take is that technology has moved on whatever the academics have made of it. The MOOC is with us so struggle is the only option. Of course Peter Scott can choose not to write about such things in the Guardian. The whole print version could carry on knocking the Web till Monday to Friday is cancelled. Then there will be a new direction announced somewhere online. Not very likely in the Saturday Review. 

Quality, Communication, Learning, Climate Change , Design Science

The words in the title are intended as a group. I am finding several sites where I try to follow something and am sent off to something else. This blog could be much the same but within the range of linking these topics.

This started working on a quality system for print production. Learning remains the issue as well as non-learning. The London College of Printing changed the name to London College of Communication. They have their reasons which can be understood over time. Recently I find there is more interest in environmental management standards. Climate Change is a Futurelearn course from Exeter where I live. I still study Edwards Deming as a guide to quality and learning but notice that Design Science is reaching new audiences so could be a way to introiduce related ideas.

Things are shifting a bit. The recent IPEX was essentially the Cross Media IPEX. More will become clear at the Cross Media event in Islington next October. Something continues around #mtw3 . There appears to still be a gap between most academic conferences and current social media. So there could be some shifts. "Learning" is a word used in many contexts.

More later.

Skunk work continued

This is just a quick update as the IPEX / Cross Media situation sinks into my mind.

The scale was dopwn on previous IPEX but the Cross Media content was available more widely than I expected. Digital printing very strong so other aspects of digital can be coherent.

I am late with editing the images and video, but there should be something within a week.

Meanwhile I am also late with my MOOC studies. Also there is an update on ISO 9000.

So lots more later.

Simon Peyton Jones , Science and Technology at TEDx Exeter

This is a sort of expanded tweet as I am not so far explaining what my tweets are getting at. At TEDx Exeter last week it seemed to me that Simon Peyton Jones was arguing for science rather than technology as the preferred emphasis for UK schools. He saw the ICT as taught so far as being rather boring ( he was introduced as from Microsoft by the way ) and explained that the new computing subject will include a lot of computer science.

My concern is that there could still be interesting technology but this seems not to be covered. Still less is there space for digital literacy, introducing computer aspects in other subjects. So I think there will still be an emphasis on text, not much on video editing as a basic communication skill.

What I remember of TED is about how ideas from technology. entertainment and design have been introduced into academic discussions more used to science and analogue culture. The move to computer science seems to be going back again, at least in the UK.

One slide, not sure how much of the content I can load at this time. there will be a proper TED approved video once it is edited, about a month probably so more later.

Skunk Work Must Advertise - Cross Media Islington October

A Skunk Works is an almost secret project to prepare some new direction while business continues as usual. Thing is, sometimes the new approach has to be introduced quite quickly. My impression is that Cross Media Production should have had a lot more emphasis during IPEX last week. 

I notice that Frank Romano has no mention for Cross Media Production during his video report for What They Think. This may reflect his concerns but also shows how much resource will be required to promote a new direction. The Printweek report on the organiser views on the show's success also makes no mention of Cross Media Production. 23,000 attending is down from 50,000 in 2010 but a good result given that the show was 15,000 sq metres, down from 50,000 sq metres.

I have posted a short extract from Benny Landa's talk. Is print doomed? Only the books and newspapers and the packaging etc is more of the existing market anyway. But this is still a significant statement about the near future.

The Cross Media ideas are quite urgent. There will be another event in Islington in October. with more of a scope for marketing and publishers this will be another test for how printing fits in the mix.

More later on the digital printing shown at IPEX. Things will clarify when equipment such as the Konica Minolta KM1 is actually delivered. The Screen and Fuji inkjet presses were both well attended. I still think this could turn out to be a gain for Japanese digital printing. 23,000 people attending could still represent a number of future sites.