Category — General

McGee's Musings – Learning and Teaching. Quote: “The more I learn about learning the more I discover how little most school and formal teaching/training environments are organized to promote learning.” [Serious Instructional Technology]

i certainly hope this isn't a surprise, because, if you look at schools institutionally, they should remind you of something else in society, something that is only about learning up until the point of efficient operation…

MS Admits Wrongdoing. Microsoft altering its “.NET” strategy Microsoft has announced that it's changing its overall use of .NET on its products, as it seems they've figured out that it's confusing to most users or potential customers, and flat out that “many people were unable to figure out just what it was.” says the AP Wire.

Now they're coming up with a nifty new logo to go with it, and perhaps they'll end up actually competing with IBM in the backend business. For some background on what .NET does, check here. [MetaFilter]

sell sell sell, mwa ha ha ha, what if people don't want it, or they do want something, but not the way you package it. sees very much like an eddie murphey comedy to me…

Computer-Supported Social Interaction (CSI) 2003

http://www.users.muohio.edu/birchmzp/csi/
April 25-26, 2003
Miami University
Oxford, OH 45056
Proposal Submission Deadline: March 17, 2003
Advanced Registration Deadline: March 17, 2003

Computers and the Internet are becoming increasingly important mediums
for social interaction. Many types of relationships including business,
casual, and intimate are formed and maintained through the use of
computer-mediated communication (CMC). The CSI 2K3 conference is an effort to bring together leading researchers in the field of CMC to discuss the psychological implications of technology on social
relationships. The conference will feature presentations by:

Tom Postmes (University of Amsterdam)
Susan Weisband (Case Western Reserve University)

We also invite individuals to submit proposals for poster or 10 minute
oral presentations on topics related to the area of computer-supported
social interaction. The poster/paper sessions will be scheduled around
the featured presentations. We welcome proposals from any discipline
relevant to the theme of the conference; submissions can be of an
empirical nature or a theoretical/conceptual paper. Students are
particularly encouraged to submit poster proposals.
Topics may include but are not limited to:

*Electronic team performance
*Computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW)
*Online relationships
*Distance learning and education
*Gender and technology
*Internet research methodology
*Research ethics
*Human-computer interaction
*Electronic commerce/privacy

Submission Guidelines
Authors must submit a 500-word proposal by March 17th, 2003. The abstract should present a brief yet detailed description of the problem, methodology, results and/or potential implications.
Submit proposals online at:

http://www.muohio.edu/birchmzp/csi/proposals.htm

or email them to CSI@muohio.edu (with CSI Proposal as the subject
heading)

Registration
*Deadline for advance conference registration is March 17th, 2003
*Register online at:
http://www.users.muohio.edu/birchmzp/csi/reg.htm

Please direct questions, concerns and suggestions to:
CSI@muohio.edu

segway on my sidewalk. I saw the meter reader riding a Segway today. Apparently Seattle has been using them in trials for city employees. While San Francisco has been working to try to ban Segways from the sidewalks, other legislation has already been passed that may affect your ability to make use of America's favorite alternative to walking. Probably a good thing to know before you plunk down some serious dough for one. [MetaFilter]

i say, plan your time and walk.

Why does Bush want to kill innocent Iraqis?. Wow, this is an interesting transcript from a White House press briefing where a reporter asks Ari Fleischer point-blank, “why does [President Bush] want to drop bombs on innocent Iraqis?” And all this time I thought the press weren't asking any important questions. I guess they are, they're just not turning into stories. [via tom tomorrow] [megnut]

oh me, oh my, wha are we going to do now that the media appearance and reaction might be seeming to break in front of our eyes? probably nothing, except ban this reporter in the future…

[the reverse cowgirl's blog]

i just like the picture….

T-Mobile Sidekick. The T-Mobile Sidekick is available for $49.99 on Amazon until January 27, 2003 [with service activation, you must mail in rebates, etc.]! It also qualifies for free shipping. If you're looking to get this gadget, now's the time to move. The price is so low because there are two different rebates for it, both of which will be gone by the end of the month. It even comes with the camera attachment, so you'll be photoblogging and moblogging in no time. [tip via Mena] [megnut]

ahhhhh! the horror

Alien abduction dog-tags for humans [bOing bOing]

you know who you are, the ones that need something like this.

Digital learning plans approved. The government has given the go-ahead for the BBC's controversial plans for an internet-based “digital curriculum” for schools. [BBC News | Technology | UK Edition]

teach me television, teach me, teach me, web me, interact with me, oh great temple of learning, sitting in my living room, occupying a place of honor reserved for others in the past. oh this is great stuff really….

Answers From a Successful Free Software Project Leader [Slashdot]

worth reading