On 10/03/2011,
in assessment, collaboration, education, global / globalization, society,
by Daniel Christian
On 09/20/2011,
in geography / geology, global / globalization,
by Daniel Christian
On 09/19/2011,
in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, society,
by Daniel Christian
12 And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
“[Imitating Christ’s Humility] Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”
On 09/13/2011,
in collaboration, global / globalization, teachers, videoconferencing, web-based collaboration,
by Daniel Christian
On 09/07/2011,
in 21st century, digital audio, digital learning, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, e-books, e-publishing related items (EPUB and more), e-readers, education technology, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, faith, interactivity, relationships, religion,
by Daniel Christian
On 09/06/2011,
in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, society,
by Daniel Christian
“Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
On 08/29/2011,
in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, society,
by Daniel Christian
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
On 08/26/2011,
in budgets, business side of he, Canada, cost of getting a degree, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, disruption, education technology, elearning, funding / grants, future of higher education, game-changing environment, global / globalization, Learning from the Living [Class] Room, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, new business models, online learning, open courseware and systems, society, UK,
by Daniel Christian
The impact of new business models for higher education on student financing
Financing Higher Education in Developing Countries
Think Tank | Bellagio Conference Centre | 8-12 August 2011
Sir John Daniel (Commonwealth of Learning)
&
Stamenka Uvali-Trumbi (UNESCO)
Excerpt:
The aim of this paper has been to suggest that in discussing student financing we need to look beyond the current standard model classroom teaching to the likely developments in learning systems over the next decade. These have the potential to cut costs dramatically and thereby lessen the challenge of student financing.
That is fortunate because nearly one-third of the world’s population (29.3%) is under 15. Today there are 165 million people enrolled in tertiary education.[2] Projections suggest that that participation will peak at 263 million in 2025.[3] Accommodating the additional 98 million students would require more than four major campus universities (30,000 students) to open every week for the next fifteen years unless alternative models emerge. (emphasis DSC)
Also see:
OER for beginners: An introduction to sharing learning resources openly in healthcare education
The Higher Education Academy (HEA) (www.heacademy.ac.uk) and the Joint information Systems Committee (JISC) (www.jisc.ac.uk) are working in partnership to develop the HEFCE-funded Open Educational Resources (OER) programme, supporting UK higher education institutions in sharing their teaching and learning resources freely online across the world.
On 08/25/2011,
in 21st century, A/V -- audio/visual, Apple, business, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, communities of practice, computer science, creativity, digital audio, digital learning, digital photography, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, education technology, emerging technologies, engineering, global / globalization, human-computer interaction (HCI), innovation, internet, liberal arts, lifelong learning, media/film, mirroring and/or multiple devices, mobile learning, mobile technologies, multi-touch, multimedia, music, new business models, new media literacies, online media, pace of change, presentations, programming, quality, research, science, society, staying relevant, storytelling, strategy, student-related, technologies for your home, technology (general), television, tools, transmedia, United States, usability, user experience (UX), user interface design, videoconferencing, vision/possibilities, visualizing information, workplace,
by Daniel Christian
From DSC:
I want to post a thank you note to Mr. Steven P. Jobs, whom you most likely have heard has resigned as Apple’s CEO. Some articles are listed below, but I want to say thank you to Steve and to the employees of Apple who worked at Apple while he was CEO:
- Thank you for working hard to enhance the world and to make positive impacts to our world!
- Thank you for painstakingly pursuing perfection, usability, and excellence!
- Thank you for getting back up on the horse again when you came out of a meeting with Steve, Tim and others and you just got reamed for an idea or implementation that wasn’t quite there yet.
- Thanks go out to all of the families who were missing a dad or mom for long periods of time as they were still at work cranking out the next version of ____ or ____.
- Thanks for modeling what a vocation looks like — i.e. pursuing your God-given gifts/calling/passions; and from my economics training for modeling that everyone wins when you do what you do best!
Thanks again all!
- Steve Jobs’s Best Quotes — WSJ
- Steve Jobs: The End Of An Era — Techcrunch
- Steve Jobs resigns as Apple CEO –– wired.co.uk
- Steve Jobs has resigned as Apple CEO “effective immediately” — arstechnica.com
- Steve Jobs resigns as CEO of Apple — engadget.com
- 10 iconic Steve Jobs moments [videos] — from mashable.com
On 08/24/2011,
in budgets, business, business side of he, change, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, economics, funding / grants, future, future of higher education, game-changing environment, global / globalization, leadership, legislatures / government / legal, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, political science, society, staying relevant, student-related, trends, United States, visualizing information,
by Daniel Christian
A visualization of the United States Debt — from usdebt.kleptocracy.us
From DSC:
Though this is the U.S. debt, the ramifications of this affect the entire globe. I believe my cousin, Mr. Stephen Gibson, is correct when he says that we may well be heading towards a “Global Reset.”
Also see:
— as of 8/24/11 around noon
Addendums later on 8/24/11 from Academic Impressions:
- 10 consequences of state cuts to public higher education — from oncampus.mpr.org by Alex Friedrich
MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson
Just what are states pledging for higher ed these days?
- Fidelity® study finds significant shifts over 5-yr period in how families tackle rising college costs
Fifth Annual College Savings Indicator Study finds parents projected to meet only 16% of college costs, despite improved savings habits
BOSTON – Fidelity Investments®, a leader in helping families save for college, today announced the results of its fifth annual College Savings Indicator study, which found significant shifts in savings behavior from 2007 to 2011, with more families: 1) starting to save in the preschool years despite financial pressures, 2) seeking guidance and saving for college using a dedicated account, such as a tax-advantaged 529 college savings plan, and 3) making shared sacrifices to achieve their college savings goals.The study features the College Savings Indicator, a calculation of the percentage of projected college costs the typical American family is on track to cover, based on its current and expected savings. After four consecutive years of decline, the Indicator held steady to the prior year at 16 percent, down from 24 percent in 2007, when Fidelity first launched the study. While overall preparedness has declined, a larger percentage of parents — more than two-thirds (67 percent) — have begun saving for college costs, compared with 58 percent five years ago.
On 08/23/2011,
in business side of he, change, economics, funding / grants, future, future of higher education, game-changing environment, global / globalization, higher education, leadership, legislatures / government / legal, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, society, trends, United States,
by Daniel Christian
Excerpt:
The news this summer is teeming with trillions. The national debt is more than $14 trillion. In a recent report, the credit rating agency Moody’s says the 1,600-plus U.S.-based companies it rates harbored some $1.2 trillion in cash at the end of 2010. The newly minted congressional supercommittee is charged with finding ways to pare the federal deficit by at least $1.2 trillion in the next decade.
…
Trillion. It’s the new black — tres chic, tres cher. The higher-water mark. If you’re not talking trillions, you’re talking chump change. All of a sudden we are tossing the term around like we understand it.
From DSC:
As always with my Learning Ecosystems blog, see the tags and categories that I referenced here as to how I think this item is especially relevant.
“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
On 08/18/2011,
in business, corporate / business world, economics, faith, future, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, morals/values, relationships, society,
by Daniel Christian
Brian Kuhn writes a solid posting at “Greed, Economy, and Education”
Excerpt:
I am about 60% of the way through Freefall: America, Free Markets, and the Sinking of the World Economy by Joseph Stiglitz. Joseph is a recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Studies and covers this topic very thoroughly. Freefall is an fascinatingly honest retelling of the 2008 great recession and an exposing of the greed and corruption that essentially caused one of the greatest transfers of wealth in recent history. Self-serving banks loaned money to people who couldn’t afford it based on the “value” of their home growing perpetually and the government allowed it to happen. Wealth has evaporated from millions of people through loss of home and job around the world – wealth has been transferred to already very rich individuals from poor and middle class people. The US government has borrowed at unprecedented levels (the burden is on “the people”) and through bailouts given 100’s of billions of dollars to banks with virtually no strings attached due to the fear that the banks are “too big to fail”. Banks in turn paid out huge bonus and salaries to their leadership who essentially caused the failure of the financial system, toppled the economy, and ruined millions of peoples financial future and well being. Isn’t it government’s job to protect and support “the people” rather than to reward greed and failure of corporate leaders?
From DSC:
I remember posting a graphic/item on this very item back on an old website on 12/30/08:
I remember posting a graphic/item on this very item back on an old website on 12/30/08:
A MUST READ: The End –from Portofolio.com, by Michael Lewis
NOTE: The language is not appropriate for kids.
From DSC:
Greed is at the heart of this matter…and speaking of hearts, we Americans need to tend to our often cold and non-caring hearts, which also contributed greatly to the problems that we are now facing. It’s a very disturbing article; and it points out the critical need for all of us to be standing on solid moral ground. Don’t get me wrong, I know that I’m a sinner (and so is everyone else) and my sin is ever before me. But when you mess with other peoples’ lives, money, and futures…you need to have your feet on some solid ground and at least strive to do the right thing!It also points out that we Americans don’t often want to hear the truth until we have to hear the truth or until we need someone to point the finger at and blame for the issues we face. For example, how many politicians have been discarded in the past because they delivered some harsh, unpopular truth and plans of action? This same thing happened to some of the prophets of old who had to deliver some unpopular truth. Perhaps these struggles will be the 2×4 onside our collectives heads to get our attention and move towards caring about others.
Current update/further reflection from DSC (8/18/11):
When I look at this situation, I take solace in the Word that comes to us from Psalm 73:
Psalm 73
A psalm of Asaph.
1 Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.[a]
5 They are free from common human burdens;
they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity[b];
their evil imaginations have no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice;
with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.[c]
11 They say, “How would God know?
Does the Most High know anything?”
12 This is what the wicked are like—
always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure
and have washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been afflicted,
and every morning brings new punishments.
15 If I had spoken out like that,
I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it troubled me deeply
17 [until] I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny. (emphasis DSC)
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakes;
when you arise, Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.
The point is…none of us should want to be someone who “has received their reward in full (see Matthew Chapter 6)” and I’m indebted to an old friend of mine who, years ago, pointed me towards Matthew 6:33:
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Because if a person has had the best that they will ever have (in this life/age), I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes for what takes place in their eternity. The problem is…this type of thing is so easy to say and so hard to live out in our daily lives — especially when we see the same folks (seemingly or for real) getting wealthier all the time.
On 08/17/2011,
in Canada, copyright/ownership/NFTs, global / globalization, love of learning, open courseware and systems, society,
by Daniel Christian
Free Learning: Essays on open educational resources and copyright — by Stephen Downes | National Research Council Canada
From DSC:
Thanks Stephen for this collection of essays, postings, resources, materials.
After reading the first several sections, I feel compelled to add here that I have not accepted any money for my Learning Ecosystems blog; the work I do on this blog is given freely (and this is often very appropriate…as I often curate content from many other sources).
I don’t know if I’ll be able to continue to do this, but I have chosen to post those items that I believe are going to be helpful to others and/or further a conversation or idea or perspective — but have done so free of charge. I have not been paid to post anything on this Learning Ecosystems blog.
Anyway, thanks again Stephen for your work and for your worthy goals.