August 2009
#OpenEd09, Syndication Buses & Integral Play
Aug
17
Last week I got to be part of OpenEd09 - a conference hosted (for the first time) here in Vancouver all about openness in information technology and the education system. I had been invited to be on an parallel panel about copyright and creative commons but when I checked out the schedule I wanted in!
Fortunately the organizers were pretty cool and let me sneak in for free so I ended catching some amazing presentations and discussions, all now available on UStream. In particular I recommend Gardner Campbell on "No Digital Facelifts: Thinking the Unthinkable About Open Educational Experiences", Jim Groom on "The Design of Openness", and John Maxwell on "Wiki as CMS/LMS".
(Critical) Mass, Manners and Morality
Aug
06
All the recent controversy and media coverage of Critical Mass, and the subsequent launch of Critical Manners Vancouver, got me thinking about whether I would bother showing up to ride on August 14th.
I quickly came to the conclusion "yes, of course". Now one may fairly ask how I can justify supporting two seemingly-at-odds events. The answer is quite simple - both promote safe cycling as a lifestyle choice, albeit in different ways.