LoomWare

OpenDOAR - Directory of Open Access Repositories

OpenDOAR - Directory of Open Access Repositories

Lund and Nottingham universities have collaborated on a new directory of open access repositories: "OpenDOAR is building a comprehensive and authoritative list of institutional and subject-based repositories, as well as archives set up by funding agencies - like the National Institutes for Health in the USA or the Wellcome Trust in the UK and Europe. Users of the service are able to analyse repositories by location, type, the material they hold and other measures."

eduCommons

eduCommons System for Managing Open Courseware

I have not had a chance to look at this system, but it sounds like it adds Learning Object Repository functions to systems built on MIT's OpenCourseWare. We are just in the process of implementing Sakai and possibly Moddle, so the idea of going at this so individual learning objects are more accessible is a good thing.

Apple Launches iTunes U

Apple Launches iTunes U

I was wondering when Apple would polish their iTunes offerings for special markets like universities and the recently announced iTunes U. Not only does this lower the barrier for schools to syndicate their content, it also gives Apple a back door to selling more music via their ubiquitous online store. I would keep a close eye on this one, as well as Podcasting server from Apple.

Scraped from Syndication for Higher Ed

Fon takes Freenet cue for WiFi hot spot plan

Globetechnology: Fon takes Freenet cue for WiFi hot spot plan

I love the idea behind this new venture to create wireless access for free or fee. The idea is to use existing home WiFi networks to provide a managed network of WiFi hotspots. If you want to participate you download Linux code to your router which makes it possible to be managed into a larger nesh, or Fon network. If you make your wireless connection freely available (you would then be a Linus node, after Torvalds) you can access other nodes for free; if you want to charge for access you would have to pay to access other nodes (you would be called a Bill, after Gates). If only for the names of the nodes this one is well worth watching. The tricky part will be if the ISPs want to play ball, and therefore if enough nodes can be found to make it ubiquitous.

Globetechnology: UN backs $100 laptop

Globetechnology: UN backs $100 laptop

Negroponte's $100 laptop got some important backing today with a commitment from the UN. It is not clear what this "memorandum of understanding" will do for the project, but the system sure seems to be getting lots of press these days. The "One Laptop per Child" program is on track to start shipping these devices before the end of this year.

Protect Innovative Google Book Search Tool

Defenders of Property Rights Urges Congress to Protect Innovative Google Book Search Tool: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Some powerful backing for the Google Book Project in the form of Nancie G. Marzulla, a prominent IP Lawyer in the U.S. who suggests that the project neither threatens nor contravenes property rights of creators. The key is the fact that the project only permits the user too see snippets of books.

RIP-ping on Learning Objects

RIP-ping on Learning Objects

Interesting post on learning objects and what they mean - or if they actually are a meaningful concept. I love the link to Urinal as a learning object which suggest the very practical and simple definition of a learning object: "Learning object is any entity, digital or non digital, that is used for learning, education or teaching."

Scraped from iterating toward openness

Will Wikipedia Fail in Five Years?

Will Wikipedia Fail in Five Years?

An interesting thread from a post by Eric Goldman on the challenges Wikipedia faces. This one is a little more interesting than the stuff I have seen because it 1) posits why, 2) give a timeline 3) has a non-monetary (reputation?) bet applied.

Scraped from Godwin's Law - feed.rdf

New Edition of Intellectual Freedom Manual from ALA

ALA eStore: Product Detail

Here's a novel idea - what if the ALA released the new 7th edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual for free online - Holy Dublin Core Batman what an idea! I can only assume that such an act would promote the cause of intellectual freedom many times more than the print document would. What do you say ALA - is open access right for everybody else but you?

The Biologist in Me Loves this One

As a zoologist in my heart of hearts, I have always been in awe of the American Museum of Natural History as one of the pre-eminent institutions of learning and research. A was very pleased to see AMNH join the increasing number of institutions that are making their research available under open access. Keep em comin...