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Saturday, November 23, 2002


Yesterday's DailyLinks from elearningpost.com -- include one to the work of another group of education/learning object theorists I've researched and admired which, in turn, contains links to other authors regular readers of this diary may recognize.

This month's Sidebars column -- Published by the Learning Resources Unit of the British Columbia Institute of Technology to support and recognize innovative practice in distributed learning at BCIT, and in the greater educational community -- contains links to object repositories as well as other "primers" on objects, including:

Stephen Downes of the U of Alberta and Warren Longmire of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD)

I'd recommend each article to those looking for information on objects and their use in online education.

In the nearly twelve months I've been keeping this blog, I've seen the same names and groups appear time and again. I can see the online community begin to validate and emulate the work of peers it respects.

Because I believe very strongly in the concept -- it's gratifying to see "object" theorists essentially become an 'online self-organizing social system (OSOSS)." The 'net allows authors and researchers to lead by example and one sees the same names being cited again and again.

Friday, November 22, 2002


This entry was written aboard a Northwest Airlines jet on the Minneapolis-to-Calgary leg of my journey home from Newark. Good to be heading home after more than a week on the road.

My heavy travel schedule as of late has meant that I've not had a lot of time to work on the SMART Education Object (SMARTEO) model over the last few weeks, and has me more than a little worried about my impending (online) return to classes at OISE/UT in January.

The upside is that the medium means attending classes while travelling is possible, if less than practical.

That said, the SMART Master's sessions I'm delivering continue to provide me with "data" regarding the "needs" of those learning about the products of SMART Technologies Inc.

This "information gathering" is helping me to both conceptualize the evolving SMARTEO as well as determine what may or may not be practical in addressing the learning needs of SMARTians and customers.

Thursday, November 21, 2002


Today I delivered a SMART Master's Train-the-trainer session to faculty and staff of Ocean Gate School in Ocean Gate, N.J. It was a pleasure to work with these educators and collaborate on how to integrate interactive whiteboard technology during curriculum development and delivery efforts.

Following the session I travelled the Garden State Freeway and the New Jersey Turnpike back to Newark.

I'm extremely thankful that I don't have to make this commute on a regular basis. I've enjoyed my visit to New Jersey, but I certainly am not going to miss the freeways of the Garden State.

Wednesday, November 20, 2002


A post from Toms River, NJ.

This morning I flew from Detroit to Newark. This afternoon I drove a rental car from Newark to Toms River.

The learning continues. Today I learned that drivers on the freeways of New Jersey are every bit as aggressive and generally as "crazy" as those in Southern California.

In fact, from what I've seen on the freeways of America in the past few months, it seems that speed limits are definitely "optional" across the country.

I'd go as far as to suggest that you put yourself at risk by driving at or below the posted speed limit -- as the flow of traffic passes by at a relative velocity of 20 or 30 mile per hour.

Tuesday, November 19, 2002


Today I delivered a SMART Master's Event session in Detroit. The session was held in the Penobscot Building in the city centre.

The Penobscot Building is an impressive structure. Impressive enough in fact that its lobby served as one of the scenes in 8 Mile. (it "played the role" of the lobby of the radio station B. Rabbit (Eminem) visits during the movie).

Today's DailyLinks from elearningpost.com include one to the CANARIE intiative.

As the description of the link indicates, the CANARIE initiative, "involves the development and application of grids, repositories, web services and new approaches to sharing and collaborating."

Monday, November 18, 2002


Today I delivered a SMART Master's On-site session to the staff of Telcom Credit Union in Southfield, MI.

The Credit Union has a Rear Projection SMART Board(TM) 3000i interactive whiteboard and I really enjoyed working with staff to help them get the most of this integrated SMART Board for the training and presentation work done at the Credit Union.

Sunday, November 17, 2002


Today I went to see Eminem's new movie, 8 Mile.

Since I'm in Detroit, I wanted to see the movie on the street from which the movie takes it name.

To that end, I visited the Phoenix Theatre, Detroit's Neighborhood Theatre at 8 Mile and Van Dyke. I really enjoyed the movie and agree with some of the reviews I've read that liken it to Rocky.

8 Mile, while provocative and raw, is never gratuitious and is inspirational. It speaks to the integrity and strength of the human spirit and what's possible when one believes in self and seizes opportunities as they present themselves.