Concepts - Actor Network Theory

What is Actor-Network Theory?

From Nancy Van House:

Actor-network theory (ANT) is concerned with the processes by which scientific disputes become closed, ideas accepted, tools and methods adopted - that is, with how decisions are made about what is known. These decisions are often - usually - temporary, but closing the black box, in Latour's terms, of disputes allows people to take the work of others as a resource and move on, rather than continually reproducing and questioning it. According to their model, the work of science consists of the enrollment and juxtaposition of heterogeneous elements - rats, test tubes, colleagues, journal articles, funders, grants, papers at scientific conferences, and so on - which need continual management. They conclude that scientists' work is "the simultaneous reconstruction of social contexts of which they form a part - labs simultaneously rebuild and link the social and natural contexts upon which they act."

More definitions are available.

Online Article - by n m c : projects : Learning Object Initiative

n m c : projects : Learning Object Initiative:

"This practitioner-focused monograph, authored by Rachel Smith and produced with sponsorship from McGraw-Hill, provides straightforward suggestions and tips for authors of learning objects.

Included topics are the range and types of learning objects, pedagogical and design considerations, as well as discussions of standards, metadata, interoperability, and reusability. "

Download the Guidelines for Authors of Learning Objects
(32 pages; 1.6 Mb)

Online Course - WIDE World

Differentiating Instruction

During this two-week course, you'll work with a coach and other participants to learn how Multiple Intelligences Theory and the Teaching for Understanding framework can support your efforts to personalize instruction and plan activities so students learn by building on their strengths. When you complete this course, you will have the opportunity to join WIDE's online community where you can continue to explore and apply these instructional strategies with the support of a coach and other educators.

Course Instructor(s): TBA
Registration Deadline: June 29, 2004
Course Start Date: July 13, 2004

This is by Harvard. Interesting, should check out.

Project - MENU (Model for a European Networked University for e-learning)

MENU:

"The MENU project sets out to create a model for a European Networked (Virtual) University, providing a variety of e-learning opportunities."

Public deliverables available including a few papers on pedagogical usability.

Community - UNITAR e-learning Community

UNITAR e-learning Community:


"Welcome to UNITAR e-Learning Community!

Assalamu Alaikum wrt wbt,

Dear ALL,
We hope that this e-learning community will facilitate open knowledge sharing, collaboration, and communication about e-learning in UNITAR and beyond. Our philosophy is simple: 'Sharing Knowledge is Power'. We hope that others can join our knowledge quest initiative for e-Learning excellence by sharing with us their thoughts, ideas, suggestions, articles, and feedback through forums, journal, polls, comments, submit news/articles, etc. As Tom Petzinger says,' Nobody is as smart as everyone.'

Warm Regards,
R&D Department
Technology Division
UNITAR Sdn Bhd "

Organization - NCSL

NCSL is supporting schools to develop networks through which they can learn from and with each other, and find solutions to common problems. Find out more about the Networked Learning Communities programme, meet the leadership team and learn how to become a network.

Organization - ENT

Welcome to Education with New Technologies (ENT). This networked community is designed to help educators develop powerful learning experiences for students through the effective integration of new technologies.

Computers, the Internet, and other tools offer the promise of significant improvements in teaching and learning, but fulfilling that promise can be difficult. Through this ENT website, you will have access to thoughtful colleagues, interactive tools, detailed examples of technology-enhanced education, and a valuable collection of on-line resources. The site will help you navigate the expanding territory of new educational technologies with guidance from established principles for teaching and learning (e.g. Teaching for Understanding) through processes for integrating new technologies.

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Organization - AEShareNet

AEShareNet is a collaborative system to streamline the licensing of intellectual property so that Australian learning materials are developed, shared and adapted efficiently.

This section of the website includes:

* Corporate information - contact details for AEShareNet Ltd, staff and board information.
* News - current news about AEShareNet.
* An historical archive - containing information relating to the establishment and development of AEShareNet.
* Background information - overviews of copyright, copyright licensing, and the VET sector.
* General website information - legal notices, copyright statements, privacy statements, accessibility information, technical credits.

Website - elearnspace by George Siemens

Welcome to elearnspace! This site is intended for users, managers, developers, and facilitators of elearning.

Many resources exist for elearning, yet a model of how the pieces fit together is often missing. elearnspace has been organized to present a whole picture view of elearning.
The site navigation is based on the graphic displayed below.

To get started, click an area of interest on the graphic, read The Whole Picture, or skim the site map. Enjoy!

This site is developed by George Siemens, an instructor at Red River College in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.