It may be time for the academy to abandon the institutions which have housed it for the past several hundred years. Universities - institutions of higher education - it would seem, no longer want or need scholars. I am struggling to understand the academic world in the UK following the publication of the Browne review … Continue reading Is it time for the academy to leave the institution? #csr #browne

I want to urge us all to see innovation as a fundamentally problematising practice, necessarily discomforting at times, and to urge us all not to see innovation as simply code for the further enclosure of a knowledge commons and the de-democratisation of the institutions of education. Money, wealth, employment may well be how we live … Continue reading Innovation in lifelong learning? #ssbr1010

There is a class of blogger and tweeter who have dedicated themselves to "helping" the rest of us grow our number of followers, capture eyeballs, become indispensable. They implore us to ask constantly why others should want to read what we write, how we add value, what is the unique selling proposition that our on-line … Continue reading Grooming your personal brand: public writing is about quality enhancement not audience size

Myfirst tutorial "base" group, went well enough, with 9 out of 10 present and 7 reflective pieces submitted, which I said I would give brief feedback on. I may have spent too long on professional reflection, but hope that it was useful. There was a good discussion about group process, inclusion, function, and of course, … Continue reading Reflection on the first tutorial group of the year: reflection, observation and feedback

Lying at the intersection of social science, computer science, and engineering, the Program on Liberation Technology seeks to understand how information technology can be used to defend human rights, improve governance, empower the poor, promote economic development, and pursue a variety of other social goods. The Program will examine technical, legal, political, and social obstacles … Continue reading Stanford University Program on Liberation Technology

Best time I have ever had at the fair. On the dodgems, three mad dads, egged on by our pre-schoolers, "Bash him! Bash him!" The red mist descended and we sang as we slew... See and download the full gallery on posterous Posted via email from George's posterous

See and download the full gallery on posterous Posted via email from George's posterous

Here at Cranfield University in deepest Bedfordshire, with no phone signal (3 network) or access to the campus wifi network; no Eduroam, so no live tweeting (lucky you). However there is a "graphic recorder" who will be sketching the event and posting the drawings on a large white board (pic to follow). Professor David Stephenson … Continue reading Cranfield University L&T conference: realising the promise of e-assessment

Alison Chisholm wrote her PhD on the transition from Primary Care Groups (PCGs) to Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and worked for the Picker Institute for four years. I sought her views on the ConDem proposals for NHS commissioning. She writes (and I post with permission): Well I've not had my finger on the pulse very … Continue reading A comment on the new NHS GP commissioning plans: “bonkers”

In light of the Gulf oil well catastrophe and the financial services collapse, I am reminded of the joke about a true believer (TB).Neighbour comes up says, "Ain't you heard the news? Big flood coming. Better get to high ground for safety." TB says, "My faith in god will keep me safe."As the waters begin … Continue reading How many warnings do we need? via @HallyMk1 RT @courosa http://is.gd/ddwMc