XplanaZine

Here’s our take on news that matters for Monday, February 6. Today’s theme is keeping up, and here are a some links to headlines about technology that is changing the way we live and learn.

• Gaming — When it comes to video games these days, the popular bandwagon memes include video games and violence, video games in libraries, video games driving music sales, and video games and physical fitness. Swimming across the meme stream are announcements like this one, regarding the Verizon Gaming Network and the busting of stereotypes. On the other side of that argument are articles like this one that discuss concerns in the industry that video game sales may not be moving as quickly as hoped beyond core demographics and sales.

• Blogging, Podcasting, and Vodcasting — Here’s and example of podcasting being used for sales training and organizational updates. Step 1 — create audio. Step 2 — give everyone on your staff an iPod. Step 3 — push the audio and all updates to devices.

• Handhelds – So dar, the only vote against having cell phones as our source of ubiquitous computing is that they are now being used to track employees and monitor their activities.
  All that is needed to trace a mobile phone is a computer with an
  Internet connection. Once a phone is activated for tracking, it becomes
  a mobile electronic tag and its approximate position can be followed
  using the service provider’s Web site.
• Social Networks – According to this article, one of the blessings associated with online social networks is the advent of “networked individualism.”
  Until the Internet and e-mail came along, our social networks involved flesh-and-blood relatives, friends, neighbors, and colleagues at work. We had to see them face-to-face or talk to them on the phone. Now we can maintain those same networks but with less movement, less face-to-face interaction and, hence, more autonomy. Can anyone say “have my cake and eat it too”?

Now, here’s a recap of our favorite posts from the edublogging community from the past 48 hours.

• From Derek Morrison: Post on the new Sony Reader and a revisiting of his concept of the “online filling station” model of e-learning.
• From Paul Chenoweth : Post on the Facebook generation and how we view one another.
• From Alan Levine : Post on two recent workshops on using online discussions (with links to audio).
• From EdTechTalk : Post of podcast with Danny Wool of Wikimedia regarding the Wiki Textbook Project (Webcast#4 , Part 2).
• From Jeremy Hiebert : Post comparing formal, open, and self-directed learning.
• From Jesse Wilbur: Post on the value of voice in new media.
• From Dave Wiley: Post on the current state of open educational resources.
• From Will Richardson: Post on the growth of the blogosphere.
• From Graham Attwell: Post on the possibility of having self-directed professional development.
• From Jeremy Price: Post on Wikipedia and the search for networked truth.