Independent learning

Chinesepod, one of the podcasts I regularly listen to, has recently done a version-up. Among other things, they have ditched the idea of a series of podcasts, while keeping up the daily deliveries. No longer are they numbered Intermediate 97, 98, 99 and so on. Instead, they are giving prominence to the theme of each program, the un-numbered title.

This seems to promote a bit more user independence, and encourages, gives permission to perhaps, the idea of dipping in to the stream ad hoc. Ken's pretty keen on user-centered learning, look, he's referencing Blackboard whitepapers about it.

On the website end, they have enabled users (paying ones anyway) to develop a calendar of learning. So you can be browsing the stock of podcasts, and you see a lesson on Tai Chi. Cool! So you bookmark that one, and that's remembered for you. You look at your calendar, and decide that next Monday lunchtime might be a good time to listen through and look at. From your bookmarks, you drag the lesson title to the Sunday. That's when the relevant audio file and PDF transcript will be delivered to your iTunes. After breakfast on Monday, you sync the pod and you can't wait till lunchtime.

I just now grokked all this, having been confused for the last 5 weeks.

Permanent Markerus Erasius

This isn't e-learning, but chemical-based learning. We never called it c-learning, did we?

You know, last time I was in a lecture room and accidentally wrote with permanent marker on the white board, I shrank by a foot, apologised, threw the marker in the bin, and tried to carry on around the fresh graffiti. I needn't have been so upset, here's a wonderful undo spell:

Lifehacker : erase permanent marker