Edupunk!

What is edupunk?
My take on it:

• learning against all odds and
  
• relying on yourself for your own learning and
  
• learning in innovative ways and
  
• rejecting corporate pressure/constraints

Here are some other interpretations:

"Edupunk is an ideology referring to teaching and learning practices that result from a do it yourself (DIY) attitude. Many instructional applications can be described as DIY education or Edupunk. It describes inventive teaching and inventive learning."

from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edupunk (page considered for deletion - for being too new [!!], since the whole concept first appeared under this name on 25 May 2009)

Here is how the whole thing was started by Jim Groom:

"For within those ideas is not a technology, but a group of people, who argue, disagree, and bicker, but also believe that education is fundamentally about the exchange of ideas and possibilities of thinking the world anew again and again, it is not about a corporate mandate to compete—however inanely or nefariously—for market share and/or power. I don’t believe in technology, I believe in people. And that’s why I don’t think our struggle is over the future of technology, it is over the struggle for the future of our culture that is assailed from all corners by the vultures of capital. Corporations are selling us back our ideas, innovations, and visions for an exorbitant price. I want them all back, and I want them now!
Enter stage left: EDUPUNK!"

from: http://bavatuesdays.com/the-glass-bees/

Leslie Madsen Brooks had this to say:

"In short, edupunk is student-centered, resourceful, teacher- or community-created rather than corporate-sourced, and underwritten by a progressive political stance."

from: http://www.blogher.com/introducing-edupunk

You might have been an edupunk all along only you didn't know you are one! At least it has a name now.

A free online course on connectivism

Taken from the course description at http://ltc.umanitoba.ca:83/wiki/Connectivism# :

Connectivism and Connective Knowledge is a twelve week course that will explore the concepts of connectivism and connective knowledge and explore their application as a framework for theories of teaching and learning. It will outline a connectivist understanding of educational systems of the future. George Siemens and Stephen Downes – the two leading figures on connectivism and connective knowledge - will co-facilitate this innovative and timely course.

Live event in Second Life

Wireless Ready: Interactivity, Collaboration and Feedback in Language Learning Technologies, Nagoya, Japan, 29th March 2008

This one-day international symposium on language learning technologies will be simultaneously live in Second Life.

Registration is now open in Second Life at the following URL. Click on 'sign-up' to register. Participants in SL will be able hear and see the presenters in Nagoya, Japan:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/EduNation%20III/52/49/21/
(requires SL to be installed)

Places will be limited to 50 participants in Second Life, so please sign up soon.


Homepage: http://wirelessready.nucba.ac.jp

Wireless Ready SL
http://www.theconsultants-e.com/edunation/WirelessReadySL.pdf

Keynote speakers to include:
Michael Coghlan - Web 2.0 & ICT (ICT consultant, Australia)
Dr John Collick - Interactive Whiteboards in EFL (International Education Manager, Promethean)
Russell Stannard - Screen Capture Software and Student Feedback (University of Westminster, UK)

GLoCALL 2008

Globalization and Localization in CALL 2008

Hotel Ciputra Jakarta, Jakarta, 7-9 November 2008 &
Quality Hotel Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, 10-12 November 2008

GLoCALL 2008 invites proposals for presentations that are related to computer-assisted language learning. Proposals for Papers (35 minutes), Symposia (120 minutes) and Poster sessions should be submitted via the GLoCALL Website (http://glocall.org/) by 1 July 2008.

Proposals are encouraged within the sub-themes below, but are not limited to:

• application of technology to the language classroom
• localizing Internet materials to the classroom
• using the Internet for cultural exchange
• managing multimedia/hypermedia environments
• e-learning, collaborative learning and blended learning
• emerging technologies
• fostering autonomous learning through technology
• Web 2.0 and language learning
• training language teachers in e-learning environments

Successful applicants will be notified by August 1st, 2008, although those who require an earlier decision for funding purposes may request so in the Comments area of the proposal Web form.

The conference takes the form of a 'travelling roadshow' with Organizing Committee members, plenary speakers and whoever else wishes to give presentations at both locations. Presenters from outside Indonesia are particularly encouraged to submit multiple proposals, covering both 'state of the art' themes as well as 'practical training' so that participants with varying levels of CALL experience will be able to benefit from conference participation.

For further details, please visit: http://glocall.org/

Test your vocabulary level and donate rice

The banner on the left here pretty much says it all: if you play this simple but brilliant vocabulary game, you'll be supporting the United Nations World Food Program. Plus, you'll have a great time. You just have to choose the meaning of a word out of four options. If you get it right, you'll get a somewhat more difficult word next (and donate 20 grains of rice - paid for by the site's advertisers). If you make a mistake, the next word will be a bit easier. After a few questions you'll see your estimated level, but you'll need at least a few dozen questions for a more precise evaluation. Warning: the game can get seriously addictive after only a few minutes - proceed at your own risk! But I can guarantee that your students will enjoy it too - especially those who like a fun competition.

Best Practices for Educators Using Facebook

An excellent presentation on using Facebook for teaching. Here's the direct link to the pdf file:
http://www.edumorphology.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/fb_classroom1.pdf

It has a couple of very useful and practical tips and ideas. Highly recommended!

Northeast Association for Language Learning Technology 2008 Conference

The Northeast Association for Language Learning Technology (NEALLT) will hold its annual conference February 29 - March 2, 2008 at the Rutgers University New Brunswick campus.
This year's theme will be "Global Connections: Language Learning in the Digital Age".
For more information, go to http://www.neallt.org .

Call for Papers: EUROCALL 2008 Conference

Eurocall 2008 Conference
3-6 September, 2008
Székesfehérvár, Hungary

EUROCALL is a professional organisation for the promotion of innovative research, development and practice in the area of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) and Technology Enhanced Language Learning (TELL) in education and training. EUROCALL conferences bring together educators, researchers, administrators, materials developers, government representatives, vendors of hardware and software, and others interested in the field of CALL and TELL.

EUROCALL 2008 particularly welcomes papers focusing on integrating new technologies into language learning. Presentations focusing on any other aspect of CALL research, development and practice are also welcomed, especially innovative uses both of established and of leading-edge technologies. All submissions are subject to a blind refereeing process.
Abstract submission deadline: January 31, 2008.

For more information, go to
http://www.asszisztencia.hu/eurocall/index.php?c=31

Daft Doggy Voice Recording

Recording voice online doesn't come easier than this service. It's free - you don't even have to register. You just record your message (up to 2.5 hours!), upload the file (just click upload, that's it) and get a link that you can embed in your blog or send to your students. Try it and you'll see that it's really as simple as it sounds.

Free, 6-week online Web 2.0 and TEFL course

The CALL Interest Section of the international TESOL professional association is pleased to offer the opportunity to participate in the Electronic Village Online (EVO) 2008 season. This is a professional development project and virtual extension of the TESOL 2008 Convention in New York. The intended audience for this project includes both TESOL 2008 participants and those who can participate only virtually. You do not need to be a TESOL member to participate in a free , six-week , wholly online session of the EVO, Jan 14 - Feb 24, 2008. Please visit our Announcement Page to select one or two among the various offerings.
http://evo08sessionscfp.pbwiki.com

Feel free to distribute this annoucement.

Looking forward to having you in the EVO 2008 sessions,

Yours in TESOL,

Dafne Gonzalez

on behalf of the EVO coordination team

Note that the sessions begin on January 14, but you must register before hat date if you wish to participate.