http://dougsfaq.posterous.com ...things people ask me. A lot. posterous.com Wed, 09 Nov 2011 03:13:00 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougsFaq/~3/4mUb3NoQwlQ/examples-of-using-badges-to-credentialize-lea http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/examples-of-using-badges-to-credentialize-lea <p> <p><span style="font-size: 12px;">At my <a href="http://dougbelshaw.com/blog">main blog</a>&nbsp;I've been talking quite a lot about the potential for badges to credentialise informal learning.&nbsp;Quite apart from the MacArthur Foundation, Mozilla, HASTAC, US Department of Education and NASA-backed <a href="http://dmlcompetition.net">DML Competition</a>, there's an <a href="http://openbadges.org">Open Badges infrastructure</a> that people are beginning to use right <em>now</em>.<p /> Up until now I don't think that, collectively, we've done a good enough job so far at surfacing examples of people using badges imaginatively and creatively. That's why I asked <a href="http://www.kitchenbox.com/">Ruth Schmidt</a>, who's been working with the <a href="http://digitalyouthnetwork.org/">Digital Youth Network</a> in Chicago, to share some documents thy she showed in a session at the <a href="http://mozillafestival.org">Mozilla Festival</a> last weekend.<p /> As you can see, one of the documents shows broadly four different types of badges. The other shows a retrospective analysis of the social network DYN has been using with students, and how badges would fit into their existing structure. I think it's a great, well thought-through example of doing something with badges that is difficult or problematic with existing assessment and grading regimes.</span></p> <p><div class='p_embed p_file_embed'> <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/examples-of-using-badges-to-credentialize-lea"><img alt="" src="http://posterous.com/images/filetypes/pdf.png" /></a> <div class='p_embed_description'> <strong>badge-diagnostic-8nov2011.pdf</strong> <a href="http://getfile6.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dougsfaq/1i1W1FeXeEOUcFrgV3UXxtQitYKVg4BhsUpKGDV1lX5IqTe478u2QN0oDH9F/badge-diagnostic-8nov2011.pdf">Download this file</a> </div> </div> </p> <p><div class='p_embed p_file_embed'> <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/examples-of-using-badges-to-credentialize-lea"><img alt="" src="http://posterous.com/images/filetypes/pdf.png" /></a> <div class='p_embed_description'> <strong>DYNbadge-booklet-vF.pdf</strong> <a href="http://getfile7.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dougsfaq/Tjj47iwPtQaDVMCfKIm1UjmkFr9Fod9vSATv8ClDlqkL013DSOoVzmM9cycY/DYNbadge-booklet-vF.pdf">Download this file</a> </div> </div> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/examples-of-using-badges-to-credentialize-lea">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/examples-of-using-badges-to-credentialize-lea#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DougsFaq/~4/4mUb3NoQwlQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/983039/doug_smiling_500px.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36zxdL2sK8rD Doug Belshaw Doug Doug Belshaw http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/examples-of-using-badges-to-credentialize-lea Fri, 21 Oct 2011 04:42:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougsFaq/~3/m-ik5_YXtpM/why-are-your-websites-down http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-are-your-websites-down <p> <div>This is the message that greeted me when I woke up this morning. My 'main' website when I signed up to Bluehost was historyshareforum.com, hence the reference to it below.</div> <p /> <div>I have no idea which of the Terms of Service I am supposed to have 'violated'. I'm currently looking for a way to transfer my sites elsewhere as this isn't the first time this has happened. :-/</div> <p style="color: #a0a0a8;">Forwarded message:</p> <blockquote style="border-left-style: solid; border-width: 1px; margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 10px;"> <div><strong>From:</strong> <a href="mailto:support@bluehost.com">support@bluehost.com</a><br /> <strong>To:</strong> [redacted]<br /> <strong>Date:</strong> Thursday, 20 October 2011 22:25:37<br /> <strong>Subject:</strong> Web hosting account deactivated for HISTORYSHAREFORUM.COM</div> <br /> <div> <div> <div>Dear Doug:<p />Your web hosting account for <a href="http://historyshareforum.com">historyshareforum.com</a> has been deactivated, as of 10/20/2011. (reason: site causing performance problems)<p />This deactivation was due to a Terms of Service violation associated with your account. At sign-up, all users state that they have read through, understand, and agree to our terms. These terms are legal and binding.<p />Although your web site has been suspended, your data may still be available for up to 15 days from the date of deactivation; if you do not contact us during that 15 day period, your account and all of its files, databases, and emails may be deleted.<p />If you feel this deactivation was made in error, or in order to gain access to your account, please call our customer service line as soon as possible at (888) 401-4678 and press 5 to speak with a member of our Terms of Service Compliance department.<br />Please read the following, derived from our Terms of Service agreement, for additional information regarding the matter.<p />Engaging in any activity that, in <a href="http://BlueHost.com">BlueHost.com</a>'s sole and absolute discretion, disrupts, interferes with, or is harmful to (or threatens to disrupt, interfere with, or be harmful to) <a href="http://BlueHost.com">BlueHost.com</a>'s services, <a href="http://BlueHost.com">BlueHost.com</a>'s business, operations, reputation, goodwill, subscribers and/or subscriber relations, or the ability of <a href="http://BlueHost.com">BlueHost.com</a>'s subscribers to effectively use <a href="http://BlueHost.com">BlueHost.com</a>'s services is prohibited.<p />Please review the current copy of our Terms of Service here:<br /><a href="http://www.bluehost.com/cgi/terms">http://www.bluehost.com/cgi/terms</a><p />Thank you,<br /><a href="http://BlueHost.com">BlueHost.com</a> Technical Support<br /><a href="http://www.bluehost.com">http://www.bluehost.com</a><br />For support go to <a href="http://helpdesk.bluehost.com">http://helpdesk.bluehost.com</a>/<br />Toll-Free: (888) 401-4678 Option 2</div> </div> </div> </blockquote> </p> <p><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-are-your-websites-down">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-are-your-websites-down#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DougsFaq/~4/m-ik5_YXtpM" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/983039/doug_smiling_500px.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36zxdL2sK8rD Doug Belshaw Doug Doug Belshaw http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-are-your-websites-down Mon, 19 Sep 2011 23:43:09 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougsFaq/~3/j03pyjbPoKs/how-are-you-progressing-with-the-neverendingt http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/how-are-you-progressing-with-the-neverendingt <p> <p>Pretty well, thanks. I was planning to submit this Friday, but a couple of things are going to prevent that. First, I&#39;m off to the Scottish Learning Festival tomorrow (which means I won&#39;t be able to work on it for a couple of days). Second, I&#39;ve found more minor corrections than I thought I would.</p> <p>A note on my method for minor correction-spotting. Digital documents are great for writing and editing, but not for seeing the bigger picture. I needed a lot of space to blu-tack up nearly 300 pages, so I went into work on Saturday and Sunday and spent 10 hours in total going through my thesis with a fine toothcomb:</p> <p><object height="375" width="500"> <param name="flashvars" value="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fdougbelshaw%2Fsets%2F72157627579571071%2F%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fdougbelshaw%2Fsets%2F72157627579571071%2F&set_id=72157627579571071&jump_to=" /></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649" /></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /></param><embed src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649" allowFullScreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="375" flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fdougbelshaw%2Fsets%2F72157627579571071%2F%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fdougbelshaw%2Fsets%2F72157627579571071%2F&set_id=72157627579571071&jump_to=" width="500"></embed></object></p> <p>My thesis as it stood a couple of weeks ago is available at http:/<a href="http://dougbelshaw.com/thesis">dougbelshaw.com/thesis</a>. Once I&#39;ve submitted, I&#39;m planning to turn it into a wiki at <a href="http://neverendingthesis.com">http://neverendingthesis.com</a> :-)</p> </p> <p><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/how-are-you-progressing-with-the-neverendingt">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/how-are-you-progressing-with-the-neverendingt#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DougsFaq/~4/j03pyjbPoKs" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/983039/doug_smiling_500px.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36zxdL2sK8rD Doug Belshaw Doug Doug Belshaw http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/how-are-you-progressing-with-the-neverendingt Mon, 22 Aug 2011 01:31:05 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougsFaq/~3/114LbNfkdDk/why-was-your-camping-trip-a-tragi-comedy-of-m http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-was-your-camping-trip-a-tragi-comedy-of-m <p> Over at P2PU I'm organising a semester of learning around Mozilla's Open Badges project. If there was one for 'packing up a tent in the dark' or 'continuing<br />in the face of adversity' I'd have a fuller CV this morning.<p>It all started innocently enough. "It's a lovely day, isn't it?" stated the four year-old HyperActiveBoy™ as we played football in the back garden on Saturday. "I think we should go camping tonight." I was too busy trying to hold ChunkGirl™ (who, at seven months, is now the same weight as her two year-old cousin) to concentrate on the question. "Yes, we should go sometime," I replied. </p><p>After much badgering over Saturday and Sunday it was agreed: PersistentBoy™ and Daddy would go camping on Sunday night. Mummy found a campsite close by and, at 18.30, off we went, driving less than ten miles to our destination. The opencast mine and trainline we passed close-by to the campsite should have put me off or, failing that, the bizarre fluffy white chickens. But oh no. In the words of the Beautiful South, we Carried On Regardless. </p><p>HyperActiveBoy™ and I had the tent up and were in it by 19.30 after having the now-traditional hot chocolate and cookies, and getting washed in the shower block. My plan was to read in the tent but, on leaning back to lie down, managed to crush my Kindle in a way that broke the screen. Not the most auspicious of starts. </p><p>With AwakeBoy™ far too excited to get to sleep with Daddy in the tent, I decamped to the car planning to scour internet forums for a solution to my Kindle problem. But, of course, we were in deep Northumberland where GPRS is like frickin' broadband. After about an hour of fruitless searching, and with AwakeBoy™ still steadfastly refusing to sleep, I decided to get back into the tent. </p><p>Back in summer 2001 I went round Italy with AwakeBoy™'s Mummy staying at Youth Hostels. The sleeping bag I bought for that trip was an ultra-light one made for Mediterranean summers. On Sunday night it felt like the equivalent of a bin bag. Oh, and I didn't have anything to use as a pillow as AwakeBoy™ was hogging the improvised rolled-up blanket. </p><p>AwakeBoy™, a.k.a. TalkInHisSleepBoy™ a.k.a. HotWaterBottleBoy™, of course, has never been cold in his entire life, so didn't really understand why I, at about midnight when he was finally dropping off to sleep, proclaimed I needed to go back into the car to get my oh-so-thick M&S Dad cardigan. </p><p>From there it was all downhill. The excitement started again with AwakeBoy™ as I re-entered the tent. I threatened to take him home. A train went past. Something was moving in the opencast mine. He needed a wee-wee at 2am, managing to cover the outside of the tent in more than dew. </p><p>But then, at 3.30am, the cockerel started crowing. "That's it!" I cried, not really caring who heard us by this point, "we're going home!" AwakeBoy™, looking bewildered and as if he'd done something wrong, asked why. I explained that it wasn't his fault, that it was the worst campsite in the world, and bundled him into the car. </p><p>Taking down the tent took about ten minutes in the dark given that I just threw it into the boot of the car. We drove up the drive towards the campsite owner's house where I dropped the key off by posting it through the letterbox. </p><p>Did I also include a £10 note to cover the pitch fee? No reader, I did not.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-was-your-camping-trip-a-tragi-comedy-of-m">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-was-your-camping-trip-a-tragi-comedy-of-m#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DougsFaq/~4/114LbNfkdDk" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/983039/doug_smiling_500px.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36zxdL2sK8rD Doug Belshaw Doug Doug Belshaw http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-was-your-camping-trip-a-tragi-comedy-of-m Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:34:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougsFaq/~3/ME2o3AbbNKI/what-did-you-think-of-the-supercar-fantastic http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/what-did-you-think-of-the-supercar-fantastic <p> <div><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dougsfaq/xi5NSJENJbRwZsbQQdezNNcHb3cgWCAhQjHW5TKqFLjRITddgYHQV2KtWDBc/DSC03103_hdr_small.jpg"><img alt="Dsc03103_hdr_small" height="332" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dougsfaq/KLH5pghaxQwi3nezfhAmO6uWkQ5gcjugxs2XcJvvqnKiz0xyKma4Fggk9Lht/DSC03103_hdr_small.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dougsfaq/cWIU3PTCOUFxMhGnBaqoEoT064N8YGGtI5OkHOEsZ7VkgDMKmtKDYyuiBjTA/DSC03107_hdr_small.jpg"><img alt="Dsc03107_hdr_small" height="332" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dougsfaq/Axaer9eoygel6ZG6hsRXA3FiLOXWtHutEMiJVlQcxSV6mh8GVr1hkgvhZA7z/DSC03107_hdr_small.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dougsfaq/g9vrKToFIvyzki4xVo4t93R9m52cpTwjfj8atJ1bgjxTc3EwAWzsWOJWvHZb/DSC03108_hdr_small.jpg"><img alt="Dsc03108_hdr_small" height="332" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dougsfaq/d5azIt4R6yd6VWEsLLMr2uaGQRXDRjGxY1JYCM7ajEo4xR7uF2apefn5jTGw/DSC03108_hdr_small.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dougsfaq/zaCbxBZiTHKCGRhwgeXlrqNs5EMbT1qUK4H33Yt2bpbApBw3hU6Mdt7Km28A/DSC03134_hdr_small.jpg"><img alt="Dsc03134_hdr_small" height="332" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dougsfaq/qjExQJNOh78sUX6F2kAO07Ty6QxAcvbECnyYWBQBoxbJjAMzKTNELl7bS7Kd/DSC03134_hdr_small.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dougsfaq/cbA47RGGrpxKWedX5zGFnU8sS6CpfFawwBaswidzXiBVHGzXC8548pVFnDWp/DSC03136_hdr_small.jpg"><img alt="Dsc03136_hdr_small" height="332" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dougsfaq/ZLAMz9DQO6l2AZsjs1MLFLoCVYTvWKKWTv3HRwAysM4IxkX2nnVrYC6oVzmj/DSC03136_hdr_small.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/what-did-you-think-of-the-supercar-fantastic">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </div> <div>I really enjoyed it!</div> <p /> <div>Hannah, my wife, bought me the experience for my 30th birthday last December but I've only recently been able to find a date which worked for all the family. I have no idea how much it cost, although I'm pretty sure she'll have found a discount somewhere! The event was held near York, and Vision Motorsport, who ran the day, have also got a track near Oxford that they use.</div> <p /> <div>I drove, in order, an Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Lamborghini Gallardo, Ferrari 360 and a Porsche GT3. In order of preference, I'd go:</div> <div><ol> <li>Ferrari</li> <li>Porsche</li> <li>Lamborghini</li> <li>Aston Martin</li> </ol> <div>Most people there preferred the Porsche, but I managed to overtake the person driving that in the Aston Martin! The Ferrari was just <em>out of this world</em> in terms of raw power and acceleration. The steering was precision and the traction control just made driving it a breeze. I remember Jeremy Clarkson reviewing the Lamborghini Gallardo and pointing out the weird driving position: the pedals are over to the left which means you kind of have to twist your body.&nbsp;</div> </div> <p /> <div>On the other hand, if I had to pick a car to drive every day, I'd choose the Aston Martin. It's a refined, more comfortable car that's really smooth to drive. I suppose that's why rich businessmen drive it. You'd have to be pretty ostentatious to drive a Lamborghini Gallardo around the place - especially in bright yellow!&nbsp;</div> <p /> <div>Hannah asked me a pertinent question on the way back home. I've got a Ford Puma, an absolutely awesome machine which is pretty quick and hugs corners. She asked if, had I not bought my Puma last year, whether I'd have enjoyed the experience more. I suppose that yes, I probably would. Our other car, a Ford Focus C-MAX is very much a family car and handles like a <em>ship</em> compared to my Puma. So, if I'd been used to driving that instead of my Puma for the last 10 months, then I suppose the day would have been even better.</div> <p /> <div>As it was, I thought it certainly lived up to its 'fantastic' billing. It's just a shame that a couple of the instructors kept telling me off for taking the corners too fast... ;-)</div> <p><strong>Update:</strong> I created a video...</p> <p> <object data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="281" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="500"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&amp;photo_secret=5d207a5b3c&amp;photo_id=6061756116&amp;flickr_show_info_box=true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="281" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&amp;photo_secret=5d207a5b3c&amp;photo_id=6061756116&amp;flickr_show_info_box=true" width="500"></embed> </object> </p> <p>(and yes, those photos have been HDR-ised and I added F1 noises!)</p> </p> <p><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/what-did-you-think-of-the-supercar-fantastic">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/what-did-you-think-of-the-supercar-fantastic#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DougsFaq/~4/ME2o3AbbNKI" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/983039/doug_smiling_500px.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36zxdL2sK8rD Doug Belshaw Doug Doug Belshaw http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/what-did-you-think-of-the-supercar-fantastic Wed, 10 Aug 2011 01:21:52 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougsFaq/~3/9pJY1xo3k-4/so-you-dont-condemn-the-rioters http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/so-you-dont-condemn-the-rioters <p> <div style="">Whilst I would absolutely condemn the violence and criminality that we've seen over the last few nights in major English cities, I can't help but think that we're narrow-mindedly only accepting one side of a much larger, more complex (and more disturbing) picture.</div><p /><div style="">Put yourself in the place of a teenager in modern-day England. Even if you keep your side of the bargain - if you keep your head down, work hard and keep out of trouble - you still have to pay what must seem like an egregious amount of money to get a degree, something that is fast becoming a minimum entry level qualification for many jobs. How would you feel then?&nbsp;</div><p /><div style="">But what about if it's worse than that? What about if you've grown up in an environment where you've been neglected (or worse still, abused), where it's up to you if you decide to go to school, where there's no money in the house for what others class as basics? What if the structure that used to be provided by families, schools and communities just doesn't exist for you? What if there literally are no boundaries? Is that your fault?</div><p /><div style="">As we saw with the student fees protests, you can be well-educated, articulate, and peaceful in your demonstrations and *still* be completely ignored by the government. What chance have young, poorly-educated and marginalised people really got, then? What use is marching with a placard going to do? Can you honestly say that in those circumstances you wouldn't turn to gangs and people who, on a short-term and very local level *can* sort out your problems for you? I'm not sure I could be so certain.</div><p /><div style="">So whilst I obviously don't condone violence and criminal damage, I have to wonder just how our young people are supposed to vent their dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. As I mentioned yesterday I believe that the structural inequality in England is larger than at any time during my 30 years living in the country:</div><p /><div style="">As Richard Wilkinson points out in his book <i>The Spirit Level</i> the overwhelming cause of male homicide is status inequality. In fact, the power of the effect is three times greater than the strongest correlation previously measured. Status inequality affects seratonin levels which, in turn, lessens an individual's ability to enjoy pleasure and amplifies negative emotions. As a result, cortisol levels are likely to increase which are linked to almost everything bad that can happen to you health-wise: depression, cancer, heart disease, you name it.</div><p /><div style="">So let's catch the young people carrying out criminal damage. But rather than punish them in unjust ways, let's be measured in our response. And for goodness' sake, let's get their side of the story. Perhaps then we can do something about working towards a more just society.</div> </p> <p><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/so-you-dont-condemn-the-rioters">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/so-you-dont-condemn-the-rioters#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DougsFaq/~4/9pJY1xo3k-4" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/983039/doug_smiling_500px.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36zxdL2sK8rD Doug Belshaw Doug Doug Belshaw http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/so-you-dont-condemn-the-rioters Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:58:26 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougsFaq/~3/jBT-3VncJHs/what-do-you-mean-by-structural-inequality http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/what-do-you-mean-by-structural-inequality <p> I've been debating on Twitter the reasons for the various riots that are currently plaguing our country. Whilst I'm absolutely in agreement at the shocking and criminal behaviour of (predominantly) young people, I think there's a wider problem that's not being acknowledged.<p /><div>That wider problem is structural inequality.</div><p /><blockquote class="webkit-indent-blockquote" style="margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;"><div>"<span style="line-height: 19px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><b>Structural inequality</b></span><span style="line-height: 19px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 19px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">has been identified as the bias</span><span style="line-height: 19px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 19px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">that is built into the structure of organizations, institutions, governments or, social&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 19px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">networks.</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 10px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 19px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Structural inequality occurs when the fabric of organizations, institutions, governments or social networks contain an embedded bias which provides advantages for some members and marginalizes or produces disadvantages for other members. This can involve property rights, status, or unequal access to health care</span><span style="line-height: 19px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, housing, education and other physical or financial resources or opportunities.</span><span style="line-height: 19px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="line-height: 19px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">…</span></div><div><span style="line-height: 19px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Social inequality occurs when certain groups in a society do not have equall social status</span></span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">. Aspects of social status involve property rights, voting rights, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, access to health care, and education</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">as well as many other social commodities." <i>(Wikipedia)</i></span></div><p /></blockquote>What saddens me is the seeming inability of people to separate the criminal behaviour (i.e. the rioting and looting) from the plight of the rioter. I have to question whether such people have ever lived with and amongst the deprived of society or, in fact, know their history. :-( </p> <p><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/what-do-you-mean-by-structural-inequality">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/what-do-you-mean-by-structural-inequality#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DougsFaq/~4/jBT-3VncJHs" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/983039/doug_smiling_500px.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36zxdL2sK8rD Doug Belshaw Doug Doug Belshaw http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/what-do-you-mean-by-structural-inequality Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:18:13 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougsFaq/~3/4HBxUlwaKfQ/why-did-you-set-up-synechismltd http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-did-you-set-up-synechismltd <p> I genuinely want to do interesting stuff when I'm finished my doctoral thesis. What do I mean by 'interesting stuff'? Apply theory into practice, meet innovative people trying to do cool things, and generally make the world a better place.<p>If the subcontext of the question is 'Are you going to start expecting people to give you money for stuff you used to give away for free?' then the answer is 'it depends what you mean'. I value the time I spend with my family - and I've got a financial as well as emotional responsibility for them. So whilst I'll still be applying a CC Zero license to my blog and doing things like Purpos/ed, the other stuff I do will probably involve money changing hands.</p><p>In an ideal world there would be no money (and no racism, war or disease). In an ideal world my postgraduate education wouldn't have cost me so many thousands of pounds and I'd be able to work for free. This is the closest I can get to that for now: doing things that interest me (and that I'm good at) with people trying to do inspirational stuff - and in return be appropriately remunerated.</p><p>Does that answer the question adequately? For more details head to <a href="http://synechism.com">http://synechism.com</a></p> </p> <p><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-did-you-set-up-synechismltd">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-did-you-set-up-synechismltd#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DougsFaq/~4/4HBxUlwaKfQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/983039/doug_smiling_500px.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36zxdL2sK8rD Doug Belshaw Doug Doug Belshaw http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-did-you-set-up-synechismltd Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:22:44 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougsFaq/~3/1WgqvLQAZkI/what-do-you-see-as-the-biggest-challenges-fac http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/what-do-you-see-as-the-biggest-challenges-fac <p> Some brief thoughts, brought to you with the letter 'A':<p>1. Assessment - outdated, outmoded, and increasingly irrelevant. Are the things we test worth testing?</p><p>2. Authenticity - with both schools and universities expected to be businesses in a marketplace, how do they resolve the tension between this and their more traditional standards-based role?</p><p>3. Agility - as neither fish nor fowl, how do institutions respond to pressures from the market, stakeholders and the government in a timely fashion?</p><p>4. Acceleration - what happens when a body of knowledge is our of date before a student finishes a course?</p><p>5. Access - when people can learn from anyone, anywhere about anything, who will be the new gatekeepers?</p> </p> <p><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/what-do-you-see-as-the-biggest-challenges-fac">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/what-do-you-see-as-the-biggest-challenges-fac#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DougsFaq/~4/1WgqvLQAZkI" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/983039/doug_smiling_500px.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36zxdL2sK8rD Doug Belshaw Doug Doug Belshaw http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/what-do-you-see-as-the-biggest-challenges-fac Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:41:48 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougsFaq/~3/-9qwP1FjH0s/how-do-you-present-without-notes http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/how-do-you-present-without-notes <p> Practice.<p>Well, actually it's more than that. Before you practice three things have to be in place:</p><p>1. Your call to action<br />2. A clear flow of ideas<br />3. Props that support (as oppose to *tell* your narrative)</p><p>Once these are ready I tend to do two things: </p><p>a) Print out the slides<br />b) Export the presentation as a PDF, add it to my Dropbox and access it on my iPhone</p><p>Finally, I practice running through the presentation three times, with one of these being before I go to sleep the night before. As a teacher I learned that it's the *transitions* you have to work on as it's easy to ad-lib the content if you know your stuff. :-)</p> </p> <p><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/how-do-you-present-without-notes">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/how-do-you-present-without-notes#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DougsFaq/~4/-9qwP1FjH0s" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/983039/doug_smiling_500px.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36zxdL2sK8rD Doug Belshaw Doug Doug Belshaw http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/how-do-you-present-without-notes Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:20:44 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougsFaq/~3/3TYX1qkZ7tw/when-do-you-finish-your-edd-thesis http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/when-do-you-finish-your-edd-thesis <p> My Ed.D. is the continuation of an M.Ed. which is itself a continuation of my PGCE at Durham University. I've been studying towards it, therefore, for the last six years.<p>As I explained to my thesis supervisor, I'm not looking to 'pursue a career in academia' - well, not a traditional academia at any rate. He called this being 'outside the tent pissing in' rather than being 'inside the tent pissing out' which was, I suppose, an illuminating metaphor.</p><p>I've written about 34,000 words (<a href="http://dougbelshaw.com/thesis)">http://dougbelshaw.com/thesis)</a> of the 60,000 maximum that I need to have finished before the end of the 2010/11 academic year. It's not easy to carve out time to write at the moment with a newborn and kickstarting Purpos/ed (<a href="http://purposed.org.uk">http://purposed.org.uk</a>) but I'm sure I'll find a way.</p><p>I'm committed to publishing my work in an open way which is why I've insisted that the upcoming paper on Seven Types of Ambiguity and Digital Literacy I've written with my supervisor goes in an open access journal.</p><p>So, in term of timescales, I need to have the bulk done by the end of May. I'll be updating my thesis site as I go along and posting nuggets of research at <a href="http://literaci.es">http://literaci.es</a> :-)</p> </p> <p><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/when-do-you-finish-your-edd-thesis">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/when-do-you-finish-your-edd-thesis#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DougsFaq/~4/3TYX1qkZ7tw" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/983039/doug_smiling_500px.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36zxdL2sK8rD Doug Belshaw Doug Doug Belshaw http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/when-do-you-finish-your-edd-thesis Sat, 05 Mar 2011 15:14:29 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougsFaq/~3/Q1_VL9NFvxw/whats-your-current-daily-workday-routine http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/whats-your-current-daily-workday-routine <p> 5.50am Get up (Lumie Bodyclock + iPhone alarm)<p>6am Breakfast with my son, Ben</p><p>6.30am Look after my daughter (Grace) and Ben</p><p>7am Leave for work in trusty Ford Puma (Ben waves from bedroom window)</p><p>7.20am Park car, get on train. Read Kindle whilst listening to music (Spotify/Last.fm)</p><p>7.40am Arrive at Newcastle train station. Walk to work.</p><p>7.50am Arrive at work. Make coffee, setup things on desk.</p><p>8.00am Research and analyse (I'm Researcher/Analyst at JISC infoNet)</p><p>12.00pm Lunchtime. Head to Newcastle City Library.</p><p>12.10pm Work on Ed.D. thesis at the library</p><p>1.30pm Return to work, sit on beanbags with MacBook to do more creative elements of my job.</p><p>5.00pm Walk to train station.</p><p>5.15pm Catch train home listening to podcasts (esp. In Our Time and Freakonomics Radio)</p><p>5.35pm Get in car and drive home.</p><p>6pm Have dinner with family.</p><p>6.30pm Bath Ben and read stories whilst my wife (Hannah) baths Grace.</p><p>7.15pm Talk to Hannah.</p><p>8pm Go for run.</p><p>8.30pm Go in shower. Cold as possible. Alternate this with weights.</p><p>9pm Do home stuff (bills, boring stuff, etc.)</p><p>9.30pm Play Battlefield: Bad Company 2 on PS3</p><p>10pm Prepare Grace's bottle</p><p>10.30pm Feed Grace with bottle of milk</p><p>11pm Read</p><p>11.30pm Bedtime</p><p>Busy Doug is busy. Oh, and I occasionally tweet.. ;-)</p> </p> <p><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/whats-your-current-daily-workday-routine">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/whats-your-current-daily-workday-routine#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DougsFaq/~4/Q1_VL9NFvxw" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/983039/doug_smiling_500px.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36zxdL2sK8rD Doug Belshaw Doug Doug Belshaw http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/whats-your-current-daily-workday-routine Sun, 20 Feb 2011 04:40:42 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougsFaq/~3/pHGWegU_Z_Q/which-newspapers-and-magazines-do-you-read http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/which-newspapers-and-magazines-do-you-read <p> I subscribe to Wired UK and am about to do likewise with Men's Health (as I find myself buying it regularly). On my Kindle I've recently started subscribing to the Harvard Business Review.<p>The location of where I currently work in the city centre means that I'm just around the corner from the fabulous Newcastle City Library. I'll often browse random magazines and newspapers for half an hour during my lunchbreak - it encourages serendipity!</p><p>My wife and I used to buy a Sunday newspaper and relax with a cup of tea reading it. However, since our son stopped having an afternoon sleep last year (and the demise in quality of The Sunday Times) that's become more sporadic. We've never bought a daily newspaper as our definition of 'news' seems to differ wildly from that of the media; there's more to life than politics and entertainment.</p><p>I absolutely believe in remunerating people appropriately for quality work. Whilst excessive payments are vulgar and inappropriate, people should be able to make a living through their hard work and talent. I'm hoping, therefore that the Flattr (<a href="http://flattr.com">http://flattr.com</a>) micropayments system takes off. That would put the cat amongst the pigeons.</p><p>I wonder whether, if I put Flattr on my main blog, people would start using it? I suspect it requires more critical mass.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/which-newspapers-and-magazines-do-you-read">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/which-newspapers-and-magazines-do-you-read#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DougsFaq/~4/pHGWegU_Z_Q" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/983039/doug_smiling_500px.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36zxdL2sK8rD Doug Belshaw Doug Doug Belshaw http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/which-newspapers-and-magazines-do-you-read Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:23:28 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougsFaq/~3/09yJ9zmypRY/which-iphone-apps-do-you-use-most http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/which-iphone-apps-do-you-use-most <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dougsfaq/AeGJGsirnzAoJjqcqnufsorfnIbHCowcsvHxkixkksFrpCnGxriayBhgmeps/p88.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="P88" height="750" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dougsfaq/AeGJGsirnzAoJjqcqnufsorfnIbHCowcsvHxkixkksFrpCnGxriayBhgmeps/p88.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dougsfaq/fDqCydAvlopGyDjlEFgjunGvJJuAAwJBlxsClkdpfkAEqvHaymcsoefnGofe/p91.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="P91" height="750" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/dougsfaq/fDqCydAvlopGyDjlEFgjunGvJJuAAwJBlxsClkdpfkAEqvHaymcsoefnGofe/p91.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/which-iphone-apps-do-you-use-most">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p>This changes regularly, but top 10 apps I use (in rank order):<p>1. Twitter<br />2. Email<br />3. Spotify<br />4. National Rail<br />5. iPod<br />7. LastFM<br />8. Feedly<br />9. Nike+ GPS<br />10. Camera</p><p>As you can see from the screenshots, I'm fairly laid-back about 'getting to zero' notifications-wise... :-)</p> </p> <p><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/which-iphone-apps-do-you-use-most">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/which-iphone-apps-do-you-use-most#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DougsFaq/~4/09yJ9zmypRY" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/983039/doug_smiling_500px.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36zxdL2sK8rD Doug Belshaw Doug Doug Belshaw http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/which-iphone-apps-do-you-use-most Tue, 15 Feb 2011 09:57:43 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougsFaq/~3/4YiJvGJ0R4U/why-do-you-follow-150-people-on-twitter-0 http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-do-you-follow-150-people-on-twitter-0 <p> Until January 2011 I was following over 1,200 people on Twitter. My TweetDeck columns were constantly updating and it was almost a full-time job keeping on top of the firehose of information. Although I tried to segment things into different columns through groups, it was still a bit overwhelming.<p>So I decided to put Dunbar's Number (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar</a>'s_number) into practice and only follow 150 people. These are those that either constantly feed me with information I wouldn't get elsewhere, or I interact with on a regular basis to stimulate my thinking. Many of them I've met face-to-face.</p><p>At the same time as this mass-unfollowing, in an attempt at joined-up thinking I announced (<a href="http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2011/01/11/how-im-organising-my-digital-outputs-in-2011/)">http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2011/01/11/how-im-organising-my-digital-outputs-i...</a> to the world how I'd be using various services in 2011.</p><p>It's working well so far. I shall be explaining soon over at my main blog how, as a researcher, this is one strategy to avoid information overload. Some, however (presumably insecure enough to use tools that inform them who's unfollowed them) have felt jilted.</p><p>C'est la vie; all is flux.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-do-you-follow-150-people-on-twitter-0">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-do-you-follow-150-people-on-twitter-0#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DougsFaq/~4/4YiJvGJ0R4U" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/983039/doug_smiling_500px.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36zxdL2sK8rD Doug Belshaw Doug Doug Belshaw http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-do-you-follow-150-people-on-twitter-0 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:46:47 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougsFaq/~3/QJt6GB7_3Qo/why-did-you-start-purposed http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-did-you-start-purposed <p> 1. There's something in the air. <p>2. We (Andy Stewart and I) can do it alongside our full-time jobs.</p><p>3. It helps me feel like I'm making a difference.</p><p>4. It's fun.</p><p>5. It pushes me to use the skills I've learned for a particular, positive purpose.</p><p>6. My son starts school in September.</p><p>7. I like debate. </p><p>8. Although Purpos/ed is non-partisan, I'm not happy with the (seeming) policy-by-fiat of the coalition government.</p><p>9. It fosters a sense of community.</p><p>10. We haven't had a debate about the purpose of education in my lifetime; I'm pretty sure it's about more than just jobs and the economy.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-did-you-start-purposed">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-did-you-start-purposed#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DougsFaq/~4/QJt6GB7_3Qo" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/983039/doug_smiling_500px.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36zxdL2sK8rD Doug Belshaw Doug Doug Belshaw http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-did-you-start-purposed Thu, 16 Dec 2010 11:23:00 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougsFaq/~3/cS45-A6AVJw/whats-your-problem-with-people-receiving-awar http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/whats-your-problem-with-people-receiving-awar <p> <p>I haven't got a problem with people receiving awards <em>per se</em>. In fact, I think they can be a valuable mechanism that rewards hard work, dedication and talent.&nbsp;Whilst I accept there will be some level of self-promotion in almost all spheres of life - we're all human and goodness knows I've been guilty of some - it's the <em>blatant campaigning</em> that I have a problem with ("Vote for me!"). A colleague of mine went to a trophy shop today to buy a gift for a friend we'll call Sarah. It featured a 3D golden star and she had engraved 'World's Best Sarah'. Why? Because her friend is ultra-competitive. Everyone else just thinks it's a bit of a tragi-comedy.</p> <p /> <div>Anyone can make up an award. You see the results of this occasionally with badges in blog sidebars. It's a bit like the big infographic scam, except instead of linkbait 'informative visuals' which add to their Google SEO, it's made-up awards. People who've received said awards then put a badge on their blog linking to the site, and so on: it's all about ego.</div> <p /> <div>And then there's the physical awards. They're often used to create a buzz about an event so that the people who are nominated (usually because of the size of their following) become 'amplifiers' for the event. The event organisers at break even - or even make a profit - by charging for tickets and related items.&nbsp;</div> <p /> <div>It really saddens me to see people I respect, people who deserve <em>real</em> awards that they don't have to campaign for, stooping to asking people to vote for them. I'd define a real award as being something that's awarded independently of who can mobilise their online following - with the award made by a respected body whose primary motive for making the award isn't financial.&nbsp;</div> <p /> <div>The latest iteration of the Edublog awards have just been announced and, surprise surprise, they've gone to predominantly US-based educators who have campaigned for them. This is often done in a faux-informative way: "Did you know the Edublog awards have been announced?" or "Voting is about to close in the Edublog awards!" (and so on). It's a truly sad thing to see and something I've <a href="http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/12/03/3-reasons-im-against-the-edublog-awards/">written about before</a>.&nbsp;</div> <p /> <div>Of course, some will say this is merely 'sour grapes'. Well, I'll go on record (again) as saying that anyone foolish enough to offer me a fake award will be mightily disappointed when I reject it. Fact.</div> </p> <p><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/whats-your-problem-with-people-receiving-awar">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/whats-your-problem-with-people-receiving-awar#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DougsFaq/~4/cS45-A6AVJw" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/983039/doug_smiling_500px.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36zxdL2sK8rD Doug Belshaw Doug Doug Belshaw http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/whats-your-problem-with-people-receiving-awar Thu, 09 Dec 2010 12:27:00 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougsFaq/~3/gZ4msUXG9HQ/how-did-you-make-that-teachmeet-video-using-s http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/how-did-you-make-that-teachmeet-video-using-s <p> <p>A few days ago I created a video for a <a href="http://teachmeet.org.uk/">TeachMeet</a> that was well-received. I like to try and do new things when I present so I was thinking of ways in which I could get my points across in an engaging way. I've been asked by a few people how I put the video together.</p> <p><a href="http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2010/12/08/models-of-learning-tmoxon-presentation/">Models of Learning: #tmoxon presentation</a></p> <p>Although it may not look like it, the total time it took to produce that video was around thirty times as long as it takes to watch it. For an 8 minute video, then, that's 240 minutes or 4 hours. Why did it take so long? Here's the process I followed:</p> <ol> <li>Sketch out (pen and paper) ideas and what I want viewers to go away thinking and knowing.</li> <li>Come up with some kind of order for the presentation, break into sections and bullet points.</li> <li>Have a few dummy runs going through these points out loud to clarify the links between the bullet points and so it doesn't sound stilted.</li> <li>Record each section using 'Voice Notes' on my iPhone.</li> <li>Email Voice Notes to myself.</li> <li>Listen to Voice Notes and note down images which might help illustrate points.</li> <li>Search on <a href="http://www.spezify.com">Spezify</a> for images relating to first section and add to 'Favourites'.</li> <li>Using QuickTimeX to record the screen (no sound), click on relevant images whilst listening to Voice Note on iPhone.</li> <li>Repeat for each section.</li> <li>Import screencasts for each section into iMovie as well as Voice Notes. Trim, align and edit.</li> </ol> <p>The 'opening titles' were, of course, an optional extra. I created them in Keynote with one slide, setting the animation properties, and then exporting the result as a QuickTime video. I imported this into iMovie, bought a track from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/MP3-Music-Download/b?ie=UTF8&amp;node=77197031">Amazon MP3</a> and used a section of it, faded out at an appropriate place.</p> <p>After all this, I ran the video through several times, making sure that the video and audio were synced, that there weren't any unnatural pauses, and that it felt consistent. Once that was done I exported it and uploaded it to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/dajbelshaw">YouTube</a>.</p> <p>The great thing about creating a presentation in stages like this is that you can do it in bitesize chunks. And, of course, it puts the ideas first and the shiny-shiny second. :-)</p> </p> <p><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/how-did-you-make-that-teachmeet-video-using-s">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/how-did-you-make-that-teachmeet-video-using-s#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DougsFaq/~4/gZ4msUXG9HQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/983039/doug_smiling_500px.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36zxdL2sK8rD Doug Belshaw Doug Doug Belshaw http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/how-did-you-make-that-teachmeet-video-using-s Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:37:55 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougsFaq/~3/Nz0cVEyfTRY/why-do-you-use-apple-stuff http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-do-you-use-apple-stuff <p> In a perfect world, I&#39;d use a range of different hardware from various vendors all running Open Source software. Unfortunately, I inhabit the real world where things need to get done and my frustration and stress levels need to remain low. <p /><div>I use Apple&#39;s stuff because it&#39;s:</div><div><ul><li>Extremely well-designed</li><li>Durable (enough)</li><li>Low maintenance</li><li>Almost frictionless (think software installation vs Windows)</li> </ul><div>Everything <i>just works</i> together. </div><p /><div>I&#39;ve used Linux, I&#39;ve tried Android. Perhaps I&#39;ll come back to them in future, but for now I&#39;m sticking with Apple stuff.</div></div> <p /><div>Life&#39;s too short.</div> </p> <p><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-do-you-use-apple-stuff">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-do-you-use-apple-stuff#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DougsFaq/~4/Nz0cVEyfTRY" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/983039/doug_smiling_500px.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36zxdL2sK8rD Doug Belshaw Doug Doug Belshaw http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/why-do-you-use-apple-stuff Sun, 09 May 2010 06:20:16 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougsFaq/~3/4LN0uWuXwOI/where-do-you-get-your-ideas-for-blog-posts-fr http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/where-do-you-get-your-ideas-for-blog-posts-fr <p> In order (most to least): <p /> 1. In the shower <br />2. During sermons at church (I *am* listening at the same time!) <br />3. On the toilet <br />4. Whilst driving/commuting <br />5. Reading books & magazines </p> <p><a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/where-do-you-get-your-ideas-for-blog-posts-fr">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/where-do-you-get-your-ideas-for-blog-posts-fr#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DougsFaq/~4/4LN0uWuXwOI" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/983039/doug_smiling_500px.jpg http://posterous.com/users/36zxdL2sK8rD Doug Belshaw Doug Doug Belshaw http://dougsfaq.posterous.com/where-do-you-get-your-ideas-for-blog-posts-fr