I would like to map the discussion part of the workshops using the OU KMi Compendium tool. This is a freely available tool (not quite open source) which allows a user to map a dialogue as it occurs during a meeting (see examples here and here). There is also a book (cheaper from Amazon) produced by one of the tool developers.

The work involved would be to: a) get familiar with using the tool and then, b) attend each of the 10-15 workshops and map the discussions about how that tool might work using semantic technologies and what infrastructure components (technological, organisational, operational) are first necessary. Itwould probably work as well to spread the load across two people if some group wants to appoint two people to learn this useful technique.

So, if anyone has the time available to undertake this task and is interested in learning the technique of dialogue mapping, please contact me soonish.

In brief, this study will first produce a brief introduction to semantic technologies to send out to participating project members. Following this, I will visit each project at their convenience and hold a one-day workshop in which, together, we will imagine the future of that particular project if certain semantic technologies and/or applications were widely available and used. The results of all these workshops will be collated into a detailed report.

In addition to contributing to this study for the benefit of all Emerge collaborators, I would expect that these workshops will give opportunities for the projects to produce realistic proposals for future (JISC and other) calls for developments into the educational use of semantic technologies and Web 3.0.

See: http://xml.coverpages.org/WCAGv20-CR.html

The latest issue of ERCIM News (#71, Oct 2007) has a special feature on Technology Enhanced Learning with a couple of dozen articles including one on TEL in FP7 (can’t find that one online - you’ll need the full pdf here. It does link to a FP7 website

Next issue (Jan’08) is the ‘Future Web’ with a call here.

====================================================

Innovate, published as a public service by the Fischler School of Education
and Human Services and sponsored, in part, by Microsoft is soliciting
manuscripts for a special issue on academics in virtual environments. This
issue focuses on the use of Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVEs) as an
enhancement to K-21 education. A MUVE combines graphics and audio with the
ability to communicate with multiple users in real time within the context
of a 3-D virtual environment. MUVEs are not necessarily considered games,
as programs like Second Life and There have no end goal or objective.

Harvard's CyberOne: Law in the Court of Public Opinion course opened the
doors for other academics to use virtual environments to enhance teaching
and learning. In the past two years, over 300 colleges and universities
have claimed virtual land in an attempt to enhance content delivery. This
virtual land and its future development occurs only a computer network.
While critics and skeptics exist, many educators are looking to take the
plunge and discover the potential of virtual-based teaching.

Submissions for this special issue may address, but are not limited to,
these key issues:

1. Does teaching in virtual environments enhance course content? If so,
how? If not, why not?

2. How is learning assessed within virtual environments? Are these
assessments comparable to existing forms of assessment?

3. What are the ethical considerations of creating virtual content? What
are the practical concerns? If a university funds virtual projects, who
owns the content? Who should own the content? How are students protected?
How is student work protected?

4. Are there best practices for teaching or research in virtual worlds?
What are some strategies for beginners?

5. What are the challenges of teaching in virtual space? How are these
challenges addressed?

6. How are virtual projects funded? What avenues for support exist?

7. What pedagogical approaches are central to the delivery of materials
within virtual worlds?

If you would like to submit a manuscript on this topic, please review our
submission guidelines at
http://www.innovateonline.info/index.php?view=submit and send your
manuscript to the guest editors, Beth Ritter-Guth (bguth@lccc.edu ) and
Timothy Shields (tshields@nova.edu), and to the editor-in-chief, James
Morrison (jlm@nova.edu), no later than January 15, 2008.

Thanks!

Jim
----
James L Morrison
Editor-in-Chief, Innovate
http://www.innovateonline.info
Fischler School of Education and Human Services
Nova Southeastern University
http://www.schoolofed.nova.edu/home.htm

I wonder if they pay in Linden Dollars.