Notes on 3 months

Probably expanded soon, looking back and trying to remember what new year is about.

BETT in January, Learning Technologies in Feb, then Deming more in a learning phase and also conference on Platform University. I seem to have two modes, draft journalism and then fiction. This passing year there was a visit to Exeter by Playwrites for Hire, seems to have cleared up my tension around radio. Could still go back to fiction but factual version also possible.  Journalism approach takes me back to OhmyNews when I had a combination of blog copy and events that were enough for a lead news item. With trade shows there was ofen an announcement that clarified something. I still think last year was a news event with both Coursera and Futurelearn at Learning Technologies. Could not find it in other media though. Even when Seek put in funding it was only news in a limited range of specialised media.

This year neither is going to be at Learning Technologies, but Fururelearn is at BETT. Maybe this is a basis for writing about online learning, MOOC etc. We try to avoid rave mode on Phonic FM but in Exeter the student accommodation is still an issue. Just seems strange for so much building as things move online. There seems to be two worlds somehow. the unis must realise something is happening but still at a distance. Learning Technologies not much uni presence.

Going back to Peter Horrocks and his lecture about Fortress University at Durham. He mad a case for online as open. Had to resign soon after. Guardian and others quite hostile. I still do not know how OU strategy has been revised, nothing as clear reported. Guardian strange anyway. Print circulation still in decline, I find the reporting on social media etc a bit suspect. Horrocks spoke about earlier views on "Fortress" journalism when he was working for BBC World Service. Shifts on this may turn out to be related.

I will probably do less video but work out scripts in more detail. As sound conversation production is easy enough. Can be scaled up if resource is available. Conversation so far around Fortress University is a good topic, can continue as speculation on next phase. The Platform University event is at the Storey in Lancaster , very close to the castle. Could be a location. Also thinking about a future science fiction script assuming the fortress university has faded away in an online world. Kendal could be a location for this. More bits of script possible during March. Spring / Summer  should be ok for lighting. Budgets still very limited.

Links around MOOC platforms , BETT and Learning Technology

This post will be updated in the new year, just a start on how things might fit together. Back when writing for OhMyNews I used to have bits of blog opinion ready in case there was an event to present as a news lead paragraph. With the MOOC I am more out of time. I had thought that the Coursera and Futurelearn stands at Learning Technologies earlier this year were enough to show confidence in the MOOC future. Even when the funding was announced from Seek it only made news on specialised sites.

For 2020 Coursera and Futurelearn are not yet booked in to Learning Technologies. I still like trade shows as occasional reinforcement for the web. I understand they are expensive. Maybe no longer needed. but if they are not there I will look at LinkedIn Learning and O'Reilly. They are tending towards some sort of learning platform, from a social network and book streaming.

I will be going with colleagues from shows on Phonic FM - @wenotno and Wild Show. Radio now visual or a form of video. Starting with BETT for schools. Seems some universities also attend. Apple may be here and it will be interesting to see if they talk about the cloud and streaming content. This is the way music and TV is headed. Education more slowly. Google not much space for YouTube in 2019, might change? We will try discussion ahead of the event.

BETT has new layout, possibly to help the exhibitors, but themes may get lost. Special Educational Needs was a zone but no sign of such yet. Apple may be a start point for this. BBC was once trying to add Art to STEM village, so again a possible start point to find what remains.

In March there are two events with less emphasis on technology. The Deming group will look at learning cycles as part of improvement. This is at CQI in London. In Lancaster there is a conference about the Platform University. I think this will be from a critique point of view. More later on previous events on Networked Learning and Management Theory at Work. I still try out versions of Management Theory at Work in Radio, mostly short sound bites. i have started a Futurelearn MOOC about Lancaster Castle, 5 minutes fro conference site so might relate in real time. Platforms are a challenge to the campus but the MOOC has an upside.

Not sure how to describe LinkedIn or O'Reilly as learning. Future posts to try out different words. Will check out LinkedIn groups started long ago, an update on Management Theory at Work and also around Deming.

Exeter Xmas Shopping as Real Space

Just testing this out but something seems to have changed. Over last few years I have been trying to mix up street video and sound from radio studio. My own channel on YouTube and shows on Phonic FM - Wild show Thursday with JD and Chris Norton. @wenotno on some Wednesdays with Jon Mahy. Both 10 -12. On Wednesdays without a show we sometimes meet anyway and try out recording sound over coffee. We have explored most space in range of the Phoenix  where Phonic is based. Mostly that side of High Street. But recently we notice there are structures in the main shopping areas inviting photography.

When Princesshay opened it was announced that photography was banned as private space though Exeter City Council had something in the lease. Guildhall also an issue though not so much enforced. Rare that I have been stopped but maybe it is just something assumed. I have checked with office in Princesshay and seems ok to take stills but not sure about video interviews.

So here are a couple

Recently HMV welcomed me to make video of Black Monsoon performance and two interview clips. So this is a good sign. Maybe more outside shots when Simmertones appear in January.

I am not sure what to do with Apple potential. They used to say and photography needed head office ok , then you got stock photos from somewhere else. Don't get me wrong. Very good photos, still good reasons for pro cameras and extra lighting. But the phones are getting better. So by the way not sure where else Apple is heading. Services such as TV and radio? Maybe more thought on this before trying out a wander in that direction.

In Guildhall there is another structure but I was questioned when photographing a shop window. Turned out ok but warned not to photograph structures as a security risk. So much to explore later.

Research needed on what is possible with the devices at lower prices. the Apple Shop with the latest has some advantage but not sure what it is. To be continued.

Meanwhile the Christmas promotion marks a new stage in social media and distributed tech. Still needs some clarity and see what continues next year.