Fediverse

The concept of a fediverse or interconnected servers is that multiple independent servers offering the same service exist and are linked. So instead of an approach such as that of Facebook or Twitter in which the same content may come from multiple, tightly integrated machines, a federated service means that users connect to one “instance” of the service, but because the instances are connected can access content or service from other instances. The expression “small pieces loosely joined” used in reference to networks of various types comes to mind. There is a useful differentiation between local and federated content. Instances are typically hosted by individuals or groups with a unique focus that may be identified and this allows users to select an instance suited to their instances and still access the body of the whole. Users may also hold membership in multiple instances. This is the operational way of understanding what is meant by local.

I encourage educational technologists to explore the potential of federated social media services. I encourage a commitment to a federated system simply to encourage competition among social media services and to potentially benefit from the more focused opportunity of an instance more suited to personal interests. Within an instance, the experience is similar to traditional “single host” social media. You work to create your own network of friends (you can extend this network across instances) and you can also see content from the local instance.

Twit.social is a Mastodon instance hosted by Leo Laporte and in the early stages of development has attracted mainly members who subscribe to podcasts from the This Week in Tech (TWIT) network. Mastodon is very similar to Twitter with a larger character limit. Because of the way the instance originated it has a concentrated technology focus and has attracted some educational technologists. An issue I have encountered when joining lesser-known social services is the challenge of building up a personal network. I believe it is easier to build a network when most other participants are in pretty much the same stage of the maturation of a network so I think now is the time to give Twit.social a try.

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Ngram data

I have been reading Putnam’s “The Upswing” which considers trends in American society between individualism and communitarianism. One interesting data source cited to show various trends is based on the frequency with which different words appear in the writing of authors of a certain period in history. Such data quantified as an Ngram can be explored using the massive collection of books digitized by Google.

Here is my effort to duplicate one of Putnam’s claims focused on the use of the pronouns I and We in literature with the Ngram Viewer. As you can see, there has been a great recent increase in the “I” pronoun consistent with Putnam’s I-WE-I model with a more communitarian view in the 1970s.

You can compare words reflecting all kinds of possible trends making this an interesting tool for classroom projects.

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Power of tutoring

Tutoring is a proven approach to improving student learning. Bloom proposed what he described as the two-sigma challenge suggesting the educational innovations be compared against the known benefits of tutoring. My interest in tutoring has long been in the potential of technology as offering some of the benefits of tutoring. Technology to me has been a practical way to address individual students where they are and advance as these students are able.

Here is an effort to explain the benefits of tutoring. You will note that this article does not accept my position on the potential of technology as an opportunity to meet student needs for individualization. I would only point toward other resources to defend my position. The reality of tutoring whether accomplished ideally with a human tutor or less ideally but economically more feasible with technology is that the benefits cannot be delivered by classroom educators without assistance. This article explaining the benefits of tutoring also explains why this is the case.

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Global warming and frigid temps

It might be hard to appreciate the reality of human-made global warming if you are spending today in Texas without power, but global warming may just be an unfortunate choice of words for climate change. This 2010 NASA Climate Kids post explains why.

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The online school alternative

You might get the impression from news coverage that K12 online classes have been a great failure and are continuing only to provide a remedy until COVID can be contained. Reports of stressed and depressed students, learning problems, missing students, and overworked teachers are components of the common message. However, as is so often the case, the online approach appears to really work for some who would like to continue in this mode. Larger Minnesota schools have recognized this preference as an important individual difference and are scrambling to respond with a long-term commitment to an online option. This recent story from the Minneapolis Star Tribune offers some insight into how intend to respond.

There are 38 state-approved online programs operating now, and the Minnesota Department of Education typically gets three or four applications for new online learning programs each year. All approved programs are open to students statewide.

While most states offer some limited alternatives to traditional face to face attendance, the difference here seems to be the increased commitment of individual school districts to respond and not just pass interested students on to existing online programs. What is unclear now is whether the COVID experience has created a short or long-term interest in a different learning experience.

Basic stats concerning online K12 education

I wonder how many teacher preparation programs are preparing educators for this instructional option.

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North Dakota takes on Apple

I lived and worked in North Dakota for 37 years. When I see North Dakota in the national news it tends to be for either cold weather or some really weird bill that has been proposed in the legislature. While the present circumstances lean toward the second of these experiences, today North Dakota is debating a bill challenging the practices of Apple and Google when it comes to their practice of limiting user opportunities to the company stores for mobile devices.

This quoted paragraph from yesterday’s New York Times article gives you a sense of the situation.

At the Capitol in Bismarck, a 21-story Art Deco tower that’s the state’s tallest building, a hearing on the bill last week drew Washington lawyers, North Dakota newspapers and Silicon Valley executives. Siding with Apple and Google was Americans for Prosperity, the conservative group funded by the Koch family. On the other side was the Fargo Chamber of Commerce.

North Dakota’s 47 senators are set to vote on the measure this week after debate starts on Monday. The timeline is accelerated because the legislature meets for just 80 days every two years. If a majority votes aye, the bill will move on to the House.

Video covering introduction of the bill – Apple strongly argues the privacy advantage of a closed system. As I understand the proposed remedy (e.g., Spotify), pay your fee on your computer and use the free app on your phone. Is this a universal opportunity?

One fact about the Capitol – it has an observation deck, but the deck was closed because kids were throwing snowballs at passing cars.

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