Downes, serialized RSS feeds and micro learning

Today I listened to a podcast from Jan 28 in which “E-Learning Einstein” Stephen Downes was interviewed on a few subjects. What caught my interest the most was probably his comments on serialized RSS feeds. This is an idea, which has been around for a little while, but which has not really come to life. Yet. Funded by the NRC, Downes is helping to develop a system which enables teachers, trainers, students and trainees to create RSS feeds which start only when someone is adding the feed. With this tool, anyone could read a book a page a day or learn a subject little by little. The point is that they can start when THEY are ready as opposed to start in the middle of such an educational program, because the RSS feed has been running for 2 weeks already. In the world of micro learning, this could be more than a breakthrough because there are so few really great micro learning systems around. Imagine this: Serialized RSS feeds in small chunks of learning material on a mobile phone. Now that sounds like a plan to me!

The serialized RSS feed system does not yet have a website according to Downes. Similar systems already do exist, but Downes expansive knowledge should really create a great system. Unfortunately no time frame was given as to when the site will be up with more information.

Great job by Paul Miller on this interview!

Links:

Paul Miller’s interview:
http://blogs.talis.com/xiphos/2009/01/31/stephen-downes-talks-about-oldaily-and-online-learning/

Downes’ explanation of the serialized RSS feeds:
http://halfanhour.blogspot.com/2009/02/serialized-feeds.html

NRC (National Research Council Canada, Downes employer) :
http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/

Post about other serialized feed systems: http://ouseful.wordpress.com/2009/01/06/serialised-openlearn-daily-rss-feeds-via-wordpress/

Google Mobile Books reviewed

Google Books is now available for mobile phones. I therefore was eager to take a quick look at this new feature on my iPhone. My first impression was not a good one, since it was very slow despite a good 3G connection. Since I was not familiar with Google Books I was also not aware that the selection is very slim to say the least. The “Business and Economics” section includes 2 books from the early 1800s..  no more need to say much more.

Nevertheless, in the “Classics” section there were some familiar books, which one can really call classics. As my test book I chose Oliver Twist. Although the look and feel are adjusted to the iPhone I found myself completely disoriented for a couple of times, because someone seemed to have scanned in the cover of the book, the back of the cover and the first few empty pages. This might have been interesting to me as a reader if I was looking at it with a regular PC, but while commuting on my train, I don’t want to see old empty book pages on my iPhone (see screenshot below). I want to read!

I therefore continued to let the pages load until the first few pages of text came up. The text is ok to read. The menu is ok as well and a neat feature is that when you return to the Google Books mobile page, you can keep reading where you left off. On the mobile homepage there is a “My books” section, which allows you to go back to where you stopped reading.

All in all, Google Mobile books is a good start, but because of a serious lack of content nothing exciting. Personally, I would onlyuse it, if there were more good free content on it and I.

To go to the Google Mobile books site type “http://books.google.com/m” into your mobile browser or click the link to check it out with your current browser.