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Distance Learning and the Daily News

This concept paper explores the idea of using email newsletters to enable continuous learning over the internet by presenting relevant learning options on a daily basis. The paper discusses the influences and experiences of various email newsletters and presents the current work on the OLDaily newsletter. It also addresses design issues such as content selection, editorial voice, community building, and support. The purpose of the newsletter is branding, usage, information, interaction, and demonstration.

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Distance Learning and the Daily News

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  1. Distance Learning and the Daily News Stephen Downes National Research Council May 27, 2002

  2. The Idea • Email newsletters can be used to enable continuous learning over the internet • The idea is to present a set of relevant options for learning on a daily basis • Email is used to minimize the effort required on the part of learners

  3. Influences • WWW-DEV Email List Server • DEOS-L Email List Server • HotWired - http://hotwired.lycos.com • WebReference - http://www.webreference.com • Slashdot – http://www.slashdot.com

  4. Experience • NewsTrolls – http://www.newstrolls.com • 1998 – present • Daily news links on politics, internet • MuniMall – http://www.munimall.net • http://www.munimall.net/newsletter/news.htm • 2000 – present • Weekly newsletter on Municipal affairs

  5. The Concept • MuniMall Newsletter Concept Paper • http://www.munimall.net/newsletter/concept.htm • Purpose: • Branding – makes people remember • Usage – Draws people to the site • Information – keeps readers current • Interaction – draws people together • Demonstration – show what can be done

  6. Current Work: OLDaily • OLDaily: http://www.downes.ca • Read in sidebar or click on ‘News’ • Does it work? • In a word: yes • Launched May, 2001 – 850 readers in 25 countries (zero advertising) • Discussions, referrals, email feedback

  7. OLDaily: Design Issues • Content selection – what to put in, what to leave out? • Editorial voice – does the newsletter strive toward objective journalism? • Community – how can the newsletter move beyond mere information presentation? • Support – how do I produce OLDaily and also have time for other work?

  8. Content Selection • Define a subject area and stick to it – avoid being caught up in ‘background noise’ • Ignore the calendar – what’s important today may not have happened today • News appears everywhere; don’t stick to the mainstream • Events outside the discipline are important

  9. Editorial Voice • Then difference between teaching and reporting is that teaching includes an expert voice over and above mere presentation • It is important to develop an overall dynamic model of the topic and to place items within that context (e.g., categories) • Report the good and the bad and say which is which – infuse values into presentation

  10. Community • People are trained to passively receive; creating an active community is hardest • Place opportunities for dialogue right into the newsletter: • [Refer] – send items to your colleagues • [Research] – follow up news items • [Reflect] – post comments to the discussion

  11. Support • Creating a newsletter can take up all your time; develop a routine • You absolutely must use or develop a content management system • The idea is to use the newsletter as your own research tool

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