Uncategorized | It's About Learning

http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/hiner/?p=5708&tag=nl.e019

BlackBerry Torch 9800: ‘Best BlackBerry ever’ fails to create buzz | Tech Sanity Check | TechRepublic.com via kwout

Back in 2008 I wrote about the Blackberry Storm RIM initial response to the iPhone as an example of RIM missing the boat and only offering an example sustaining innovation in response to Apple disruptive innovation – the iPhone. Two years later and RIM’s latest response to the iPhone (4 this time) is yet another example of sustaining innovation. Don’t just take my word for it this time. The following authors offer their comments:

We still feel like this device is a generation behind the market. Instead of meeting the rising stars of the smartphone world (Apple and Google) head-on, RIM has taken something more like baby steps toward innovation…For all the improvements in the browser, the more upscale fit-and-finish of the UI, and the thoughtful changes in basic functionality, we still feel like this device is a generation behind the market. Instead of meeting the rising stars of the smartphone world (Apple and Google) head-on, RIM has taken something more like baby steps toward innovation… Joshua Topolsky – Engadget

Overall, the phone feels like the result of an array of decisions made to keep current BlackBerry owners comfortable… Harry McCraken – Technologzier

While RIM met the bar, they didn’t do much to raise it higher or push the envelope in either hardware or software design. In world where every vendor is working to up their game, raise the bar and drive new innovation in hardware and software, it felt RIM barely stepped up. Michael Gartenberg – Slashgear

The Torch and BlackBerry OS 6 take what BlackBerry’s already doing and move it forward slightly-they’re not reinventing, overturning, or blowing up things. Gizmodo

While the Torch does address some of the needs of existing Blackberry users and could give cause for some to upgrade RIM really hasn’t done much to move itself back into the innovators realm. Time will tell just how much of the market share RIM will continue to loose.

In the blog post The future of learning is DIY Harold Jarche states:

With Google you can find most information that you need. YouTube is a quick and easy way to get “learning objects” to the world. Apple gives the essential tools for knowledge workers, and in a nice package. Wikipedia has shown that the wisdom of crowds is just as good as the wisdom of elites. Starbucks gives free-agents and road warriors a place to meet and work. These top brands provide the equivalent of the interstate highway system for the creative age. Jarche argues that the instead of trying to

He concludes with:

If you’re in the learning business, don’t try to build another LMS or portal. Instead, figure out ways that enable DIY. Believe it or not, learners can, and will, do the rest. They already are.

DIY learning is more commonly referred to as informal learning and there are some theorists who argue that over 80% of learning happens informally. Is this something that we as educators should concern ourselves about?

Consider the impact of the following:

There are billions of searches performed on Google each month (and this number is growing)—to whom were these questions addressed B.G. (Before Google)?

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