RSS top-level namespace

“In order to be able to encapsulate RSS payloads into other XML applications, it will be necessary to explicitly place RSS into its own namespace. It’s been speculated that you can do that without causing any breakage. This posting tests that theory. “

So far there’s been a lot of talk in the edtech blogging space about using RSS to deliver different kinds of content (e.g. learning object meta-data.) What this post and test from Jon Udell reminds us is that RSS is just XML and should thus be capable of encapsulation in other XML documents or applications.

– from [Jon’s Radio] via [Bruce Landon’s Weblog for Students]

Learn eXact LCMS and WebCT

According to the WebCT site,

“The newly released eXactWEBCT delivery plug in enables WEBCT users to transparently add an effective back-end LCMS technology to their existing WEBCT delivery installations supporting easy authoring, packaging, indexing, storage, management and cross conversion of their WEBCT contents to and from AICC, LRN, IMS and SCORM formats.“

I am REALLY interested to hear from anyone who has had any experience with Learn eXact, and more specifically using it in the context of WebCT. – SWL

FOAF-a-matic — Describe yourself in RDF

I’ll admit to not having paid a lot of attention to the ‘Friend of a Friend’ format to date, but a couple of things I’ve read recently made me pay a little more attention to this XML-based personal profile that can help connect you to others through the people you know.

Today I stumbled on this – a simple yet useful javascript-based form that helps create an initial FOAF RDF file to get you started.  Very handy! In theory, and in practice, XML was meant to be ‘human readable’ and fairly straightforward to create. But little applications like this are so helpful – once you’ve structured data you already understand, expanding it by hand becomes much more straightforward. – SWL

– via [Channel ‘social_software’] and [WebDawn]

NetFuture #147 – Aphorisms on Computers in Classrooms

If you are not already familiar with Stephen Talbott’s newsletter NetFuture, I highly recommend it for anyone interested in thought-provoking commentary on the interaction of human beings and technology. The latest issue contains a set of ‘aphorisms’ on the use of computers in the (in this case primarily K-12) classroom. You may disagree with much that he has to say, but I think his point of view well worth considering. – SWL