We are asking for contributions dealing with the following topics:

* Visions: Architectures, Frameworks, Strategies, Models

* (Collaborative) Authoring Tools

* Data Interoperability: with e.g. Microformats,
streaming data, mixed media data

* User Interfaces: Concepts, Metaphors, Workflows

* Development Methodologies

* Innovative Widgets and Services: e.g. for instruction,
game-based learning, self-reflection, personal information

* Interoperability Standards for widgets,
content recombination, configuration

* User Studies & Evaluation Methods: evaluating e.g. performance,
usability, specific design features, training methods

The rationale and full call for papers is available here.

1.) Ubuntu dual boot

I only wanted to use windows when I really have to. So I installed the latest Ubuntu distribution with a shared drive which can be accessed from Windows and Ubuntu as well. This worked out of the box and both systems are now ready under one minute (my old system took more then 7 minutes to fully boot).

2.) No windows synchronisation as backup solution

I was never happy with the current backup solution which involved the automatical synchronisation of a whole drive before the system shuts down. Since this was never an incremental setup but a full backup it took ages to scan thousands of files and even when it finished it always ran into problems. This was most problematic when I wanted to access my files from home or during travel. The combination of synchronisation and VPN is not a good idea at all. During a short discussion with Stefaan he pointed me to the powerful backup tool rsync which works incrementally. The only problem is that it is only available for Linux and that I did not want to install cygwin to run backups. For this purpose the DeltaCopy application is a perfect solution. With a little help from this description I was able to install a backup solution which I like. A local batch file on windows which can be used to manually invoke the backup or it can be used in a scheduled task. Now I have once put all my important files on my Debian server (which has rsync running) and the next backups will be very fast because only changes will be synchronized.

3.) A new system for reference management

I recently discovered a new application for reference management which is called Mendeley. This cross platform reference management software is one of the best software solutions which I have seen for this purpose. Currently only a Microsoft Word plugin is available but an Open Office plugin is in preparation as well. Since I am currently writing my first paper with Mendeley I will report my experiences in a dedicated posting here.

I have never seen such a massive meaninglessness in combination with an exponential use of the term in educational technology. But my criticism is not only based on this aspect - I also dislike the fact that a very important educational and sociological movement - in which core the empowerment of learners lies - is referenced with a naming convention from software development. This implies such an intense reduction of the empowerment of learners just by introducing a new technology that has the right stamp "WebX.0". I hope that the trend of not using this term anymore is related to the fact that people actually do something with these new technologies and that they realize how wrong this term is.

Another observation I have is that academia just jumped very lately on the bandwagon which is mirrored through the fact that many special issues of scientitific journals have been produced latey, are in production or planning. Not to get me wrong I have to say, that I really like the fact that we have nowadays technology which has the ability to empower learners for self-directed learning. But I dislike the fact that we again think introducing new technology is enough for innovation.

By the way: I have tried to not use the term in all my writings and instead use the term "social software" which is not much better but has at least a social component.

 Merry Christmas and Happy 2009!

Especially the comparison to other systems might answer a lot of the questions I hear quite often (short side notice: this is the first time I try youtubes deep-link option). The audio is not perfect but sufficient.