Brent Sordyl's blog » Technology

Half an Hour: What Not To Build

Brent Sordyl — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:00:03 +0000

Don’t build a destination website
Don’t build a CMS
Don’t build a platform-specific app
Don’t build a Java application
Don’t build a framework
Don’t build an educational game
Don’t build a new standard
Don’t build a new social network
Don’t build a wiki
Don’t build a travel site
(Link: Half an Hour: What Not To Build)

Main Page – Horizon.K12

Brent Sordyl — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:00:04 +0000

Welcome to the workspace for the Horizon.K12 Project, which will produce a report focusing on emerging technology and its applications for K-12 education. This space was created as a place for the members of the Horizon.K12 Advisory Board to manage the process of selecting the topics for the Horizon Report: 2009 K-12 Edition. Horizon.K12 is a new project that applies the process developed for the New Media Consortium’s Horizon Project with a focus on emerging technologies for elementary and secondary learning institutions. Members of the K-12 education community are encouraged to follow the Advisory Board’s progress as the discussion unfolds and to use the wiki as a resource and reference tool.
(Link: Main Page – Horizon.K12)

IT Costs: Do You Speak Their Language? – HarvardBusiness.org

Brent Sordyl — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:00:06 +0000

Given the increasing share of expense dedicated to information and information technology, and the growing availability of outsourcing and “cloud” computing, now is the time for firms to understand their IT costs in transaction terms
For example, did you know that by rough estimate for some companies, the following is true:

* the IT cost per equity trade is approximately $0.17;
* the IT cost per hospital bed is $65 per patient;
* the IT cost per trucking mile is $0.18 – which begins to approach the cost of fuel.
(Link: IT Costs: Do You Speak Their Language? – HarvardBusiness.org)

“Creepy Treehouse” – Jared Stein on Education and Technology

Brent Sordyl — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:00:09 +0000

For example, the Blackboard family of learning management system products are often seen as creepy treehouses, as they provide e-learning tools in a very rigid, closed environment that is institutionally controlled in an attempt to “engage” students through technological novelty or mimicry of existing Web-based tools for social engagement. Increasingly, learning management systems are incorporating what educators assess as being potentially valuable learning tools such as blogs, wikis, social bookmarking, instant messaging, etc., not recognizing that these tools may be seen as artificial, meaningless, tiresome, temporary, or simply another aspect of The Man by the institution’s target participant group: the students.
(Link: “Creepy Treehouse” – Jared Stein on Education and Technology)

Guest Post of sorts: Nicholas Lemann at Columbia Journalism School Graduation « Clay Shirky

Brent Sordyl — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:00:06 +0000

This is not a time for journalists to say, “We have decided that the traditional news story is the best basic form of news delivery, so we’re doggedly sticking with it.” This is, instead, and more interestingly, a time for experimentation, which also means it’s a time for listening.
(Link: Guest Post of sorts: Nicholas Lemann at Columbia Journalism School Graduation « Clay Shirky)

Link: As Jurors Turn to Web, Mistrials Are Popping Up – NYTimes.com

Brent Sordyl — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:00:06 +0000

As Jurors Turn to Web, Mistrials Are Popping Up – NYTimes.com
Judges have long amended their habitual warning about seeking outside information during trials to include Internet searches. But with the Internet now as close as a juror’s pocket, the risk has grown more immediate — and instinctual. Attorneys have begun to check the blogs and Web sites of prospective jurors.