Future Features Discussion
What would you like to see us prioritize? We’ve got thousands of good ideas. Help us focus on what to do next. Here are some options – focused around goals, rather than features. 1) Increase joining new groups. Notes: This seems to be what the current software does best – get students connected with groups. […]
Is Facebook Making My Brain Bigger?
We mammals have a unique part of our brain called the neocortex that separates us from every other animal on the planet. Among mammals, neocortex sizes vary greatly and humans having the largest neocortex. The research is still not yet definitive as to why humans are the largest. The most popular theory, created by biologist […]
Lottery Ticket Strategy (MacArthur’s DML Continued)
A few days ago the MacArthur Foundation announced that they had selected the winners of their Digital Media and Learning Competition. We haven’t heard anything. The blog post says that much legal work needs to be done to “prepare the winners to meet their public on Feb 21st.” Seems like legal work would require participation […]
(K)no(w) Context
Being a critic is easy. Breaking things is easy. Suggesting practical improvements to complex challenges is hard. Building things is hard. A good reminder from the Carpet Bagger Report**: * Public education in America is trying to do something unprecedented. We strive to educate every child — regardless of race, creed, socio-economic level, family background […]
We’re #4 on Google!
Most of you will giggle at the joy we get about moving up the Google ladder, but in a way, it’s a modern measure of our importance in the world. It bothered us when someone would say they Googled our website and couldn’t find any info. Alas, we made it to the first page behind […]
Bad Interface in Real Life
Bad interface is a huge pet peeve. Ever since I read Interface Culture* a few years ago the idea of someone adding extra confusion and disorientation to our disorientating world bothers me. Enter the US Government. I travel all the time and every airport in the country has some version of this sign all over […]
Urban Planning and Facebook
Jane Jacobs wrote a wonderful book about urban planning titled The Death and Life of Great American Cities. In the book, she explains how cities were ruined by poor urban planning and offer suggestions on ways to improve the development. One suggestion is to design streets and neighborhoods to allow for more eyes on the […]