July 14, 2008
Virtual e-learning: the end of university?
ZD Net
Zack Whittaker examines the momentum behind e-learning.
“E-learning is something catching up with campus universities. The Open University the only institution with university-accredited status which is dedicated to distance learning, allowing those to study part time but also work and keep an income; an ideal scenario for those with families or for mature students. Where virtual studying and e-learning could take hold of higher education, universities in the near future could face closure because they can’t offer what they used to – what used to matter before changing times.”
Merriam-Webster’s new dictionary words for 2008
Techdirt
Paul Boutin previews some of the new words to make it into the Merriam-Webster’s 2008 dictionary edition, due out September 1.
“For 2008, they’ve added fanboy, webinar, netroots, and pretexting to the lexicon. There’ll be 100 or so new words in the Merriam-Webster’s 2008 edition…(a new definition includes) air quotes n pl (1989) : a gesture made by raising and flexing the index and middle fingers of both hands that is used to call attention to a spoken word or expression.”
Yahoo! opens search to all
The Register
John Oates writes about how Yahoo plans to attract more users.
“Yahoo! said yesterday it will open up access to external developers to its search engine, something Google did six years ago. Developers will get access to an API allowing them to run versions of Yahoo!’s search engine on their own websites. Yahoo! will sell adverts on any applications that attract users. The hope is that dozens of small, specialised search developers will create sites which attract the users which Yahoo! on its own has failed to find.”
