IF CONTENT IS KING, CONTEXT IS QUEEN! - At TechLearn 2003, Elliott Masie
gave a keynote which focused on a number of key trends in the e-Learning field. One
of the themes was CONTEXT. Masie believes that users of e-Learning are deeply
interested in the context elements of any topic as well as the content. Context covers
the wide range of "informal" and usually unauthored information and dialogue that is
so critical to learning and transfer. As colleagues consume asynchronous modules,
they also want to have the CONTEXT, wanting to drill down and talk about how it
" really works". Often, the CONTEXT is more valuable and more highly consumed than
the CONTENT. Yet, few organizations have a Context Management System or
process. Go to: http://www.masie.com (TechLearn Trends, 20 Nov 03)

FCC WIDENS WIRELESS SPECTRUM - Citing growing consumer demand for
wireless networks, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday
reallocated a portion of the 5-GHz spectrum from military to civilian use. Wireless
networks have been installed in a growing number of coffee shops, airports, and
college campuses and offer the promise of delivering high-speed Internet access
to rural and underserved areas without the expense of installing cables. Some
faulted the FCC for its choice of spectrum to transfer, saying the 255 new
frequencies offer poor performance for data networks. Harold Feld, associate
director of the Media Access Project, said that "the combination of the high
frequency and the low power limits mean the stuff won't go far enough." FCC
commissioners disputed this claim, saying technology has already been developed
to use the new frequencies effectively. Edmond Thomas, FCC chief of
engineering and technology, said the signals can travel five miles.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38286-2003Nov13.html
(Washington Post, 14 Nov 03 - Edupage, 14 Nov 03)

GEORGIA TECH TO OFFER eCOMMERCE PROFESSIONAL
CERTIFICATION - Georgia Tech's Electronic Commerce Resource Center will
offer an eCommerce Professional Certificate Program, designed to give participants
the opportunity to learn from industry and educational professionals the framework for
eCommerce integration. Instructors include an eCommerce attorney, a spokesman on
Internet security, large portal planner and developer, and university financial and
marketing professionals. The program includes the role of eCommerce in the business
organization, eCommerce as a sales tool, the latest search engine techniques, and
financial eCommerce security. (Syllabus News Update, 11 Nov 03)