With #PillarofDefense, Israel this week launched the world’s first-ever hashtag-driven social media military offensive in Gaza Strip, followed by action on the ground. In direct response, the defensively-worded hashtag #GazaUnderAttack appeared on Twitter shortly afterwards. After 24 hours, #GazaUnderAttack has now overtaken #PillarofDefense, possibly due to several highly influential Twitter accounts such as Anonymous becoming […] … learn more→

Hearing that a new, stripped down product or service in your marketplace is “good enough” should strike fear in the hearts of market leaders. This may be about to happen in the world of higher education. A recent announcement by the American Council on Education (ACE) states that they will begin evaluating MOOCs to determine […] … learn more→

A new study has revealed we are basically honest. The research by the University of Oxford and the University of Bonn suggests that it pains us to tell lies, particularly when we are in our own homes. It appears that being honest is hugely important to our sense of who we are. However, while it […] … learn more→

Recently, I looked at a copy of the achingly aspirational male style magazine GQ, and there was an article from its food critic on how to prepare the perfect Bronte pistachio tart. Not having a sweet tooth, I was about to pass it by. That was until I saw the byline. The creator of this […] … learn more→

Some time ago I wrote a post called “The Valley of Shit”, which has become one of the most popular posts ever. Briefly, the Valley of Shit is a state of mind where your thesis seems terrible, awful, bad. Walking though the Valley of Shit is a ghastly business because, well – it smells. But […] … learn more→

Two of the major trends in higher education are on a collision course with each other. But their respective partisans don’t seem to notice. On one side, MOOCs are gaining steam at an amazing rate. They started as non-credit distance extensions by elite universities; now, the Gates Foundation is funding attempts to develop MOOCs for […] … learn more→

My research and thinking, and even my identity with regard to social networking has evolved, but not in a way I have anticipated. Over the past three years, I have offered a number of conference addresses and keynote presentations focussed on the use of social media and networking in education. I have co-authored chapters in […] … learn more→

An interesting question caught my eye recently: what’s the half-life of knowledge, for facts we think we know? Samuel Arbesman provides an answer in his recent Harvard Business Review article called, “Be Forewarned: Your Knowledge is Decaying.” Based on his new book, “The Half-Life of Facts: Why Everything we know has an Expiration Date,” the […] … learn more→

Most of the tech entrepreneurs I\’ve met are in their 20s and seem younger, animated by the idea of a limitless future. Most of the college presidents I\’ve met are in their 50s or 60s and seem older, as if they\’d emerged from the womb with a conservative haircut, dark suit, and stentorian voice given […] … learn more→

\”But Dad, that\’s not fair! Why does Keaton get to kill zombies, and I can\’t?\” \”Well, because you\’re too young to kill zombies. Your cousin Keaton is older than you, so that\’s why he can do it. You\’ll get nightmares.\” \”That\’s sooo not fair!\” \”Next year, after your birthday, I\’ll let you kill zombies.\” It\’s […] … learn more→