Stephen Downes
@downes.bsky.social
Philosopher. Educator. Journalist. Programmer. Photographer. Cyclist. Socialist.
Stephen Downes is a Canadian philosopher and commentator in the fields of online learning and new media. He has explored and promoted the educational use of computer and online technologies since 1995. He gave the 2004 Buntine Oration and was a presenter at the February 2007 Online Connectivism Conference. In 2008, Downes and George Siemens designed and taught an online, open course reported as a "landmark in the small but growing push toward 'open teaching'" - widely considered the first massive open online course (MOOC). .. more
Psychology
25%
Philosophy
23%
There has been a *deluge* of new resources in the learning and technology space over the last few days. The @oldaily.bsky.social account will be busy - you might want to unfollow it for a bit. I'll be spacing all the new stuff over the next week or so of email, RSS, LinkedIn and web editions.
This is Why Cycling is Dangerous in America
YouTube video by Not Just Bikes
www.youtube.com
A remarkable hour-and-a-half video from one of my go-to channels, Not Just Bikes. The video is a detailed take-down of 'vehicular cycling' as advocated by John Forester. According to Forester, cyclists should act like cars, and that bike infrastructure is dangerous. www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRPd...
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ainovakit.com
Convert your name to a Norwegian one. ainovakit.com/converter/no...
Training and Educational Data Analytics: An Overview
Commentary on Training and Educational Data Analytics: An Overview by Stephen Downes. Online learning, e-learning, new media, connectivism, MOOCs, personal learning environments, new literacy, and mor...
www.downes.ca
Slides, audio and transcript for the presentation I gave yesterday, 'Training and Educational Data Analytics: An Overview', are now available: www.downes.ca/presentation...
This label will put your journal's research integrity in black and white
Commentary on This label will put your journal's research integrity in black and white by Stephen Downes. Online learning, e-learning, new media, connectivism, MOOCs, personal learning environments, n...
www.downes.ca
My response: www.downes.ca/post/78427
AI Applications: A Taxonomy
Commentary on AI Applications: A Taxonomy by Stephen Downes. Online learning, e-learning, new media, connectivism, MOOCs, personal learning environments, new literacy, and more
www.downes.ca
Slides and audio for my talk AI Applications: A Taxonomy www.downes.ca/presentation...
Federated Open Learning Resources
Commentary on Federated Open Learning Resources by Stephen Downes. Online learning, e-learning, new media, connectivism, MOOCs, personal learning environments, new literacy, and more
www.downes.ca
Slides and audio for my talk Federated Open Learning Resources www.downes.ca/presentation...
Speaker spotlight #ReclaimOpen25: The Fediverse Six Months From Now with Stephen Downes. Check out the full schedule for Reclaim Open, learn more about our keynote speakers, presenters and bloggers. reclaimopen.com/schedule/
Now if I could only remember what I promised to present.... ;)
Reposted by Stephen M. Downes
Speaker spotlight #ReclaimOpen25: The Fediverse Six Months From Now with Stephen Downes. Check out the full schedule for Reclaim Open, learn more about our keynote speakers, presenters and bloggers. reclaimopen.com/schedule/
Learning Networks and the Age of AI with Stephen Downes
Commentary on Learning Networks and the Age of AI with Stephen Downes by Stephen Downes. Online learning, e-learning, new media, connectivism, MOOCs, personal learning environments, new literacy, and ...
www.downes.ca
Podcast interview: Learning Networks and the Age of AI with Stephen Downes. www.downes.ca/post/78346
Stephen Downes
@downes.bsky.social
· Oct 9
35 Days in Iceland - 12 - Djúpivogur to Breiðdalsvík - Days 17-18
YouTube video by Stephen Downes
www.youtube.com
Another bikepacking video: 35 Days in Iceland - 12 - Djúpivogur to Breiðdalsvík - Days 17-18 www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_oQ...
Stephen Downes
@downes.bsky.social
· Oct 7
ShiftED Podcast #69 From MOOCs to Mindsets: Stephen Downes on Connection, Openness, and the Future of Scalable Learning - LEARN Podcasts
Rethinking Education: Is Connection the New Content?The traditional classroom model, built on the transmission of content from expert to learner, is facing a profound challenge. What if the heart of l...
www.buzzsprout.com
ShiftED Podcast number 69 From MOOCs to Mindsets: Stephen Downes on Connection, Openness, and the Future of Scalable Learning www.buzzsprout.com/2404304/epis...
Stephen Downes
@downes.bsky.social
· Oct 6
On Social Media as a Public Servant
On LinkedIn today the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat published a short slide deck entitled 'Navigating Social Media as a Public Servan...
halfanhour.blogspot.com
On Social Media as a Public Servant halfanhour.blogspot.com/2025/10/on-s...
Stephen Downes
@downes.bsky.social
· Oct 3
35 Days in Iceland - 11 - Stafafel to Djúpivogur - Day 16
YouTube video by Stephen Downes
www.youtube.com
35 Days in Iceland - 11 - Stafafel to Djúpivogur - Day 16 - www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h_X... #Iceland #Bikepacking
Reposted by Stephen M. Downes
Higher ed should be free
so that democracy doesn't crumble again.
TGIF
so that democracy doesn't crumble again.
TGIF
Stephen Downes
@downes.bsky.social
· Sep 27
35 Days in Iceland - 10 - Vestrahorn to Stafafel - Day 15
YouTube video by Stephen Downes
www.youtube.com
35 Days in Iceland - 10 - Vestrahorn to Stafafel - Day 15 www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ9g...
Stephen Downes
@downes.bsky.social
· Sep 25
35 Days in Iceland - 9 - Hofn to Vestrahorn - Day 14
YouTube video by Stephen Downes
www.youtube.com
35 Days in Iceland - 9 - Hofn to Vestrahorn - Day 14 video - www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wzju...
Stephen Downes
@downes.bsky.social
· Sep 24
Beyond Democratic Socialism
What is there's no democratic road to socialism? Now I want to be clear here about what I mean by this: - by 'socialism' I mean a society de...
halfanhour.blogspot.com
Beyond Democratic Socialism - halfanhour.blogspot.com/2025/09/beyo...
Stephen Downes
@downes.bsky.social
· Sep 22
35 Days in Iceland - 8 - Skogar to Vik to Hofn - Day 13
YouTube video by Stephen Downes
www.youtube.com
35 Days in Iceland - 8 - Skogar to Vik to Hofn - Day 13 - www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq0h...
Stephen Downes
@downes.bsky.social
· Sep 16
35 Days in Iceland - 7 - Skogar - Reykjavik - Skogar - Days 10-12
YouTube video by Stephen Downes
www.youtube.com
35 Days in Iceland - 7 - Skogar - Reykjavik - Skogar - Days 10-12 www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOtu... #bikepacking #iceland
Stephen Downes
@downes.bsky.social
· Sep 14
I'm sure you're not out of the loop.
There are still people promoting it, and it's still a thing, but it's just not getting any traction, and so it is gradually fading away, with no discernible end point.
There are still people promoting it, and it's still a thing, but it's just not getting any traction, and so it is gradually fading away, with no discernible end point.
Stephen Downes
@downes.bsky.social
· Sep 10
Walk. Never travel outside the town you were born in your entire life. Carry heavy loads on your back. Starve if there's a local famine.
Stephen Downes
@downes.bsky.social
· Sep 9
It turns out you need some sort of automation to sift among employment applications with a thousand or so badges each, so people lost interest...
Stephen Downes
@downes.bsky.social
· Sep 9
How We Could Build a Better Future for Creators in the Age of AI
Commentary on How We Could Build a Better Future for Creators in the Age of AI by Stephen Downes. Online learning, e-learning, new media, connectivism, MOOCs, personal learning environments, new liter...
www.downes.ca
A society that replaces 90 percent of its workforce with automation still has a responsibility to that 90 percent; otherwise, it ceases to be a society. www.downes.ca/post/78207
Stephen Downes
@downes.bsky.social
· Aug 12
I don't do autoethnography and more, not really a fan of research models (properly so-called).
Stephen Downes
@downes.bsky.social
· Aug 9
The Lies We Tell Ourselves About AI
There's a particular species of dishonesty that emerges when humans confront something that threatens their self-conception.
hybridhorizons.substack.com
"Every single problem we attribute to AI is a human problem with silicon makeup." hybridhorizons.substack.com/p/the-lies-w...
Stephen Downes
@downes.bsky.social
· Jul 10
A gap in your resume? Just say you were self-employed as an entrepreneur. Pick something legal and random and ideally related to whatever you were doing at the time. Were you looking for work as a waiter? Voila! A "self-employed food services professional." Completely accurate in every way.