Tech News Category Archive
Tue, May 07, 2013
Democracy is Us website launched
As a creative project developed in response to the Looking at Democracy Challenge, I recently launched a new website at http://democracyis.us/active. If you like the project, I would appreciate your vote of encouragement. Voting for the Popular Choice Award runs from May 6-16, 2013.
The project seeks to promote conflict resolution in education as a core foundation for democratic living. I had some fun with the design, developing a “parallax” side scrolling scene where a biker rides along the “pathway to democracy” passing various reminders of good practice. You can even swap bikes if you prefer a different ride than the initial high wheel bike. Also included is a timeline of examples of people-powered nonviolent actions for change and a calendar that lists information on world holidays, peacemaker birthdays and more. At the center of the site, however, are the videos showing a selection of good examples of conflict resolution education (broadly defined) being enacted in schools and communities. Also provided are some core resources should the viewer decide to try and implement some of these ideas where they are.
Here’s the entry description:
Democracy works best with an educated citizenry who have developed skills of conflict resolution, public engagement, and civility as part of their schooling experience. This proposal harkens back to the philosophy of education espoused by pragmatist John Dewey in his 1916 book Democracy in Education, while looking forward at the positive strides being made in conflict resolution skills development in education. Democracy can get us where we need to go, but it is human-powered. Making it work requires a proper education and the ability to work with others often unlike ourselves. However, by getting involved and engaging with others we can all look forward to an interesting and productive journey. Democracy is us! Ride on!
Also, please check out the prezi, embedded below, that I developed to explain the project’s focus.
I was hoping to include a bike riding game on the site, wherein the biker has to navigate some tricky terrain and avoid various obstacles to democratic practice, but I ran out of time, so I guess it will have to wait till after the contest wraps up in June when I’ll be free to make additional changes to the site. In any case, I do hope you like it and share the site with others. Ride on!
Mon, Mar 18, 2013
Connection Point Cross-Cultural Dialogues for Women
Peace by Peace is hosting a new Connection Point initiative that will be using facilitated video conversations using Google Hangouts to connect Arab and Muslim women with women from Western countries in a vibrant online community.
Women interested in serving as online facilitators should apply by March 22, 2013. Accepted applicants will receive training prior to the commencement of the online dialogues.
This program is based on a curriculum developed by Peace X Peace, with the intention of serving a growing community of global citizens who are interested in reaching a better understanding of conflict and ways to engage in peacebuilding, particularly when it comes to the relationship between Western women and Arab and Muslim women.
Thu, Nov 22, 2012
Nice new Video from ODR Provider MODRIA
MODRIA, the Online Dispute Resolution service provider founded by my friend and colleague Colin Rule (former director of online dispute resolution for eBay and PayPal) was featured on TechCrunch this week. As part of the story, they have released a nice new promo video, viewable below. I like their use of the term “Fairness Engine” for the web. Sounds like something we really need.
Thu, Oct 11, 2012
eMediation Student Competition set for Cyberweek 2012
An eMediation competition will be held during Cyberweek 2012, coordinated by Cornell University’s Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution, in conjunction with Modria Mediation Room. This opportunity will allow students to practice using the online dispute resolution platform Modria as they participate in simulated mediations. Students will need to register for this event (separately from Cyberweek) at this web address.
Here’s a pdf flyer with more details: eMediation Competition Flyer
Wed, Sep 19, 2012
Search TV News via the Internet Archive
A new tool from the Internet Archive lets users search the closed caption text from more than 350,000 news broadcasts and then browse video clips from the found results. Pretty amazing stuff. What’s even more exciting is that new content is added within 24 hours of broadcast, letting users follow the current political season in a new way.
Here’s a link to a sample simple search on cyberbullying. You can narrow the search to specific broadcasters if you like. Comedy Central, Fox News, PBS and MSNBC are just a few of the choices available.
Way to go Internet Archive!
Sun, Sep 16, 2012
Slides and Resources from ACR 2012 Cyberbullying Workshop
Priscilla Prutzman from Creative Response to Conflict and I presented our workshop on Cyberbullying and Homophobia at the Association for Conflict Resolution annual conference in New Orleans on September 13, 2012. Our slides from the session can be downloaded here (a 6 mb pdf). The resource site I built for it is available over at Scoop.it at http://www.scoop.it/t/cyberbullying-prevention.
Sat, Sep 08, 2012
Visualizing ADR/ODR call for submissions
Wanted: ODR/ADR-related Infographics, Mindmaps, Illustrated Terms of Art or other Creative Visualizations for display during Cyberweek 2012
Submission Deadline: October 26, 2012
Submission Procedure: Send contributions to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with “Visualizing ADR/ODR” in the subject line
Copy of call: Visualizing_ADR-ODR_Call.pdf
ODR Cyberweek 2012, a free online event exploring the application of dispute resolution techniques in online environments, will be held Monday October 29 - Friday November 2, 2012 at http://www.adrhub.com
This year, one strand of the conference will focus on the use of information visualization techniques to help build understanding of ADR/ODR core concepts and promote social engagement with ADR/ODR tools and techniques. Also of interest is the use of visualization techniques in the waging of social conflict, for instance in social change and human rights campaigns, as exemplified at informationactivism.org. Finally, we are interested in examples of the use of visualizations when working with parties engaged in complex conflicts as a way to help them move closer to agreement or conflict resolution.
Students and faculty in ADR courses or training programs as well as ADR/ODR practitioners are invited to submit creative visualizations of ADR/ODR core concepts or infoActivism campaign designs for display in an online gallery that will be highlighted during the Cyberweek conference. We are seeking infographics, mindmaps, illustrated quotes, visually interesting explanations of ADR terms, annotated videos and any other brief creative animations or data visualizations of topics related to our theme. ADR-related terms for possible illustration can be found at http://glossary.usip.org or other locations. Illustrations of terms of art unique to online dispute resolution would be especially welcomed.
Creative Tools: A wealth of free online tools are now available to help in the creation of infographics and other creative media. We recommend, for instance easel.ly or piktochart.com or infogr.am or gliffy.com for infographics, and powtoon.com or prezi.com or voicethread.com for creative presentation platforms, and tableausoftware.com/public for data visualizations.
Submissions for the Visualizing ADR/ODR Cyberweek gallery should be emailed to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) by Friday October 26th for inclusion prior to the opening of the Cyberweek conference. The format can be a pdf or image file or information on where to find embed codes for use within the online gallery. If you are part of a whole class of students that may contribute, letting Bill know in advance will be useful, as will grouping all the submissions in one email. Late submissions will still be accepted throughout the week for people inspired to contribute. While we don’t yet have any prizes to award (it could happen!), forum contributors will surely be appreciated for their creativity, courageousness and community spirit and the discussion and learning and portfolio development that ensues will benefit us all.
Registration for the free Cyberweek 2012 online conference is open. You may register at http://cyberweek2012.eventbrite.com Once registered, you will begin to receive more information as the schedule of events is finalized.
Fri, Jan 20, 2012
University of Florida Tech-enabled Wall of Civility
The Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida has launched a new tech installation called the Civil Debate Wall that provides students with the opportunity to weigh in on different debatable topics and join in a discussion that is framed in a civil way. After registering their opinions on the current debate topic or in response to another prior student post, students have their picture taken by a wall mounted camera and their comments appear on one of 5 touchscreen monitors and on the project webpage found at http://www.civildebatewall.com . Comments can also be entered via the webpage but the photo option is not yet available via the web interface. The project was funded by a grant from the Knight Foundation. More details on the project are available in this story from Inside Higher Education.
Sat, Nov 12, 2011
Crisis Mapping Overview Video from PBS
If you are interested in the growing use of online mapping tools like Ushahidi to respond to crisis and conflict, this 10-minute PBS video provides a good starting point. If you actually want to create a crowdsourced map, Crowdmap (a service from Ushahidi) is a free tool you’ll want to check out.
Watch Crisis Mapping on PBS.
Sun, Oct 30, 2011
U.K. Higher Education Sector Consultation on Early Resolution and Effective Complaint Handling
The Office of the Independent Adjudicator in the U.K. was established by the Higher Education Act of 2004 which mandated the appointment of an independent body to run a student complaints handling system in England and Wales. They are now conducting a consultation to gather “views from across the Higher Education sector and beyond on key and sensitive issues related to effective strategies to promote the goals of early resolution of complaints and appeals and better all-round case handling in universities.” This project is known as the Pathway 3 Consultation based on recommendations in an earlier Higher Education White Paper, Students at the Heart of the System (2011). The consultation document can be viewed here (pdf). The issues include:
- the creation of campus ombudsmen and associated support networks,
- the development of mediation on campus;
- the creation of a good practice framework for complaints and appeals processes including the incorporation of effective time-frames for handling,
- the development of an OIA ‘kite-mark’ accreditation,
- the introduction of a revised funding mechanism for the OIA Scheme which contains a case-fee element.
Feedback on the issues must be submitted by December 16, 2011 in order to receive consideration. Submissions to the consultation can be made by clicking the consultation link on the front page of the OIA website http://www.oiahe.org.uk or by writing to the OIA at Third Floor, Kings Reach, 38-50 Kings Road, Reading, RG1 3AA.
Sat, Sep 24, 2011
Young Mediators Initiative launched
A new network is being launched at youngmediator.org to help newer mediators find their way into the field. “It is intended as a platform where young mediators can contact each other, share knowledge, get in touch with organizations and network with competent mediators to gain experience through shadowing, assistantships, internships, co-mediations and participate in mentoring programs.” An international team is coordinating the site which officially launched on September 21, the international day of peace.
One of the primary features is a directory of young mediators and older experienced mentors that is being built up now. You can see the criteria information collected from applicants here. Keep an eye on the site as it remains a work in progress.
Fri, Sep 09, 2011
2011-2012 CRE Activity Calendar now available
I am very pleased to announce that the 3rd Edition of the Conflict Resolution Education Activity Calendar is now available. Thanks and congratulations goes out to our talented volunteer editorial team from MappingChange.com and the Conflict Resolution Program at the University of Delaware. You can view the 2011-2012 calendar online or grab a smartboard-friendly pdf copy with active weblinks.
Hard copies can be ordered from the Association for Conflict Resolution. Individuals and schools and youth serving organizations qualify to receive free calendars (1 per individual or 5-pack for educational orgs) and everyone is invited to sponsor the distribution of calendars by donating $15 for a 5-pack to be sent to yourself or a deserving organization. Help “Spread the CREd” today!
Clipped from: www.creducation.org (share this clip)
Fri, Nov 26, 2010
Mediate.com Case Manager platform
Mediate.com has developed an online mediation/arbitration case management tool that is now available for use. The service will cost $29/month or $299/year. You can try out the tool at no cost through the end of 2010. A tour of features provides a good walkthrough if you are thinking about giving it a try. The National Association For Community Mediation, a group that in the past has endorsed the use of several different case management tools, has come out in support of the product.
Mon, Aug 09, 2010
Colin Rule to Speak at WSU in late October
I’m pleased to announce that Wayne State will be hosting a talk by Colin Rule, Director of Online Dispute Resolution for Ebay and Paypal, as this year’s guest speaker in our Stanley “Hank” Marx Annual Lecture Series in Dispute Resolution. The details follow. If we get a streaming video link set up I’ll post information on that as well.
- Speaker: Colin Rule
- Title: Director of Online Dispute Resolution for eBay & PayPal
- Topic: “Making Peace Online: Dispute Resolution & the Future of the Internet”
- Time: Thursday, October 28th from 1:30-3:30pm
- Location: Spencer Partrich Auditorium, Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, MI
Description:
eBay and PayPal generate more than 60 million disputes a year, in more than a dozen languages. That x92s a lot of disputes. But it x92s only the tip of the iceberg in the total number of online issues that need resolution. Business-to-business and Business-to-consumer eCommerce is growing rapidly, which in turn is generating many millions of online disputes. Most of these disputes are not over very large amounts of money; they can be for as little as $5. But online disputants are just as passionate about their disagreements as face-to-face disputants, and because they are spread all over the world, their disputes can involve cultural misunderstandings, language barriers, and class differences. Come hear Colin Rule, eBay and PayPal x92s first Director of Online Dispute Resolution, and author of Online Dispute Resolution for Business, discuss the challenges of resolving disputes in cyberspace and what useful lessons can be drawn for the practice of dispute resolution more broadly.
Wed, Jul 28, 2010
Seven Years and Counting
July 24th marks seven years of blogging here at the Campus-adr Tech Blog. In web years, that’s a long time!
