publications / media coverage

DRM Alternatives: Q&A with Steve O’Hear
An interview I did for Om Malik's NewTeeVee blog about the paid-for download release of my film, In Search of the Valley. The conversation covers the issue of DRM, the Beeb's on-demand service, and why I chose to use Streamburst as our distribution partner.

Elgg - social network software for education
In my second guest post for R/WW I review Elgg and interview the founders, Ben Werdmuller and Dave Tosh.

e-learning 2.0 - how Web technologies are shaping education
In this guest post for R/WW I give an overview of how teachers are using new web technologies to re-define e-learning

Web's second phase puts users in control
The web's shift from a tool of reference to one of collaboration presents teachers with some rich opportunities for e-learning

Primal screening
The Internet and the falling cost of DVD-R duplication is offering independent video producers new ways to reach an audience.

A space on the web that we control
Elgg: Imagine an e-portfolio based on personal publishing and social networking that can automatically link you to others with similar interests ...

The revolution will be televised
Online publishing has moved beyond the written and spoken word with the addition of video. Steve O'Hear investigates the rise of video blogs and explains how to start your own.

Seconds out, round two
The explosion of new web services - such as 'blogs' and 'wikis' - has led many to believe that the internet is now entering a second phase. It's finally beginning to resemble a truly interactive learning tool, says Stephen O'Hear

Podcasts offer the audience pupils crave
Radio-style programmes, broadcast on the internet, are giving youngsters in East Lothian the opportunity to work on exciting, meaningful projects that help to improve their technical literacy.

Blogosphere
Steve O'Hear, one of Britain's digital evangelists, explores how blogs can be used in schools. Steve finds some enthusiastic primary age bloggers and sees how it helps in literacy, ICT skills and a range of other subjects.

The Educator
A six page feature for Macworld on how the Mac can be used to support learning across all age groups. The piece focusses on creative applications and provides examples of how these might be used.

The seven-year-old bloggers
Giles Turnball's BBC News Online 'Dot Life' column focusses on children's use of web logs, for which I was asked to provide some comments.

Logs prepare to go on a roll
To many, weblogs are an outlet for amateurish journalism, but as an educational tool they can allow students to develop ideas and invite feedback. Stephen O'Hear is a fan.

Films net new audience
An article written by John Downing and published in the Cambridge News about iCritique's pilot project at Long Road Sixth Form College

Media students net wider audience
Video software has opened the lines of communication between student film-makers and the world. Former media studies teacher Jerome Monahan explains what it can do

Digital Video in the classroom needs to finds an audience
A severely cutdown and edited version of this article was first published in the TES Online (titled 'Critical Mass'). However, I've decided to make the original draft available here as it covers some important additional issues around the use of Digital Video in the classroom.

Should Mentoring Be A Formality?
A short article I was asked to write for NESTA on the merits of 'formal mentoring' - based on my own experience of having an official mentor as part of my NESTA Fellowship.

iCritique: Digital Video in the Classroom Reaches Critical Mass
Whilst many good tools exist to support the capturing, and editing of digital content, not enough thought has been put into how digital technology and the internet can support the publication and dissemination of learner produced content.

Critical View
TES Teacher magazine have published a short but sweet review of my product iCritique.

Standing at the crossroads: CubaseSX release date for MacOSX
A short article I wrote for stage4 about the pros and cons of 'switching' the music software at the heart of my project studio.

Tim O'Reilly interview: Digital Rights Management is a Non-starter
An email interview I conducted with Tim O'Reilly (of O'Reilly and Associates, Inc) for stage4.

Interview: Propellerhead Software (Rebirth/Reason)
An email interview I conducted with Propellerhead Software (makers of music software Rebirth and Reason), for stage4.

Apple's new e-magic
A short article I wrote for stage4 commenting on Apple's purchase of music software company Emagic.

Do you know your rights as a digital consumer?
A short article on Digital Consumer Rights I wrote for MediaMag published by the English and Media Centre.

Don?t blame technology blame people
In a short article for MediaMag (published by the English and Media Centre) I argue that legislation aimed at stopping digital piracy, by criminalising new technology, is damaging the innovation on which the internet was built on.