Food, Culture & Environment

During our recent encounter with one another, someone asked whether there might be a way for us to share information about materials we have come across that seems relevant to our learning adventure. Though I think I can put together a system that would enable us to accumulate such information in an easily accessible database, it may take a couple of weeks before I can get it operational. This forum can be used meanwhile to let us post any resource recommendations we would like to make.

I suggest that we come up with what we all agree to be a canonical list of attributes that together capture what is needed to describe whatever resources we want to share about such materials, which would include books, articles and other forms of documents, audios, videos (and podcasts thereof), etc. My own initial list of such attributes is:

• subject category
• media type
• title
• brief description
• abstract
• hyperlink to material
• comments (thoughts & feelings of submitter)

Some of these attributes, like subject category would require some thought and communication among ourselves, perhaps, to work out. But those things need not be decided on at the outset - it's only when it comes to transferring the information into a database that such questions become more important (though, even then, they are not absolutely required, and can be assigned later).

In any event, I think we can give this idea a try. I will need to consult with Kristen to ensure that she is comfortable with whatever scheme is developed. I know that she would want to make this sort of information available to the entire class and not require anyone to become part of this form if they choose to not do so, though it would, of course, be possible for such folks to set up accounts for limited purposes and not participate in other ways.

Do any of the rest of you have any feelings on the subject?

Thanks.

Gary