Spring is in the air in Colorado! Although all of us who've lived here more than a few years know that it is just a teaser because we will have more spring snow before spring truly arrives. But regardless, Spring is a great time for new beginnings and this year is no exception!

Where has the first two months of the year gone? I can't believe its already Feb 18th! Too many things going on and not enough time to get them all done but I've finally found some time to share some of my recent link finds with everyone. I intend to make this a weekly thing so check back often. Hope you enjoy the links!

Purdue is pilot testing Hotseat in two classes and has become a favorite application for students and instrutors. As we all know students always talk about their classes with each other and as technology has evolved those conversations take place on Facebook, Twitter, and through text messaging. Often the 'backchannel' conversations are happening in real time in class as the instructor teachs. To capture this conversation Purdue developed a clever application called HotSeat to use it to improve students' learning, engaging them in the learning conversation.

Google's VP of Search Products and User Experience said in a blog post released this afternoon that Google will include Twitter's real-time status update in its search results. It was also reported today by Kara Swisher at All Things Digital that Microsoft has made a deal with Facebook and Twitter to include real-time feeds of status updates into the Bing search service.

Mayer wrote in the post:

We believe that our search results and user experience will greatly benefit from the inclusion of this up-to-the-minute data, and we look forward to having a product that showcases how tweets can make search better in the coming months. That way, the next time you search for something that can be aided by a real-time observation, say, snow conditions at your favorite ski resort, you'll find tweets from other users who are there and sharing the latest and greatest information.

The first thing that comes to my mind is how is this going to be monetized by the end user? What about privacy? If you're on FB and you're stream is limited to only friends and family will these updates be included in the real time search engine stream? My hope is it won't but its not clear at this point.

There are still many issues to be addressed in my mind. Overall it is a good thing! It brings you more business for your content, driving traffic to your site. But traffic doesn't always translate into money or sales. Still thinking about all the options - the new ways people are using the content they are creating on these third party sites like Twitter and Facebook then monetizing 'your' content - because it is 'your' content even though it is broadcast through these new mediums. Would love to hear your thoughts on the subject! Talk to me.

Are you keeing score? If so then it is Desire2Learn: 2 - Blackboard: 1

On Oct 15, 2009 Desire2Learn posts the good news that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit denied Blackboard's combined Petition - one for a Rehearing and one for a Rehearing en banc.

There wasn't an opinion included - just a listing on the Federal Circuit's website.

Desire2Learn expects the court will issue a mandate in the near future but states all the effects of this opinion are positive for D2L.

• The Judge Clark will dissolve the injunction (he's already suspended it)
• They (D2L) will receive repayment of the judgment they paid to Blackboard - plus interest - plus costs associated with the action.

If you don't know the history to this saga a Google search should give you many places to get opinions. I'm glad to see justice has been served.

You can also read Desire2Learn's Patent Blog.