Doug Belshaw

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Articles

Firefox will support the ad blocking extension 'uBlock Origin' that will no longer be available on Chrome so that users can continue to use it

2 months ago | gigazine.net | Doug Belshaw

Feb 26, 2025 15:00:00 The popular ad blocking extension ' uBlock Origin ' relies on the functions of the extension specification 'Manifest V2', so it will become unusable when Google Chrome switches to Manifest V3. However, Mozilla has announced that it will continue to support the function so that 'uBlock Origin' and other extensions can continue to be used in the web browser 'Firefox'.
Is authenticity a ‘trap’?

Nov 18, 2024 | dougbelshaw.com | Doug Belshaw

TL;DR: probably notAt the weekend I picked up a copy of Seth Godin’s 2020 book The Practice: Shipping Creative Work which was staring out at me from the window of our local Oxfam bookshop. It’s written in the familiar Godin style: short, declarative sentences at the beginning — almost like a non-fiction Jack Reacher book — until you get a couple of chapters in. That’s where the good stuff tends to be. Each section of the book is numbered.
How to implement badges for Open Recognition

Oct 22, 2024 | dougbelshaw.com | Doug Belshaw

TL;DR: Bryan and I ran a couple of workshops for N-TUTORR: an introduction to digital badging for staff CPD, and developing and implementing a badging policy. He created some great new imagery for it. Ken McCarthy was kind enough to invite Bryan Mathers and me to run two workshops as part of the N-TUTORR programme. This initiative, which comes to an end in the next couple of months, is “helping the technological higher education sector in Ireland to transform the student experience”.
Digital Credentials: why context matters

Aug 28, 2024 | dougbelshaw.com | Doug Belshaw

This post was prompted by attending another excellent AMA session with the Digital Credentials Consortium (DCC) yesterday. The discussion raised a recurring issue in the world of digital credentials: unrealistic expectations. People often expect too much and too little from these technologies, leading (I would argue) to both over-ambitious and underwhelming demands.
TB871: Power dynamics in systems thinking

Jul 26, 2024 | dougbelshaw.com | Doug Belshaw

Note: this is a post reflecting on one of the modules of my MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice. You can see all of the related posts in this category. The components of power within group dynamics, initially outlined by French and Raven (1959), can be closely related to the dynamics within systems thinking in practice (STiP) (‘French and Raven’s bases of power’, 2024).
Where to look for information around Open Badges and digital credentials (July 2024 edition)

Jul 23, 2024 | dougbelshaw.com | Doug Belshaw

Someone got in touch with me recently to ask for some advice after listening to the episode on Open Badges I recorded with Matt Linaker for the Totara Talks Talent podcast. It’s been a few years since they were up to speed around badges and digital credentials, and so wanted some recommendations on some resources to get them up to speed. Instead of keeping such recommendations in the silo of an email inbox, I thought I’d share them here.
Exponentially more bad ideas in the world

Jul 22, 2024 | dougbelshaw.com | Doug Belshaw

This is a half-formed thought, and one I may come back to. If you’re a regular person and you wake up and have a cool-but-not-very-sensible idea, then you might tell a couple of people about it. Nothing happens; your idea dies a short and noble death. If you’re a billionaire and have a cool-but-not-very-sensible idea, then you can fund and staff programmes to bring it to life.
From Ramble Chats to Utopian Futures

May 13, 2024 | blog.weareopen.coop | Doug Belshaw

After a meticulously organised Season 8, which was a submission for a journal article focusing on media literacies, Season 9 of The Tao of WAO podcast takes a more relaxed and spontaneous approach. Co-hosts Laura Hilliger and Doug Belshaw (me!) engaged in a series of ramble chats, covering a wide array of topics from goofy websites to the potential future impacts of AI. We even spice things up mid-season with a special guest to discuss utopian futures.
TB872: Ubuntu and Pratītyasamutpāda

Feb 27, 2024 | dougbelshaw.com | Doug Belshaw

Note: this is a post reflecting on one of the modules of my MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice. You can see all of the related posts in this category.
One does not simply move off Substack

Jan 10, 2024 | dougbelshaw.com | Doug Belshaw

As I’ve previously mentioned, I’ve decided to move away from Substack for my Thought Shrapnel newsletter. This is due to a fundamental disagreement with the platform’s hosting policies, particularly its accommodation of Nazi content. In my search for a different platform, I’ve noticed that many people are migrating to Ghost. This seems particularly true for those with some technical background.