Online Learning Update

By MEGAN BOEHNKE, iStock Analyst

Hundreds of students taking one of the University of Tennessee’s most popular courses, remedial algebra, arrived last week to the first day of class — in their dorm rooms. For the first time the university will deliver half of its Math 119 sections, which enroll about 1,000 students each fall, online. “It’s a challenging course for us because in some sense, it’s barely at the college level,” said Chuck Collins, a math professor in charge of the course. “We’ve been putting a lot of resources into it without a lot of success … when it comes to matching students with their ability and doing it in a cost-effective way.”

http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/4431913

by Andrew Pantazi, University of Florida Alligator

The old Online Learning is out at UF, and Sakai is in. Sakai, an open-source course management system, is run by a community of universities, including the University of Michigan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Cambridge University. It was chosen to replace UF’s previous system, WebCT Vista 8, because Blackboard, which runs WebCT, said it would stop supporting the program by October 2012. Already, there were plenty of problems with WebCT, according to Doug Johnson, the manager for UF’s e-Learning Support Services, such as issues with discussion boards and e-mails.

http://www.alligator.org/news/campus/article_3c99debc-af3a-11df-b0fb-001cc4c002e0.html

by Rob Manning, OPB News

Oregon’s schools have at least two really big problems heading into the new school year: a graduation rate of only 66 percent, and a budget crisis of historic proportions. Some education officials say you can address both problems with one fix: getting more students to take classes online. Rob Manning reports on a new statewide online option.

http://news.opb.org/article/11581-could-online-classes-help-ease-oregons-education-problems/

by G. A. Anderson, Helium

“Cloud computing” is a relatively new term for many people who are inexperienced in IT and all the latest technologies and devices that help us in our everyday work and play. What is it? “It is software. It is hardware.” It is technology. It is one of the newest forms of technology and is used in many different ways. One of its main features is its flexibility. For example, a young student in a low to middle-class school district can have access to the same educational tools through this technology as a student in an affluent, well-equipped school district. Online, university students have the same access to learning materials, instructors, labs, and libraries as students in top-ranked campus universities.

http://www.helium.com/items/1928759-why-cloud-computing-provides-flexibility-for-online-learning-in-higher-education

by Pandula Siribaddana, Helium

In online learning, one of the most discussed issues would be the plagiarism issues in submitted online assignments as well as postings in different forums. Being a knowledge base of its own, the internet can provide the learners with enormous amount of information which at times may be abused by some to obtain good results by not necessarily achieving the intended outcomes of the course. Such abuses of submitting someone else’s work as if it is your own is known as plagiarism and is something that most institutions do not tolerate even for a single instance.

http://www.helium.com/items/1929729-distance-learning-how-to-avoid-plagiarism-in-your-postings

by KCRA

As Northern California kids head back to school this month, a growing number are doing so without ever leaving home. The Elk Grove Unified School District has launched online learning for students as young as five years old. Anne Zeman, the administrator in charge of the program, said more than 100 students have signed up so far, and at least another 100 are interested. She said calls come in every day about the Virtual Academy.

http://www.kcra.com/news/24706205/detail.html

By Nick Ashley, Daily Athenaeam

New students arriving at West Virginia University have three important programs to manage that access their classes, accounts and more. The web-based programs have been used in the past to deliver important information to students such as cancellation of classes, inclement weather and instances of violence on campus. “eCampus is used for everything – from 100 percent online learning courses offered through Extended Learning to those on-campus courses that are blended, posting materials and assessments online,” said Michelle Rodney, e-learning applications manager for the Office of Information Technology. In the past, eCampus has been used by professors to supplement information provided in class such as exam reviews or additional information relating to class subjects.

http://www.thedaonline.com/news/online-resources-used-to-keep-students-informed-updated-1.1536758?pagereq=1

by Gia Loc, Vietnam News

With rapid advances in computing technologies, most large and well-established universities around the world have created programmes and degrees that cater to distance-online learning students. Today, students could take more than 150 online courses at Harvard University in the US, he noted. Online training programmes were becoming more and more vital in the world of higher education, Luc added. Many universities worldwide have offered online learning classes for a long time, but few universities in Viet Nam do.

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Social-Isssues/Education/202766/E-learning-crucial-for-technology.html

BY MIKE HELENTHAL, Davnille Commercial-News

Online college courses are easier than attending class and it takes much less time and effort to master subject material. Um, not so fast, say Danville Area Community College officials. While that is the preconceived notion of some students new to online learning, DACC staff says in many instances it takes more commitment to learn virtually. “It takes more work sometimes because they have to read everything,” said computer instructor Merilyn Shepherd. “To do well in an online course, they have to be self-motivated and have a lot of self-discipline.”

http://commercial-news.com/local/x1804459278/Online-classes-attract-students

By Mark Sample, ProfHacker, Chronicle of Higher Ed

Faculty are increasingly experimenting with social media, and it’s exciting to find more and more courses incorporating Twitter, a ProfHacker favorite. Just last week on ProfHacker Ryan provided an excellent introduction to Twitter, while earlier in the summer Brian reflected on his use of Twitter in the classroom during Spring 2010. As we gear up for the Fall 2010 semester, I wanted to revisit the idea of teaching with Twitter.

http://chronicle.com/blogPost/A-Framework-for-Teaching-with/26223/

By Mark Sample, ProfHacker, Chronicle of Higher Ed

Last week I introduced a pedagogical framework for using Twitter in your teaching, organized along two axes: monologic to dialogic and passive to active. These high-falutin terms are fine for a theoretical matrix, but what about the real life implementation of Twitter in and outside of your classroom? How do you actually do it? I’m going to leave behind the pedagogy (mostly) in this post, and instead offer some practical advice for teaching with Twitter.

http://chronicle.com/blogPost/Practical-Advice-for-Teaching/26416/?sid=wc&utm_source=wc&utm_medium=en

By Prof. Hacker Guest Shannon Polchow, Chronicle of Higher Ed

Just like most educators, I view teaching as a process. After incorporating a new activity or giving a new course, I reflect upon the outcomes. What went well? What failed? Sometimes I know the modifications I would make the next time around, but other times I look to my student evaluations for guidance. This recently happened after teaching an introductory Spanish class online. While I felt that the class had gone well, a student’s simple observation led me to my latest modification: find a way for students interact with one another in an online setting. The online forum I employed enabled me to speak in an asynchronous fashion with my students, but it did not allow them to communicate with one another, leaving them isolated, alone in cyberspace to work on their assignments with no personal interaction. The comment sent me knocking on my friendly technology consultant’s door, and together we found a simple solution: VoiceThread.

http://chronicle.com/blogPost/Using-VoiceThread-to-Give/26367/

by Bobby Coles, Helium

If you are working full time, and you are desperately attempting to better yourself from an educational perspective, taking online learning classes in your spare time is simple. The key to making the most out of any endeavours is to learn time management skills that are transferable in all aspects of your life. You do not have to sacrifice any hours of work, but you may have to figure out a way to still maintain that vibrant social life you desire.

http://www.helium.com/items/1926408-best-ways-and-tips-for-balancing-working-full-time-and-going-to-school-with-online-classes

By Stacey Kennelly, Chico News Review

Chico State’s Technology & Learning Program provides instructors with training, advice and a rubric for online instruction, said Ann Steckel, one of four instructional-design consultants at the center. She and her team created the rubric, which provides instructors with a checklist of things to consider when it comes to creating an engaging and effective course that will come alive to students. The rubric has been adopted by nearly 200 universities nationwide. Often, TLP consultants simply give instructors tools that allow them to think of their classes in a different way. For example, Steckel encouraged one art instructor to have students document pieces of art they encountered in real life with cell phones before uploading the images to the Internet, as opposed to having students find a piece of art online and write about it.

http://www.newsreview.com/chico/content?oid=1526396

By Creston News – ARA

Studies have shown that online learning is just as effective at teaching material as traditional classes. So any class has the potential to work well online if taught the right way. The quality of the class does not solely depend on the material being taught, it depends on the school, too.

http://www.crestonnewsadvertiser.com/articles/ara/2010/08/19/8047655066/index.xml

Fall classes are beginning soon for millions of online learners. Yet many of these students still have unanswered questions about how to excel in the online environment. Where can they go for help? Author and professor for six online universities, Dr. Diane Hamilton (http://drdianehamilton.com/), has taken her many years of online teaching experience and incorporated what she has learned into creating her new book, The Online Student’s User Manual. Recognizing that past books about online learning left out important information about how to be a successful student, Dr. Hamilton was inspired to create a book to fill in the gaps.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/08/prweb3806784.htm

By MARK MARONEY, Sun-Gazette

Muncy School District has developed online courses taught by certified staff members that are much cheaper than cyber school expenses, according to school officials. The administration recommended and the school board approved Monday night payment for a pre-approved online course. The course costs $1,500 for one to five students and $2,400 for six to 10 students. It serves two purposes, according to Dr. Kimberly A. Hamilton, director of curriculum, instruction and assessment. It is for students in need of credit recovery, but it also is being used for students who are “doubling up” on areas such as science and marine ecology.

http://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/547528.html?nav=5011

by Silicon Republic

While online learning is traditionally seen as an educational resource for students its can also benefit their teachers and directly impact on their professional development according to a report from US university Boston College. It was found that English and maths teachers who took on e-learning courses in professional development have improved both their teaching methods and their knowledge of the subject itself.

http://www.siliconrepublic.com/innovation/item/17398-e-learning-benefits/

by Carrie Lynn Smith, Helium

Go to almost any job posting site on the internet and check out the ads. Most any ad for a job that pays more than $10 per hour will have very specific skills that they are looking for in an employee. They want you to know MS Office, Dreamweaver, Java, HTML, or QuickBooks. Or perhaps have “in-depth industry knowledge”. How does one obtain these much needed skills? College is the best way to accomplish these goals. With online learning, night and weekend courses, and other options for learning, college has become more accessible than ever to busy adults.

http://www.helium.com/items/1925684-adult-education-adult-students

by Brooke Blanck, the Kansan

The “iGeneration” has grown up submersed in the digital age — an age of mobility, flexibility and options.  This generation lives in a world where choice is abundant and content options are endless, and they demand opportunities that reach them in, and incorporate, their high-tech, high-touch world. The education sector must remain at the forefront of these trends to provide a dynamic learning environment, rich educational content and one-on-one support to students. With online learning, students have access to a wide range of unique core and elective courses, and they have the flexibility to learn in their own ways, taking more time on subjects they find more difficult, or advancing rapidly to more challenging material.

http://www.thekansan.com/newsnow/x297561118/-iGeneration-seeks-greater-education-options

By Daniel de Vise, Washington Post

“The community college is part of the rhythm of four-year college attendance, more and more,” said Cliff Adelman, a senior associate with the Institute for Higher Education Policy. The growing role of two-year colleges is part of a broader trend. Three-fifths of those who earn bachelor’s degrees attend more than one college, and the percentage is slowly rising, according to federal data. In a mobile society with an abundance of classes available online, students increasingly view college as a collection of credits rather than a four-year term on one campus. These collegiate nomads, called “swirlers,” are becoming a major force in higher education.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/15/AR2010081502765.html?hpid=topnews