Online Learning Update

By ASU News

Drs. Amelia Cheney and Robert L. Sanders are editors of a textbook addressing online teaching and learning. The text, “Teaching and Learning in 3D Immersive Worlds: Pedagogical Models and Constructivist Approaches” published by IGI Global, examines successful implementation of social constructivist instructional design tenets in 3D virtual immersive environments. Cheney is an assistant professor and Sanders is an associate prfessor in the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies in Appalachian’s Reich College of Education. Authors share best practices, challenges and advice to those working to utilize virtual environments in higher education and other venues. Readers will gain both a research background in the use of virtual worlds for teaching and learning and practical advice as they begin to design and implement these environments.

http://www.news.appstate.edu/2011/02/28/virtual-classroom/

by farrellbrian blog

Online learning is exciting in its flexibility and ability to connect students globally, but it comes with its own unique challenges and frustrations. I’ve been involved with online learning as a student, teacher, course designer, and coordinator, and so I feel that I have a fairly sound understanding of what these challenges are. Fundamentally, I believe that online learners most often run into trouble with their online courses because essentially, they fail to communicate on some level, and because online learners are often isolated from others, they can easily become lost and forgotten about if they don’t themselves speak up.

http://farrellbrian.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/success-in-online-learning-communication/

By Sarah Phinney, BSU Daily News

Ball State offers online courses to on- and off-campus students, but it has not been pushed as an alternative to traditional lecture based classes just yet. Joel Whitesel, director of online and distance education, said on-campus students taking classes online, especially core classes, could become more common within the next few years. He said one possibility is to offer online courses to students who were not able to get into the class they wanted, especially if that class is a part of the core curriculum. “People are communicating more often online with Facebook and tools like that,” he said. “We’re more accustomed, it’s what people are demanding. It’s what students want.”

http://www.bsudailynews.com/ball-state-looks-to-expand-distance-education-for-on-campus-students-1.2500673

By Doug Blackburn, Tallahassee Democrat

With online classes growing in popularity, Florida State University’s College of Education is offering a certificate program designed to train secondary school teachers in digital learning. Called Blended Online Learning and Teaching, the program is thought to be the only one of its kind in the Southeast. BOLT will be available starting in May with the summer semester. It was developed in response to President Obama’s call for an increased use of technology in K-12 education, said Dina Vyortkina, director of the office of information and instructional technologies in the College of Education. “We need to do a better job preparing our students to be teachers of e-learning,” Vyortkina said. “It can be a variety of tools, different technologies, video, audio, any type of media.”

http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20110301/FSU01/103010324/FSU-to-upgrade-online-learning-classes

The SLN SOLsummit will be broadcast LIVE!

The webcast is provided FREE of charge and there is no need for registration. Just keep in mind that the times listed are EST.  Sessions begin today!  Your friendly editor of the Online Learning Update blog will be presenting Thursday afternoon on searching for a better “BackRub”…. clue: before being re-named Google in 1997, the search engine developed at Stanford was dubbed BackRub. 

http://slnsolsummit2011.edublogs.org/mediasite/

by SeniorNet

Boomers and Seniors who want to learn new computer skills have for 25 years been able to attend affordable classes at SeniorNet’s learning centers across the nation. Now, they can access more than 200 online courses at http://www.webcampus.seniornet.org, making access to the digital superhighway easy for those who may be homebound or have limited mobility, or for anyone who may want to learn about the Internet from the comfort of their own home. “Our students can enjoy lifelong learning opportunities and explore the world from the comfort of their home, 24/7.” SeniorNet is a nationwide nonprofit organization with approximately 9,000 members and more than 3,000 volunteers that has taught hundreds of thousands of older adults to use computers and the Internet. It currently has 65 locally run Learning Centers in the United States, including Indian Reservations and under served areas.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110301005713/en/SeniorNet-Launches-Online-Learning-Center%C2%A0With-200-Courses

By MARTIN FACKLER, New York Times

Japan has reacted with outrage at the apparent test-taking scam, which targeted universities that stand at the apex of the nation’s rigid education system. Admission to a top university often requires students to toil away much of their childhood at evening cram schools, where they learn how to regurgitate reams of facts and figures. Stung by the outcry, Japan’s Education Ministry said it may ban cell phones and other communications devices at exam sites. South Korea, which has similarly demanding admissions tests, implemented such a ban after a 2004 cheating scandal that also involved cell phones. During the current scandal, Japan’s national NHK broadcaster has repeatedly shown footage of Korean students being searched by metal detectors before taking exams.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/02/world/asia/02japan.html?_r=2&hpw

by Beth Still, ISTE Ning

My experience with online learning has been evolving for 5 years. The IT person at my school told me about this strange sounding thing called “Moodle.” I have always had a passion for trying new things so I started playing with it to see what I could do with it. I realized almost immediately that it was a very convenient way for me to store my assignments, links, and videos for my classes. Now I teach classes that are 100% online for the Nebraska Educational Virtual Academy (demo course) and I use Moodle to create a blended learning environment for the students that I teach in a traditional classroom setting. Using Moodle to manage the content for my f2f student allows them to work at their own pace. I no longer struggle to keep them at the same place.

http://www.iste-community.org/group/sigtel/forum/topics/what-does-online-learning-mean?

by Tom Vander Ark, Huffington Post

Most of the 100 advisors that contributed to the 10 Digital Learning Now (DLN) recommendations mentioned an interest in quality education and actively debated measures to ensure it as online learning continues to expand. However, creating the ideal policy set that encourages both innovation and quality is no small feat. Neither likely state policy environment is attractive — a free-for-all or a web of bureaucratic barriers. It will be hard to strike the right balance between encouraging innovation and ensuring quality. “Without rigorous oversight, a thousand flowers blooming will also yield a lot of weeds,” warned Erin Dillon and Bill Tucker in Education Next.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-vander-ark/10-strategies-to-improve_b_825465.html

By DAN MITCHINSON, KIRO Radio

The University of Washington says more online classes might be a partial solution for cuts to its budget. The school is looking to double its online enrollment, without any money from the state. “In the process of piloting these courses for the past year and half or so, the survey results have indicated students really want some flexible options, and different scheduling abilities to work into their regular classroom schedule,” says UW Program Manager Danielle Allsop. Allsop says it’s also a great deal for students. Online courses cost just $350 compared with the nearly $1,500 for a classroom course.

http://www.mynorthwest.com/category/local_news_articles/20110216/UW-expanding-online-course-options/

By Linda Borg, Providence Journal

Step into the Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts in South Providence and this is what you see: seventh graders using iPads to write essays, edit videos, practice their multiplication tables and e-mail their homework to teachers. The iPad and other electronic tablets are quietly revolutionizing the way a handful of Rhode Island schools provide instruction, communicate with students and parents, and evaluate teacher performance. West Warwick is about to pilot a Windows-based tablet program in two of its elementary schools. Woonsocket offers dozens of online courses in everything from Mandarin Chinese to bioethics. Providence is using the iPad to evaluate what teachers are doing in the classroom.

http://www.projo.com/news/content/new_school_technology_02-21-11_MCMH38V_v32.1940e6d.html

by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC)

UNODC has launched a new online interactive counter-terrorism learning platform for criminal justice officials. The platform will provide a unique gateway to a virtual community of practitioners focused on exchanging information and practical advice and following training courses to update and refine their skills. The concept of the Counter-terrorism Learning Platform stemmed from the success of the first online training courses on the international legal framework against terrorism developed in 2008-2009 by UNODC and the DiploFoundation. In view of the positive feedback received from the participants and the high demand by governments to develop this training format further, UNODC has developed its own Online Learning Platform.

http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2011/February/online-learning-platform-for-counter-terrorism-launched.html

by Lisa Dawley (Prof, Boise State), Online Educator

Online education is many different things, what exact type of online education are we discussing?  Highly interactive and blended learning that involves rich media and mobile learning options, both synchronous and asynchronous communication with kids assuming roles as independent producers and creators of their own knowledge; televised lecture where students sit passively and take notes while the teacher is the main individual allowed to talk and make meaning; or an online course that is fully text-based with lots of pdf files that are downloaded, read, and then the student is quizzed?  The spectrum of online learning options is huge, and there is a lot we do know about these different options and their outcomes for learners. It’s unfortunate that we get into black and white discussions about “online education” working or not working. A more informed stance would be to inquire and understand what learning modalities and tools are appropriate and available for a given context and the educational needs within that context.

http://lisadawley.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/online-is-not-a-four-letter-word-its-an-opportunity-for-innovation/

by Online Learning Base

So you have decided to take your career to a new level. It’s time to take the plunge and pursue continuing education to get ahead in the job field. Nearly all people cannot afford to take the time off from their job and from parental obligations to commit to a continuing education goal. Attending lessons at night are usually several hours long and don’t think about taking classes in the day, you are at the office. The good thing is that colleges have noticed your complaints and are beginning to present degree programs for all sorts of life situations, with online learning courses that includes continuing education courses. These programs are just like any other type of learning program and the best are even accredited by the same authorization boards that accredit more traditional degree programs.

http://www.onlinelearningbase.com/deciding-on-the-right-choices-for-continuing-education-programs/

by Scientific Computing

Resources for Learning, an innovative online catalog of educational content for teachers and students, has received the Science Prize for Online Resources in Education (SPORE). The award, sponsored by the journal Science, recognizes outstanding, free online educational materials that enrich science learning. Developed by the American Museum of Natural History, Resources for Learning brings robust scientific resources to a much broader audience beyond the walls of the Museum by aggregating more than 1,200 distinct digital resources — from articles and activities to media-rich content like videos and exhibition interactives — into a single, easily accessible and free online compendium for science educators and students. The RFL catalog includes content developed specifically for the Museum’s permanent halls and temporary exhibitions, as well as content from two of the Museum’s flagship online programs, Science Bulletins and Ology.

http://www.scientificcomputing.com/news-DS-American-Museum-of-Natural-History-Online-Learning-Resources-Receive-Science-Prize-022511.aspx

by Scott Manning, US News

The online education sector grew by nearly 17% in 2009. Approximately 5.6 million students were enrolled in at least one online course in the fall of that year, according to the Sloan Survey of Online Learning. These figures may continue to increase, as schools such as Valdosta State University (VSU) in Georgia are launching new online degree programs, reports the VSU student newspaper, The Spectator. This fall, the institution will offer online degrees in criminal justice, office administration and technology as well as legal assistant studies.

http://www.usnewsuniversitydirectory.com/articles/university-launches-new-online-programs_11291.aspx

by Isaac Adams, Reesetown

The physical classroom is not the only overcrowded part of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. High school students are rapidly enrolling in online courses provided by North Carolina Virtual Public School. There are 1,100 students enrolled in online courses in the district, and that number is growing. “Since 2007, the school system has experienced a 200 percent increase in the number of students taking online courses,” said Stephanie Knott, the school system’s public information officer. Most students are taking the courses to accelerate their studies, but they are not opting to graduate early.

http://reesenews.org/2011/02/25/online-learning-in-high-demand/10704/

by Physorg.com

Resources for Learning (RFL), an innovative online catalog of educational content for teachers and students developed by the American Museum of Natural History, has received the Science Prize for Online Resources in Education (SPORE) – the first time a natural history museum has won this coveted honor. The award, sponsored by the journal Science, recognizes outstanding, free online educational materials that enrich science learning. The Museum is a long-time leader in science education, and has pioneered a number of programs that leverage the unparalleled quality and depth of the institution’s scientific resources: a faculty of more than 200 active scientists, one of the world’s most extensive physical collections, and innovative exhibitions that make science a meaningful and transformative experience for schoolchildren and the broader public alike.

http://www.physorg.com/wire-news/60017728/american-museum-of-natural-historys-online-learning-gets-prestig.html

Clark Quinn, author of the forthcoming book “Designing mLearning: Tapping into the Mobile Revolution for Organizational Performance,” will present the models and concepts you need to mobile-enable your employees. This webinar looks at a variety of frameworks that provide the grounding for mobile services, applications and solutions and it arms you with information to make the most of m-learning opportunities. In this session you will learn: • How to think about mobile in a device-independent way • The four core mobile capabilities • Proven ways to take advantage of mobile • Opportunities and issues in mobile solutions ….. Speakers: Clark Quinn Clark Quinn leads learning system design through Quinnovation, providing strategic solutions to Fortune 500, education, government, and not-for-profit organizations. Clark earned his Ph.D. in applied cognitive science from the University of California, San Diego, and has led the design of mobile, performance support, serious games, online learning, and intelligent learning systems. He’s an internationally known speaker and author, with a book on learning game design and another on mobile learning, as well as numerous articles and chapters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuDt0tHH0qY&feature=youtube_gdata

by Mike Lavieri, the Kansan

The University of Kansas may not be far behind the Big 12 when it comes to offering online courses through distance education, and is in the process of becoming stronger. The University’s Continuing Education department currently offers 150 independent study courses with about 120 of them offered online. Barbara Romzek, interim senior vice provost for academic affairs, hopes to offer more. “We’ve started looking at distance education and asking ourselves how we can organize it better?” Romzek said. “How can we facilitate the offering of more courses through online media?”

http://www.kansan.com/news/2011/feb/21/university-looks-expand-online-courses/

by Christine S. Baker, About Online Degrees

One of the requirements for distance learning education is that you have a reliable computer and unlimited internet access. Laptops are great for online learning because you can take them anywhere with you and still have access to your online classroom wherever there is internet connection. You can simply log in to your class and complete your work from anywhere and at anytime. Laptops are the most convenient for distance learning students. There are a lot of laptops to choose from and prices to fit any budget. These laptops range from the big screen desktop replacements to the extra light ultra portables. They all have many features in common. Choosing which laptop is best for you is a difficult task because there are so many to choose from. The list of laptops below will help you narrow your choices and make a decision that will fit your requirements to learn online.

http://aboutonlinedegrees.org/blog/laptops-distancelearningstudents/