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Online Learning News and Research
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Saturday, September 21, 2002
http://www.learningcircuits.org/glossary.html E-Learning Glossary Compiled by Eva Kaplan-Leiserson E-learning is hot. Everyone has something to say about it, but are we communicating in the same language? Below you'll find a collection of terms and their definitions to help you "speak" e-learning.... (0) comments http://www.educause.edu/nlii/meetings/nlii031/ NLII Annual Meeting Call for Proposals January 26–28, 2003, New Orleans, Louisiana The previous NLII Annual Meeting concurrent session tracks have been replaced with key themes. Before submitting your proposal, please see the Proposal Guidelines for information about these key themes, to understand the relevance of each theme, the relationship of NLII projects to the theme, the critical questions we encourage you to tackle with your presentation, and other projects or efforts to which you should relate your project. You can also see more details on the NLII Key Themes at: http://www.educause.edu/nlii/keythemes/. The deadline for submission of proposals is Thursday, October 3, 2002. Please note: Only NLII Sustaining Members may submit a proposal for consideration. (0) comments http://naweb.unb.ca/proceedings/2000/nobes.htm Shifting Pedogogical Trends in Online Teaching at Mount Saint Vincent University Carolyn Nobes, Mount Saint Vincent University INTRODUCTION: Mount Saint Vincent University’s faculty, leaders in distance education in Atlantic Canada for over 20 years, are re-thinking their distance teaching as they utilize multi-mode, computer mediated teaching. The 104 distance learners, who responded to an online survey in February 2000, described their reactions to the faculty’s new methodologies and the technology. The faculty, in workshops, shared their new approaches. These methods were acquired over the past two years, as everyone adjusted to teaching and learning with online technology. The learners are both undergraduate (50%) and graduate (45%). Fifty-eight percent are working fulltime and 24% working part-time. These learners (18%) also represent other cultures, since the faculty teach cohort groups of learners in five other countries. The learners choose multi-mode distance learning, in part, due to the flexibility and convenience. Thirteen percent stated that it was their preferred learning style.... (0) comments http://ifets.ieee.org/periodical/vol_3_2002/williams.html Improving use of learning technologies in higher education through participant oriented evaluations David Dwayne Williams, Brigham Young University ABSTRACT: Use of learning technologies is growing in higher education. Simultaneously, educational evaluation approaches have evolved to be more and more useful for higher education decision-making. Elements of evaluation are emerging which enhance its use for judging higher education programs that include learning technologies. This article reviews several key elements by examining an example of a major evaluation of eleven Internet-based courses. Implications are proposed for expanding evaluation of programs that employ learning technologies in higher education.... (0) comments Friday, September 20, 2002
http://ncolr.uidaho.com/journal/current/fottland/1.html Creating a community of learners online and offline in teacher education Helg Fottland, Sør-Trøndelag University College Abstract: This study focuses on a university college program in special education using Internet groupware to establish a community of student learners' on- and off line. The study focuses on one group of four students, while it gives attention to a larger group of 35 students, during their six weeks intensive project work. Data sources were: transcripts of students' Internet exchanges related to the task; the students' assessment reports; and an interview with one subgroup. The analysis revealed five phases in the students' progression towards developing a community. Each phase comprised the nature of the task, the media used in communication, and the relationships that were established. The findings show that each phase scaffolded the learning process, and the creation of community and how each phase structured the conditions for subsequent phases. The analysis reveals how the online interactions gave rise to meaningful face-to-face conversations that in turn facilitated more reflective and sophisticated online exchanges. These online and face-to-face interactions assisted each other and enabled the students to claim their voices from the multiple voices from diverse special education practices that were sounded through the whole process. The end result is a community of learners in special education whose individual voices pulsate through a collective process.... (0) comments http://www.designinteract.com/insights/073102/ Julia Grady Describes (Briefly) the Challenge of Developing Online Learning Materials As tools to create online learning applications develop and become more accessible to both designers and students, it will become increasingly important to consider HOW people learn and identify new ways to structure materials to facilitate the process. Course creators must embrace the potential of online learning and include non-linear approaches to the basic organization and creation of course content.... (0) comments http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/NewModel.htm A Learning Development Model For Today’s Students and Organizations George Siemens Executive Summary: The success of any organization is determined by its ability to accurately assess (and meet) the wants and needs of its potential marketplace. New philosophies of learning need to be explored to determine possible impact. Personalized learning, learning objects and repositories, prior learning assessment (PLA), media formats, work/learning integration, electronic performance support, knowledge management, and technology assimilation with regular instructional activities are often described as the future of learning. These learning formats are intended to address the needs of tomorrow’s learner – independent, non-traditional, and focused on immediate use of learning.... (0) comments http://www.ilonlineconf.org Call for Proposals: Illinois Online Conference for Teaching and Learning: Innovation, Education, Technology and You - 2003 The Steering Committee for the ILLINOIS ONLINE CONFERENCE FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING would like to invite you to submit a proposal for this conference. The proposal deadline is NOVEMBER 11, 2002. Full information regarding the Call for Proposals and the online conference itself can be found at http://www.ilonlineconf.org. (0) comments Thursday, September 19, 2002
http://www.fastrak-consulting.co.uk/tactix/Features/experiment.htm The great experiment - Remote Online Labs Clive Shepherd Training network specialists is an expensive business, whether you use a classroom (expensive to equip), simulations (expensive to build) or on-job learning (potential expense of errors off-the-scale). Until now. Remote, online labs allow learners to experiment to their hearts’ content with real hardware and software, solving real networking problems. Someone else buys the kit, someone else worries about what happens when it’s broken. Too good to be true? In this article, Clive Shepherd talks to the men in white coats to see just how close e-labs get to replicating the real-world experience, without the headaches.... (0) comments http://www.ivc.illinois.edu/AboutIVC/enroll_Spring_02.htm Distance Education Enrollments at Illinois Colleges and Universities - Spring Term 2002 Distance education enrollments continue to increase dramatically due to the rapid increase in the number of online courses, based on the most recent survey completed by the Illinois Virtual Campus. During the Spring/Winter 2002 term, Illinois colleges and universities reported offering 2,905 classes via the Internet that generated 34,155 student course enrollments. This is a 47% increase from the online enrollments reported for the Fall 2001 semester and a 73% increase from the Spring 2001 semester. The graph below shows the growth in online course enrollments at Illinois colleges and universities for each fall and spring term since the IVC began collecting enrollment data. The table shows the percentage increase of online course enrollments reported by Illinois colleges and universities for all fall and spring semesters since Fall 1999.... (0) comments http://www.darwinmag.com/read/090102/learn.html E-Learning: Cutting Classes JON SURMACZ E-learning is more than a cost-saver. Those who do it well say the Web allows them to engage students more effectively than traditional classroom training and education—that's where the payoff is. At Seminole Community College in Sanford, Fla. (about 20 miles northeast of Orlando), Maureen Tremel teaches "Introduction to Nursing Processes for the Certified Paramedic." Tremel has taught the theory and lecture portion of the course for two years: online.... As an instructor, Tremel is more focused on the intellectual returns on the school's investment than the cost benefits associated with the software to put the course online. She says online courses force students to do more work on their own because they would rather spend class time seeking answers to their questions, not listening to a lecture.... (0) comments http://www.csuchico.edu/tlp/webct/rubric/ Chico State Rubric for Online Instruction The Committee for the Evaluation of Exemplary Online Courses (CEEOC) was formed to address the need for demonstrating quality in online instruction, and for setting some guidelines for developers of online teaching. The committee reviewed best practices, learning styles, and standards to develop a rubric for evaluating online courses or course components at Chico State.... (0) comments http://libraryjournal.reviewsnews.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA242297&display=Digital+LibrariesNews Institutional Repositories Roy Tenant Faculty and researchers at universities worldwide gather and interpret data, advocate new ideas, and extend human knowledge. This work is sometimes shared with other scholars and researchers as working papers, technical reports, and other forms of prepublication work. Although this scholarship may eventually show up in a peer-reviewed journal or book, some may not. This preprint culture is strongest in the scientific and technical disciplines, but social scientists share similar works. This 'grey literature' is often difficult to find and even more difficult for librarians to collect systematically, manage, and preserve (see 'What Is Grey Literature?' in the link list). But the web and other digital technologies are changing all that.... (0) comments Wednesday, September 18, 2002
http://www.educause.edu/conference/mwrc/2003/ Call for Proposals for EDUCAUSE Midwest Regional Conference "Strategic IT Leadership in Challenging Times" -- March 24-26, 2003, Chicago, Illinois SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL ONLINE EDUCAUSE invites you to submit a proposal for the 2003 Midwest Regional Conference, March 24-26 in Chicago, Illinois. View additional information and submit your proposal at http://www.educause.edu/conference/mwrc/2003/program.asp... (0) comments http://www.usdla.org/html/journal/JAN02_Issue/article01.html Overcoming Barriers to Distance Training and Education Soomyung Kim Cho and Zane L. Berge Abstract: When people within an organization plan for using distance training and education, there are several barriers to their efforts that they are likely to encounter. Consideration of barriers faced by other organizations may help leaders find solutions to reduce or to minimize obstacles in their own organization. Using a content analysis of thirty-two, in-depth case studies of leading organizations, this study begins to explore solutions to the barriers faced by organizations when they use distance education.... (0) comments http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=48286 Northern Arizona University president installed BECKY PALLACK Greg Bryan/Arizona Daily Sun Northern Arizona University's 15th president John Haeger, left, smiles after receiving the presidential medallion from Arizona Board of Regents president Jack Jewitt during his installation ceremony at Ardrey Auditorium Friday. The focus of the installation ceremony Friday for Northern Arizona University President John Haeger was on challenges as speakers reminded the new president of the probable dip in state appropriations to the school in the coming years.... Haeger also ended the debate on the role of distance learning in the university mission. He revealed that nearly a third of NAU's enrollment comes through distributed learning sites. Of 1,900 master's degrees awarded last year, 1,300 were through statewide programs. He predicted that the majority of future students will seek degrees through distributed learning programs.... (0) comments http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2002/09/09/daily34.html Weatherford College enrollment hits record high Weatherford College's enrollment reached a record high of 3,624 students as of Sept. 10, the 12th day of class and the date recognized by the state for funding purposes. The enrollment number was 451 higher than last fall, the college said. The number of students enrolled in distance education increased to 1,424 this year, compared with last fall's 931. The number includes students enrolled in WC's dual-enrollment program, which allows high school students to take courses and receive both high school and college credit.... (0) comments Tuesday, September 17, 2002
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_66052,0003.htm Indian Medical Association training doctors on Internet PTI With the Indian Medical Association (IMA) introducing its distance education program on the internet it would be possible for doctors to update their knowledge and get training in specialised fields with the touch of a finger, sitting at home even in the remotest of the villages. "Any MBBS doctor can enroll into the courses offered by the IMA. All that is required is a computer and an internet connection," Dr Sanjiv Malik, Hony. Secretary General of IMA said adding that the examinations conducted on line and the results would be published immediately.... (0) comments http://www.cetis.ac.uk/content/20020916013733 Learning content. Theirs, yours, mine and ours. Wilbert Kraan, CETIS staff On the 30th of September, MIT's Open Course Ware (OCW) initiative will make the first batch of MIT learning resources available to the world. Free of charge. On the other side of the pond, the CELEBRATE project has just started to establish a digital repository to see, among many other things, what kind of model will generate a viable stock of learning objects for Europe's schools. Meanwhile, projects like the universal brokerage project and the UK's National Learning Network (NLN) are maturing nicely. The question that arises, then, is where all that learning content is going to come from, and, more importantly, who is going to make it.... (0) comments http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/3230646.html Graduating offline Capella University, an online institution, said it graduated 400 students in July, more than double last year's graduating class. Based in Minneapolis, Capella offers degree programs and certificates in business, technology, education, human services and psychology. The university expects the number of online learners to continue to rise. By 2005, Capella projects distance learning to increase 900 percent in the United States with 750,000 students taking courses online.... (0) comments http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/091302/new_wtonline.shtml West Texas' online enrollment climbs in fall Mark Werpney West Texas A&M University's distance education enrollment jumped about 40 percent this fall compared with spring enrollment. Fall enrollment in WTOnline, the university's Internet-based course curriculum, totals 4,056, compared with about 2,900 in the spring, said Flavius Killebrew, provost and vice president for academic affairs. The number of enrollments represents 2,531 actual students taking online classes, compared with 1,500 to 1,600 in the spring, Killebrew said.... (0) comments Monday, September 16, 2002
http://www.distance-educator.com/dnews/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=7507 No Significant Difference And Distance Education Rick Shearer There are many ways we can examine differences between distance education and face-to-face instruction, but using the idea of no significant difference is probably a mis-directed approach. In the Pew Learning and Technology Study ‘Innovations in Online Learning’ authored by Carol Twigg (2001) the issue of no significant difference and equivalent learning outcomes is commingled with the idea of whether distance education is as good as, better, or worse than traditional face-to-face instruction. Here the author has taken a concept, that has been argued by Richard Clark and others in regard to educational technologies, and has applied the idea to the broader topic of distance education. The two issues are not the same.... (0) comments http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22234-2002Sep15.html Web Is a Vital College 'Utility,' Study Reports Internet Outpaces Library For Student Research Needs Ellen McCarthy, Washington Post Staff Writer Just because that college junior still has not found his way to the campus library does not mean he is an academic slacker. Almost three-quarters of U.S. college students now use the Internet more than the library, and a strong majority said the Net has been an asset to their educational experience, according to a report expected to be released today. The study, conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, found that 86 percent of college students have gone online, compared with 59 percent of the general population.... (0) comments http://chronicle.com/free/2002/09/2002091602t.htm Students Embrace the Internet, but Not as Replacement to Classrooms, Study Finds VINCENT KIERNAN A surprising number of college students say they regularly use the Internet for academic purposes, but they see cyberspace as a supplement to -- not a replacement for -- traditional classrooms, a team of researchers reported Sunday. In a survey of 2,054 college students conducted this spring, 79 percent said that the Internet has had a positive impact on their college experience, according to a report on the study, which was financed by the Pew Charitable Trusts' Pew Internet & American Life Project.... (0) comments http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,5071391%255E12333,00.html Plagiarism at 8 per cent Jim Buckell MORE than 8 per cent of students have been found to pilfer large amounts of text from the web in what is believed to be the first comprehensive survey to detect the level of plagiarism in Australian universities. The survey, conducted on behalf of six Victorian universities by university-owned information resources group CAVAL Collaborative Solutions, examined 1751 essays chosen at random from 17 subjects in the first semester of this year. Using web-based detection software, it found 155, or 8.28 per cent, of the essays contained unattributed text copied from other sources that made up 25 per cent or more of the total word count. The report seems certain to lead to sweeping changes in student assessment as early as first semester next year.... (0) comments http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/09/13/1031608319107.html Computer crackdown on university cheats Peter Munro NSW universities are set to crackdown on cheating university students who copy from the internet for their assignments - trapping them with purpose-built software instead of the memories of their professors. Some departments at the University of Technology, Sydney, have been trialling US software to catch out students who use the internet to plagiarise material. Professor Shirley Alexander, from the Interactive Media and Learning department, who has been trying the new method for a year, said in one case the software - which highlights plagiarised passages in different colours - detected one student had cheated 25 times in one essay.... (0) comments Sunday, September 15, 2002
http://www.usdla.org/html/journal/SEP02_Issue/article06.html Faculty Perceptions of Bi-National Distance Education between the U.S and Mexico: An Empirical Analysis Martin Feinberg and Roberto Vinaja; University of Texas - Pan American Abstract: Effective bi-national distance education between U.S. universities and students attending Mexican universities is another potential benefit from the growing cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico. A survey of U.S. university faculty members who have taught courses to students in Mexico was conducted. The results indicate that two intrinsic motivators, satisfaction/enjoyment and desire to keep up with technology, are the greatest incentives for U.S. faculty to participate in bi-national distance education between the U.S. and Mexico. Extrinsic motivators that ranked high are extra pay and opportunities to obtain grants. U.S. university faculty members rank helping students overcome traveling and scheduling barriers as their strongest perceptions of bi-national distance education between the U.S and Mexico. In addition, U.S. university faculty members rank complicated technical requirements as the lowest perception regarding bi-national distance education.... (0) comments http://ifets.ieee.org/periodical/vol_3_2002/frank.html Email as a learning technology in the South Pacific: An evaluation Jonathan Frank, Suffolk University; Janet Toland, Victoria University of Wellington ABSTRACT: This paper examines how students from different cultural backgrounds use email to communicate with other students and lecturers. The South Pacific region, isolated, vast, and culturally diverse, was selected as an excellent research environment in which to study the effect of cultural differences and educational technology on distance learning. The context of the research was two competing distance education institutions in Fiji, the University of the South Pacific and Central Queensland University. The two institutions use email for teaching and learning in quite different ways. At CQU email has been incorporated in teaching pedagogy across all courses, whereas at USP email is available to students, but usage is voluntary. Three research questions are addressed: Does cultural background affect the extent to which students use email to communicate with educators and other students for academic and social reasons? Does cultural background affect the academic content of email messages? Does cultural background influence students' preference to ask questions or provide answers using email instead of face-to-face communication? .... (0) comments http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/15/technology/circuits/15BASI.html A Reference Library on Disk or Online LARRY MAGID A generation or two ago, encyclopedia salesmen would scour neighborhoods, knocking on doors in search of parents willing to part with several months' pay to help ensure the educational success of their children. Their wares often became a fixture of family rooms, growing old, dusty and woefully out of date. Now you can free up those bookcases for novels or knickknacks and use your personal computer to consult an even more impressive set of up-to-date reference works. There are basically two approaches. You can purchase a suite of reference tools on CD-ROM or DVD or you can get access to encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauruses, atlases and other reference works on the Internet. Some Internet sites charge a monthly or annual fee, but others are free. There are even ways for library patrons and students to get free access to some of the fee-based services.... (0) comments http://www.sptimes.com/2002/09/13/Citytimes/Teens_earn_diplomas_w.shtml Teens earn HS diplomas with online program JOHN PETRIMOULX, St. Petersburg Times Students who find the traditional classroom experience boring or irrelevant have long had to grit their teeth or leave school. Likewise, for students who become targets for abuse by classmates. Jessica Hirsch often missed classes last year because she had trouble getting up in the morning. When the South Tampa 16-year-old did attend classes, her attention wandered. "I wrote notes to my friends," she says. "A lot of time in class was wasted. There are 30 students and sometimes the teacher has to work with just one student." What if teenagers could attend school without leaving home? It's happening, in Tampa.... (0) comments Online Learning News Blog Archives OTEL - Ray's Home Page - Notebook - UIS Online - U of I Online - UIS Home Fair Use |
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