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Online Learning News and Research
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Saturday, February 21, 2004
National University to Offer Spanish MBA Program Online
National University, one of California's largest private non-profit universities, will over its online Executive Master of Business Administration degree program in Spanish, beginning this coming summer. "By translating all of our coursework to Spanish we will serving an enormous yet underserved market, both domestically and internationally," said Dr. Thomas Green, interim dean of National University's School of Business and Information Management. He added that a large volume of business opportunities and business transactions are emerging in California and Latin America that demand a well-educated, Spanish speaking workforce to provide leadership in international business relations and global trade. (0) comments
Accessibility of Tools for Synchronous Communication - Dagmar Amtmann, Debbie Cook, Kurt Johnson; National Center on Accessible Information Technology
Online distributed learning, also referred to as distance learning, has grown exponentially throughout the last decade. Online learning management systems (LMS), such as Blackboard, WebCT, Learning Space, E-College, Prometheus and numerous proprietary systems developed by educational institutions are increasingly used to deliver web-based content and create online education environments. These systems, also sometimes called courseware, offer server-based course management that integrates learning tools, utilities, and curriculum content. A list of tools that instructors can choose from is long and includes calendars, assignment tools (for giving assignments and submitting student work), classroom discussion tools, tools for viewing grades, evaluating progress, tools for sharing work and peer review, and many other others. (0) comments
American Public University System Earns Regional Accreditation Candidacy From North Central Association
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), a regional accrediting body, has granted initial candidacy status to the American Public University System, whose three member institutions serve 11,000 students in all 50 states and 65 countries. More than 80 percent are members of the armed forces. Many others serve in national security, criminal justice, firefighting and homeland security professions. The regional candidacy status applies to the American Public University System's flagship American Military University (AMU), as well as its American Public University and American Community College distance learning institutions. The University System and its institutions are already nationally accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council. (0) comments Friday, February 20, 2004
ALN: What Are the Implications for Teaching and Learning? - John C. Hitt, Ninth Annual Sloan-C ALN Conference
...In his groundbreaking study, What Matters in College: Four Critical Years Revisited, Alexander Astin correlated 146 input variables and 82 outcome variables, drawing from a sample of nearly 25,000 students from 309 institutions (Astin, 1993). He concludes that student-faculty interaction, student-student interaction, and learning communities are among the most powerful predictors of positive learning and social outcomes in colleges and universities. (0) comments
USING ASYNCHRONOUS LEARNING IN REDESIGN: REACHING AND RETAINING THE AT-RISK STUDENT - Carol A. Twigg, JALN
Many students who begin postsecondary education drop out before completing a degree. According to the Lumina Foundation, an estimated 60 percent of students at public institutions fail to complete degrees within five years, and half of these students leave during the freshman year. As shown by research by the Policy Center on the First Year of College at Brevard College (NC) and others, the first year of college is the most critical to a college student's success and to degree completion. (0) comments
Go back to school: stay at home - MICHAEL HUMPHREY, Kansas City Star
If the next pop-up ad on your Web browser is not trying to improve your sex life, chances are it's trying to send you back to college. Online education, or distance learning, has boomed. And why not? Head to class from the comfort of your home whenever you want and still get that next degree you need to advance. (0) comments Thursday, February 19, 2004
Online Courses: North Carolina State Moves To Expand Its E-Learning Efforts - Local Tech Wire
N.C. State University has selected the WebCT Vista academic enterprise system to increase e-learning cooperation across sections, courses, faculty and departments. WebCT is provider of e-Learning solutions for higher education that is based in Lynnfield, MA. It has secured $125 million in six rounds of equity financing since 1997. N.C. State says it houses more than 1,000 courses via its existing course management system, WebCT Campus Edition. Nine out of 10 students on the 30,000-student Raleigh campus have taken web-enhanced or distance learning courses. (0) comments
Predicting Student Success in Online Courses: A New Measure - Marcel Kerr, Kimberly Rynearson, Marcus Kerr; DEC 2003
Currently there exist several measures of learning styles, and scores on these measures are related to student success in the classroom. These measures may or may not translate into success for the online student. Participants of this session will learn about a new instrument that is being developed to predict online student success. This session should particularly benefit those individuals who are currently developing online courses and/or online distance learning programs in higher education. The research literature consists of a number of studies that provide evidence of predictors of college student success in the classroom. (0) comments
An Online Assistant for Remote, Distributed Critiquing of Electronically Submitted Assessment - Penny Baillie-de Byl, Educational Technology & Society
Abstract: This paper outlines the architecture for an online assessment management system implemented at the University of Southern Queensland. The system assists teams of academics in the management and marking of electronically submitted student assignments in large-scale classes. The system designed to provide a flexible yet structured method for providing feedback to students also offers semi-automatic file handling and grade recording. The system, Classmate, allows a team of markers to access and mark student assignments through a web interface designed to parallel paper-based marking systems. An online authoring tool replaces the red pen on paper analogy. A pilot study conducted on the use of Classmate has found the system to be of use in providing students with consistent feedback, allowing traditional assignment interactions and reducing trivial and repetitive assignment marking tasks. (0) comments Wednesday, February 18, 2004
The changing of values of education and the world wide knowledge society - Florence University
The changing of values of education in the transformation between industrial society and post-industrial society is a important issues that today world wide generates a rethinking process about education's ability to respond to the contemporary needs of knowledge management and to reflect about the SWOT analysis among the “ relevance/obsolescence” of new contents and methods, that are necessary for renewing all over the world training programs in a way that they can be useful for the socio economic development in the Knowledge Society age. One of the most important changes is a consequence of the possibility to transform “Distance Education to Distributed on line Learning” to organize a “Sharing Knowledge Methodology” in the World Wide Web. . (0) comments
Identifying and Addressing Adult Learning Principles in Web-Enhanced/Web-Based Courses - Glenda Ballard, DEC 2003
The purpose of this project is to present adult learning principles as outlined in the adult education literature and to illustrate ways in which adult education principles are addressed through web-based instruction. Non-traditional adult students are encountering some unique learning experiences as a result of their involvement in web-enhanced or webbased courses. This study will examine the literature on principles of adult students and then address those principles within the context of nontraditional course deliveries. (0) comments
E-learning takes off at RAF - James Mortleman, Vnunet
The Royal Air Force Police (RAFP) has embarked on an e-learning programme to train personnel in investigation and security techniques. Later this month the force will roll out a bespoke online training system from professional education specialist Intuition. The system uses on-screen simulation and testing to instruct officers on how to deal with such issues as offensive weapons, theft, grievous bodily harm and sexual offences. (0) comments Tuesday, February 17, 2004
Lessons from afar: Concerns of Distance Students - Miller, Preston, Elbert, Lindner; DEC 2003
Online distance learning courses have student retention and completion rates 10 to 20 percent lower than traditional courses (Carr, 2000) despite the fact that research has shown that online learning is as effective as face-to-face learning. How can you, as an instructor, help your students feel connected, motivated, and successful? Two online students discuss the importance of student support, communication and presentation. (0) comments
Mainstreaming Distance Learning into the Community College - Linda M. Thor and Carol Scarafiotti, JALN
Rio Salado, one of the Maricopa Community Colleges in the Phoenix metropolitan area, has not only carved a market niche as a leading distance learning provider for working adults, but has experienced double-digit growth increases as high as 40 percent annually in its online enrollments. With unduplicated headcount exceeding 21,000 distance learning students last year, the majority of them enrolled in web-based courses, this college without a campus has been recognized as a national model for online teaching and learning. This article details how Rio Salado has mainstreamed distance learning throughout the entire college. (0) comments
More E-Learning Patent Suits Expected in 2004 - Learning Circuits
E-learning suppliers will dig deeper in 2004 to pay license fees for patents that cover inventions and business processes used in online learning. That’s the prediction from patent attorneys and other experts following another growth year on the intellectual property licensing front. “The number of suits over patents will continue to increase as more patents are awarded,” says Michael Sartori, a Washington, D.C. patent attorney. (0) comments Monday, February 16, 2004
Are Students’ and Teachers’ Views of On-line Courses in Accordance? Dual Perspective on a University Course - J. Lindh & C.A.Soames, eLearning Europa
Our study investigates how students and their teacher experienced an online course. We were interested if both parties perceived similar advantages and disadvantages in online learning. An online course at Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, was scrutinized from different perspectives. The course chosen for investigation was Business English Online (BUENGON 1), which was running for the second time since autumn 2001. The platform used was the school’s intranet called JIBSNet, developed to handle administration of all the courses, and to provide some facilities for communication between teachers and students. (0) comments
Going the Distance in Teacher Certification: An Exploration of Online Delivery - Ginger Dennis and Sherilyn Emberton, DEC 2003
This article describes the success of LeTourneau University’s effort to meet the challenge of recruiting additional teacher certification candidates for Texas public PK-12 schools. The Postbaccalaureate Accelerated Certification for Teachers (PACT) program, which targets the midcareer professional for initial teacher certification, uses web-based course delivery, hands-on workshops, and videoconferencing. Teacher candidates complete twenty-six credit hours of certification preparation during the year long program, including a twelve-week student teaching semester or two semesters of internship. (0) comments
We Learning: Social Software and E-Learning, Part II - Eva Kaplan-Leiserson, Learning Circuits
Early e-learning traded technology for human interaction. Now, the personal element is being added back in. New social software tools borrowed from business and the younger generations combine tech and touch for the best of all possible worlds (including virtual ones). (0) comments Sunday, February 15, 2004
Student Perception Regarding Pre -selected Online Pedagogy - Dayle Yeager and Charlotte A. Larkin, DEC 2003
Students in two undergraduate and four graduate online courses were surveyed to determine commonalities and differences that existed. Among the variables investigated were demographics, educational levels, professional needs, personal interests, and career statuses. Specific questions were directed toward determining student achievement and satisfaction with the online environment. As with a traditional classroom environment, an online environment will also produce not only varying levels of achievement but also varying degrees of likes and dislikes. This descriptive survey’s purpose was to determine student perceptions as a result of online experiences in one of six courses. The survey instrument was administered online during the thirteenth week of a fifteen week semester and consisted of fourteen questions involving demographics and personal study habits, four questions addressing student perception variables, six questions comparing online and traditional classroom settings, and eight questions involving overall perceptions. (0) comments
Indian education officials discuss virtual tribal college - Julia Lyon, Bend Bulletin
Education officials from Indian tribes throughout Oregon are discussing the creation of a virtual tribal college. Proponents say the program would the first of its kind in the nation. The proposed institution would allow reservation residents to access pre-existing college courses at other schools through fiber optics and other technology. (0) comments
THE ORION PROJECT: CONNECTING A COMMUNITY - Richard M. Rhodes and Barbara Walker, JALN
Certainly, the computer and the internet have opened up opportunities and stimulated unprecedented growth. However, even after the turn of a new century, the Digital Divide has not yet closed and sectors of people are still excluded from enjoying the opportunities and growth that now exist. El Paso Community College, in collaboration with El Paso Independent School District and the University of Texas at El Paso, have begun work to bring together all of El Paso’s independent networks into a single high-speed community network that provides online access and delivery of K-Gray education. This newly created Orion Ring Project has identified specific objectives such as delivering dual-credit enrollment classes to high school students and mentoring first-year teachers and education students in the field in order to stem high attrition rates. The next phase will involve adding other networks, such as the UTEP Internet 2 link, to the Orion Ring. (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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