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Online Learning News and Research
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Saturday, August 07, 2004
Seeking an educational commons: The promise of open source development models - Gary Hepburn, First Monday
Public schools and other educational institutions need to become more familiar with some of the opportunities that are emerging as a result of open source projects. Leveraging the potential of the Internet as a collaborative medium, open source development projects are producing software and other resources that have the potential to meet many needs of schools. As educators become aware of open source resources, they will immediately recognize the advantages of low–cost alternatives to many commercial products that schools currently use and find expensive. They will also notice that open source resources lack some of the usage restrictions that characterize commercial resources. The low cost and flexibility of open source products makes them very attractive, but no less important is the way in which these resources align with some core educational values. In this article, I illustrate this alignment by exploring the promise that open source resources hold in supporting the ideal of an educational commons. (0) comments
OK, class please go home and log on: Tight schedules, flexibility spur surge in online learning - REBECCA PIRO, Lowell, MA Sun
Graduation is typically a time of lasts for college students who have reached the victorious end to four long years of study. But for a handful of UMass Online students, graduation last spring was a time of firsts the first time they set foot on campus, and the first time they saw each other. "It was just phenomenal," said Jacquie Moloney, UMass Lowell's dean of continuing studies and corporate education, and a part of the UMass Online team. "They were hugging each other, they were hugging their faculty. It showed how much of a community they do build online. (0) comments
UCCP’s annual summer institute for online learning - Jennifer McNulty, UC Santa Cruz Currents
More than 150 educators gathered at UC Santa Cruz recently for the annual online teaching and learning institute hosted by UC College Prep Online (UCCP). The conference, “Building a Culture of Technology for Learning and Teaching in K-12,” took place July 21-23, attracting participants from California, Washington, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Florida, Wyoming, Washington, D.C., and Canada.... Topics focused on the themes of collaboration, content and curricula, implementation of online courses, teaching and learning, and training and technology. Individual sessions and workshops covered such areas as, “Bridging the Digital Divide: Technology and Educational Outreach,” “A School Without Walls: Riding the Wave of the Future,” “Habits of Successful Online Learners--A Student Panel,” “Supporting Online Students: UCCP's Cybermentor Program,” “There Are a Lot of Online Lessons Out There--How Do You Decide What to Use?,” and “Techniques for Appearing On-Camera.” (0) comments Friday, August 06, 2004
Learning Management Systems: Are We There Yet? - Syllabus
The LMS has reached maturity but is racing to keep up with changing requirements on campus and to meet the need for integration with other enterprise systems and a more collaborative working environment. Reminiscent of the kids in the back of the car on your family’s summer vacation, the persistent question about this technology seems to be, “Are we there yet?” Syllabus asked the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s vice president for research in information technology about his vision for learning management systems and related technologies. (0) comments
The Effect of Software Facilitated Communication on Student Outcomes in Online Classes - Stuart S. Gold, Journal of Educators Online
Abstract: This research project examined the question of the relationship between the frequency and method of software-facilitated communication employed and the student outcomes achieved in online university courses. This question directly addressed the issues of 1) the increasing focus by businesses on maximizing their employees’ educational outcomes and leveraging the corporation’s investment and 2) identifying Management Information Systems that support improved student outcomes. The research project was comprised of three related research studies, a preliminary proof of concept, a large-scale study and a validation study to provide a further measure of reliability and validity. The three studies combined incorporated data from 116 online courses and over 1700 students. The results indicate that there is a statistically significant relationship between the method of software-facilitated communication utilized (basic or advanced) and the student final exam grade. The results of the research project indicated that the use of advanced software facilitated communication features, which provide an environment that fosters more sophisticated and feature rich interaction, is important in terms of determining student outcomes. It is not sufficient to create online interaction; rather it is the inherent quality of that interaction which is important in determining student outcomes. (0) comments
Online technology makes taking tests easier - Auckland University
If you hate the eerie silence of an exam room, you are not alone. But for Physics students at The University of Auckland, the silence is less frequent these days. Physics students in the Faculty of Science can now complete their assessments online, in their own time, and instantly find out how well they scored thanks to a new integrated learning and assessment system. Developed by the University's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the OASIS (Online Assessment and Integrated Study) system allows students to prepare for tests, as well as do tests online. (0) comments Thursday, August 05, 2004
Instructional Models for Using Weblogs In eLearning: Case Studies from a Hybrid and Virtual Course - J. David Betts and Stuart J. Glogoff, Syllabus
During the past academic year, faculty members at the University of Arizona have integrated blogging into their courses. The courses have been offered either totally online or as hybrid instruction where students met in a traditional classroom environment but other coursework and communication occurred virtually. Blogs were used in conjunction with other instructional technology tools such as a learning management system, threaded discussion forums, e-mail, and chat rooms. At the end of the course, students completed surveys to assess their use of blogs for skills acquisition as well as their general acceptance of this technology. This article presents models for using blogs and offers recommendations for faculty who are considering using blogs in their courses. (0) comments
Technology is key to educated work force - James Chitwood, Minneapolis Business Journal
We live in a world that is driven by technology. We converse on cell phones as we drive to work, rely on Palm Pilots to keep us on schedule, and utilize the Internet to accomplish a variety of tasks, from conducting research to paying bills. It should come as no surprise, then, that technology also is driving the way in which we learn. The demographics of college students are evolving, with more adults returning to school. Approximately 40 percent of today's college students are "non-traditional" -- that is, they are looking for an accessible and practical education that fits into their schedules and that will help them move up the career ladder. It is in this environment that technology fills the gap to provide greater access to education, as well as advanced learning tools that help ensure a competitive and highly educated work force. (0) comments
Online job training offered single moms - LULADEY B. TADESSE, Delaware News Journal
The Delaware Department of Labor is launching an online job-training program next month to help low-income single moms get ahead in the workplace. The Online Learning program is designed for women whose lack of money, time and transportation keeps them from taking advantage of conventional job training. The state is raising $150,000 through private and corporate grants to start the program, which initially will assist 50 women. The ideal candidate is a mother with children under 18 who has been employed two or more years and has at least a high school degree or GED. She can earn no more than 2 1/2 times the poverty level. (0) comments Wednesday, August 04, 2004
Ivy League E-Learning - Demir Barlas, Line56
Cornell University is one of the premier educational and research institutions in the world. As such, the Ivy League school is known far and wide; but eCornell, the university's wholly-owned subsidiary, hasn't received much publicity, despite the ways in which it is laying the foundation for a new paradigm of e-learning. Executives have been coming to Cornell for specialized development courses for years, but it wasn't until recently that the university saw an opportunity to supplement this classroom experience with online technology, services, and design. Enter eCornell, the university's online learning organization for executives and professionals. (0) comments
Hayley Takes Direct Way to Study Success - Evening Leader, North Wales
The organisers of an online learning course believe one of their students can lay claim to being the busiest 18-year-old in Wrexham as she been working flat out for her A-levels while studying courses via the internet and working part-time in a bakery. Yale college student Hayley Rees, of Gardden Road, Rhos, has been following online courses with the UK’s largest online learning provider, learndirect. Her aim is to complement her A-level studies and also prepare for her law degree, which begins at Aberystwyth University in September. (0) comments
Online enrollment at Oklahoma City Community College - NewsOK
Online enrollment at Oklahoma City Community College has grown every year since the program began in 1999. Administrators expect the trend to continue as they plan to add more Internet-based classes in the fall. For the 2004 fall semester, the college schedule includes 140 online classes -- 25 more than last fall, said Kathryn Wullstein, coordinator of instructional technology and online learning. "If the demand continues to increase, then hopefully we'll find enough instructors to meet that demand," she said. Some online classes have been added out of necessity, Wullstein said. Growing campus enrollment has meant a strain on space. Adding an online class is easier than building another classroom. (0) comments Tuesday, August 03, 2004
Student Characteristics and Academic Achievement in Distance Education and Application on Students of Anadolu University - Hulya Ergul, TOJDE
General interest in distance education, which is perceived as a practical choice by many students, and education institutions is increasing more and more in parallel with the advances in the information and communication technologies. High motivation level, maturity, and self-discipline are seen as necessary general characteristics of successful students for the achievement of distance education programs and for the continuity of students to the programs (Willis, 1994). A combination of cognitive style, personality characteristics and self-expectations is asserted to be able to predict the achievement in distance education (McIsaac & Gunawerdena, 1996). By this study, it is aimed to determine the self-efficacy beliefs for distance education, achievement goals, and self-regulation abilities of students, which are some of the characteristics motivating students of distance education, and to suggest a relationship between these characteristics and academic success. (0) comments
Computers help grade essays - Jay Mathews, NBC
Nadeem Sarwar remembered all the lessons on good writing drummed into him by his ninth-grade teacher at the Newport School in Montgomery County. So last summer when he took the GMAT, the standard entrance exam for business graduate schools, he was careful to be clear and organized, just as Janice Marcus had taught him. But Sarwar, 29, said he was disturbed to discover that one of the graders of his essays on that test would not have been the least bit impressed by Marcus's teaching. The grader wasn't even human. Sarwar's score of five out of six possible points on the analytical writing section was awarded, in part, by a computer program named e-rater. His performance on the GMAT was strong enough to help him gain admission to the George Washington University School of Business. (0) comments
Online allergy certificate & diploma courses for health professionals in primary care Europe
This online course is designed for health professionals in primary care throughout Europe who wish to learn the theoretical aspects of allergy to certificate or diploma level. The allergy certificate and diploma are part of the online learning programme run by Allergy UK and in the process of accreditation by the University of Greenwich. These e-learning courses are fully online and incorporate sound pedagogical principles, a carefully constructed syllabus together with computer mediated tutoring. (0) comments Monday, August 02, 2004
e-Portfolio Thinking - Paul Stacey, BC Technology
Online learning like all digital domains has its trends and right now e-portfolios are on the rise. Are e-portfolios any different than my computer's hard disk? Lets find out.... Portfolios and e-portfolios in particular are seeing a resurgence and diversification of domains in which they are being used along with a an expanding range of purpose for which they are used. Portfolios are being used not just in the arts but in science and technology too. Portfolio use ranges from being a job seeking and employment tool, to a means of accrediting prior and on-the-job learning, to assessing formal learning.... E-portfolio's take portfolio practice online. It is the practice and process of e-portfolio use that differentiate it from just disk storage. E-portfolio contain digital artifacts and products of your best work. These products showcase your achievements and provide evidence of progress and growth. Selecting work for inclusion in a portfolio involves critical thinking, reflection and self-awareness. The value proposition of portfolio lies as much in this process of analysis as it does in the artifacts themselves. (0) comments
WebCT Exemplary Course Project 2004 Winners
In a highly competitive field with dozens of high-quality courses, why were the 2004 exemplary courses selected? This page contains summaries, written by David Graf and Maisie Caines, that explain why the five winners were chosen. Select the hyperlinked course titles for more detailed information about each of the courses. (0) comments
V-mule Interactive Educational Game Prototypes
V-mule is a series of non-violent, multiplayer videogame prototypes that explore the potential learning aspects of these technologies. While the aims of the game are overtly to support the development of children’s thinking and collaboration skills, the scenarios into which they are immersed are more typical of commercial videogames than of traditional ‘edutainment’. Each prototype builds on the lessons learnt from the preceding ones, providing a far more informed and focused iterative production process. (0) comments Sunday, August 01, 2004
Transitioning MBA Statistics to the Online Environment - John R. Grandzol, DEC 2003
Delivering MBA statistics online presents significant challenges to educators and students alike due to varying student preparedness levels, complexity of content, difficulty of assessing learning outcomes, and faculty availability. This case review demonstrates transition of key learning opportunities to the online environment, and offers suggestions for overcoming obstacles to successful mastery of MBA-level statistics. Intended for faculty having limited experience in online delivery, this review may stimulate discussion of successful practices specific to business statistics. (0) comments
A milestone for Unitar - The Star, Malaysia
THE country’s first e-learning university, Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (Unitar), has reached a new milestone with the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Northwood University (NU) in the United States. The collaboration is a step forward for Unitar whose degrees are already recognised by the Australian government for the purpose of employment or further education in Australia. Unitar's president and chief executive officer, Datuk Dr Syed Othman Alhabshi, said: “The collaboration with NU will attract more foreign students to Unitar.” (0) comments
MAILBOX U. - James Varney, Times Picayune
After Louisiana cracked down on diploma mills , several distance-learning institutions moved to Mississippi, where they continue to churn out degrees. As institutions of higher learning go, the campus of Lacrosse University, a storefront at a suburban strip mall, is notably lacking in ivy-covered halls, stadiums and the other accouterments typical of academic life.... Lacrosse, however, does not have the imprimatur of any accrediting agency recognized by the state Department of Education, and Cyprien was sacked. Similarly, Tulane University has separated itself from further association with a part-time instructor at its A.B. Freeman School of Business after The Chronicle of Higher Education, academia's chief trade publication, revealed in June that the instructor's doctorate, then listed on a Tulane Web site, came from Lacrosse. (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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