|
Online Learning News and Research
|
Saturday, January 08, 2005
Feds Promote Online Learning - Florence Olsen, Federal Computer Week
Increasing the use of educational technology could bring about a golden age in American education, according to an Education Department report released today. The report recommends that states, districts and schools give every student access to online learning and, if necessary, reallocate funds so that more money is available for educational technology. It suggests that administrators consider a systematic restructuring of budgets to pay for educational technology, including high-quality digital content and adequate technical support for maintaining computer networks. (0) comments
UB study to revisit question of whether Internet use reduces public use of libraries - Patricia Donovan, University of Buffalo
A major national study conducted by the School of Informatics and the Urban Libraries Council found five years ago that increased Internet use in the U.S. had not produced a reduction in the public use of libraries. The study presented a new consumer model of the U.S. adult market for library and Internet services, one that consisted of "information seekers" who used both resources, but in different ways. With Internet use continuing to grow by leaps and bounds, the UB researchers now are poised to undertake a much larger national study to see what, if any, changes have taken place over the past five years. (0) comments
Encouraging Creativity in Student Online Work - Brent Muirhead, ITDL
Educational and business literature affirms the importance and value of creativity. Unfortunately, this knowledge is not always presented in a manner that is useful to online instructors who want to integrate more reflective lessons into their courses. The discussion will provide vital background information on creativity and offer relevant instructional suggestions to promote creativity in online classes. (0) comments Friday, January 07, 2005
Course Management Systems: It's the Support, Stupid! - Mikael Blaisdell, Campus-Technology
In the open source vs. commercial CMS debate, support turns out to be a deciding factor. Here’s why. At the July Syllabus2004 conference in San Francisco, attendees took a day to head to the UC Berkeley campus where they absorbed session and keynote content, shared information with peers, and participated in vigorous panel discussions. One such discussion, “Is Open Source in Your CMS Future?” tackled the issues around open source course management (or learning management) systems, more commonly referred to as CMS or LMS. Most specifically, the discussion centered on Sakai (www.sakaiproject.org), the open source CMS software released in July 2004. The discussion, led by UC Berkeley’s director of Educational Technology Services, Victor Edmonds, employed the use of personal response software to poll session attendees as issues arose. Interestingly, the polling revealed that for session attendees, a primary concern about open source CMS was the ability to secure dependable support. (0) comments
All Quiet on the Discussion Front - Marina Sapozhnikov, techLearning
“I hope you realize the importance of online collaboration.” “Participation in online discussions constitutes a significant portion of your course grade.” “Now that the initial stage of confusion and uncertainty has subsided, I would like you to become visible in the course by starting to participate in the Discussion Board forums.” Postings like these may sound familiar to online instructors who are teaching classes comprised of non-native students. (0) comments
Continuing Education E-learning Demand to Double in 2005 - Smart Pros
Demand for online courses will almost double in 2005, as professionals and companies realize e-learning's distinct advantages, according to officials at RedVector.com, a Tampa-based company that offers online courses to professionals involved in the design and construction industries.... A recent survey of RedVector.com clients indicates professionals and corporate leaders had different reasons for adopting online education. Professionals cited the variety and depth of course offerings while corporate leaders cited cost savings and relevance of courses to business goals. (0) comments Thursday, January 06, 2005
From Recruitment to Graduation: A Whole-of-Institution Approach to Supporting Online Students - Dianne P. Chambers, OJLDA
Many universities and colleges are moving from traditional on-campus teaching to also teaching online courses to distant students. Institutions face many challenges in supporting their distant students and need a holistic view of the support that distant students require. This paper proposes ways that institutions could meet these needs of online (distance) students through exploring the stages that an online student progresses through from the student's perspective. (0) comments
Western Governors University Improves its Grade - Eric Kelderman, GovTech
After five years, an online university launched by 19 Western governors is beginning to flourish. Western Governors University, which started offering education via the Internet in 1999, doubled its enrollment to 3,000 students in the past year. The virtual university, chartered in 1996 by the Western Governors Association as a private, non-profit institution, now offers 24 separate degrees in education, business administration and information technology on the undergraduate and graduate level. This compares with just 750 students enrolled in nine different degree programs in 2002. (0) comments
Bryant's virtual classroom benefits busy MBA students - LINDA BORG, Providence Journal
Bryant University is offering a MBA program geared toward the stressed-out professional who is juggling the responsibilities of family and career while trying to earn a master's degree in business administration. The new program combines the convenience of distance learning with the personal attention and academic rigor of a face-to-face classroom experience. Graduate students can take some elective courses via computer. Unlike other programs, where students communicate with their professors strictly by e-mail, Bryant students, equipped with headsets, can participate in real-time discussions with their professors. (0) comments Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Excelsior College/NYSUT Team Up to Help Teachers Earn Master's Degrees Online to Meet Regents' Requirement
Excelsior College and the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) have teamed up to help new teachers meet a state Board of Regents requirement that they obtain a master's degree within three years. Since the Regents' requirement went into effect in February 2004, entry-level teachers have expressed concerns that it would be difficult for them to obtain the degree so quickly while continuing to work full time, and that it would be a hardship for them to incur the expense of a master's degree during their early years in the profession. The Excelsior/NYSUT agreement addresses both of these concerns. Excelsior College, the nation's oldest distance-learning college, will accept up to 15 transfer credits from courses offered by NYSUT toward the college's 33-credit-hour Master of Arts in Liberal Studies degree. The rest of the courses would be taken online from Excelsior at the convenience of each teacher. College officials estimate that teachers coming into the program with 15 credits could complete the master's program in as few as 18 months while working full time. (0) comments
Students Embrace Online Learning - Shirley M. Adams, the Day New London, CT
Charter Oak State College, a leader in online undergraduate education in Connecticut, has experienced similar enrollment growth. In 1998, Charter Oak had only 60 students registered in seven online courses. In 2003, the number of students enrolled in 81 online courses reached 1,635, an increase of 262 percent. From 2002 to 2003, alone, there was a 31 percent increase in online enrollment at the college. Charter Oak currently offers 100 online courses and boasts a student retention rate of 90 percent.... In surveys conducted by Charter Oak, its students consistently report being satisfied with online learning. They report their courses are as demanding as — or more demanding — than their face-to-face courses. They also report that online interaction with their instructors and classmates creates an effective learning environment that allows them to learn from each other. (0) comments
UVSC Enrollment - David Randall, Daily Herald
Spring classes start today at UVSC, but students may notice a few empty seats, because almost 7,000 have left the school since last semester. The nearly 30 percent drop in enrollment from over 24,000 in the fall to around 17,000 for the spring is typical at Utah Valley State College, administrators say, and shouldn't be alarming.... One partial explanation for the trend is that campus students are leaving the classroom for distance learning courses given on television, video feeds or the Internet. (0) comments Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Assessing Discussion Forum Participation: In Search of Quality - Stephen Corich, Kinshuk, and Lynn.M.Hunt; ITDL
The flexibility that e-learning offers and the growing maturity of e-learning management systems has lead to a rapid growth in the acceptance of e-learning as a method of delivering educational and vocational training. The use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) tools, and in particular asynchronous discussion forums, as a means of promoting communication and a collaboration between e-learning participants has lead to a growing interest by the academic and training community in the pedagogical value of such tools. (0) comments
Technology bringing education into reach - Taiwan Journal
The lightning-fast pace of technological growth and advancement is making life easier for people in countless different ways, not the least of which is in the realm of education. Electronic communications systems are becoming faster and more reliable, opening up many opportunities for distance learning. This is especially true in Taiwan, which already enjoys a relatively high Internet-penetration rate. Taiwan's success at information technology (IT) manufacturing is well documented. It is perhaps not surprising therefore that this IT expertise would be applied to a wide range of applications, such as computer-aided distance learning. (0) comments
In virtual school, teacher is just an e-mail away - Melissa Hart, Christian Science Monitor
For years, I taught English in traditional high school and college classrooms. There's nothing like the energy and excitement of a group discussion about a novel, poem, or essay. But there's something different that goes on in a distance-learning program, and pedagogues should look further before they recoil from education via computer. My school, like other distance-learning programs, offers a range of K-12 courses and electives. I work with young adults who are Hollywood actors, Olympic hopefuls, and world travelers - students for whom a traditional five-day-a-week school is impractical. I also work with young people who are in recovery from drugs or alcohol, kids who've been bullied by classmates, chronically ill students, and those in bereavement due to divorce or death. These students cannot flourish in a traditional classroom, where there are 30-plus individuals expected to conform to a strict curriculum. (0) comments Monday, January 03, 2005
Problem Based Management Learning-Better Online? - Petra Luck and Bill Norton, EURODL
This paper explores and compares mature students' perspectives and experiences of face-to-face and online collaborative learning using a Problem Based Learning approach in an undergraduate Management Education module for Early Years Education and Care Managers. Data was collected for a face-to-face group (N=17) and an online group (N=9) on perceptions of learning outcomes achieved and reflective individual evaluations at key assessment points via questionnaire, on students' views of the nature and delivery of the course through focus group discussions, on grades attained and on tutor reflections. While no differences were found in grades achieved or in self-reported attainment of course outcomes, collaborative learning was perceived more favourably by online learners than face-to-face learners and these online learners demonstrated a more rapid development of academic literacy skills. The paper suggests further research areas in terms of gender and applicability of findings to 'traditional' HE students. (0) comments
Special aspects of moderating virtual classroom-scenarios - Heike Hufnagel & Mareike Geisen, Eurodl
A 3-dimensional virtual classroom that supports synchronous collaborative learning and working is presented. In this environment participants are represented by avatars. They can communicate by audio- or text-chat. In addition, a specific nonverbal repertoire is available. Experiences of preparing, conducting and reinforcing collaborative learning sessions in this environment are described. From these experiences three main tasks of moderating and creating virtual group sessions are derived and their importance is allocated. Specific didactical and psychological aspects are pointed out. Furthermore, it is revealed that the ability of moderating groups can be learned by role change between moderator and single participants in the virtual setting. (0) comments
Online Tests Allow Spoken Responses
Questionmark announces the integration of Questionmark™ Perception™ testing and assessment software with vocal collaboration tools from Horizon Wimba, a leading provider of vocal solutions for education and online business. The integration enables learners to speak into a microphone and have the computer record their answers to questions — a boon for language teachers and corporate trainers alike. (0) comments Sunday, January 02, 2005
Report Examines Foreign Markets for Higher Ed eLearning
The education consulting firm Hezel Associates released a preliminary report detailing foreign market opportunities for US higher education institutes. The preliminary report examines markets in Asia, Latin America, and Europe, and a more detailed report by country is slated for February 2005. A preview is now available on Hezel Associates Web site. (thanks to http://www.campus-technology.com/news_issue.asp?id=154#view for link to report) (0) comments
Assessing Portalness - Bert DeSimone, Campus Technology
Campuses are continuing to expand their offerings of online services. In the past it was the core administrative systems. When most course management systems were initially implemented, they were isolated from the traditional enterprise administrative systems. Soon, however, it became clear that users were not well served if they were addressing each system individually. There rose a demand to integrate not only these offerings, but also other online services outside the university. A portal implementation became the means to address these needs. For many students and faculty, the portal is a critical integration component for the course management system. In the following viewpoint we explore how to evaluate the portal's effectiveness. (0) comments
ONLINE LEARNING AND TIME-ON-TASK: IMPACT OF PROCTORED VS. UN-PROCTORED TESTING - Gregory S. Wellman and Henryk Marcinkiewicz, JALN
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of proctored versus un-proctored testing on practice time and learning for a self-study, online course in medical terminology. Participants included 120 college students in a pharmacy curriculum. Subjects were randomized to one of three groups utilizing textbook with proctored assessment, online instruction with proctored assessment, or online instruction with un-proctored assessment. A pre-test and post-test was administered to all three groups to evaluate learning. Content page “hits” and practice quiz access was tracked for participants. Learning, as defined by pre/post-test change score, was greatest in the presence of proctored assessment (online and text) (p = 0.027). In addition, use of practice quizzes had a stronger relative correlation with learning (r = 0.401; p<0.001) when compared to content page “hits” (r = 0.257; p = 0.024). Online course content paired with meaningful time-on-task (e.g. practice quizzes) was most effective when paired with proctored assessment. (0) comments Online Learning News Blog Archives OTEL - Ray's Home Page - Notebook - UIS Online - U of I Online - UIS Home Fair Use |
Online Learning Update 
