Archive for July, 2007
July 28th, 2007 by Jorge Goncalves
Third International Forum on E-Learning for Defence and Security. ‘A Forum on technology assisted training for defence, security and emergency services at Online Educa Berlin.
Technology is changing the world of security. In an increasingly inter-linked global security environment, new threats and challenges have created an urgent need for imaginative new responses. Nowhere is this more true than in the area of education and training where technology is bringing new advantages and opportunities.
Following the success of two previous conferences on E-Learning for Defence and Security, ‘The Third International Forum on E-Learning for Defence and Security,’ will review the new training challenges facing today’s security and emergency services, assess the impact of new technology and consider the potential for future development.
‘The Third International Forum on E-Learning for Defence and Security’ will be held at Online Educa Berlin on November 28 and hosted by The New Security Foundation. The Forum, which will once again bring together leading figures from government, business, security and academia, will consist of a main plenary session and a number of ‘breakout’ workshops focussing in detail on key issues.’
Online Educa Berlin 2007. ‘Online Educa Berlin is the key annual networking event for the international technology-supported learning and training industry. It is the industry’s largest international forum, attracting high-level decision makers from education, business and government sectors. Attendees forge essential cross-industry contacts and partnerships, and enhance their knowledge and expertise.’
July 19th, 2007 by Jorge Goncalves
The Learning Objects Portal is a gateway to many resources about learning objects and repositories. You are invited to meander through the portal sections below based on your interest.
The Learning Objects Portal is a collaborative effort between four adult educators from various parts of Canada who came together through common interest. Motivation was provided by the MDDE663: Critical Issues in Distance Education Technology course lead by Dr. Terry Anderson. MDDE663 is a course in the Masters of Distance Education program at Athabasca University.
If you are new to learning objects we suggest starting with the “Information” section. If you like to discover through interaction, we suggest you visit our “Activities” section. This site is intended to serve the needs of novice and more seasoned folks interested in learning objects. Novice activities, resources, and the like are marked with a one-room schoolhouse icon. More in depth activities, resources, and the like are marked with two, one-room schoolhouses.
July 19th, 2007 by Jorge Goncalves
It’s Time to Drop E-Learning. ‘For some, e-learning is only now coming into its own. For others, the word smacks of an obsession with technology. Donald H Taylor argues that it’s time to drop the ‘e’ and start concentrating on the ‘learning’.
It’s time to drop e-learning. Let’s be specific. It’s time to drop the ‘e’ in e-learning. It’s time to recognise that the ‘e’ carries the stigma of past hyperbole, puts some potential learners and managers off and smacks of a love of technology that has everything to do with content delivery, rather than individual learning.
If the ‘e’ was ever useful, it has outlived that use now. That’s why ELIG – formerly the E-Learning Industry Group – is now ELIG, the European Learning Industry Group (although if you examine their site you’ll find the word e-learning scattered liberally all over it).’
July 17th, 2007 by Jorge Goncalves
Guide to Healthcare Schools. Guide to Healthcare Schools is a directory of online and campus-based schools that offer health-related degrees and training. This directory, aimed at adult students and working professionals, offers more than 1000 healthcare degrees and training programs.
Particularly for online schools, this site lists 28 colleges and universities offering healthcare degrees. For each one of these institutions a page is presented with the different degrees offered. The student can also fill a form to get more information.
I have tested the site looking for some degrees. For example, for Nursing I obtained 6 schools offering online degrees and several others offering traditional learning, ordered by State. Looking for Ultrasound Tech/Sonographer, no online schools offer this degree, only campus-based institutions. For some more technical specialties it could be difficult to find suitable online degrees.
The site is very well organized, with all the data available through a few clicks. On the left sidebar we find links to the different programs available and to some partner sites. On the main body, we find links to popular searches and to the most searched schools, degrees by type (online, associate, bachelor, master or PhD) and educational resources. A search engine is also available.
In the Educational Resources section we can find helpful information on important topics like how to search for healthcare schools, choosing an online degree and the importance of accreditation. The information is concise but very relevant.
The site works well but looks too much packed. I would prefer a lighter version with less information on the front page. The visitor could be puzzled with so many options. I would suggest a three column layout with some graphical elements. The first impression is almost always the most important.
Overall impression: Guide To Healthcare Schools is a valuable tool for a prospective student looking for healthcare-related degrees. With minor improvements it can become a reference in this area.
[This a sponsored post]
July 17th, 2007 by Jorge Goncalves
Article: Questioning the Student Use of and Desire for Lecture Podcasts, Laura A. Guertin, Matthew J. Bodek, Sarah E. Zappe, Heeyoung Kim, MERLOT Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, Vol. 3, No. 2, June 2007. Abstract: The use of audio files, specifically podcasts, has become more visible and accessible to students in higher education. Despite a lack of pedagogical research on the benefits of podcasting, several universities have adopted the technology of using audio for instruction outside of class and sharing of information. Although institutions and instructors have embraced the technology, have the students? A professor in an introductory geoscience course for nonscience majors recorded the audio from classroom lectures and made these audio files available through the university’s online course management system. Student accesses of the audio files were tracked. The students were surveyed about their knowledge on how to utilize the audio files and if they believed the audio to be of some use. Although percentages were not high in terms of student accesses to individual lectures, and a little over half the students were aware of how to access and utilize the files, all of the students reported a perceived value to having lecture podcasts available.
MERLOT Journal of Online Learning and Teaching (JOLT). ‘MERLOT is a free and open resource designed primarily for faculty and students of higher education. The MERLOT Journal of Online Learning and Teaching (JOLT) is a peer-reviewed, online publication addressing the scholarly use of multimedia resources in education. JOLT is published quarterly in March, June, September, and December.’
July 17th, 2007 by Jorge Goncalves
E-Learning Community 2.0 (Beta). ‘E-Learning Community 2.0 is a social site for knowledge seekers to enrich their knowledge through online learning, sharing and socializing to make new friends without boundaries.
E-Learning Community 2.0 is also an internet marketplace for infopreneurs (especially knowledge providers and internet marketers) to create, host, promote and manage their information business effectively in one single and easy-to-use environment.’
E-Learning Community 2.0 Blog
July 11th, 2007 by Jorge Goncalves
Portraits of Learning 2007 - Technology & Learning’s Digital Photo Contest for Kids. ‘Students, Get Published. Teachers, Showcase Your Lesson Plans. Technology & Learning invites K-12 students to participate in the sixth annual digital photography contest. The competition, open to all K-12 students, challenges you to capture—and share—your unique vision of the world in a “Digital Diary — Through My Lens.” If you have an artistic side, you also have the option to digitally enhance your photos with your favorite imaging software. The best digitally enhanced photo wins a special prize from Adobe. Other prizes include a digital camera, Adobe Photoshop Elements, and more!
Teachers may submit classroom and/or individual photos or students may submit their own individual photos. If photos are being submitted over the summer, either parents (for young students) or students may submit referencing their grade level and teacher from the recently completed year.
All Portraits of Learning materials must be submitted electronically. Photographs must be received by midnight, October 19, 2007.’
Update: See the 2007 winning student photos.
July 10th, 2007 by Jorge Goncalves
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is the trusted source for professional development, knowledge generation, advocacy, and leadership for innovation. A nonprofit membership organization, ISTE provides leadership and service to improve teaching, learning, and school leadership by advancing the effective use of technology in PK–12 and teacher education. Home of the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS), the Center for Applied Research in Educational Technology (CARET), and the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), ISTE represents more than 85,000 professionals worldwide. We support our members with information, networking opportunities, and guidance as they face the challenge of transforming education.’
ISTE Educator Resources. ‘ISTE is dedicated to helping educators around the world connect with information, people, and organizations. On this page you will a variety of tools and resources to help you bring educational technology into the classroom.’ Assessment and Curriculum are my favorite sections.
July 8th, 2007 by Jorge Goncalves
Teaching with Technology Idea Exchange 2008 (TTIX): The Open Conference on Technology in Education. ‘The 4th Annual Teaching with Technology Idea Exchange will be June 5-6, 2008 on the UVSC campus in Orem, Utah, with a pre-conference workshop on faculty development June 4.
Join other educators, developers, and innovators from across the nation and beyond in this two-day conference devoted to the exchange and development of information, best practices, and new ideas. TTIX is an open conference that encourages free access to presentation information and materials, and facilitates the sharing of knowledge. Registration for this conference is and always will be free.
You are invited to contribute to the professional knowledge provided at this conference by presenting a session that relates to teaching and learning with technology.
The 2008 call for proposals is now open until February 1, 2008. Attendance is free, but pre-registration is required.’
July 8th, 2007 by Jorge Goncalves
(Put Yourself On…) PEDESTAL. ‘PEDESTAL stands for Platform for Exchange of Documents and Expertise Showcasing Teaching At Loughborough. The name reflects PEDESTAL’s mission of creating a service which provide new opportunities for the sharing of materials and discussion related to teaching.
Teaching materials can be easily uploaded to PEDESTAL through a simple upload mechanism and the access of each item can be determined to suit every need. For example, a file can be kept private, be available to logged on users i.e. Loughborough staff, or it can be made open to everyone.
PEDESTAL is not just about the sharing content, each user has their own blog which can be used to capture user’s thoughts and interests. Links to useful documents or webpage’s can be recorded, which also may be of interest to many others.
PEDESTAL is structured around people – i.e. the users. Each user is given a personal profile page which can be customised to show their teaching and research interests.’
PEDESTAL overview for all users
July 6th, 2007 by Jorge Goncalves
Zinch. ‘Zinch empowers high school students to pro actively showcase themselves to colleges and universities across the nation. Students create a detailed online portfolio painting a vibrant picture of who they are. In turn, colleges and universities search through the comprehensive Zinch database recruiting students matching their criteria.
Zinch allows students to actively let any college in America know who they are and to show what they bring to the world. Zinch is a movement for students to show colleges that they are not the 27 or 1860 they’re currently seen as; they have names, passions, and background differences that make them unique and desirable to colleges. Zinch is thus a tool by which college can make better recruiting decisions based on better information.’
July 5th, 2007 by Jorge Goncalves
Pedagogical affordances of syndication, aggregation, and mash-up of content on the Web, by Barbara Dieu and Vance Stevens, TESL-EJ, Vol. 11.1 (2007). Excerpt: As Internet and online learning become more and more incorporated into our courses, syllabi, and teaching materials, it becomes increasingly important that the impact the Web is having on changing perceptions of literacy carries over to the way we practice teaching and learning. Here we will focus on which collaborative online tools can most appropriately be applied in online and blended courses to foster reading and writing. Specifically, we will discuss some of the freely available social networking platforms and tools, their common features, and how these can help language learners find, aggregate and harvest learning objects while connecting to other people on the Web at large. We will also introduce two web publishing projects, Dekita.org and Writingmatrix, and explain how they function to facilitate this process and encourage connections.
TESL-EJ: Teaching English as a Second or or Foreign Language - Electronic Journal. ‘TESL-EJ began as the brainchild of a group of scholars who saw the need for a freely-distributed electronic academic journal. It has grown to become an internationally- recognized source of ESL and EFL information for people in scores of countries. TESL-EJ is fully refereed - each article undergoes a review by at least two knowledgeable scholars.’
