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Jun 10th, 2005
Online education opportunities are gaining ground as an option for continuted eduction for those over 50. From San Diego State University, an article on online education extending beyond the traditional college age.
First impressions are enduring, and SDSU's College of Extended Studies (CES) appears to have made a good first impression with its Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
Recently, the College received its second $100,000 grant from the Bernard Osher Foundation earmarked exclusively for continuing education programs designed for individuals 50 years of age and better.
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Jun 8th, 2005
A great resource from GetEducated.com here listing the top 25 online programs in engineering. The listing of online programs in engineering includes the average cost as well.
1. North Carolina State University (NC) $5,280 (NC); $20,000 (Others)
2. California State University – Dominguez (CA) $5,500
3. Mississippi State University (MI) $6,848
4. South Dakota School Mines (SD) $7,680
5. Oklahoma State University (OK) $8,800 (OK); $13,600 (Others)
6. University of South Carolina (SC) $8,910 (SC); $16,650 (Others)
7. University of Toledo (OH) $9,097 (OH); $19,663 (Others)
8. University of Tennessee (TN) $9,060 (TN); $25,380 (Others)
9. State University of New York Binghamton (NY) $9,356 (NY); $14,367 (Others)
10. Eastern Michigan University (MI) $10,101
11. Boise State University (ID) $10,620 (ID); $13,140 (Others)
12. University of Delaware (DE) $10,530 (DE); $26,670 (Others)
13. Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VA) $10,313 (VA); $17,175 (Others)
14. California State University Long Beach (CA) $11,550
15. Capitol College (MD) $12,300
16. Kansas State University (KS) $13,000
17. University of Idaho (ID) $13,710
18. Iowa State University (IA) $14,100
19. Auburn University (AL) $15,000
19. University of Wisconsin Platteville (WI) $15,000
20. University of Illinois Chicago (IL) $15,840
21. University of Colorado Boulder (CO) $16,050
22. University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA) $16,500
23. Pennsylvania State University ((PA)) $16,830
24. Oregon State University (OR) $17,145
25. University of Missouri Rolla MO) $17,148 (MO); $34,631 (Others)
Posted by
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Jun 8th, 2005
Visions for the future of online education offered in this article at Innovate. Are we at a Crossroads for online education?
Despite the relative stasis that we are currently experiencing in the development of online education (Sodders 2004; Zemsky and Massey 2004, 31-32), I am convinced that dramatic changes will occur, sooner rather than later. Online instruction has grown about as much as it possibly can within current educational structures.
We are at the point where something has to give: Either schools will stay the same and leave online efforts at a standstill, or our concept of school will change and allow online instruction to grow.
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Jun 6th, 2005
From Educause, this story on how distance courses are being facilitated by software agents Acting as teaching assistants. This distance courses effort comes from the Open University of Hong Kong.
The Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) is a distance education university with about 22,500 students. In fulfilling its mission, the university has adopted various Web-based and electronic means to support distance learning. For instance, OUHK uses a Web-based course management system (CMS) to provide students with a flexible way to obtain course materials. Apart from traditional print-based course materials and textbooks, the university staff and instructors use the Web to replace surface mail to deliver assignment files, supplementary study materials, and other correspondence with students. Online discussion forums provide students with a convenient place to ask questions and receive answers from the teaching staff.
An electronic assignment-handling system administers student assignments. Assignments, which are marked up and commented on, are considered an important element in the distance learning process. The assignment-handling system enables students to submit assignments electronically, apply for an extension, inquire about the status of their submitted assignments, and receive timely feedback on assignments from the teaching staff.
Clearly the Web-based CMS provides many benefits in the service of distance education. However, it is also fair to say that the current ways that we use and interact with the CMS are not ideal. Employing a human teaching assistant to relieve academic staff from manual monitoring and management of course activities is one way to improve the process, but not effectively and efficiently. We investigated employing a software agent to act as a teaching assistant to the course coordinator instead-the idea behind this article.
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Jun 6th, 2005
Looking for a bachelor's degree? From e-media wire, this story on Peru State College in Nebraska offering bachelor's and master's degrees.
Peru State will offer several online degrees including six bachelor's degrees and one masters degree. Classes for most of the degree programs will be offered in an accelerated eight week format. These online degrees include School of Professional Studies disciplines such as Bachelor of applied science in Management–a degree geared towards persons who have previously earned technical associates degrees or the equivalent; Bachelor of Science in Management; Bachelor of Science in Marketing; Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
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Jun 2nd, 2005
That's what this article from the Sloan-C Review asks, 'Are instructors essential?' – in distance education where learning is often done through software. But why just in distance education? There are many cases of self-styled learning without instructors offline, not just online distance education courses. The answer, in most cases, is yes – instructors do have roles, though new roles, to play.
"In the commercial sector, learner-content interaction is often seen as the only essential learning transaction, with instructors viewed as a cost rather than a necessity." With courseware software, online discussion tools, and instructional designers performing many tasks related to instruction, what is left for instructors to do? This question was recently discussed in a Sloan-C forum. In "Are Instructors Essential?" (SLOAN-C VIEW, vol. 4, issue 5, May 2005, pp. 5-6), forum participants cited many roles for instructors, including:
– Meaning makers: "explaining how and why information is important, helping learners integrate disparate content and make sense of it so that information can become 'knowledge and maybe even wisdom'"
– Growth agents: "pushing [learners] . . . 'beyond their level of comfort and into areas of improvement'"
– People builders: "instructors serve as a bridge-in some situations, the only bridge-between learners and the society in which they seek a place"
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Jun 1st, 2005
Capella offers degree+ recognition, as seen from this press release issued by the university today. Not only can students obtain their degrees online, they can get the recognition they deserve through awards such as this. It's a win, win, degree+ recognition situation.
Four students in the Capella University School of Human Services earned first place in the American Counseling Association (ACA) Ethics Committee Student Case Study competition. Teams from 34 master's and 12 doctoral programs around the country participated in the contest. The winning team members are enrolled in the Capella University School of Human Services mental health counseling specialization, the first and only Council for accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited online program.Despite hundreds of miles between them and a deadline that fell near final exams, online learners Renee Kurkin (Roseville, Minn.), Renee Tucker (Piscataway, N.J.), and Cheryl Wessell (Pine Bluff, Ark.), collaborated via the Internet to complete their award-winning submission. Their case study, " A Demonstration of Ethical Decision Making,&lrquo; outlines the challenges mental health professionals face in making ethical decisions in situations not specifically addressed by professional codes of ethics. The learners focused on the ethical management of bartering arrangements between counselors and clients.
" Capella University is proud to have learners who are accomplished and motivated and willing to stretch themselves academically and professionally,&lrquo; said Janice Caron, chair of Capella's mental health counseling specialization in the School of Human Services. " The ACA Ethics Committee Case Study is one of the most prestigious competitions among counseling students and draws entries from some of the top mental health programs in the country.&lrquo;
Each team responded to an ethical dilemma designed for the master's or doctoral program level and presented a case study to address the issue. The ACA Ethics Committee, comprised of leading mental health professors from around the country and an ACA staff liaison, evaluated the case studies based on clear identification of an ethical dilemma faced by practicing counselors, a persuasive solution to the dilemma, and quality research and writing. The winning case study will be published in Counseling Today and is posted online at www.counseling.org (click Ethics Competition Results).
