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May 21st, 2007
When teachers are suddenly assigned a hybrid (or blended) class that combines traditional teaching with online learning, they are often confused about how to carry out their duties. This new kind of learning can prove challenging to the uninitiated teacher – especially if she sees no goal or purpose behind the course's online elements. A new article from The Journal explains:
"With the move to hybrid or 'blended' course delivery that is taking place in many institutions, there is a challenge for teachers to think through the pedagogical implications of both methods and develop new designs for instruction and course delivery that maximizes both environments. The goal in the design of the instruction is to make the experience as 'seamless' as possible for students, providing intentionality for each environment and the technology used."
For more information about the struggles behind blended learning, take a look at this article – Hybrid Learning: Challenges for Teachers.
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in
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May 21st, 2007
The smart blog Pick the Brain recently published an article I find relevant to online learners. It's all about the difference between people who are successful "experts," people who are mediocre "amateurs," and people who are failures "drop-outs." What's the difference? According to the blog:
"Everyone starts as an absolute beginner with no ability. The drop outs never get anywhere because they give up at the first sign of adversity. The amateurs achieve a degree of success but become complacent and stop improving. The experts are the only group to reach the top tier because they continuously improve."
Bottom line: the difference between a successful student and a drop out is the student's willingness to keep trying.
See: The Difference Between Experts and Drop Outs
Posted by
in
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May 18th, 2007
Looking for a simple video explanation of a complex subject? Want to share your specialized knowledge with the world? Check out doFlick.com, an educational video sharing website. The site allows users to upload their own educational how-to videos and watch the videos at no-cost.
Topics include Science (such as Fiber Optics), Humanities (such as Drumming), Engineering (such as Computing) and more. It's an easy, Visual way for students to share knowledge.
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in
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May 18th, 2007
When some colleges think of online learning they think "cheap." Many colleges believe they can hold dozens of internet classes at only a portion of their usual expenses. That means part-time teachers and limited technical support. Unfortunately, the quantity over quality attitude also means student learning is lessened.
A recent Educause article addresses the distance learning quality vs. quantity debate:
"Will distance learning continue to flourish and have the double-digit annual growth that has been projected? To achieve this, all institutions-particularly those that look upon distance learning as a crucial element of revenue growth-must address several challenges. The top-tier universities as a group constitute a small segment of e-learning total enrollment revenues and will continue to pick and choose courses and programs strategically, emphasizing quality over volume. The community colleges and non-top-tier schools, with the lion's share of e-learning enrollments, are on the verge of a major growth surge. If the general demand for online learning continues, especially in junior colleges, at some point the issue of volume versus quality must be faced squarely."
When distance learning programs are not high-quality, students suffer. Not only do the students of a particular low-quality course miss the opportunity to learn, the reputation of all online degrees suffer.
For more on this subject see: Education at a Crossroads – What Price Quality?
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May 17th, 2007
Amidst complaints from commercial educators, the BBC recently canceled its Free Online Education program, BBC Jam. The online program corresponded with national curriculum and provided 5- to 16-year-olds with educational material at no cost.
Here's a blurb about BBC Jam's cancellation from The Independent:
"Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesman Don Foster said: 'This ongoing farce is far from the BBC's finest hour. The decision to suspend BBC Jam before the European Commission had even reached a judgment seems ludicrous.
BBC Jam was meant to represent a new era in the education services the BBC is known the world over for. Instead the Trust seems more concerned with damage limitation.'"
The cancellation is definitely bad news for kids, who must pay commercial providers for educational help the BBC would have provided free-of-charge.
A small consolation is that the BBC continues to offer a number of free online educational programs for adults including free language classes, writing courses, first-aid training, and more. For a list of free classes see: Free Online BBC Classes.
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in
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May 17th, 2007
Digital possibilities continue to increase as technology becomes a part of more and more people's lives. Nowhere do we see this more than in education, where the computer and the Internet are now as important as pen and paper. The folks at SummitLearners.com work towards this continuation of technology and education:
Online education is growing with increasing popularity. There is nothing more convenient for the busy parent or full-time worker who has trouble devoting time to class attendance. Here are some reasons to consider enrolling in a few courses online:
1.) Students can attend courses anytime, from anywhere. Despite one's schedule, online education is flexible and can fit anywhere in a busy schedule.
2.) Course material and information is accessible 24/7. Lectures and discussions can be accessed multiple times.
3.) Online education allows for student-centered teaching. Each student has his/her own way of learning. Online education meets the needs of many students.
4.) Anonymity in students allow for increased participation and discussion in the online environment.
When there are no barriers or obstacles to accomplish personal goals in education, there is no reason to avoid pursuing a degree online. Use the advantages of an online education achieve those career and educational goals that seemed impossible. Summit Learners is a good place to begin your online education.
Sponsored by SummitLearners.com
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May 16th, 2007
A new wiki article from the Learning Technologies Centre explains the developing concept of personal learning environments – online collections of learning tools:
"Recent developments in learning technologies are creating an array of options not present when learning management systems (LMS) gained prominence in academic institutions. These tools – blogs, wikis, podcasts, Social bookmarking and others – create a significant shift in the educational experience. Personal Learning Environments (PLEs) refer to the aggregation of single-functionality tools which enable learners greater control over their own learning experience. Instead of centralized, instructor-controlled learning, PLEs are distributed, social and learner-centric."
Anyone interested in learning more about the basics of PLEs would benefit from taking a look at this wiki. In addition to a general overview the article also offers a list of PLE links.
Source: eLearnSpace
Posted by
in
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May 14th, 2007
Montana recently passed a distance learning proposal that, quite frankly, is bizarre. The Great Falls Tribune Online explains:
"Over the objections of school administrators and parents, the Montana Board of Public education unanimously passed an online education proposal Friday pushed by the teachers' union.
It requires that all distance learning, including college courses, be supervised by a Montana-certified K-12 teacher accredited in the discipline being taught."
So, state-certified high school teachers (generally with a bachelor's degree) are more qualified to teach online classes than college professors (generally holding a doctorate or at least a master's degree)? The concept makes no sense.
As a former public school teacher, I have to guess that this strange and potentially-destructive proposal is due to an inappropriately powerful teacher's union. Hopefully online college professors will have the opportunity to fight back.
For the complete story see: Distance-Learning Certification Passes Board of Education.
Posted by
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May 12th, 2007
Educational podcasting continues to grow in popularity. And why shouldn't it? Podcasting is a simple, cheap way to distribute information. Listening to podcast lectures is convenient for both online and traditional students (although some professors claim it tends to deter traditional students from actually attending class…)
If you're looking for information about beginning a podcasting program for your virtual school, I'd recommend the podcasting guide on PoducateMe.com, a website operated by Micah Ovadia a digital designer at the University of Cincinnati.
In addition to a brief history of podcasting and an overview of different educational podcast projects, the online guide offers Step-by-step instructions for starting, editing, and distributing an educational podcast.
See the complete guide here: PoducateMe: Practical Solutions for Podcasting in Education.
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in
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May 12th, 2007
The Online Education Database (OEDb) recently published a list of websites helpful for online researchers. For distance learners who lack access to traditional university libraries, this list can be a lifesaver. Here's what the OEDb article had to say:
"Research can be a time consuming and sometimes tedious task. How can you make it easier for yourself? While there is no complete substitute for a good old-fashioned trip to the library, you can find a wide variety of information with many research tools."
For the complete list see: The Best Online Research Apps/Sites You've Never Heard Of.
You may also be interested in these related resources:
How to Use Google to Find Research Paper Material
College-Level Research at Home
