Are .edu Websites Trustworthy?

Some people mistakenly believe that a school is legitimate just because it has a ".edu" web domain. Don't be fooled. While regulations on .edu domains have become stricter, a school's legitimacy should not be determined by its domain. Some diploma mills were able to acquire these domains in years past and, just recently, a .edu website began selling blogging space on its domain.

The Chronicle of Higher Education reports:

"The college, the Pickering Institute, calls its service the "first public EDU blog community," and it touts the marketing value of having an Internet address that appears to be part of a college. "Our blogs allow you to reach an education-minded audience that is difficult to reach with mass-market blogs such as Blogger or Blogspot," says an announcement on the institute's Web site. So far, the blogs with the new .edu addresses include such noneducational offerings as "Handbags in Our Life," "Jewelry in Our Life," and "Get the Scoop." The institute is working with an Internet company called LinkAdage to offer the service.

Renting blog space on an .edu address may not violate the rules of the educational Internet domain, which is overseen by Educause, the higher-education technology group, under an agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce. Nevertheless, Educause officials say they are investigating the practice after receiving a complaint from a member on Tuesday."

When choosing an online school, rely on accreditation information to determine its trustworthiness – not on its web address.

Using Wikis in Education

According to Wikipedia, a wiki is: "software that allows registered users or anyone to collaboratively create, edit, link, and organize the content of a website, usually for reference material." Many online teachers have found that wikis are an excellent tool for connecting students and distributing information. In fact, a new no-cost wiki ebook shares several success stories about wikis used in education.

Here's what's in the book:

"This book is a deep extension of the focus and content on my blog, Using Wiki in Education It contains 10 case studies written by teachers that describe how they're using the wiki to transform courses and engage today's students in a range of environments including high school, small college, major research university, online/distance learning and research lab. It is the first book to focus specifically on the wiki in education and be developed and published using a wiki, so it actively demonstrates the tool in action."

If you're an online teacher or even a student interested in classroom wikis, it's worth a look.

New York Times Launches Course Content Website

The New York Times has launched a new educational website, called Epsilen, designed to help instructors build course content and help students connect with their classmates. Inside Higher Ed reports:

"Epsilen allows students and faculty members to create their own profiles – a free service for those with.edu e-mail addresses – which can contain resumes, an e-portfolio, a blog and more. The service was initially a central component, along with the availability of archived news and multimedia content, of the times's foray into providing technology and marketing services to colleges that offer distance learning…

The New York Times Knowledge Network provides the service with tailored and subject-specific content modules, offering instructors template tools to match articles, graphs and other materials with their lectures or online notes. News content goes all the way back to 1851, Nudelman said. "We're really excited because we know that we're in the process now of really ramping up," she said, with over 1,200 members of the Times network and active Epsilen users from more than 830 different institutions."

Epsilen is unique in that it combines the features of a content repository, a social network, and a course management system. By using the New York Times content, some online teachers have been able to create their own curriculum, eliminating the need for pricey textbooks.

Online High School Pays Students Taking AP Courses

south dakota is now offering students the chance to take AP courses online – and be paid a $100 incentive for passing AP exams. Their new program is aimed at getting students, particularly those living in rural areas, interested in math and science. The Argus Leader reports:

"…Students in rural areas will be able to immerse themselves – many for the first time – in the Advanced Placement program that offers college- level training in high school.

"We have to get the opportunities to where the student is," said Mary Cundy, principal at the E-Learning Center at Northern State University.

The program is called Learning Power. It will operate from an office in Rapid City with an array of supportive agencies, public and private, including NSU and the state Department of Education.

It will run on a four-year, $2 million grant from the National Math and Science Initiative, backed by ExxonMobil. The Texas-based agency seeks to correct a shortage of young adults in science and math careers, so the AP courses in the program all have that flavor. The lineup includes five courses in the hard sciences – biology, chemistry, statistics, calculus and physics – and two more in English language and literature."

The new online program is funded by a $2 million grant and does not use public funds.

The Best Job: Distance Learning Librarian

The growing virtual education market has created hundreds of online positions for academic professionals. One job I think would be a blast is that of the distance learning librarian.

Wondering what a distance learning librarian does exactly? Here's a current job description from a college in Vermont:

"The Distance Learning Librarian develops procedures and implements programs for library distance education services. Develops and maintains library web presence, web technologies and instructional materials for distance education. Serves as a liaison to campus units involved with distance education. Provides support to distance learners and faculty teaching distance education courses. Coordinates activities of library staff in their work associated with distance education. Collaborates with faculty, library staff and departments to develop collections and services to support distance education programs. Provides reference services and instruction in a broad range of subject areas. Some evening/weekend hours required."

Distance learning librarians are generally required to have the same qualifications as their traditional counterparts (i.e. a masters degree in library science). But, they're also expected to have many technical skills such as web design and the ability to create online content.

Hybrid Classes More Successful

A new report from a University of Houston researcher found that students in hybrid classes (classes that combine in-class learning with online learning) are more successful than traditional students. The research studied 658 students over a six month period of time. Those who had access to the hybrid class format scored an average of one letter grade above their traditional counterparts. Campus Technology reports:

"Students who attended the hybrid course received final grades that were 10% higher than those who attended the traditional class, which translated to a full letter grade increase.

"Presumably, this increase is due to the fact that students were able to increase their exposure to course content via access to material on WebCT," McFarlin writes in his report, which was published in Advances in physiology Education…

McFarlin said he was surprised by the dramatic increase in student grades "I personally think that the hybrid format is the wave of the future," he said."

Although this report was limited in scope, it does seem to indicate that hybrid programs are moving in the right direction.

Stanford University’s Online High School

A surprising number of brick-and-mortar universities are creating Online High School programs. One of the most impressive is Stanford University's Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY).

EPGY Online High School is designed for exceptionally gifted students. The program can be completed in just three years and requires students to take three writing-intensive core classes as well as several advanced placement (AP) courses.

It seems like an amazing program – but, it comes with a hefty price tag and admissions standards to match. Full time students pay a whopping $13,000 for tuition every year. And, the application packet is an intimidating 23-pages long. Admissions and tuition resemble what you'd expect when applying to an ivy league college, not an online high school.

Is it worth it? My full EPGY Online High School profile can help you decide.

Professors Boycotting Academic Journals

Over the past few years, there has been a huge push towards making educational information freely available online. In most cases, the results have been extremely advantageous for online learners who do not always have access to university-level libraries.

Now, some professors are advocating to make academic journals publicly available. In a nutshell: university faculty regularly publish articles in academic journals as a requirement of their position. Students regularly need access to the information in these journals for papers and other research projects.

Those who do not have access to a university library may find it difficult to find these articles elsewhere. They may have to pay for an article service or purchase each article a la carte – both options are pricey and are not always available.

Academic Danah Boyd is currently boycotting academic journals by publishing in open-access journals instead – and she's encouraging her peers to do the same. Here's what she has to say:

"I'd be sad to see some of the academic publishers go, but if they can't evolve to figure out new market options, I have no interest in supporting their silencing practices. I think that scholars have a responsibility to make their work available as a public good. I believe that scholars should be valued for publishing influential material that can be consumed by anyone who might find it relevant to their interests. I believe that the product of our labor should be a public good. I do not believe that scholars should be encouraged to follow stupid rules for the sake of maintaining norms."

Check out her post on academic journals to learn more about the boycott and her ideals for open access.

Online Public High Schools Growing

Many states now allow public online high school programs. Some of these online schools are created by district or state organizations. Others are run by local charter schools. A recent NPR article reports:

"Online education for high school students is gaining popularity, but it may not realize one of the original promises of distance education: saving money. The start-up costs can be substantial, and it's tough to compare the costs of a virtual school with those of a brick-and-mortar one.

Online educators say the real payoff is that these virtual schools can help liven up traditional schools."

To find a program in your area take a look at this state-by-state list of free online public schools.

UMass to Offer Classes in China

The University of Massachusetts (UMass) recently signed an agreement with the Chinese government to make its online classes available online. Their recent press release reports:

"Under the agreement, signed in Beijing, officials from UMass and from China's Continuing Education Association (CCEA) and the CerEdu Corporation will work together to make UMassOnline, the University's award-winning distance education program, available to students throughout China.

Plans call for UMassOnline to offer credit and non-credit courses, certificate programs, and degree programs from all five UMass campuses – through online and face to face programs – throughout China. Forty UMassOnline courses, four certificate programs, and one master's degree program could be made available in China within a year."

This is the first agreement between a U.S. college and the Chinese government. Should the programs be successful, more online colleges may be encouraged to offer their services abroad.