On 01/20/2011,
in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, corporate / business world, corporate universities / corporate training, digital audio, digital learning, digital video, elearning, expectations, game-changing environment, generational differences, instructional design, multimedia, new media literacies, training / L&D,
by Daniel Christian
On 01/19/2011,
in cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, creativity, digital learning, digital photography, digital storytelling, storytelling,
by Daniel Christian
Vuvox: A tool for digital storytelling — from Instructional Design Fusions by Dianne Rees
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Dianne mentions that Vuvox provides some helpful videos to get you started:
On 01/19/2011,
in creativity, digital learning, digital storytelling, interactivity, K-12 related, learning, love of learning, multimedia, music, play, storytelling,
by Daniel Christian
On 01/19/2011,
in curriculum, digital learning, global, India, instructional design, online learning, online media, online tutoring, publishing, UK, United States,
by Daniel Christian
From DSC:
A global push continues to be evident in some of the things that Pearson has been up to in the last year:
- Pearson takes controlling stake in India’s TutorVista — from WSJ (1/11)
- Pearson acquires TutorVista: expands Pearson’s business in education in India and in global online tutoring — from Pearson (1/11)
- Pearson to offer degrees in the UK — from Pearson (12/2010)
- Pearson VUE opens Dubai office and appoints local Arabic-speaking team — from Pearson (11/2010)
- Pearson acquires The Administrative Assistants Ltd.; extends leadership in student information systems — from Pearson (11/2010)
- Pearson to open fifty new English language centres in China — from Pearson (11/2010)
- Pearson to acquire 75% stake in CTI Education Group, a leading higher education company in South Africa — from Pearson (11/2010)
- Pearson eCollege, National Academy Foundation partner to provide online teacher professional development — from Pearson (9/2010)
- Pearson to acquire America’s Choice: plans to extend reach of school improvement services — from Pearson (8/2010)
- Pearson to acquire Wall Street Institute: acquisition extends Pearson’s position as world leader in English language teaching — from Pearson (7/2010)
- Pearson raises earnings guidance — from Financial Times
- Pearson, the publishing group that owns Penguin books and the Financial Times, raised its full-year earnings forecasts for the third time in less than six months, thanks to strong growth in computer-based learning products and in the developing world.
On 01/17/2011,
in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, 3D, A/V -- audio/visual, Apple, Daniel S. Christian, digital audio, digital learning, digital photography, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, disruption, distance education, e-readers, education, education reform, education technology, educational games / serious games, elearning, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, entrepreneurship, flipping -- inverted learning, future, future of higher education, game-changing environment, higher education, homeschooling/homeschoolers, human-computer interaction (HCI), informal learning, innovation, interaction design, interactivity, interface design, internet, IT in HE, K-12 related, learner profiles, learning, learning ecosystem, learning spaces, lifelong learning, media/film, mobile learning, mobile technologies, multimedia, new media literacies, online learning, online media, online tutoring, play, simulations, social learning / networks, teaching & learning, technologies for your home, technology (general), telepresence, training / L&D, ubiquitous learning, user experience (UX), user interface design, videoconferencing, Virtual Reality (VR) / worlds / learning, web-based collaboration,
by Daniel Christian
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Addendum on 1-20-11:
The future of the TV is online — from telegraph.co.uk
Your television’s going to get connected, says Matt Warman
On 01/15/2011,
in digital learning, disruption, game-changing environment, generational differences, K-12 related, learning, mobile learning, mobile technologies, multimedia, new media literacies, research, teaching & learning,
by Daniel Christian
On 01/12/2011,
in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, A/V -- audio/visual, Apple, blended learning, creativity, digital audio, digital learning, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, disruption, e-readers, education technology, educational games / serious games, elearning, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, expectations, face-to-face, higher education, human-computer interaction (HCI), hybrid learning, innovation, K-12 related, learning ecosystem, learning preferences, love of learning, mathematics, mobile learning, mobile technologies, multimedia, new media literacies, online learning, online media, online tutoring, passions, play, podcasting, reading, simulations, storytelling, student-related, teaching & learning, tools, trends, ubiquitous learning, videoconferencing, visualizing information,
by Daniel Christian
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From DSC:
I post this here — with higher ed included in the tags/categories — because if the trend within K-12 continues (i.e. that of using such technologies as the iPad, digital textbooks, mobile learning devices, etc.), students’ expectations WILL be impacted. When they hit our doorsteps, they will come with their heightened sets of expectations. The question is, will we in higher ed be ready for them?
On 01/10/2011,
in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, digital learning, elearning, innovation, internet, learner profiles, learning ecosystem, online learning,
by Daniel Christian
Towards a new-digital learning ecosystem based on autonomic Web services — from IEEEXplore Digital Library (emphasis below from DSC)
Abstract
With the latest advances in information and communication technologies, learners can now engage in continuous and rich learning-sessions that characterize today’s digital learning ecosystems. In these ecosystems, learning resources are pervasive and dynamic. A key challenge is to develop a scalable learning system that addresses the inherent complexity of learning sessions and cater for the specific needs and requirements of individual learners. In this paper, we adopt autonomic Web services to capture disparate learning resources and build an autonomic digital learning ecosystem that reconfigures itself in response to changes in the environment such as learners’ profiles, resource availabilities, and type of instructional material. The use of autonomic Web services permits to abstract the learning resources into distributed and uniformly structured objects and to record learners’ attributes into a packaged profile. These Web services sense the learning context and coach learners in their pursuit of constructive instructional sessions. A service-oriented architecture is proposed to connect learning resources, learners’ profiles, and contextual indicators. A prototype is, also, illustrated in the paper to show the feasibility of the proposed solutions.
Also see:
On 01/07/2011,
in digital learning, library / librarians, online learning, online media, UK,
by Daniel Christian
Global Grid for Learning – 1 million-plus resources — from MJO
Hugh John checks out a BETT newbie, online service provider Global Grid for Learning
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Global Grid for Learning (GGfL) aims to connect teachers and students at all stages in education to single sources of digital multimedia learning resources from multiple providers.
On 01/06/2011,
in adjunct faculty, digital audio, digital learning, digital video, faculty/staff, higher education, instructional design, multimedia, online learning, pedagogy, teaching & learning,
by Daniel Christian
Example excerpts from 2010 University of Nevada, Reno
Best Practices
When asked to identify three best practices achieved by this course, one course reviewer wrote: “In all honesty this course is so well done that choosing three is like saying you have a favourite child. I really can’t do it.”
Organized and intriguing layout
- The overall layout of the course is great. Students should not have any difficulty with navigation.
- The content is provided in appropriate chunks in both text and as narrated presentations with a text transcript. I think this would appeal students of all learning styles.
- Overall organization and consistent,uniform design of modules makes the progression of learning intuitive and exciting. The modules include introductions and objectives, a variety of media, self-checks, and multiple assessments.
- Each unit is clearly defined with goals and objectives. The instructor does a very nice job connecting one unit to the next by providing a welcome at the beginning of each unit which recaps the previous unit and introduces the new unit.
Innovative use of technology
- The extensive use of video and screencasts is wonderful.
- The active use of the Voiceboard tools is fantastic.
- The use of voice chats and voice boards make interaction and collaboration more effective than the usual discussion boards.
- This course strategically places these tools where they can best be utilized to meet the objectives – this course not only uses great technology, but also uses it in a pedagogically sound manner.
- The Soapbox Moment blog is a wonderful tool that allows the instructor to voice his/her viewpoints in the most appropriate place, helping him/her to remain neutral in other discussions and let his/her students’ thoughts flow freely. The soapbox uses current issues that are directly related to the course and allows students to apply what they have learned to real-world situations.
Interesting content
- The Getting Started Activities, including a course tour and the use of Camtasia for the first week Assignment, were a really great idea.
- The orientation is execellent. The instructor does a great job explaining the course goals and objectives as well as taking time to make students feel comfortable. In the orientation you get the sense that this instructor is available and accessible for students.
- The self check exercises and varied assessments are appealling. The proctored exams ensure the integrity of the course.
- The interactions and outcomes, reflected in student testimonials, show a community at work!
- The inclusion of guest speakers is a wonderful design practice. Students can gain some real world experience by interacting with subject matter experts, who have experience in particular content areas.
- I enjoyed the final discussion project, which incorporates the use of peer-review. Students are given the opportunity to engage with classmates, receiving and providing feedback.
On 01/03/2011,
in digital audio, digital learning, digital photography, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, multimedia, new business models, publishing,
by Daniel Christian
Textbook publishers and rich media — from Higher Education Management Group
The competitive landscape of textbook publishing has changed and it’s not going to get easier for the traditional parties. However, I think it’s possible for the industry to regain the advantage that made them such a strong presence for decades in education. To do this, publishers will need to determine how – given the new market conditions – their competencies, brand and infrastructure can produce a competitive advantage – and to ensure that this new market position meets the needs of the new higher education market. Easier said than done, right? But the funny thing is that this new strategy will mean the publishers return to what made them the great presence in the first place. Let me attempt to unpack this before I get anymore abstract.