eLearning predictions for 2011 and beyond — from Web Courseworks.com by Jon Aleckson
Excerpts:
This summer I attended the 2010 Distance Teaching and Learning Conference in Madison, Wisconsin. Some very interesting topics came up in the facilitated Think Tanks, and I wanted to share some of the predictions that were developed from these active group discussions regarding where eLearning will go in the next ten years.
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Below you will find a table that summarizes the different opportunities and challenges that were predicted to arise in the next ten years by the participants in the conference Think Tanks and by [Jon Aleckson].
| Opportunities | Challenges | |
| Learner |
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| K-12 Instruction |
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| Corporate Training |
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| Content |
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| Learning Environment |
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| Faculty |
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| Administration & Management |
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| International Perspectives |
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Merging interaction and narrative — from webcredible.co.uk by Philip Webb
Excerpt:
There has traditionally been a tension between the idea of interaction (doing something) and narrative (watching or reading something). The experience of consuming a great film or book isn’t necessarily a passive one but it does differ from the immersive experience of playing a game. And yet the possibilities to combine the two seem so promising.
The trouble is games often struggle to convey narrative – the story can seem bolted on as an afterthought or delivered at clumsy moments between levels. Similarly, attempts at interactive books where readers spontaneously choose the way plots evolve can be unsatisfying because constructing a linear story is an art that novelists spend a lifetime perfecting. Of course, there are notable exceptions such as multi-user games like World of Warcraft where the narrative is something players experience and influence through their participation. Here game designers act more as architects than authors – providing an open environment where the interactions form an unpredictable narrative drama.
Let your students design basic learning games with SuperTeacherTools.com — from ncs-tech.org by Kevin Jarrett
Great middle school simulation: Civics — from Kristen Swanson
“…Argument Wars, a simulation from iCivics, and I think it is perfect for middle school students. Students can argue their case, learn about their rights as students, and earn points for valid arguments. I think it would be a fantastic complement to any middle school social studies class! Enjoy!”
How games engage the brain — from NspireD2 by Chris Clark
In a TED video released today, Tom Chatfield presents seven ways in which games engage the brain. Chatfield is a game theorist and author of the new book, Fun, Inc., about the gaming industry and how it is altering our society.
Chatfield’s seven talking points are
Of course, that list doesn’t mean much unless you watch the video.
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From DSC:
This tablet is larger, which I love! It also offers:
Nice!
Gaming as teaching tool –– from InsideHigherEd.com by Steve Kolowich
ANAHEIM — All work and no play makes a dull syllabus.
That is what Sarah Smith-Robbins, director of emerging technologies at the Indiana University at Bloomington, told a somewhat wary audience here at the 2010 Educause conference on Thursday. “Games are absolutely the best way to learn,” she said. “They are superior to any other instructional model.”
Smith-Robbins prefaced her remarks by reminding the audience that she was taking an intentionally strong position in order to stoke debate. But she nevertheless argued that games — as simple as tag or as complex as World of Warcraft — can accomplish an array of teaching goals that more traditional pedagogy says it wants to achieve, but often does not.
“Fundamentally, school is already a game,” she said. “It’s just a really bad one. The rules are not clear. The system works better for some people than for others. Not everybody has the same resources at the beginning of the game. We don’t start on a level playing field or with a shared goal.”
