The do’s and don’ts of synchronous online learning — from campustechnology.com by Bridget McCrea
Excerpt:
Creating videos, presentations, and lessons that college students access and interact with on their own time and terms is one thing, but developing learning content that requires both students and instructor to be online at the same time presents a whole different set of challenges for college professors and instructional technologists.
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From DSC:
Reminds me of this graphic/idea I was thinking of a while back…
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Rating and comparison of online conferencing and webinar software — from webconferencing-test.com with thanks to Mr. Tim Pixley for scooping this (Tim on Twitter)
What they offer, what they cost
Also, a solid comment from Robin Good
If you need to review and compare alternative web conferencing and online collaboration tools you should give a look to Online Meeting Tools Review, a web service providing basic information for 35 different tools. I have already recommended this service in May 2012, but the service has been significantly improved and updated. For each service included you get a review, a direct link to its home page and free trial offering, and an overall rating score. With the Basic Comparison Tool you can review up to four different conferencing services side-by-side for no additional fee: https://webconferencing-test.com/en/compare-tools-basic
With the Pro version of the same Comparison Tool you can get up to 12 different tools compared into a report that is sent straight to your email without any cost. The only requirement is that you accept the option of being later contacted by one of the companies you have requested to be compared. Free to use.
Testing methodology: https://webconferencing-test.com/en/how-we-test
Try it out now: https://webconferencing-test.com/en/online-meeting-home
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From DSC:
This data further supports my thoughts on helping people build their own learning ecosystems — something Jane points out as well when she states that “workers find other (self-organised and self-managed) ways of learning at work far more valuable – with team collaboration being the highest rated.”
I recommend helping folks learn how to create their own blogs and learn how to subscribe to others’ blogs, access relevant wikis, use Twitter, employ Google Alerts, etc.
Provide each employee with some relevant names/blogs/websites/etc. to get employees started (i.e. of some knowledgeable accountants, legal counsel, product designers, engineers, digital marketing experts, cloud computing strategists, programmers for mobile computing apps, etc.). I realize this presents issues with companies’ sensitive information such as patents and/or intellectual property. But if Harold Jarche is correct in saying that we live in a post-jobs world, what we know of the modern corporation may be very different in just a few years anyway. (i.e. You’re on your own. You are your own corporation/business; so build your own brand and expertise. Build your own valuable network of peers/colleagues — who you can contribute to as well as to learn from.)
Admittedly, this changes some of the roles of the training department from creating e-learning modules to becoming excellent researchers, social media experts, quasi-librarians, etc.
(Come to think of it, I wonder if that might happen in higher ed as well — i.e. provide students with the relevant/key experts, important thinkers, streams of content, etc.)
BII REPORT: Here’s why the “second screen” industry is set to explode — BusinessInsider.com
Excerpt:
Here’s why the second screen industry will ultimately succeed:
From DSC:
As this article alludes to, I wouldn’t rule the living room out in terms of where interactive, multimedia-based, educationally-related, second screen-based applications will turn up (apps backed up by data mining, AI, and opportunities for social learning). This area is poised for some serious growth.
![The Living [Class] Room -- by Daniel Christian -- July 2012 -- a second device used in conjunction with a Smart/Connected TV](http://danielschristian.com/learning-ecosystems/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/The-Living-Class-Room-Daniel-S-Christian-July-2012.jpg)
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Watchitoo, Pearson LearningStudio offer real-time HD video chat option for online courses — from thejournal.com by Caitlin Moriarity
Excerpt:
Watchitoo and Pearson eCollege have teamed up to add an integrated collaboration solution, including real-time video chat, to the Pearson LearningStudio SaaS online education platform.
Video Conferencing Guidelines for Faculty and Students in Graduate Online Courses — from jolt.merlot.org and California State University, Fullerton; by Gautreau, Glaeser, Renold, Ahmed, Lee, Carter-Wells, Worden, Boynton, & Schools
Excerpts:
Abstract
A review of the literature revealed that established guidelines were not available to assist faculty who use video conferencing in their online graduate courses. In an effort to address this need, a self-evaluation study was completed with faculty who teach such courses. Drawing on the results of this study together with published Netiquette guidelines and a survey of other extant literature, a set of Video Conferencing Guidelines was created.
Video Conferencing Guidelines for Online Graduate Students
Meet the next generation of smartphone-based robot companions — from popsci.com by Miriam Kramer
From DSC:
No doubt that there are positives and negatives to this kind of thing. However, as I’m trying to relay items of interest/impact, I thought I’d post this here.
PayWizard launches first dedicated payment and subscriber management solution for TV and media industry — from PayWizard
Excerpt:
London, 21 February 2013 – PayWizard, specialists in payment and subscription management, has launched the TV and media industry’s first dedicated, end to end payment and subscription solution. The integrated solution brings together a strong heritage in the Pay-TV market with a deep understanding of the challenges TV operators and media companies face in monetising the multiplatform world.
Using its award-winning modular Payment and Subscription platform, PayWizard combines payment processing, intelligent subscriber management technology and real-time customer service operations to tailor-make solutions that enhance the consumer experience across all screens.
With 16.8 billion video-enabled devices set to be in the global marketplace by 2015, content owners are facing the challenge of enhancing existing services while creating compelling experiences that embrace new routes to market. PayWizard’s comprehensive set of products and services has enabled clients, such as the UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster, ITV, to address these commercial challenges by enabling new monetisation strategies to drive revenue and profitability.
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From DSC:
See the categories listed above for the items/topics/disciplines/trends that are relevant here.
Addendum:
Check this out!
Massive Open Online Course offered by UMass Boston to feature the first adaptive MOOC technology
Enables students to be taught according to individual learning strategies
Excerpt from email:
(Boston, MA) – February 27, 2013 – If you’ve ever been in a course and struggled because you just aren’t “getting it,” the reason might be less your ability than the way in which the material is being presented.
New technology is now allowing online course environments to analyze how individual students learn, customizing instruction to individualized learning strategies. The College of Advancing and Professional Studies (CAPS) at the University of Massachusetts Boston has teamed up with USDLA 21st Century Sponsor, Synaptic Global Learning (SGL), to use the new learning management system, Adaptive Mobile Online Learning (AMOL), to deliver the first adaptive Massive Online Open Course (a-MOOC) ever offered. The course launches March 25.
Cisco and Wharton School unveil the learning experience of the future — from newsroom.cisco.com
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Excerpt:
PHILADELPHIA and SAN FRANCISCO – The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Cisco [on 2/25/13] unveiled the learning experience of the future — one that blends life-size visual communication via telepresence with collaboration technologies that significantly enhance the way faculty, students and alumni interact and learn, no matter how distant they may be from physical classrooms.
Collaborating via web conference — from campustechnology.com by David Raths
Advances in videoconferencing technology make it much easier for students and faculty to work together, regardless of where they are located.
The doctor will see you now…through the eyes of a robot — from techhive.com by Jacob Siegal @jacobsiegal
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‘Robodocs’? ‘Tricorders’? How telemedicine will shape the future of health — from gigaom.com by Ki Mae Heussner
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From DSC:
Reminds me of a card I saw at the store which said something along the lines of “we live in strange times indeed my friend…when we take insurance advice from a Gecko!” …or something along those lines… 🙂
