virtual field trips

A hugely powerful vision: A potent addition to our learning ecosystems of the future

On 04/09/2011, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, A/V -- audio/visual, change, colleges, convergence, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, digital audio, digital learning, digital photography, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, disruption, distance education, e-books, e-readers, education, education reform, education technology, educational games / serious games, elearning, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, entrepreneurship, future of higher education, game-changing environment, generational differences, global / globalization, higher education, homeschooling/homeschoolers, human-computer interaction (HCI), hybrid learning, immersion, informal learning, innovation, instructional design, intelligent systems, intelligent tutoring, interaction design, interactivity, interface design, internet, IT in HE, K-12 related, learning agents, learning ecosystem, learning spaces, lifelong learning, marketplaces, mobile learning, mobile technologies, multi-touch, multimedia, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, new business models, new media literacies, online learning, online media, online tutoring, pace of change, Personal Learning Networks (PLNs), personalized/customized learning, platforms, play, podcasting, professional development, reinvent, RSS, simulations, smart classrooms, social learning / networks, social media, society, storytelling, strategy, student teaching/teacher education, student-related, surviving, tablets, teaching & learning, teaching online, technologies for your home, technology (general), telecommunications, telepresence, television, transmedia, trends, ubiquitous learning, universities, user experience (UX), using teams, videoconferencing, virtual field trips, virtual K-12 schools, Virtual Reality (VR) / worlds / learning, virtual tutoring, vision/possibilities, web-based collaboration, webinars, by Daniel Christian

Daniel Christian:
A Vision of Our Future Learning Ecosystems

In the near future, as the computer, the television, the telephone (and more) continues to converge, we will most likely enjoy even more powerful capabilities to conveniently create and share our content as well as participate in a global learning ecosystem — whether that be from within our homes and/or from within our schools, colleges, universities and businesses throughout the world.

We will be teachers and students at the same time — even within the same hour — with online-based learning exchanges taking place all over the virtual and physical world. Subject Matter Experts (SME’s) — in the form of online-based tutors, instructors, teachers, and professors — will be available on demand. Even more powerful/accurate/helpful learning engines will be involved behind the scenes in delivering up personalized, customized learning — available 24x7x365. Cloud-based learner profiles may enter the equation as well.

The chances for creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship that are coming will be mind-blowing! What employers will be looking for — and where they can look for it — may change as well.

What we know today as the “television” will most likely play a significant role in this learning ecosystem of the future. But it won’t be like the TV we’ve come to know. It will be much more interactive and will be aware of who is using it — and what that person is interested in learning about. Technologies/applications like Apple’s AirPlay will become more standard, allowing a person to move from device to device without missing a beat. Transmedia storytellers will thrive in this environment!

Much of the professionally done content will be created by teams of specialists, including the publishers of educational content, and the in-house teams of specialists within colleges, universities, and corporations around the globe. Perhaps consortiums of colleges/universities will each contribute some of the content — more readily accepting previous coursework that was delivered via their consortium’s membership.

An additional thought regarding higher education and K-12 and their Smart Classrooms/Spaces:
For input devices…
The “chalkboards” of the future may be transparent, or they may be on top of a drawing board-sized table or they may be tablet-based. But whatever form they take and whatever is displayed upon them, the ability to annotate will be there; with the resulting graphics saved and instantly distributed. (Eventually, we may get to voice-controlled Smart Classrooms, but we have a ways to go in that area…)

Below are some of the graphics that capture a bit of what I’m seeing in my mind…and in our futures.

Alternatively available as a PowerPoint Presentation (audio forthcoming in a future version)

— from Daniel S. Christian | April 2011

Goab TV Concept — What if these ideas could be applied towards education!?! [Fubiz.net]

On 04/07/2011, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, 3D, A/V -- audio/visual, convergence, creativity, Daniel S. Christian, digital audio, digital learning, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, disruption, distance education, e-books, e-readers, education technology, educational games / serious games, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, flipping -- inverted learning, future, future of higher education, game-changing environment, higher education, homeschooling/homeschoolers, human-computer interaction (HCI), intelligent systems, intelligent tutoring, interactivity, internet, K-12 related, learner profiles, learning agents, learning ecosystem, learning spaces, lifelong learning, mobile learning, multi-touch, multimedia, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, online learning, online media, online tutoring, Personal Learning Networks (PLNs), personalized/customized learning, platforms, relationships, social learning / networks, social media, technologies for your home, technology (general), telecommunications, telepresence, television, training / L&D, transmedia, ubiquitous learning, videoconferencing, virtual field trips, virtual K-12 schools, virtual tutoring, web-based collaboration, by Daniel Christian

Tagged with: 1:1 • 21st century • 24x7x365 • 3D • A/V • convergence • corporate training / universities • customized learning • Daniel S. Christian • digital audio • digital learning • digital storytelling • digital video • disruption • distance ed • e-books • e-readers • educational technology • elearning • emerging technologies • engagement • flipping -- inverted learning • future • future of higher education • game-changing environment • higher education • homeschooling/homeschoolers • human-computer interaction (HCI) • intelligent systems • intelligent tutoring • interactivity • internet • iPad • iPhone • iPod • iTunes U • K-12 • learner profiles • Learning Agents • learning ecosystem • learning spaces • lecture recording • Lifelong learning • location aware/enabled apps • Mobile learning • multi-touch • multimedia • nontraditional • online learning • online media • online tutoring • personal learning networks (PLNs) • personalized learning • platforms • relationships • smart classrooms • social learning • social media • social networking • technologies for the home • technology (general) • telecommunications • telepresence • training • transmedia • TV • ubiquitous learning • videoconferencing • virtual field trips • virtual reality / worlds / learning • virtual schools • virtual tutoring • Walmart of Education • web-based collaboration

Skype Community Comes to the Classroom [Nagel]

On 03/31/2011, in 21st century, education technology, engagement / engaging students, global / globalization, K-12 related, videoconferencing, virtual field trips, web-based collaboration, by Daniel Christian

Skype Community Comes to the Classroom — from The Journal by David Nagel

Skype in the classroom offers teachers a free platform for communications and collaboration.

Skype has launched a global community for educators called Skype in the classroom.

The free service is focused on connecting teachers from around the world to allow them to communicate, collaborate on projects, draw expertise from one another, and share learning materials and best practices. It also serves as a launchpad for connecting students with their peers in classrooms across the planet using Skype video.

Addendum on 4/1/11:

Skype’s New Education Platform Connects Classrooms Around the Globe — from Good Education by Liz Dwyer

Tagged with: 21st century • educational technology • engagement • Global learning • K-12 • Skype • videoconferencing • virtual field trips • web-based collaboration

The Connected Life at Home — from Cisco

On 02/28/2011, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, 3D, A/V -- audio/visual, adult learning, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, communications, convergence, corporate / business world, corporate universities / corporate training, cost of getting a degree, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, digital audio, digital learning, digital photography, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, disruption, distance education, e-books, e-readers, education, education technology, educational games / serious games, elearning, emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, future, future of higher education, game-changing environment, higher education, homeschooling/homeschoolers, informal learning, intelligent tutoring, internet, K-12 related, learner profiles, learning, learning agents, learning ecosystem, learning spaces, lifelong learning, mobile learning, mobile technologies, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, online learning, online media, online tutoring, open courseware and systems, personalized/customized learning, social learning / networks, social media, technologies for your home, technology (general), telepresence, television, tools, training / L&D, transmedia, trends, ubiquitous learning, user experience (UX), vendors, videoconferencing, virtual field trips, virtual K-12 schools, Virtual Reality (VR) / worlds / learning, virtual tutoring, vision/possibilities, web-based collaboration, webinars, workplace, by Daniel Christian

From DSC:

How will these types of technologies affect what we can do with K-12 education/higher education/workplace training and development? I’d say they will open up a world of new applications and opportunities for those who are ready to innovate; and these types of technologies will move the “Forthcoming Walmart of Education” along.

Above item from:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns934/networking_solutions_market_segment_solution.html

Tagged with: 1:1 • 21st century • 24x7x365 • 3D • A/V • adult learners/learning • cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related • communications • content repositories • convergence • corporate / business world • corporate training / universities • cost of getting an education • customized learning • dangers of the status quo • Daniel S. Christian • digital audio • digital learning • digital photography • digital storytelling • digital textbooks • digital video • distance ed • e-books • e-learning • e-readers • educational gaming • educational technology • emerging technologies • future • future of higher education • game-changing environment • higher education • intelligent tutoring • internet • iTunes U • K-12 • learner profiles • Learning Agents • learning ecosystem • learning spaces • lecture recording • Mobile learning • mobile technology • online learning • online media • online tutoring • open • personalized learning • social learning • social media • social networking • technologies for the home • technology (general) • telecommunications • telepresence • tools • TV • ubiquitous learning • user experience • vendors • videoconferencing • virtual field trips • virtual reality / worlds / learning • virtual schools • virtual tutoring • vision • VLE • Walmart of Education • web-based collaboration • webinars • Wireless • workplace

Couple items re: multi-touch walls

On 02/09/2011, in 21st century, A/V -- audio/visual, education technology, Europe, future, learning spaces, smart classrooms, videoconferencing, virtual field trips, web-based collaboration, by Daniel Christian

Toyota iWall –by Justin Micklish; originally from Interactive Multimedia Technology blog

and

“Reality Touchscreen” is 10 meters long, accepts 100 touch inputs — from CrunchGear; by some students at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands

Tagged with: 21st century • A/V • educational technology • Europe • future • learning spaces • multi-touch • smart classrooms • videoconferencing • virtual field trips • web-based collaboration

Educators move beyond the hype over Skype

On 02/09/2011, in expectations, K-12 related, languages and translation, tools, videoconferencing, virtual field trips, web-based collaboration, by Daniel Christian

Educators move beyond the hype over Skype — from Digital Directions by Ian Quillen

Olivia Flick, a 3rd grader at Washington Street Elementary School in Brewer Maine,
shares facts about her state via Skype with students in South Dakota.

—Carl D. Walsh_Digital Directions

Educators are now using the videoconferencing tool to connect foreign-language students to native speakers, hold virtual field trips and host conversations with scientists and other experts

…

While conceding the potential for frivolous use of Skype, its advocates say the tool can be particularly valuable for connecting foreign-language students to native speakers, holding virtual field trips, and visiting with real-world subject experts while saving precious funds and preventing logistical headaches. In many cases, teachers are reporting that aspects of video communication actually make teaching and learning more effective than the comparable in-person experiences.

Also see:

Framing a Skype Learning Experience — from Langwitches blog by Silvia Tolisano

Tagged with: K-12 • languages • Skype • student expectations • tools • videoconferencing • virtual field trips • web-based collaboration

Millions of TV’s (as completely converged/Internet-connected devices) = millions of learners?!?

On 01/20/2011, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, 3D, A/V -- audio/visual, animation, blended learning, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, collaboration, convergence, corporate / business world, corporate universities / corporate training, cost of getting a degree, creativity, Daniel S. Christian, digital audio, digital learning, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, disruption, distance education, e-books, e-readers, education, education reform, education technology, educational games / serious games, elearning, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, flipping -- inverted learning, future, future of higher education, game-changing environment, global / globalization, higher education, homeschooling/homeschoolers, hybrid learning, immersion, informal learning, innovation, interactivity, internet, K-12 related, learning, learning agents, learning ecosystem, learning preferences, learning spaces, lifelong learning, love of learning, marketplaces, media/film, mobile learning, mobile technologies, multimedia, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, new business models, new media literacies, online learning, online media, online tutoring, Personal Learning Networks (PLNs), play, podcasting, simulations, social learning / networks, social media, strategy, teaching & learning, technologies for your home, technology (general), telepresence, television, training / L&D, transmedia, trends, ubiquitous learning, user experience (UX), user interface design, vendors, videoconferencing, virtual field trips, virtual K-12 schools, vision/possibilities, visualizing information, web-based collaboration, by Daniel Christian

From DSC:

The other day, I created/posted the top graphic below. Take the concepts below — hook them up to engines that use cloud-based learner profiles — and you have some serious potential for powerful, global, ubiquitous learning! A touch-sensitive panel might be interesting here as well.

Come to think of it, add social networking, videoconferencing, and web-based collaboration tools — the power to learn would be quite impressive. Multimedia to the nth degree.

Then add to that online marketplaces for teaching and learning — where you can be both a teacher and a learner at the same time — hmmm…

From DSC:
Then today, I saw Cisco’s piece on their Videoscape product line! Check it out!

Tagged with: 1:1 • 21st century • 24x7x365 • 3D • A/V • animation • blended learning • cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related • collaboration • convergence • corporate training / universities • corporate universities / corporate training • Daniel S. Christian • digital audio • digital learning • digital storytelling • digital video • e-learning • enterprise learning • game-changing environment • global • Global learning • hybrid learning • learning ecosystem • multimedia • online learning • online media • online tutoring • transmedia • trends • TV • ubiquitous learning • videoconferencing • virtual field trips • virtual schools • virtual tutoring • web-based collaboration

Some reflections on Visions 2020.2

On 11/09/2010, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, 3D, analytics, Augmented Reality (AR), collaboration, convergence, digital audio, digital learning, digital textbooks, digital video, distance education, e-books, e-readers, education technology, educational games / serious games, elearning, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, faith, game-changing environment, human-computer interaction (HCI), immersion, innovation, intelligent tutoring, interactivity, internet, K-12 related, learning agents, learning ecosystem, learning preferences, mathematics, mobile learning, mobile technologies, multimedia, online learning, online media, online tutoring, personalized/customized learning, religion, simulations, social learning / networks, student-related, technologies for your home, telepresence, tools, videoconferencing, virtual field trips, virtual K-12 schools, Virtual Reality (VR) / worlds / learning, virtual tutoring, vision/possibilities, by Daniel Christian

From DSC:
Below are some notes and reflections after reading Visions 2020.2: Student Views on Transforming Education and Training Through Advanced Technologies — by the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Education, and NetDay

Basic Themes

Digital Devices
Access to Computers and the Internet
Intelligent Tutor/Helper
Ways to Learn and Complete School Work Using Technology

Several recurring words jumped off the page at me, including:

Voice activation
A rugged, mobile, lightweight, all-convergent communications and entertainment device
Online classes
Interactive textbooks
Educational games
3D virtual history enactments — take me there / time machine
Intelligent tutors
Wireless
24x7x365 access
Easy to use
Digital platforms for collaborating and working with others on schoolwork/homework
Personalized, optimized learning for each student
Immersive environments
Augmented reality
Interactive
Multimedia
Virtual
Simulations
Digital diagnostics (i.e. analytics)
Wireless videoconferencing

Here are some quotes:

Math and reading were often cited specifically as subjects that might benefit from the use of learning technologies. (p. 5)

No concept drew greater interest from the student responders than some sort of an intelligent tutor/helper. Math was the most often mentioned subject for which tutoring help was needed. Many students desired such a tutor or helper for use in school and at home. (p. 17)

…tools, tutors, and other specialists to make it possible to continuously adjust the pace, nature and style of the learning process. (p.27)

So many automated processes have been built in for them: inquiry style, learning style, personalized activity selection, multimedia preferences, physical requirements, and favorite hardware devices. If the student is in research mode, natural dialogue inquiry and social filtering tools configure a working environment for asking questions and validating hypotheses. If students like rich multimedia and are working in astronomy, they automatically are connected to the Sky Server which accesses all the telescopic pictures of the stars, introduces an on-line expert talking about the individual constellations, and pulls up a chatting environment with other students who are looking at the same environment. (p.28)

— Randy Hinrichs | Research Manager for Learning Science and Technology | Microsoft Research Group

From DSC:
As I was thinking about the section on the intelligent tutor/helper…I thought, “You know…this isn’t just for educators. Pastors and youth group leaders out there should take note of what students were asking for here.”

Help, I need somebody
Help me with ____
Many students expressed interest in an “answer machine,” through which a student could pose a specific question and the machine would respond with an answer. <– I thought of online, Christian-based mentors here, available 24x7x365 to help folks along with their spiritual journeys

Tagged with: 1:1 • 21st century • 24x7x365 • 3D • analytics • augmented reality • collaboration • convergence • customized learning • digital audio • digital learning • digital textbooks • digital video • e-books • e-readers • educational technology • emerging technologies • engagement • faith • game-changing environment • human-computer interaction (HCI) • immersion • innovation • intelligent tutoring • interactivity • internet • K-12 • Learning Agents • learning ecosystem • learning preferences • math • Mobile learning • mobile technology • multimedia • online learning • online tutoring • personalized learning • religion • simulations • social learning • student-related • technologies for the home • telepresence • videoconferencing • virtual field trips • virtual schools • virtual tutoring • vision • web-based collaboration

Check out the Kno for what what’s coming down the pike

On 10/22/2010, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, digital audio, digital learning, digital photography, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, disruption, e-books, e-readers, education technology, educational games / serious games, elearning, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, game-changing environment, higher education, interactivity, K-12 related, learning ecosystem, love of learning, media/film, mobile learning, mobile technologies, more voice more choice more control, multi-touch, multimedia, music, new business models, online learning, online media, personalized/customized learning, platforms, podcasting, presentations, publishing, social learning / networks, story, storytelling, student-related, tablets, technologies for your home, telepresence, textbooks, tools, user experience (UX), vendors, videoconferencing, virtual field trips, vision/possibilities, web-based collaboration, by Daniel Christian

From DSC:
This tablet is larger, which I love! It also offers:

Interactivity
Multimedia
Ability to annotate/save annotations
Collaboration and more

Nice!

Tagged with: 1:1 • 21st century • 24x7x365 • customized learning • digital audio • digital learning • digital storytelling • digital textbooks • digital video • disruption • e-books • e-readers • educational gaming • educational technology • engagement • game-changing environment • HCI • learning ecosystem • love of learning • Media/film • Mobile learning • mobile technology • more choice more control • multi-touch • multimedia • music • new business models • new publishing models • online learning • online media • personalized learning • podcasting • presentations • publishing • social learning • story • storytelling • student-related • tablets • technologies for the home • telepresence • text to speech / speech to text • textbooks • tools • user experience • vendors • videoconferencing • virtual field trips • vision • vodcasting

A Web 2.0 class: Students learn 21st century skills, collaboration, and digital citizenship

On 10/12/2010, in 21st century, blogs / blogging / vlogging, K-12 related, Personal Learning Networks (PLNs), videoconferencing, virtual field trips, web-based collaboration, by Daniel Christian

A Web 2.0 class: Students learn 21st century skills, collaboration, and digital citizenship — from Edutopia.org by Andrew Marcinek

Students in Van Meter, Iowa, Burlington, Massachusetts, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania are experiencing education in a new room. Yes, they still go to class in a building, with walls, doors, and windows, but there is something different about these three classrooms. They are all connected. The classroom is flat.

…

The Virtual Classroom
The class is designed to teach Web 2.0 skills, digital citizenship, personal network building, and social media responsibility and practice. The students in all three of these classes have never met in person; however, they have all connected via Skype and their class blogs. They have also had many professionals come and speak to them via Skype. This type of learning is limitless and allows students to broaden their scope of the world. “Since I have started using Skype and blogging,” notes Jessie Hasenwinkel, junior at Van Meter High School, “I have been able to virtually meet the people that can help me get the answers I need for what I am searching for in school and one day, in my career.”

Each week students write a blog post on topics such as defining a personal learning network, using Skype in the classroom, and how to promote blog traffic. Students subscribe to each other’s blogs using Google Reader and leave comments for each other. Some students in these three high schools have made great connections and found common interests. They are expanding their learning opportunities and through the efforts of the teachers and principals, engaging with vast community of learners.

Tagged with: 21st century • blogging • K-12 • personal learning networks (PLNs) • Skype • tools • videoconferencing • virtual field trips • web-based collaboration

‘Action!’ Student-generated video web site teaches visual communications skills

On 10/07/2010, in design, digital learning, digital video, engagement / engaging students, graphics, K-12 related, virtual field trips, visualizing information, by Daniel Christian

‘Action!’ Student-generated video web site teaches visual communications skills — from The Journal by Denise Harrison

Teachers have free access to virtual field trips and other digital educational resources through Meet Me at the Corner, a repository of educational videos that’s moderated to ensure relevance and educational value. It also helps train kids to produce their own video podcasts and create documentaries they can share with their peers around the world.

Tagged with: digital learning • digital video • educational technology • K-12 • virtual field trips • visual design • visualizing information

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Learning Ecosystems

Couple items re: multi-touch walls

Students go to cyber high school (CNN.com)

Top five applications for video in higher education (Cisco)

Using Skype in the second and foreign language classroom

Stimulant’s SAP InSite Studio

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