professional development

Educause: Upcoming 5-day, free, think-tank event re: mobile computing

On 04/01/2011, in mobile learning, mobile technologies, professional development, by Daniel Christian

Addendum on 4/5/11:
A free, weeklong online experience consisting of online activities, resources, web seminars, and discussions on mobile computing.

Join us April 25–29 for a focused learning opportunity on one of the top IT issues in higher education today—mobile computing.

Perhaps no area of higher education IT is evolving more rapidly. Colleges and universities are making important decisions about mobile computing and how it can be incorporated into effective technology programs—today and tomorrow.

In an effort to bring the community together on this topic, EDUCAUSE will convene a Mobile Computing 5-Day Sprint. This experience will allow you to engage in activities and discussions on the many ways mobile technologies are undeniably altering higher education.

How to Participate

Mark your calendar to visit this website throughout the week. The 5-Day Sprint will include synchronous and asynchronous activities.

The sprint is a build-your-own experience—you choose which activities to participate in, based on your interests and needs. No registration is required, except for the free daily EDUCAUSE Live! web seminars, where virtual seating is limited; sign up today.

What to Expect During the Week

Join us each day to explore solutions to common challenges and share experiences and ideas through articles, podcasts, web seminars, and online discussions. Each day will be dedicated to a specific theme related to mobile computing.

Monday, April 25: The Future of Mobile Computing

Hear how the community is framing and contextualizing the depth and breadth of what mobile computing means on campus, setting the stage for a week of rich and dynamic discussion on this issue.

Tuesday, April 26: Teaching and Learning

Join us as we discuss the learning that is—or could be—enabled by mobile technology.

Wednesday, April 27: Mobile Enterprise Integration

Engage in the conversation about how to plan for a fully integrated mobile experience for faculty, staff, and students.

Thursday, April 28: Security, Privacy, and Policy

Bring your experiences and ideas as we examine the current state of mobile security, anticipate what’s coming, and explore effective practices.

Friday, April 29: Mobile Infrastructure

Explore the wide range of hardware, software, and network infrastructure components necessary to make mobile computing an effective addition to campus services.

Tagged with: Mobile learning • mobile technology • professional development

When the invincible become “vincible” [Ashkenas]

On 03/29/2011, in 21st century, business, career development, change, corporate / business world, disruption, game-changing environment, higher education, professional development, workplace, by Daniel Christian

When the invincible become “vincible” — from HBR.org by Ron Ashkenas

Excerpt that caught my eye:
We now live in a world in which that sense of security can disappear in a heartbeat — whether your company falls off the cliff, or makes significant changes to avoid the cliff. Like an investment disclaimer for individuals, past performance is no guarantee of future success. So to keep on your guard, ask yourself these questions:

What would you do if your job was suddenly eliminated, outsourced, or relocated?
How are you preparing yourself today to compete in tomorrow’s global economy?
How can I reapply my skills to other areas if my industry no longer has opportunities?

You may not need answers to these types of questions today. But better to address them now — instead of the moment when you’re falling off the cliff.

Tagged with: 21st century • business • career development • change • corporate / business world • disruption • game-changing environment • professional development • workplace

From Anya Kamenetz on 3-21-11 — DIY U: The transformation of higher education

On 03/22/2011, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, accreditation, active learning, career development, change, changing business models, cost of getting a degree, dangers of the status quo, digital learning, disruption, education reform, education technology, engagement / engaging students, future of higher education, game-changing environment, generational differences, global / globalization, higher education, informal learning, innovation, learning, learning ecosystem, more voice more choice more control, motivation, new business models, participation, personalized/customized learning, presentations, professional development, relationships, social learning / networks, staying relevant, strategy, student teaching/teacher education, student-related, surviving, teaching & learning, technology (general), traditional / tradition, trends, web-based collaboration, workplace, by Daniel Christian

From DSC:
For those of us in more traditional institutions of higher education, if this is where things are heading — or even if pieces of Anya’s presentation come to fruition — what is our response? Strategy?

Tagged with: 1:1 • 21st century • 24x7x365 • accreditation • active learning • career development • change • dangers of the status quo • digital learning • disruption • education reform • educational technology • engagement • engaging students • eportfolios • future of higher education • game-changing environment • Global learning • higher education • innovation • Keeping students engaged • learning • learning ecosystem • more choice more control • motivation • new business models in he • nontraditional • participation • personal learning networks (PLNs) • presentations • professional development • relationships • social networking • strategy • student teaching/teacher education • student-related • teaching & learning • teaching online • traditional • vision • workplace

What’s the best way for learners, employees, organizations, & publishers to deal with constantly-moving streams of content?

On 03/18/2011, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, active learning, adult learning, career development, change, collaboration, content development, aggregation, repositories, corporate / business world, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, digital textbooks, distance education, informal learning, instructional design, learning ecosystem, learning theories, lifelong learning, microlearning, online learning, online media, pace of change, professional development, publishing, RSS, social learning / networks, social media, staying relevant, strategy, student-related, surviving, teaching & learning, textbooks, training / L&D, ubiquitous learning, workplace, by Daniel Christian

From DSC:
After looking at some items concerning Connectivism*, I’ve been reflecting upon the following questions:

What’s the best way for us to dip our feet into the constantly moving streams of content?
(No matter the topic or discipline, the streams continue to flow.)
What’s the optimal setup for K-12 based “courses”?
What’s the optimal setup for “courses” within higher education?
How should L&D departments deal with this phenomenon?
How do publishers and textbook authors want to address this situation?

Thinking of Gonzalez (2004; as cited in Siemens (2005)) description of the challenges of rapidly diminishing knowledge life:

“One of the most persuasive factors is the shrinking half-life of knowledge. The “half-life of knowledge” is the time span from when knowledge is gained to when it becomes obsolete. Half of what is known today was not known 10 years ago. The amount of knowledge in the world has doubled in the past 10 years and is doubling every 18 months according to the American Society of Training and Documentation (ASTD). To combat the shrinking half-life of knowledge, organizations have been forced to develop new methods of deploying instruction.”

Stephen Downes addresses this and points to a possible solution to this phenomenon in his presentation from 3/15/11 entitled “Educational Projection: Supporting Distributed Learning Online.”

Excerpt/slides:

I need to put more thought into this, but wanted to throw this question out there…more later…

* From DSC: Some of the items I looked at regarding Connectivism — some directly related, others indirectly-related — were:

Siemens, G. (2005). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. Retrieved from http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm.

Downes, S. (2005). An introduction to connective knowledge. Retrieved from http://www. downes. ca/post/33034. Downes noted that this was published in Hug, Theo (ed. ) (2007): Media, knowledge & education – exploring new spaces, relations and dynamics in digital media ecologies. Proceedings of the International Conference held on June 25-26, 2007. November 27, 2007.

Kop, R. & Hill, A. (2008). Connectivism: Learning theory of the future or vestige of the past? International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, v9 n3 p1-13 Oct 2008.

Tracey, R. (2009). Instructivism, constructivism or connectivism? Training & Development in Australia, December, 2009. p08-09, 2p. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. ISSN 0310-4664.

Kerr, B. (2007). A challenge to connectivism. Retrieved at http://learningevolves. wikispaces. com/kerr.

Sims, R. (2008). Rethinking (e)learning: A manifesto for connected generations. Distance Education Vol. 29, No. 2, August 2008, 153–164. ISSN 0158-7919 print/ISSN 1475-0198 online. DOI: 10. 1080/01587910802154954

Lisa Dawley. (2009). Social network knowledge construction: emerging virtual world pedagogy. On the Horizon, 17(2), 109-121. Retrieved from ProQuest Education Journals. (Document ID: 1880656431).

Hargadon, S. (2011). Ugh. Classic politics now extends to social networking in education. Retrieved from http://www. stevehargadon. com/2011/03/ugh-classic-politics-now-extends-to. html.

Cross, J. (2001). Crowd-inspired innovation. Retrieved from http://www.internettime.com/2011/03/crowd-inspired-innovation.

Rogers-Estable, M.. (2009). Web 2.0 and distance education: Tools and techniques. Distance Learning, 6(4), 55-60. Retrieved from ProQuest Education Journals. (Document ID: 2017059921).

Marrotte-Newman, S.. (2009). Why virtual schools exist and understanding their culture. Distance Learning, 6(4), 31-35. Retrieved from ProQuest Education Journals. (Document ID: 2017059881).

Hilton, J., Graham, C., Rich, P., & Wiley, D. (2010). Using online technologies to extend a classroom to learners at a distance. Distance Education, 31(1), 77-92. Retrieved from ProQuest Education Journals. (Document ID: 2074810921).

Attwell, G. (2010). Personal learning environments and Vygotsky. Retrieved from http://www.pontydysgu.org/2010/04/personal-learning-environments-and-vygotsky.

Tagged with: 1:1 • 21st century • 24x7x365 • active learning • adult learners/learning • change • collaboration • Connectivism • content • Content aggregration • corporate training / universities • dangers of the status quo • Daniel S. Christian • digital textbooks • distance ed • informal learning • information overload • instructional design • learning and study strategies • learning ecosystem • learning theories • Lifelong learning • mash-ups • online learning • online media • pace of change • personal learning networks (PLNs) • professional development • RSS • social learning • social media • staying relevant • strategy • student-related • surviving • teaching & learning • textbooks • training • ubiquitous learning • web-based collaboration • workplace

In case you missed this last year from Jane Hart–>10 Steps for Working Smarter with Social Media

On 03/18/2011, in corporate / business world, corporate universities / corporate training, informal learning, lifelong learning, productivity / tips and tricks, professional development, social learning / networks, social media, training / L&D, UK, by Daniel Christian

10 Steps for Working Smarter with Social Media — from the Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies by Jane Hart
Webinar for Learning & Skills Group, 17 March 2010

Excerpt below:

10 Steps for Working Smarter with Social Media
Webinar for Learning & Skills Group, 17 March 2010

Workplace Learning is changing!

A number of people, my Internet Time Alliance (ITA) colleague Charles Jennings in particular, have highlighted the fact that training that simply involves filling people’s heads with knowledge, is ineffective and inefficient – as most people forget what they have learnt very quickly. And that online courses, which do pretty much the same, take time, effort and money to develop.

Many are also “over-engineered” solutions – and this often leads to resentment by those who have to spend time to work through courses – when the material could have been provided in a much simpler way. But in fact this whole approach to workplace learning is not sustainable in a world that is moving very fast and where there is need for access to constantly changing information.

On the other hand, although we have now realized – due largely to the work of (my ITA colleague) Jay Cross – that most of an individual’s “real” learning takes place outside formal learning .. continuously … in the workflow … by reading or listening to things, or more significantly in conversations and interactions with other people, L&D have struggled to understand how to harness informal learning, and perhaps understandably often try to force it into the formal model they feel comfortable with it.

But it is in fact, the emergence of social media, that has really begun to make us think differently about the way work and learning is happening. For an increasing number of individuals and groups are using these new technologies in the workplace to connect with colleagues both inside and outside the organisation in order to share ideas, resources and experiences – often under the radar of IT and L&D. This use of social media has become a revolution in the sense that these tools are now in the hands of the employees. So the question is what role does L&D play in all this?

One key thing to remember is Learning is not the end goal; but is a means to an end. It’s about PERFORMANCE; people doing their jobs (better). In fact it’s all about working smarter. So what is working smarter?

Also related:

Thoughts On A Learning Network

Tagged with: Connectivism • corporate training / universities • informal learning • learning and study strategies • Lifelong learning • personal learning networks (PLNs) • productivity • professional development • social learning • social media • training • UK

$1.5M grant jump-starts teacher development

On 03/14/2011, in online tutoring, professional development, student teaching/teacher education, teachers, by Daniel Christian

$1.5M grant jump-starts teacher development — fromeschoolnews.com by Jenna Zwang

Tutor.com, which connects students with live tutors online for tutoring in math, science, social studies, and English, is the largest online tutoring and homework help service available—and, with help from a $1.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the company is expanding its horizons to help teachers as well.

Tagged with: grants • online tutoring • professional development • student teaching/teacher education • teachers

Several presentations from Helen Barrett re: e-portfolios

On 03/10/2011, in career development, Google, ideas, mobile learning, mobile technologies, pedagogy, professional development, teaching & learning, tools, workplace, by Daniel Christian

From NCCE Presentation — March 11, 2011

From NCCE workshop 2011

From AAEEBL SLC February 11, 2011

Tagged with: career development • eportfolios • Google • ideas • mobile • Mobile learning • pedagogy • professional development • teaching & learning • tools • workplace

Game theories: What online gaming teaches us about talent development

On 03/08/2011, in business, educational games / serious games, leadership, professional development, strategy, workplace, by Daniel Christian

Where can our most talented, passionate individuals thrive through accelerated learning, sharing, self-managed teams, transparent and mutual accountability, clear markers for merit and the opportunity to volunteer for work that involves their best talents and strongest interests so they stay passionately involved?

Thankfully, we have discovered that seven game-like conditions can be adapted to the workplace to accelerate talent development. As competitive and economic pressures mount, companies will need to find ways to transform the workplace into an environment that helps talent to develop faster.

Here is a brief description of this addictive game that attracts over 12 million people around the world and the practical pointers that can be gleaned from it.

Tagged with: business • games • leadership • professional development • strategy • workplace

Upcoming Sloan-C Conference in July — Empowering Next Generation Teaching

On 03/08/2011, in 21st century, educational games / serious games, emerging technologies, future, generational differences, pedagogy, professional development, teaching & learning, by Daniel Christian

Tagged with: 21st century • educational technology • emerging technologies • future • generational differences • pedagogy • professional development • teaching & learning

The Teaching Professor Conference [Faculty Focus]

On 03/04/2011, in adjunct faculty, blended learning, education technology, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, faculty/staff, hybrid learning, instructional design, pedagogy, professional development, teaching & learning, by Daniel Christian

.Some of the sessions being offered include:

Innovative Assessment Techniques
Teaching the Nontraditional Adult Learner
Designing Educational Experiences that Promote Deep Learning
Developing an Academic Honesty Program that Works
Modeling Writing for Developmental Learners
Computers in the Classroom: Evidence of Student Engagement (Not Distraction)
Fostering Student Engagement in Online Learning Environments
Integrating Emerging Technology in the Classroom and Beyond
Setting Up Your Hybrid Course for Success
Engaging Millennial Students in the Basic Course

Tagged with: adjunct faculty • blended learning • educational technology • emerging technologies • engagement • faculty-staff • hybrid learning • instructional design • pedagogy • professional development • professors • teaching & learning

Get connected to the online learning culture [Edutopia.org]

On 03/03/2011, in education technology, K-12 related, online learning, open courseware and systems, professional development, teachers, teaching online, textbooks, by Daniel Christian

Get connected to the online learning culture — from Edutopia.org

Professional Development: Starter Kit for Teaching Online
Get expert advice on how you can get started as an online educator.

Making the Case for Open-Source Textbooks
Futurist David Thornburg on why open-source textbooks have the advantage of being free of cost and provide greater value to the users.

Beyond Paper and Pencil
Technology expert Ben Johnson wonders how learning — and schools — would change if teachers stopped using paper.

Tagged with: educational technology • K-12 • online learning • open • professional development • teachers • teaching online • textbooks

Tagged with: career development • professional development • social networking • workplace

Learning Without Frontiers — recordings from Jan 2011

On 02/18/2011, in learning, professional development, teaching & learning, UK, by Daniel Christian

Tagged with: learning • professional development • teaching & learning • UK

Tagged with: career development • professional development • social networking • workplace

2020 Workplace

On 02/15/2011, in blogs / blogging / vlogging, Canada, communications, corporate / business world, future, mobile technologies, podcasting, professional development, social learning / networks, social media, strategy, workplace, by Daniel Christian

2020 Workplace — from Harold Jarche

In The 2020 Workplace, Jeanne Meister & Karie Willyerd make 20 predictions at the end of the book. William Gibson said, “the future is already here – it’s just not very evenly distributed.” Here are my thoughts on where we are with some of these predictions…

Tagged with: blogging • Canada • communications • corporate / business world • future • mobile technology • podcasting • professional development • social media • social networking • strategy • workplace

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