Experiencing eLearning

NOVEMBER 6, 2008

I got a good question via Ask a Question yesterday and would like to hear some other opinions on this issue: I’m very seriously considering a career change into ID. (I’ve spent 20 years in various business assignments with the last 8 in IT.) I’m involved in teaching extra-curricular activities to kids and adults in my community. I very fulfilled when I’m teaching and I’ve come to the conclusion that I want to follow this as a career path.

Instructional Design 171

Instructional Design Instructional Instruction Design 171

Experiencing eLearning

JULY 13, 2008

A reader sent this question to me today: I was wondering if you read Clayton Christensen’s prediction that by 2019, nearly 50 percent of high school courses will be taught online. Â What exactly did the author mean by this? Â Did he mean that by this particular date that nearly 50 percent of high school students will be at home doing virtual schooling or that 50 pecent of the high school courses will have an “alternative online option&# to the course.

Virtual World 171

Virtual World Instructional Design Predictions Ratio 171

Experiencing eLearning

MAY 19, 2008

G. Sunanda commented on my Is Instructional Design the Right Career? post last week: I would like to know about training programmes in ID given by Indian institutes. Unfortunately, I have no idea about training for instructional designers outside the US. On Tony Karrer’s blog, there’s a nice collection online degrees, certificates, and training programs in the comments.

Instructional Design 171

Instructional Design Instructional Instruction Program 171

Experiencing eLearning

APRIL 22, 2008

Elena at Lively Learning posted some comments about Second Life for education in response to my liveblogging of the TCC Keynote Why do we need a Second Life? (Her original post is in Russian; the Google translation gave me enough to get the gist of her post.). In response to my comment on her post, she asked this question: In your comment you’ve mentioned about last year’s introduction to second life - is possible to find it somewhere?

Second Life 171

Second Life Wiki Tools Technorati 171

Experiencing eLearning

DECEMBER 31, 2008

I’m going to squeak in at the last minute and answer the Learning Circuits Big Question for December 2008. I can pretend that I’m just being nice and keeping Clive Shepherd company with his procrastinating, but it’s really that I had forgotten about this myself until just a few days ago. This month’s Big Question asks us to reflect on our learning about learning in the last year.

Summary 170

Summary Big Question Write Blog Conference 170

Experiencing eLearning

DECEMBER 28, 2008

Our team has spent over a year preparing for the conversion from Blackboard to Sakai (something I haven’t talked about here too much because we hadn’t told Blackboard we were leaving until recently). We’ve seen a significant amount of resistance to the conversion from several of our long-time facilitators, and it’s been a struggle to figure out how to ease them through this transition.

Change 170

Change Blackboard Tutorial Mentoring 170

Experiencing eLearning

DECEMBER 10, 2008

For those interested in online learning (especially on the academic side of things), you may want to check out the TCC (Technology, Colleges, and Community) 2009 conference. This is the online conference I attended last year and liveblogged extensively. In 2007, I didn’t liveblog, but I did a summary post of ideas. The conference is April 14-16, 2009.

Conference 170

Conference Blackboard Summary Budget 170

Experiencing eLearning

NOVEMBER 25, 2008

I just watched the slides from Laura Kratochvil’s DevLearn08 presentation The Making of a Blockbuster: Using Cinematic Techniques in eLearning ( PDF also available ). I need to spend some more time thinking about how I can incorporate these ideas into what I do, but I really like the idea of focusing on emotional impact for online learning. Laura starts with the idea of storytelling, which is a powerful instructional design technique on its own, but goes further by looking at how visuals,

Slides 170

Slides Instructional Design Picture Audio 170

Experiencing eLearning

NOVEMBER 5, 2008

Recursive flower. These are my liveblogged notes from this morning’s live session for CCK08. Although I usually aim for a fairly complete transcript of live sessions, I spent more time paying attention to and participating in the backchannel chat today. Therefore, some of the questions and discussion near the end aren’t included in my notes.

Change 170

Change Community Firewalls Network 170

Experiencing eLearning

OCTOBER 14, 2008

» What Everyone Should Know About Working with Subject Matter Experts The Rapid eLearning Blog. Tips for working with SMEs: * Don’t expect SMEs to be experts at learning theory. * Present good examples of what you think will work. * Everyone is working for the organization’s success. tags: sme , instructionaldesign , e-learning.

Learning Theory 170

Learning Theory Rapid eLearning Theory Tagging 170

Experiencing eLearning

OCTOBER 11, 2008

Models of Blogs: Blog as Participant in Conversation (3 of 3) on Flickr. CC-NC image of blogs as connectors of ideas in conversations. tags: visualization , blog , conversation , connection. Using Blogs to Enhance Learning – Some Helpful Tips - OpenEducation.net. Tips for using blogs as learning tools, including making sure they are actually the right tool for the task, using blogs to record the “learning journey&# and reflect, and using appropriate assessment. tags: e-learning , educati

Tagging 170

Tagging Conversation Assessment Tips 170

Experiencing eLearning

OCTOBER 9, 2008

Seven Habits of Highly Connected People ~ Stephen’s Web ~ by Stephen Downes. A riff on Stephen Covey for living, working, and communicating in a highly connected world. Not just the intuitive common-sense advice you see other places–who else would advise you to quit wasting time playing phone tag offline when you could spend that time making real connections online?

Offline 170

Offline Tagging Communication Web 170

Experiencing eLearning

OCTOBER 9, 2008

In Groups Vs Networks: The Class Struggle Continues , Stephen Downes makes this statement about assessment: I want to change the system of assessment in schools because right now we have tests and things like that that are scrupulously fair, particularly distance learning where we outline the objectives the performance metrics and the outcomes and all of that.

Metrics 170

Metrics Diversity Training Assessment Classes 170

Experiencing eLearning

OCTOBER 7, 2008

IgnitePhilly — Five Minutes To Communicate - Practical Theory. 5 minute presentation (20 slides) by Chris Lehmann on school reform and what we need for School 2.0. Several good lines in here–a bunch of memorable ideas packed into a few minutes. Assessment should be projects, not tests. Data is what kids do every day, not what they do on a test.

Theory 170

Theory Slides Tagging Assessment 170

Experiencing eLearning

OCTOBER 6, 2008

Groups Vs Networks: The Class Struggle Continues ~ Stephen’s Web ~ by Stephen Downes. Transcript of a talk about the differences between groups and networks. Downes situates networks between individuals and groups, as a place where individuals are associated and connected but more diverse than groups. Interesting ideas for assessment and supporting diversity. tags: connectivism , cck08 , networks , learning , assessment , diversity.

Metrics 170

Metrics MySpace Diversity Training Network 170

Experiencing eLearning

OCTOBER 4, 2008

iterating toward openness » Blog Archive » If Facebook Worked Like Blackboard. A short post, but very pointed–if Facebook worked like an LMS, no real community would ever develop. Questions the whole idea of closed educational systems. tags: facebook , education , e-learning , lms , blackboard , openaccess. shut down all the groups you belonged to, deleted all your forum posts, removed all the photos, videos, and other files you had shared, and. forgot who your friends were.

Blackboard 170

Blackboard Social Networks Facebook Photo 170

Experiencing eLearning

OCTOBER 2, 2008

These are my liveblogged notes from the eLearning Guild’s webinar on their e-Learning 2.0 research report. The report is available to any paid members of the guild, or to free (Associate) members who have taken the report. Webinar recording will be available to members in the same place as the report. Hosts: Steve Wexler. Jane Hart. Tony Karrer.

Learning 2.0 170

Learning 2.0 Research Wiki Simulations 170

Experiencing eLearning

OCTOBER 1, 2008

Avoiding the 5 Most Common Mistakes in Using Blogs with Students. The 5 mistakes outlined in this article are. 1. “Ineffective contextualization&# (not thinking about the best way to use blogs, usually self-reflection). 2. “Unclear Learning Outcomes&#. 3. “Misuse of the environment&# (treating blogs like wikis or discussion forums). 4. “Illusive grading practices&# (lacking clear rubrics). 5. “Inadequate time allocation&# (both for students to write and instructors

Wiki 170

Wiki Write Blog Summary Forum 170

Experiencing eLearning

SEPTEMBER 29, 2008

Donald Clark Plan B: txtng (the gr8 db8). Summary of a book by a professor of linguistics that examines and debunks the complaints about text messaging reducing literacy. Good collection of misconceptions about txtng with counterarguments and research. tags: literacy , writing , technology. Annoyingly, just as complaints about literacy multiply, along comes a technology that has promoted a renaissance in reading and writing, yet it is treated with contempt by the ‘pen and paper’ brigade.

Social Networks 170

Social Networks Skype Ning MySpace 170

Experiencing eLearning

SEPTEMBER 26, 2008

Online Teaching/Learning Quotations. Collection of quotes related to online teaching and learning. tags: quoteable , teaching , learning , e-learning. Clive on Learning: Who re-uses learning objects? A pragmatic view of reusable learning objects. It’s a nice idea on paper, as Clive says, but the reality isn’t generally as clean as the theory.

Learning Objects 170

Learning Objects Wikipedia Reputation Tagging 170

Experiencing eLearning

SEPTEMBER 24, 2008

If you’ve been wondering why things have beent a little quiet on the blog, my husband and I just moved from Chicagoland to North Carolina, in the Raleigh-Durham area. Our stuff has arrived and we’re slowly getting settled into the new place. However, pretty much our whole lives are still in boxes and bins. I have to say that I really appreciate being able to telecommute, both because it means we can do this move to someplace warmer and because I was able to work from a hotel while wa

Photo 170

Photo Internationalization Change Policies 170

Experiencing eLearning

SEPTEMBER 24, 2008

Getting Started with Instructional Design. Manish Mohan on getting started in the field of instructional design, responding to several reader questions. Includes links to blog posts about ID careers (including my 2007 series), companies that hire IDs, courses and certificates available in India, and salaries. tags: instructionaldesign , career.

Instructional Design 170

Instructional Design Tagging Instructional Instruction 170

Experiencing eLearning

SEPTEMBER 21, 2008

Connectivism & Connective Knowledge » At the End of Week Two. Stephen Downes summarizes week 2 of CCK08, including a description of how different the discussions in Moodle and on the blogs are. The Moodle discussion has become very angry and dominated by a handful of people, while the blogs show much more diversity in perspectives. tags: cck08 , connectivism , networks , discussion , blog.

Moodle 170

Moodle Tagging Network Discussion 170

Experiencing eLearning

SEPTEMBER 15, 2008

Test your web design in different browsers - Browsershots. Enter your URL and see screenshots in numerous browsers. The service is free, but pictures expire about 30 minutes after you make a request. It’s fine for a quick check, but be sure to save the images locally if you need them long term. Nice way to test what your pages look like in, say, Linux even if you don’t have that available. tags: webdesign , tools.

Internationalization 170

Internationalization Picture Tagging Web 170

Experiencing eLearning

SEPTEMBER 14, 2008

Half an Hour: Types of Knowledge and Connective Knowledge. Stephen Downes on connective knowledge. This starts with qualitative and quantitative as two types of knowledge recognized historically, continuing with some history of philosophical positions on types of knowledge. Downes argues that connective knowledge is not either empirical or rationalist, but a third type of knowledge.

Summary 170

Summary Network Brain Tagging 170

Experiencing eLearning

SEPTEMBER 13, 2008

TravelinEdMan: The Price of an 8 Pack of Learning Theory Lectures? Nothing! Just a Lot of Bonk! Set of 8 video lectures on learning theories from Curt Bonk at IU. The post says these can be used by any instructor teaching a course, although there isn’t a specific CC license on them. tags: learningtheories , video , education.

Learning Theory 170

Learning Theory Lecture Theory License 170

Experiencing eLearning

SEPTEMBER 12, 2008

CCK08: let’so go for a walk in a wood and relax … « Insegnare Apprendere Mutare. A beautiful metaphor for CCK08. A massively open course like this is too complex to understand the whole thing at once the way you would know a traditional course. Instead, think of the course like a walk in the woods, where you get to know the woods at different levels and in different ways. tags: cck08 , connectivism , MOOC , learning.

Tagging 170

Tagging Open Course Learning 170

Experiencing eLearning

SEPTEMBER 11, 2008

Oak Tree Seedling. The discussion around whether learning grows or is built has been terrific. I can definitely sympathize with Sarah Stewart’s comment about enjoying the conversation even if I’m not sure I understand it all. I’ve got a nice collection of metaphors for learning now: Building : This is the classic constructivist language, constructing and building your own learning.

Brain 170

Brain Streaming Learning Images 170

Experiencing eLearning

SEPTEMBER 11, 2008

Learning Visions: Instructional Designers with ID Degrees? Survey Results… Cammy Bean has updated her ID degrees survey results. It’s up to 34% of IDs having an advanced degree in instructional design–higher than it was the last time she reported, but still clearly a minority. tags: instructionaldesign , career , credentials. eduweb: research.

Simulations 170

Simulations Instructional Design Tagging Network 170

Experiencing eLearning

SEPTEMBER 10, 2008

Prompted my Michele Martin’s Web 2.0 Wednesday task for this week, I decided to do a Wordle tag cloud of my blog. Learning is the top word in my cloud, followed by connectivism. Think , information , and networks are all prominent. Growing and grow are both more prominent than build–an interesting observation after my post about whether learning grows or is built.

Pattern 170

Pattern Tagging Version Discussion 170

Experiencing eLearning

SEPTEMBER 8, 2008

Connectivism_Week1. Table comparing 4 learning theories: behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, connectivism. Includes a summary of what’s different about connectivism. tags: connectivism , constructivism , learningtheories.

Summary 170

Summary Learning Theory Theory Tagging 170

Experiencing eLearning

SEPTEMBER 5, 2008

ZaidLearn: Amazing Free e-Learning eBooks Collection. Like the title says, a collection of free ebooks about e-learning. I’m not sure I’d call everything here an actual “ebook&# (like Jane Hart’s list of Top 100 Tools), but it’s certainly a lot of reading material. I just wish this was more than a list of links. Annotations or even tags would make it much easier to figure out what’s useful for a specific purpose.

eBook 170

eBook Tagging Free Tools 170

Experiencing eLearning

SEPTEMBER 4, 2008

Assessing the Online Learner by Jossey-Bass Online Teaching & Learning Series. 15-minute podcast interview with Palloff and Pratt on assessing online learners and social presence. They talk about authentic assessment rather than closed-book quizzes, based on the assumption that students will cheat on tests and quizzes but responding to scenarios is a better measure of learning. tags: assessment , highered , education , e-learning , rubric , social.

Podcasts 170

Podcasts Podcaster Podcasting Assessment 170

Experiencing eLearning

SEPTEMBER 1, 2008

Learning styles and pedagogy in post-16 learning. Book-length literature review on learning styles research, concluding that the usefulness of learning styles of pedagogy depends greatly on what model you use. tags: learningstyles , education , research , pedagogy. Should we be using learning styles? What research has to say to practice. Long PDF (84 pages) on learning styles research and how it can–and should–influence pedagogy.

Pedagogy 170

Pedagogy Learning Styles PDF Tagging 170

Experiencing eLearning

AUGUST 31, 2008

Cool Cat Teacher Blog: How to Make Wiki References. Screencast and directions for adding references in Wikispaces. Wikispaces references now work like Wikipedia, where you can add a reference and it creates a linked footnote. tags: wiki , citations , howto , screencast. WebAIM: Web Accessibility Gone Wild. Common web accessibility mistakes and what you should do instead. tags: accessibility , webdesign.

Wiki 170

Wiki Screencast Wikipedia Reference 170

Experiencing eLearning

AUGUST 28, 2008

YouTube - Learning Styles Don’t Exist. A cognitive psychologist argues that learning styles, as the theory is generally understood, don’t exist and aren’t supported by research. He acknowledges that there are differences in visual and auditory memory, but says the research doesn’t show that differentiating instruction based on learning styles actually has any effect. tags: learningstyles , education , cogpsych.

Cognitive 170

Cognitive Learning Styles Theory YouTube 170

Experiencing eLearning

AUGUST 26, 2008

Tools Used : eLearning Technology. Tony Karrer looks at some results from the eLearning Guild survey on eLearning 2.0, specifically what tools learning professionals are using themselves. He compares people in corporations, education, and government. Surprisingly, people working in education are using more of these tools than their corporate counterparts. tags: web2.0 , e-learning , research , learning2.0.

eLearning Guild 170

eLearning Guild eLearning 2.0 Corporate eLearning eLearning Tools 170