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This is an organization for eLearning, mostly geared toward corporate training vs. academic. There is some very good information through this web site to include many good articles. They have different levels of membership, one of which is at no cost.

This is a great site! One of the posts was about mLearning (mobile device learning as opposed to eLearning -online). It made me consider how electronic learning could be more encompassing.

As an optional resource, a youtube introduction to MOOCs ((Massive, Open Online Courses) is given. As I understand it, MOOCs the "term" basically describing a collaborative "blog" on a topic. The concept is that courses can be offered with everyone who wants to to participate and/or take the course. The above link, I think is a good example of a MOOC and it is on eLearning. Similiar to EDU251 there is content proferred, as well as ways to comments and connect to other relavent websites. You can explore the site, but liked the definition of elearning: Elearning is the use of any type of technology in improving learning. At it's most basic level, it is email...at it's most advanced, it is an online course (or simulation, or virtual reality, or...well, you get the point)

Oh darn, I have to go to work. I will look at this one too.

this page shows the advantages and disadvantages of eLearning!

You've got to be cautious about sites like this. When you see a page full of ads and links, it's likely not a very reliable resource. You'll notice they don't provide information about who runs the site. If you click on their blog link, they haven't posted since 2008. This is probably a site making money off pay-per-click ads. There are lots of sites like this, as well as aggregator/collector sites. Those sites actually harvest content from legitimate sites, and put it all together on their site, where they make money off ads.

There is a website that shows about the eLearning network in Washington state! :)

The trend for businesses to go online with learning seems to have really taken hold. I know University of Washington also uses an on-line training system, both for optional and mandatory training.

Interesting. I don't remember ever seeing that before. I'll have to check it out some more.

Top ten EdTech masters programs

Free eLearning books!

What do you think about this?

A novel way to address shrinking school budgets that mandate class size. Usually elearning means there is a price tag for setting and maintaining the computers, programs, and internet. Maybe there was a different part of the budget that paid for the environment. I agree with the comments at the end of the article - primarily because of my own experience and just common sense in thinking about it - that a blended environment is probably the most effective.

A study by the US Government has concluded hybrid classes are the most productive learning environments for elearners. Florida's virtual studies are counter to logic. I for one would not want to be a student in that classroom. I would revolt!! Ahhh...not to be confused with starting a revolution ( which just might be needed).

I found this website while I was searching for some information about eLearning. I think this website will help many kids who study online! :)

This looks like lots of fun. I'll have to share it with my kids. They love online learning games.

I haven't watched the entire thing yet. This was shared on the EDUCAUSE CIO listserv and many people are thanking the person who shared it. The title sounded like something that would be appropriate for out class, and understanding the challenges faced by eLearning and eLearners and balancing participation.

Nigel is very funny! He has the subtle British sense of humor even though he might be Austrialian. Anyway, he stated wearing jeans on Friday doesn't mean anything really. You are still under pressure; still working; and the only thing changed is your clothes. Incidentally, a study...I no longer remember where to find it...states when people where jeans and casual wear they are more productive. That is the bottom line...Productivity. It drives business today and relaxing and striking a work-life balance can be almost impossible in American "sweat shops: which is what industry in the U.S. seems to be metamorphosing into.

In today's Seattle Times, A3 section - interesting article which followed over 2,000 US students from 2005 to 2009. 45% made no significant improvements in their critical thinking, reasoning or writing skills during first 2 years of study. After completing 4 years, 36 % showed no significant gains in "higher order" thinking skills. Article also states some contributing factors, many students work part-time, however, most students only spent 1/5 time on their studies and 51% on socializing & extra-curricular. I have a strong hunch the internet is a big contributor to the socializing factor. When I read such statistics, it makes me ponder if on-line learning can truly change this social/educational trend. I am enjoying many readings on the diigo, both from Jennifer and others, however, I'm not sure I would design an on-line class which designated a considerable amt. of time to short readings and discussions. Your thoughts on this?

I too found the article interesting - thanks! I do wonder about the types of classes students completed especially in their first two years. The might be a marked difference in skills acquisition if students were completing many required large class survey classes to meet initial requirements vs. small, more focused classes in their areas of interest.

I am still trying to get the picture of "slogging" through studies! Is that what I am doing when reading all this material in Diigo? I don't think so.

This animate was adapted from a talk given at the RSA by Sir Ken Robinson, world-renowned education and creativity expert and recipient of the RSA's Benjamin Franklin award. For more information on Sir Ken's work visit: http://www.sirkenrobinson.com

Helen, I like Sir Ken Robinson's stuff, but I do take it with a grain of salt as well. Like Gladwell, he's a good storyteller and can inspire, but everything's got to be taken in context. I love that you ask your students to follow their train of thought. I do that with my kids, and find I often have to explain my own train of thought to others. I like the way you are in tune with the benefits and risks of reflective practice. It can get messy, and it isn't always the best thing for every student. It sounds like you take extra steps to make sure they understand the value of it.

Helen, thanks for underlining the Evoke game. I did find it - www.urgentevoke.com - and was impressed by what a great representative of eLearning this was. Organized, engaging, lots of information - but what I liked most was that it led to action - i.e., the gaming playing is not just on the computer - but actions you take or are encouraged to take to make a difference.

This is an overview of a guideline for how learning occurs and how as teachers we can focus our lessons to this guideline. It is relevant in on-line education, as the on-line environment allows us to have different modes to provide information to our students. We can utilize everything from video to chat rooms.

Ann, do you have any tools or taxonomies that have helped you develop those questioning skills? And have you got any experience using the SOLO taxonomy?

I have not had experience with SOLO - Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes - but from the bit of investigation I have done, it is similiar to Bloom's in that it is based upon the notion that a studen'ts ability to grasp more abstract concepts, is based on more fundamental understandings and that you need to make sure you are not too advanced for where the student is. It reminds me of Piaget's concept that you can only learn something that is slightly more advanced than where you are (my paraphrase). As for my experience with help in developing questioning skills, which I feel is an excellent example of elearning, is that my company had us first take an interactive tutorial on Bloom's taxonomy. The "final" was taking a math problem and providing questions for each level of the taxonomy. We posted this on a dedicated discussion, with the teacher providing her response for everyone to see and learn from. We have since started another topic where teacher can post specific questions they are using and have tried and this will eventually be collected into a reference document. For example, one idea that was shared was that you after you have tested your student on a fundamental, you can ask them to give you a problem. My experience is that I often get back something I didn't expect. Like if adding decimels, they will return with a problem that might be in the millionths rather than the tenths. What I found most useful was not these specifics or having a question for each level, as much as the consciousness raising it did for me to think more creatively in helping the students. I have found that an elearning platform is very helpful in this regard. For example, they might take a lesson on adding or subtracting fractions and another on adding or subtracting decimels. I will then give them a problem in adding both - example - 1/2 + .25 = . By having an interactive whiteboard I can see how they convert the fraction to a decimal to add them and offer guidan

"Video has become relatively inexpensive to produce, and because we all have a lifetime of experience with watching video, it's easy to believe that we understand how to communicate reasonably well using video as a medium."

Its an interesting thought that all video, including those for elearning objectives, is really story-telling and one must utilize the medium - such as panning the camera - is important. I hadn't thought of video as story-telling, but it is a good way to think about how to structure a video lesson. A story has a beginning, middle, and end and it needs to engage the "listerner".

Thought this might be of interest on the topic of copyright.

I don't think this problem would be so wide spread if the information as open. There is a lot being done to open materials to all students. We learned about this concept in Intro to eLearning. I have sent an example: http://www.curriculumcompanion.org/openCourt/index.cfm

We're going to do some experimentation with plagiarism. Stay tuned!