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Popular nerd site, Gizmodo, is offering online electronics courses for their readers. Wish this had been around when I had to take electronics courses in college. Sometimes, simple videos that you can play and replay can do so much more for you than a PhD clad professor and a book.

a lego MMO for adults and kids - looks pretty fantastic

Interesting article about how technology is changing the way we define and share intellectual property. Is a professor's lecture the property of the professor, the University or neither? Does a student "own" the notes he takes in class?

Fedora to provide scholarship. Incentive to contribute to open source technologies for high school students. Perhaps getting high school students engaged in open source projects is a means of putting the medium of technology into the learners hands.

The scientists at the University of Arizona say their prototype "holographic three-dimensional telepresence" is the world's first practical 3D transmission system that works without requiring viewers to wear special glasses or other devices. The research is published in the journal Nature.

Clickers have been popular in Northwestern University and Harvard. In this report, clickers are not only regarded as a device that improves teaching quality, but also a means that helps teachers know how many students are present and helps students focus more and read more.

The iphone brings together computer science and music at the University of Michigan. The course is titled "Building a Mobile Phone Ensemble"

I was exploring Navigator, searching for formative assessment links.  I came across an HP Catalyst funded iniative at the Colorado School of Mines.    I'm not convinced that Navigator's map view of tech projects is the best organizational metaphor.

A study being conducted in five universities in the midwest found that students "were basically clueless about the logic underlying how the search engine organizes and displays its results." They found college students poorly filtered results and had difficulty finding 'scholarly sources.' The article also notes a rift between professors and university libraries where professors don't encourage students to seek out research specialists. I've found Gutman's research staff incredibly helpful, specifically with tips on narrowing journal searches.

In the USDOE Educational Technology plan, Universal Design for Learning standards require that information be presented in a way that is accessible to people with disabilities such as sight or hearing impairment. I found this article about automatic text-to-sign avatar software that would seem to be a no-brainer for anybody who is creating an eLearning experience that is primarily text-based. We have text-to-speech, which is as easy as opening a document and having a robot read the text for you. I wonder if there are any text-to-sign avatars that are available in English.

Virtual professors? I think a virtual Dede would be cool, but I like knowing his mustache is real, and not bought in a virtual hair salon.

Although often seen as an inconsequential feature of digital technologies, one's self-representation, or avatar, in a virtual environment can affect the user's thoughts, according to research by a University of Texas at Austin communication professor.

Interesting list to reflect on. "Here are 8 signs that your online college is just another extension of the School of Hard Knocks handing out Masters Degrees in Gullibility."

"President Obama will launch the "Educate to Innovate" campaign, a nationwide effort to help reach the administration's goal of moving American students from the middle of the pack to the front in science and math achievement over the next decade. The President will announce a series of partnerships involving leading companies, universities, foundations, non-profits, and organizations representing millions of scientists, engineers and teachers that will motivate and inspire young people across the country to excel in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)."

While we are debating e-learning, developing countries are forging ahead, including engaging private sector, setting up long term strategy and policy, and starting Asia e University. "Think of it this way. We are preparing them for jobs that don't yet exist and for technologies that haven't been invented," Policarpio, Philippine Education Dept. official, says. He also compares what we do at Harvard stating that there is a big difference in accessing resources vs. e-learning., "For example, Harvard and Yale have an online portal for learning-a place where they can share their lectures and reports online. But those are just resources anyone can access. e-learning goes beyond that. It melds all kinds of academic activities with ICT (Information and Communication Technology)."

Michigan State senate approved Cyber Schools. Experts question this legislation. A new report by education professors from the University of Colorado finds that there's no reliable evidence showing such institutions are as good brick-and-mortar schools. Some are just not comfortable with all the unknowns in the cyber school equation. Sounds familiar?

There is a lot murkiness in the conversation. There may be no evidence but so much goes on in brick and mortar schools that has no evidence behind it anyway, I'm less and less convinced by that particular rhetorical approach. I think there is no more to lose by the effort than we already lose in undocumented ways. As with any endeavor, planning and execution will be the determinants of success. I'm beginning to resent the attempts in the media to summarize these complex issues because I think they have a significant impact on public opinion but they horrible at conveying complexity.

In US alone, 4 million K-12 students are enrolled online. Annual conference on online (and blended) learning in Indianapolis on November 9-11, by the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL). Online learning is seen as the solution to allowing greater access to diverse resources curriculum, especially when many schools face serious financial crisis. Expect to hear from experts and educators, such as, such as Gene Wilhoit, Executive Director of the Council of Chief State School Officers; Paul Peterson of Harvard University; Michael Horn, author of Disrupting Class; Steve Midgley of the U.S. Department of Education; and iNACOL president Susan Patrick. Full program details are available at www.virtualschoolsymposium.org.

Industry top firms, including Google, News Corp, Disney, and NBC Universal, are showing interest in online education. "Demand for online education is exploding. The global market for online learning at schools and businesses is expected to grow from $32.1 billion in 2010 to approximately $50 billion by 2015, according to research firm Ambient Insight."