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Monday, January 31, 2011

The Common Pitfalls of Distance Learning and How to Avoid Them by Lindsey Wright

Today I have Lindsey Wright guest blogging. Please be sure to check out her unique guest post. Guest posts are always welcome, please contact me.

The earliest instances of distance learning — a program of education conducted without the physical presence of the student in a classroom — arose in the 19th century. Carried out through written letters and lessons, these first correspondence courses were made possible by the advent of an organized postal service. In the same manner, new forms of education at a distance have appeared with the development of radio and television broadcasting, electronic mail and the Internet and other transmission technologies. Now, with the ability to stream video information online and even conduct real time video conferences, online education is more popular and more viable than ever. There even exist professional organizations to support this specialized education field. 

However, distance learning is far from perfect. Setting aside the question of whether or not studying remotely measures up in comparison with traditional classroom-based education, there are a few potential pitfalls unique to distance learning that any prospective student considering such a program should bear in mind. For instance, many distance education programs are geared toward providing professional education, rather than purely academic study. While in some cases this may not necessarily be problematic, in others, such as vocational training to work in professional aviation, students may have cause for caution. While every remote professional training program will bill itself as completely legitimate, some expertise is simply difficult or impossible to really acquire without direct, hands-on learning experience. Learning the math, economics, and legal matters necessary to practice accounting is one thing; learning to fly an airplane is quite another. 

Legitimacy is another common concern. Although many established universities and colleges increasingly offer online courses, there still remain a number of unaccredited and sometimes fraudulent distance learning programs. Prospective students must be circumspect in selecting a program, and be sure to conduct thorough background research before enrolling.

Even in legitimately accredited and generally well-run distance learning programs, the relative lack of interaction with instructors and other students can spoil the learning experience for some. Studies of student experience in remote education settings have found that successful distance learners must be strongly self-motivated and able to complete their work without much guidance. For many students, more direct interaction with teachers and classmates is necessary to stay on track and do well in school. Even as ongoing technological developments allow for greater degrees of interaction, they may not sufficiently mitigate this issue.

Finally, even if a prospective student really is well suited to a distance learning environment, their instructor may not be. While most educators have been found to hold a generally positive outlook on distance learning, they are not always enthusiastic about participating in it themselves. Such is particularly liable to be the case with professors at established institutions who are called on to provide remote instruction. Lack of familiarity with the technology, uncertainty about how to apply pedagogy in a remote learning context and difficulty adapting to interacting with students at a distance can all become potentially critical problems entirely out of students' hands.

On the whole distance learning remains a promising and viable mode of education. Not only that, but online schools also provide more convenient and accessible learning opportunities to prospective students. However, it must be kept in mind that there are big differences between a remote learning program and a normal classroom setting in the best of cases. Distance learning students should expect a different educational dynamic accompanied by different kinds of challenges and problems, and should remember that some expertise just can't be acquired indirectly. With a little caution, there's no reason distance learning can't be a significant and useful part of students' educational experience. Indeed, as technological development continues, no doubt remote study will grow more prevalent as well, probably in ways we have yet to imagine.

Many thanks to Lindsey.
Enjoy your reading!

The Common Pitfalls of Distance Learning and How to Avoid Them by Lindsey Wright

Today I have Lindsey Wright guest blogging. Please be sure to check out her unique guest post. Guest posts are always welcome, please contact me.

The earliest instances of distance learning — a program of education conducted without the physical presence of the student in a classroom — arose in the 19th century. Carried out through written letters and lessons, these first correspondence courses were made possible by the advent of an organized postal service. In the same manner, new forms of education at a distance have appeared with the development of radio and television broadcasting, electronic mail and the Internet and other transmission technologies. Now, with the ability to stream video information online and even conduct real time video conferences, online education is more popular and more viable than ever. There even exist professional organizations to support this specialized education field. 

However, distance learning is far from perfect. Setting aside the question of whether or not studying remotely measures up in comparison with traditional classroom-based education, there are a few potential pitfalls unique to distance learning that any prospective student considering such a program should bear in mind. For instance, many distance education programs are geared toward providing professional education, rather than purely academic study. While in some cases this may not necessarily be problematic, in others, such as vocational training to work in professional aviation, students may have cause for caution. While every remote professional training program will bill itself as completely legitimate, some expertise is simply difficult or impossible to really acquire without direct, hands-on learning experience. Learning the math, economics, and legal matters necessary to practice accounting is one thing; learning to fly an airplane is quite another. 

Legitimacy is another common concern. Although many established universities and colleges increasingly offer online courses, there still remain a number of unaccredited and sometimes fraudulent distance learning programs. Prospective students must be circumspect in selecting a program, and be sure to conduct thorough background research before enrolling.

Even in legitimately accredited and generally well-run distance learning programs, the relative lack of interaction with instructors and other students can spoil the learning experience for some. Studies of student experience in remote education settings have found that successful distance learners must be strongly self-motivated and able to complete their work without much guidance. For many students, more direct interaction with teachers and classmates is necessary to stay on track and do well in school. Even as ongoing technological developments allow for greater degrees of interaction, they may not sufficiently mitigate this issue.

Finally, even if a prospective student really is well suited to a distance learning environment, their instructor may not be. While most educators have been found to hold a generally positive outlook on distance learning, they are not always enthusiastic about participating in it themselves. Such is particularly liable to be the case with professors at established institutions who are called on to provide remote instruction. Lack of familiarity with the technology, uncertainty about how to apply pedagogy in a remote learning context and difficulty adapting to interacting with students at a distance can all become potentially critical problems entirely out of students' hands.

On the whole distance learning remains a promising and viable mode of education. Not only that, but online schools also provide more convenient and accessible learning opportunities to prospective students. However, it must be kept in mind that there are big differences between a remote learning program and a normal classroom setting in the best of cases. Distance learning students should expect a different educational dynamic accompanied by different kinds of challenges and problems, and should remember that some expertise just can't be acquired indirectly. With a little caution, there's no reason distance learning can't be a significant and useful part of students' educational experience. Indeed, as technological development continues, no doubt remote study will grow more prevalent as well, probably in ways we have yet to imagine.

Many thanks to Lindsey.
Enjoy your reading!

Transition makes enterprise-class learning management available to companies of all sizes

Transition, a leading provider of e-learning products, services and solutions, launches CourseMill for IBM WebSphere Portal - which delivers top-featured learning management without the high price ticket.


Transition has brought together the power of Trivantis' CourseMill and IBM's WebSphere Portal into CourseMill for IBM WebSphere Portal - which delivers high-end learning management features at a far lower price.

CourseMill is a flexible, powerful Learning Management System from Trivantis, the same company which created the Lectora e-learning authoring tool. CourseMill for WebSphere Portal has been specially produced to integrate tightly into IBM WebSphere Portal - making it an ideal learning management system for those organisations with an IBM Lotus infrastructure.

According to Transition's Miles Corbett, CourseMill for IBM WebSphere Portal is especially valuable to those organisations which wish to migrate legacy e-learning content from IBM LMS 1.x and WCL 2.x to a low-cost, high-performance platform. "Organisations using IBM LMS and WCL now have a viable platform on which to base their ongoing e-learning strategy," says Corbett.
Read more... 

CourseMill for IBM WebSphere Portal is available now, from Transition.
For more information go to the CourseMill for IBM WebSphere Portal page on the Transition website.

Related links
CourseMill technical overview (PDF)
Case study: helping Oxfordshire County Council to cut training administration costs and expand its possibilities

About Transition
Transition is an award-winning provider of Lectora and IBM Lotus e-learning products and services. Founded in 1996, the company's customers include ACCA, Baker Hughes, BT, EMCOR, HP, IBM, Rank Group and Royal & SunAlliance. Transition has won international e-learning awards in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2005. Based in Kent, Transition provides e-learning solutions worldwide.

Transition makes enterprise-class learning management available to companies of all sizes

Transition, a leading provider of e-learning products, services and solutions, launches CourseMill for IBM WebSphere Portal - which delivers top-featured learning management without the high price ticket.


Transition has brought together the power of Trivantis' CourseMill and IBM's WebSphere Portal into CourseMill for IBM WebSphere Portal - which delivers high-end learning management features at a far lower price.

CourseMill is a flexible, powerful Learning Management System from Trivantis, the same company which created the Lectora e-learning authoring tool. CourseMill for WebSphere Portal has been specially produced to integrate tightly into IBM WebSphere Portal - making it an ideal learning management system for those organisations with an IBM Lotus infrastructure.

According to Transition's Miles Corbett, CourseMill for IBM WebSphere Portal is especially valuable to those organisations which wish to migrate legacy e-learning content from IBM LMS 1.x and WCL 2.x to a low-cost, high-performance platform. "Organisations using IBM LMS and WCL now have a viable platform on which to base their ongoing e-learning strategy," says Corbett.
Read more... 

CourseMill for IBM WebSphere Portal is available now, from Transition.
For more information go to the CourseMill for IBM WebSphere Portal page on the Transition website.

Related links
CourseMill technical overview (PDF)
Case study: helping Oxfordshire County Council to cut training administration costs and expand its possibilities

About Transition
Transition is an award-winning provider of Lectora and IBM Lotus e-learning products and services. Founded in 1996, the company's customers include ACCA, Baker Hughes, BT, EMCOR, HP, IBM, Rank Group and Royal & SunAlliance. Transition has won international e-learning awards in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2005. Based in Kent, Transition provides e-learning solutions worldwide.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Selective Posting: Willingness to post a message online

Don’t miss this pertinent article, appears in Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 16(2), 2011.

Selective Posting: Willingness to post a message online
By Gi Woong Yun and Sung-Yeon Park

Abstract

The communication environment in CMC is particularly relevant to the discourses of the traditional communication theory, spiral of silence. This paper embarked on the task of developing an experimental research method to test willingness to speak out in the spiral of silence theory on an online forum and to test subsequent attitudinal and behavioral changes as measured in issue position, climate of opinion perception, and message posting. A 2x2 factorial design (congruent messages vs. incongruent messages and anonymity vs. nonanonymity) tested the willingness to speak out on an online discussion forum. The result of the paper suggested a new theoretical framework, selective posting, and called for the modification of the psychological explanation of spiral of silence. 
Read more...  

Source: Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 

Selective Posting: Willingness to post a message online

Don’t miss this pertinent article, appears in Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 16(2), 2011.

Selective Posting: Willingness to post a message online
By Gi Woong Yun and Sung-Yeon Park

Abstract

The communication environment in CMC is particularly relevant to the discourses of the traditional communication theory, spiral of silence. This paper embarked on the task of developing an experimental research method to test willingness to speak out in the spiral of silence theory on an online forum and to test subsequent attitudinal and behavioral changes as measured in issue position, climate of opinion perception, and message posting. A 2x2 factorial design (congruent messages vs. incongruent messages and anonymity vs. nonanonymity) tested the willingness to speak out on an online discussion forum. The result of the paper suggested a new theoretical framework, selective posting, and called for the modification of the psychological explanation of spiral of silence. 
Read more...  

Source: Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 

Distance learning centre to offer more facilities to pupils

The Institute of Distance and Open Learning (IDOL), Guwahati, has now several new facilities to offer to the students. The institute which was established in the year 1998 is now ready to provide the learners with best possible support.


IDOL provides support system through printed study materials, SMS service, telephone counselling and an e-learning portal. Now, IDOL is also ready to launch its own community radio centre in the first week of February.

Talking about the radio-service, IDOL director Kandarpa Das said,  "Everything is ready and we are waiting for the launch in the next week. I think it will be a revolutionary step." The institute is also planning to introduce some new courses from the next session and a bigger library is also coming up.

Source: The Times of India  

Distance learning centre to offer more facilities to pupils

The Institute of Distance and Open Learning (IDOL), Guwahati, has now several new facilities to offer to the students. The institute which was established in the year 1998 is now ready to provide the learners with best possible support.


IDOL provides support system through printed study materials, SMS service, telephone counselling and an e-learning portal. Now, IDOL is also ready to launch its own community radio centre in the first week of February.

Talking about the radio-service, IDOL director Kandarpa Das said,  "Everything is ready and we are waiting for the launch in the next week. I think it will be a revolutionary step." The institute is also planning to introduce some new courses from the next session and a bigger library is also coming up.

Source: The Times of India  

iPad vs. iPhone Mobile Learning Research Reveals Differences In Student Behavior

GetYa Learn On (GYLO), an Austin-based educational software company, announced results from research investigating how college students use the iPhone/iPod Touch compared to the iPad while studying for an Introductory Statistics class at Abilene Christian University (ACU).

The app used in the research, “Statistics 1”, is an e-textbook that has been tested for three semesters at ACU and students have consistently reported that it helps them learn statistics and save time.

Statistics 1 App for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad 


During the Fall 2010 semester, students in the class used the app on both iPhones/iPod Touches and iPads. Preliminary findings showed that 60 percent of students reported that for studying and test preparation, they preferred the iPad version because of the larger screen size; however, students reported that having the iPhone/iPod Touch version was equally important because the device is always with them.

ACU and GYLO have collaborated since 2009 to explore factors that affect learning with the iPhone and iPad in the context of higher education. Nihalani and GYLO’s CEO, Dr. Michael Mayrath, will be presenting on the future of e-textbooks and mobile classroom applications at ACU's Connected Summit in late February.

The “Statistics 1” e-textbook app will be on sale for a limited time starting Tuesday, January 25 on the iTunes Store. The app will soon be available for Android devices.
Read more...

For more information about GYLO, visit GetYaLearnOn.com.

About GetYa Learn On, LLC
GetYa Learn On, LLC is a private company headquartered in Austin, Texas and founded in 2008. The company is comprised of a team of experts from software development, educational psychology, instructional technology, and measurement and evaluation. GetYa Learn On develops innovative educational applications and games based on research in education and instructional technology design.

Source: PRWeb 

iPad vs. iPhone Mobile Learning Research Reveals Differences In Student Behavior

GetYa Learn On (GYLO), an Austin-based educational software company, announced results from research investigating how college students use the iPhone/iPod Touch compared to the iPad while studying for an Introductory Statistics class at Abilene Christian University (ACU).

The app used in the research, “Statistics 1”, is an e-textbook that has been tested for three semesters at ACU and students have consistently reported that it helps them learn statistics and save time.

Statistics 1 App for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad 


During the Fall 2010 semester, students in the class used the app on both iPhones/iPod Touches and iPads. Preliminary findings showed that 60 percent of students reported that for studying and test preparation, they preferred the iPad version because of the larger screen size; however, students reported that having the iPhone/iPod Touch version was equally important because the device is always with them.

ACU and GYLO have collaborated since 2009 to explore factors that affect learning with the iPhone and iPad in the context of higher education. Nihalani and GYLO’s CEO, Dr. Michael Mayrath, will be presenting on the future of e-textbooks and mobile classroom applications at ACU's Connected Summit in late February.

The “Statistics 1” e-textbook app will be on sale for a limited time starting Tuesday, January 25 on the iTunes Store. The app will soon be available for Android devices.
Read more...

For more information about GYLO, visit GetYaLearnOn.com.

About GetYa Learn On, LLC
GetYa Learn On, LLC is a private company headquartered in Austin, Texas and founded in 2008. The company is comprised of a team of experts from software development, educational psychology, instructional technology, and measurement and evaluation. GetYa Learn On develops innovative educational applications and games based on research in education and instructional technology design.

Source: PRWeb 

Friday, January 28, 2011

25 Years Later, Challenger's McAuliffe Remembered

Teacher-astronaut Christa McAuliffe, who died along with the six other crew members in the 1986 Challenger explosion, continues to inspire educators and students.

Photo: Education Week
Liana Heitin, Associate Editor of Education Week Teacher writes, "Friday, Jan. 28, marks the 25th anniversary of the Challenger disaster. Around the country, teachers—some of them classroom veterans, others too young to recall those terrible moments—will describe the day’s historical significance to their students. And schools, universities, and space-focused education organizations will commemorate Ms. McAuliffe and her fellow crew members with both large-scale events and small tributes."

• At the Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Fla., the site of the Challenger launch, the Astronauts Memorial Foundation will gather as many as 1,000 people for a ceremony in honor of the crew.

• The Houston Challenger Learning Center, one of 48 educational hubs of the Alexandria, Va.-based nonprofit Challenger Center for Space Science Education, will host a live national webcast connecting students with astronauts.

• At Concord High School in New Hampshire, where Ms. McAuliffe taught, a group of 40 or so teachers from the 1986 staff will convene for a reunion. Retired teacher Susan Capano, who organized the potluck gathering, said she’s looking forward to seeing her old colleagues, with whom she shared the elation leading up to the launch—and then the ensuing shock and grief.

And at a small Massachusetts school that bears Ms. McAuliffe’s name, students will carry out the teacher-astronaut’s legacy by completing sophisticated space-research projects.

Touching the Future
The 8th graders at the 250-student McAuliffe Regional Charter Public Middle School, in Framingham, Mass., have been investigating current space themes—such as new designs for spacesuits, ionized propulsion, and the climate on Venus—by working with experts in the field. The students visited labs at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in nearby Cambridge, Skyped with researchers in Japan, and interviewed meteor specialists at NASA to delve into their topics.

This Friday, to honor the educator whose name their school bears, the students will present their research at the Christa McAuliffe Center at Framingham State College, where Ms. McAuliffe received her bachelor’s degree. 
Read more...   

Source: Education Week Teacher

25 Years Later, Challenger's McAuliffe Remembered

Teacher-astronaut Christa McAuliffe, who died along with the six other crew members in the 1986 Challenger explosion, continues to inspire educators and students.

Photo: Education Week
Liana Heitin, Associate Editor of Education Week Teacher writes, "Friday, Jan. 28, marks the 25th anniversary of the Challenger disaster. Around the country, teachers—some of them classroom veterans, others too young to recall those terrible moments—will describe the day’s historical significance to their students. And schools, universities, and space-focused education organizations will commemorate Ms. McAuliffe and her fellow crew members with both large-scale events and small tributes."

• At the Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Fla., the site of the Challenger launch, the Astronauts Memorial Foundation will gather as many as 1,000 people for a ceremony in honor of the crew.

• The Houston Challenger Learning Center, one of 48 educational hubs of the Alexandria, Va.-based nonprofit Challenger Center for Space Science Education, will host a live national webcast connecting students with astronauts.

• At Concord High School in New Hampshire, where Ms. McAuliffe taught, a group of 40 or so teachers from the 1986 staff will convene for a reunion. Retired teacher Susan Capano, who organized the potluck gathering, said she’s looking forward to seeing her old colleagues, with whom she shared the elation leading up to the launch—and then the ensuing shock and grief.

And at a small Massachusetts school that bears Ms. McAuliffe’s name, students will carry out the teacher-astronaut’s legacy by completing sophisticated space-research projects.

Touching the Future
The 8th graders at the 250-student McAuliffe Regional Charter Public Middle School, in Framingham, Mass., have been investigating current space themes—such as new designs for spacesuits, ionized propulsion, and the climate on Venus—by working with experts in the field. The students visited labs at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in nearby Cambridge, Skyped with researchers in Japan, and interviewed meteor specialists at NASA to delve into their topics.

This Friday, to honor the educator whose name their school bears, the students will present their research at the Christa McAuliffe Center at Framingham State College, where Ms. McAuliffe received her bachelor’s degree. 
Read more...   

Source: Education Week Teacher

Thursday, January 27, 2011

McGraw-Hill and Wipro to Develop mConnect -- an Affordable Mobile Learning Platform -- to Reduce Skills Gap in Emerging Markets

The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), a premier global financial information and education company, and Wipro, a leading technology solutions provider, will work together to develop "mConnect,(1)" an open-standard mobile learning platform designed to bridge the skills gap in emerging markets.
Photo: Michal Marcol 
India provides an important development ground for mConnect. The country is home to a growing, young workforce hungry for access to high-quality education to improve their career prospects. According to mobileyouth.org, by 2012, one in five of all mobile phones in use worldwide will be owned by a young person in India. Currently, one hundred million mobile phones are owned by youth in rural areas who use them an average of 5.5 hours per day.

Even within the population of Indian students with access to university education, according to a recent World Economic Forum report on the global talent crisis, only 25 percent of those graduates are considered employable by multinational companies today. Given this staggering data, mobile learning is uniquely positioned to overcome historic boundaries of distance, infrastructure and economic status, and harness the prolific and growing use of mobile devices to engage these myriad audiences.

Additional Facts and Figures about Mobile Device Market:
• There are 5.3 billion mobile phone subscriptions worldwide. (Source: International Telecommunications Union)
• In the developing world, mobile cellular penetration rates to reach 68% at the end of 2010—mainly driven by the Asia and Pacific region. (Source: International Telecommunications Union)
• By 2013, the number of smart phones worldwide will surpass PCs, 1.82 billion to 1.78 billion. (Source: Gartner Research)
• There are 833 million cell phone subscribers in China. (Source: Reuters)
•  In India, there are 706 million cell phone subscribers, equivalent to about 60% of the population. (Source: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India)

Read more...

About McGraw-Hill Education
McGraw-Hill Education is a premier provider of teaching and learning programs for 21st century post-secondary and education markets worldwide. Through a comprehensive range of traditional and digital education content and tools, McGraw-Hill Education empowers educators and prepares professionals and students of all ages to connect, learn and succeed in the global economy. McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, has offices in 33 countries and publishes in more than 65 languages.
Additional information is available at http://www.mheducation.com/.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies
McGraw-Hill is a global education and financial information company with leading brands including McGraw-Hill Education, Standard & Poor's, CRISIL, Platts, and J.D. Power. These brands share a commitment to creating a smarter, better world where everyone can succeed in the Knowledge Economy. Around the world, the company is serving this mission by personalizing education around the needs of students, and by providing the financial and business information that markets need to grow. With approximately 21,000 employees worldwide, McGraw-Hill has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Wherever the company operates, it is committed to responsible business practices that enhance the economic, social and environmental well-being of the communities where we work and live.
Please visit our website at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/ 

About Wipro
Wipro Technologies, a division of Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT) is the first PCMM Level 5 and SEI CMM Level 5 certified global IT services organization. Wipro Technologies was recently assessed at Level 5 for CMMI V 1.2 across offshore and onsite development centers. Wipro is one of the largest product engineering and support service providers worldwide. Wipro provides comprehensive research and development services, IT solutions and services, including systems integration, information systems outsourcing, package implementation, software application management, and datacenter managed services to corporations globally. In the Indian market, Wipro is a leader in providing IT solutions and services for the corporate segment in India, offering systems integration, network integration, software solutions and IT services.
Wipro also has a strong presence in niche market segments of consumer products and lighting. In the Asia-Pacific and Middle East markets, Wipro provides IT solutions and services for global corporations. Wipro's ADS' are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and its equity shares are listed in India on the Stock Exchange - Mumbai, and the National Stock Exchange.
Please visit our website at www.wipro.com

Source: PR Newswire 

McGraw-Hill and Wipro to Develop mConnect -- an Affordable Mobile Learning Platform -- to Reduce Skills Gap in Emerging Markets

The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), a premier global financial information and education company, and Wipro, a leading technology solutions provider, will work together to develop "mConnect,(1)" an open-standard mobile learning platform designed to bridge the skills gap in emerging markets.
Photo: Michal Marcol 
India provides an important development ground for mConnect. The country is home to a growing, young workforce hungry for access to high-quality education to improve their career prospects. According to mobileyouth.org, by 2012, one in five of all mobile phones in use worldwide will be owned by a young person in India. Currently, one hundred million mobile phones are owned by youth in rural areas who use them an average of 5.5 hours per day.

Even within the population of Indian students with access to university education, according to a recent World Economic Forum report on the global talent crisis, only 25 percent of those graduates are considered employable by multinational companies today. Given this staggering data, mobile learning is uniquely positioned to overcome historic boundaries of distance, infrastructure and economic status, and harness the prolific and growing use of mobile devices to engage these myriad audiences.

Additional Facts and Figures about Mobile Device Market:
• There are 5.3 billion mobile phone subscriptions worldwide. (Source: International Telecommunications Union)
• In the developing world, mobile cellular penetration rates to reach 68% at the end of 2010—mainly driven by the Asia and Pacific region. (Source: International Telecommunications Union)
• By 2013, the number of smart phones worldwide will surpass PCs, 1.82 billion to 1.78 billion. (Source: Gartner Research)
• There are 833 million cell phone subscribers in China. (Source: Reuters)
•  In India, there are 706 million cell phone subscribers, equivalent to about 60% of the population. (Source: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India)

Read more...

About McGraw-Hill Education
McGraw-Hill Education is a premier provider of teaching and learning programs for 21st century post-secondary and education markets worldwide. Through a comprehensive range of traditional and digital education content and tools, McGraw-Hill Education empowers educators and prepares professionals and students of all ages to connect, learn and succeed in the global economy. McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, has offices in 33 countries and publishes in more than 65 languages.
Additional information is available at http://www.mheducation.com/.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies
McGraw-Hill is a global education and financial information company with leading brands including McGraw-Hill Education, Standard & Poor's, CRISIL, Platts, and J.D. Power. These brands share a commitment to creating a smarter, better world where everyone can succeed in the Knowledge Economy. Around the world, the company is serving this mission by personalizing education around the needs of students, and by providing the financial and business information that markets need to grow. With approximately 21,000 employees worldwide, McGraw-Hill has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Wherever the company operates, it is committed to responsible business practices that enhance the economic, social and environmental well-being of the communities where we work and live.
Please visit our website at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/ 

About Wipro
Wipro Technologies, a division of Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT) is the first PCMM Level 5 and SEI CMM Level 5 certified global IT services organization. Wipro Technologies was recently assessed at Level 5 for CMMI V 1.2 across offshore and onsite development centers. Wipro is one of the largest product engineering and support service providers worldwide. Wipro provides comprehensive research and development services, IT solutions and services, including systems integration, information systems outsourcing, package implementation, software application management, and datacenter managed services to corporations globally. In the Indian market, Wipro is a leader in providing IT solutions and services for the corporate segment in India, offering systems integration, network integration, software solutions and IT services.
Wipro also has a strong presence in niche market segments of consumer products and lighting. In the Asia-Pacific and Middle East markets, Wipro provides IT solutions and services for global corporations. Wipro's ADS' are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and its equity shares are listed in India on the Stock Exchange - Mumbai, and the National Stock Exchange.
Please visit our website at www.wipro.com

Source: PR Newswire 

E-learning in Bangladesh by Nahid Akhter

The use of technology in the field of education is becoming indispensable worldwide. The effectiveness of using e-learning tools in the classroom has been studied and proved time and time again.

Photo: The Daily Star 
Studies suggest that effective learning occurs when the senses are stimulated. By stimulating the senses, especially the visual sense, learning can be enhanced. It is further suggested that if multiple senses are stimulated, greater learning takes place. Stimulation through the senses is achieved through a greater variety of colours, volume levels, strong statements, facts presented visually, use of a variety of techniques and media. What better way to tingle multiple senses of a student than using technology, especially information technology?

In Bangladesh, however, the use of internet among students is limited to social networking and entertainment. The reason being, lack of appropriate content from the field of education and absence of research based activities and assignments from schools. Inquisitive students often feel lost in the humongous sea of information available on the internet. If they could find something that was close to their school syllabus, they could find it useful and relevant to them.

The Daily Star and Team Creative have jointly launched the country's first assessment website for school students called www.champs21.com to engage the Bangladeshi students in using the internet constructively and for education purposes. Russel T Ahmed, CEO of Team Creative says, “Our next generation -- our students will have to face the global competition eventually, since children of their generation in the developed countries are already using technology in their learning process. We need to prepare these students appropriately to face and come out successful in this competition.”
Read more...

Source: The Daily Star 

E-learning in Bangladesh by Nahid Akhter

The use of technology in the field of education is becoming indispensable worldwide. The effectiveness of using e-learning tools in the classroom has been studied and proved time and time again.

Photo: The Daily Star 
Studies suggest that effective learning occurs when the senses are stimulated. By stimulating the senses, especially the visual sense, learning can be enhanced. It is further suggested that if multiple senses are stimulated, greater learning takes place. Stimulation through the senses is achieved through a greater variety of colours, volume levels, strong statements, facts presented visually, use of a variety of techniques and media. What better way to tingle multiple senses of a student than using technology, especially information technology?

In Bangladesh, however, the use of internet among students is limited to social networking and entertainment. The reason being, lack of appropriate content from the field of education and absence of research based activities and assignments from schools. Inquisitive students often feel lost in the humongous sea of information available on the internet. If they could find something that was close to their school syllabus, they could find it useful and relevant to them.

The Daily Star and Team Creative have jointly launched the country's first assessment website for school students called www.champs21.com to engage the Bangladeshi students in using the internet constructively and for education purposes. Russel T Ahmed, CEO of Team Creative says, “Our next generation -- our students will have to face the global competition eventually, since children of their generation in the developed countries are already using technology in their learning process. We need to prepare these students appropriately to face and come out successful in this competition.”
Read more...

Source: The Daily Star 

Aspiring developers to create a video game in a weekend

If you have always dreamt of using your creative talent to make a video game but not known where to start, then join Train2Game’s Game Jam for a weekend of design, development, coding and teamwork.
The event will be held over 48 hours at the University of Bedfordshire from Friday March 25th to Sunday March 27th. Participating teams will have the opportunity to create a video game around a specific theme that will be available to the public to download free on the internet.



The event is being hosted by blended learning provider Train2Game, and is open to anyone over 17 with an interest in game programming, design or art at a cost of£35, with free entry for existing students on one of Train2Game's four courses. All proceeds from the contest will be donated to The Prince’s Trust Charity that helps the development and improvement of young people, and provides opportunities for them to develop to their full capacity.

Budding game developers can enter as an individual or team with up to six members. All individual entrants will be placed in a team that fits their existing skills as a programmer, artist or designer to ensure a good mix of talent that could take the title of Train2Game Game Jam Winners. The University of Bedfordshire's doors will be open to game jammers from 2pm on the afternoon of Friday 25th March for registration, with the theme for the game being announced at 6pm.
Read more... 

About Train2Game
Created in 2008, Train2Game is the only online blended learning college that offers people the chance to qualify as a Games Designer , Games Developer or Games Artist and Animator with a TIGA Diploma and was created to meet the specific industry skills shortages as recognised by TIGA.

Source: MCV and Train2Game  

Aspiring developers to create a video game in a weekend

If you have always dreamt of using your creative talent to make a video game but not known where to start, then join Train2Game’s Game Jam for a weekend of design, development, coding and teamwork.
The event will be held over 48 hours at the University of Bedfordshire from Friday March 25th to Sunday March 27th. Participating teams will have the opportunity to create a video game around a specific theme that will be available to the public to download free on the internet.



The event is being hosted by blended learning provider Train2Game, and is open to anyone over 17 with an interest in game programming, design or art at a cost of£35, with free entry for existing students on one of Train2Game's four courses. All proceeds from the contest will be donated to The Prince’s Trust Charity that helps the development and improvement of young people, and provides opportunities for them to develop to their full capacity.

Budding game developers can enter as an individual or team with up to six members. All individual entrants will be placed in a team that fits their existing skills as a programmer, artist or designer to ensure a good mix of talent that could take the title of Train2Game Game Jam Winners. The University of Bedfordshire's doors will be open to game jammers from 2pm on the afternoon of Friday 25th March for registration, with the theme for the game being announced at 6pm.
Read more... 

About Train2Game
Created in 2008, Train2Game is the only online blended learning college that offers people the chance to qualify as a Games Designer , Games Developer or Games Artist and Animator with a TIGA Diploma and was created to meet the specific industry skills shortages as recognised by TIGA.

Source: MCV and Train2Game  

Lær matematik på mobiltelefonen — Videnskabsministeriet

"Den 27. januar 2011 fra kl. 10.15 deltager videnskabsminister Charlotte Sahl-Madsen i lanceringen af "Matematik på mobilen", der er en ny måde for danske folkeskoleelever at lære matematik på.", skriver Videnskabsministeriet. 

Med over 100 forskellige e-læringsspil lærer eleverne matematik på en sjov og underholdende måde. E-læringsspillene er gratis at bruge og downloade på elevernes egne mobiltelefoner.

Videnskabsministeriet, Dansk e-Learning Center, Telekommunikationsindustrien, TDC, Telia, 3, Telenor og Unwire har i samarbejde udviklet en portal med de matematiske læringsspil, der er tilpasset folkeskolens klassetrin.

Der vil ved lanceringen være mulighed for at se elever fra Gasværksvejens Skoles fjerde klasse øve matematik på mobiltelefoner.

Lanceringen foregår på Gasværksvejens Skole, Gasværksvej 22, 1656 København V med deltagelse af videnskabsminister Charlotte Sahl-Madsen. Arrangementet starter kl. 09.30.

SkoleMat på mobilen


Relateret links
"Matematik til mobilen" på skolemat.dk
Prøv mobil - Test dig selv!

Kilde: Videnskabsministeriet og skolemat.dk/ 

Lær matematik på mobiltelefonen — Videnskabsministeriet

"Den 27. januar 2011 fra kl. 10.15 deltager videnskabsminister Charlotte Sahl-Madsen i lanceringen af "Matematik på mobilen", der er en ny måde for danske folkeskoleelever at lære matematik på.", skriver Videnskabsministeriet. 

Med over 100 forskellige e-læringsspil lærer eleverne matematik på en sjov og underholdende måde. E-læringsspillene er gratis at bruge og downloade på elevernes egne mobiltelefoner.

Videnskabsministeriet, Dansk e-Learning Center, Telekommunikationsindustrien, TDC, Telia, 3, Telenor og Unwire har i samarbejde udviklet en portal med de matematiske læringsspil, der er tilpasset folkeskolens klassetrin.

Der vil ved lanceringen være mulighed for at se elever fra Gasværksvejens Skoles fjerde klasse øve matematik på mobiltelefoner.

Lanceringen foregår på Gasværksvejens Skole, Gasværksvej 22, 1656 København V med deltagelse af videnskabsminister Charlotte Sahl-Madsen. Arrangementet starter kl. 09.30.

SkoleMat på mobilen


Relateret links
"Matematik til mobilen" på skolemat.dk
Prøv mobil - Test dig selv!

Kilde: Videnskabsministeriet og skolemat.dk/ 

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Google’s Apps Marketplace offers a host of educational technology tools for educators by Dennis Carter, Assistant Editor


"Google opened an Apps Marketplace for educators Jan. 25, creating an online repository filled with learning management system (LMS) software, web-based grade books, and other content that could be shared among an entire school district or college campus with the click of a button.", reports eSchool News.

Photo: eSchool News
The Apps Marketplace’s education category will start with 20 applications from 19 companies, according to Google’s official blog, and the applications can be integrated with existing app accounts, such as Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google docs.

The initial selection of educational technology apps are “just the beginning,” according to Google’s blog. The company soon will make available applications from LMS industry giant Blackboard and test preparation company Knewton.
Read more...

Source: eSchool News 

Google’s Apps Marketplace offers a host of educational technology tools for educators by Dennis Carter, Assistant Editor


"Google opened an Apps Marketplace for educators Jan. 25, creating an online repository filled with learning management system (LMS) software, web-based grade books, and other content that could be shared among an entire school district or college campus with the click of a button.", reports eSchool News.

Photo: eSchool News
The Apps Marketplace’s education category will start with 20 applications from 19 companies, according to Google’s official blog, and the applications can be integrated with existing app accounts, such as Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google docs.

The initial selection of educational technology apps are “just the beginning,” according to Google’s blog. The company soon will make available applications from LMS industry giant Blackboard and test preparation company Knewton.
Read more...

Source: eSchool News 

Advantages of Online Learning over Traditional Education by April Davis

Today I have April Davis guest blogging. Please be sure to check out her unique guest post. Guest posts are always welcome, please contact me.

There are many reasons to cheer for online education, and even though this form of learning has been scorned by the mainstream academia and perceived as the poor cousin of education, it has found many takers because of the various conveniences and advantages that it offers. Also, if you examine the underlying issues more closely, you’ll see how online education trumps its traditional counterpart in many aspects.
  • It’s the best way to gain an education while retaining your full-time job. You don’t have to give up your salary in order to further your education, and you could even get your employer to sponsor your degree (which they may not do if you take time off to enroll in a traditional school).
  • You’re protected from the temptations that plague college students – parties, sororities and other social events that don’t allow you to focus on your academic performance and your grades are removed from the online education scene. And with the recent report that finds that students are spending more time on trivial pursuits than on academic excellence, and so are not equipped with the key skills they should learn from college even after two years of school, it’s all the more reason to opt for an online degree that minimizes these distractions.
  • Most online learners are a focused lot – they go back to school because they have aspirations and want to achieve an aim, or they choose to study online because they want to work simultaneously, minimize their expenses, and reduce their student debt. So they’re more inclined to concentrate on their lessons and more driven to achieve success, even against the most insurmountable of odds. Regular college-goers are not as focused; many of them go to college because it’s expected of them and not because they really want to or because they’re hoping to achieve their goals through college.
  • You can minimize your overall expenditure – you don’t have to commute to and from college, you don’t have to shell out money for boarding and food, and you’re spared shelling out for those numerous parties that seem to be a persistent affair on any college campus.
Having said all this, it must be remembered however that online education works only when the student is extremely focused, knows how to balance many things on his/her plate, and is prepared to make a few sacrifices along the way to realize their aim.

This guest post is contributed by April Davis, she writes on the topic of Accredited Degree Online .

About Accredited Degree Online



Mission Statement:
Students are attending online colleges and universities in increasing numbers every year. Yet not every college is regionally accredited, and some are not even nationally accredited. Unfortunately, schools themselves have not been forthcoming with this information. As a result, I have created this website in order to provide students with the tools that they need to figure out whether the online degree they plan to obtain is accredited, if so by what body, and what the significance of that accreditation is.

Submit your Question: 
The online colleges are only loosely regulated, and relying exclusively on schools themselves to explain their accreditation status and its implications is leaving thousands of students confused or misled each year. As a result, April regularly answers students questions about online schools and whether they are accredited via email at Contact{at}AccreditedDegreesOnline{dot}org. If your question is new or interesting and applies to many schools generally I will request to add your question to our FAQ so that other students can benefit from this information as well.

April welcomes your questions and comments at her email

Many thanks to April.
Enjoy your reading!

Advantages of Online Learning over Traditional Education by April Davis

Today I have April Davis guest blogging. Please be sure to check out her unique guest post. Guest posts are always welcome, please contact me.

There are many reasons to cheer for online education, and even though this form of learning has been scorned by the mainstream academia and perceived as the poor cousin of education, it has found many takers because of the various conveniences and advantages that it offers. Also, if you examine the underlying issues more closely, you’ll see how online education trumps its traditional counterpart in many aspects.
  • It’s the best way to gain an education while retaining your full-time job. You don’t have to give up your salary in order to further your education, and you could even get your employer to sponsor your degree (which they may not do if you take time off to enroll in a traditional school).
  • You’re protected from the temptations that plague college students – parties, sororities and other social events that don’t allow you to focus on your academic performance and your grades are removed from the online education scene. And with the recent report that finds that students are spending more time on trivial pursuits than on academic excellence, and so are not equipped with the key skills they should learn from college even after two years of school, it’s all the more reason to opt for an online degree that minimizes these distractions.
  • Most online learners are a focused lot – they go back to school because they have aspirations and want to achieve an aim, or they choose to study online because they want to work simultaneously, minimize their expenses, and reduce their student debt. So they’re more inclined to concentrate on their lessons and more driven to achieve success, even against the most insurmountable of odds. Regular college-goers are not as focused; many of them go to college because it’s expected of them and not because they really want to or because they’re hoping to achieve their goals through college.
  • You can minimize your overall expenditure – you don’t have to commute to and from college, you don’t have to shell out money for boarding and food, and you’re spared shelling out for those numerous parties that seem to be a persistent affair on any college campus.
Having said all this, it must be remembered however that online education works only when the student is extremely focused, knows how to balance many things on his/her plate, and is prepared to make a few sacrifices along the way to realize their aim.

This guest post is contributed by April Davis, she writes on the topic of Accredited Degree Online .

About Accredited Degree Online



Mission Statement:
Students are attending online colleges and universities in increasing numbers every year. Yet not every college is regionally accredited, and some are not even nationally accredited. Unfortunately, schools themselves have not been forthcoming with this information. As a result, I have created this website in order to provide students with the tools that they need to figure out whether the online degree they plan to obtain is accredited, if so by what body, and what the significance of that accreditation is.

Submit your Question: 
The online colleges are only loosely regulated, and relying exclusively on schools themselves to explain their accreditation status and its implications is leaving thousands of students confused or misled each year. As a result, April regularly answers students questions about online schools and whether they are accredited via email at Contact{at}AccreditedDegreesOnline{dot}org. If your question is new or interesting and applies to many schools generally I will request to add your question to our FAQ so that other students can benefit from this information as well.

April welcomes your questions and comments at her email

Many thanks to April.
Enjoy your reading!