Learning Futures Festival Online 2011

The session recordings from this week's Learning Futures Festival are now available online.

Stephen Downes summarizes, "Go to North America Day 2 to find Donald Clark's argument against the lecture and my spirited defense of the form (note that the recordings are Adobe Connect recordings, so you'll get a full screen presentation with slides, sounds, video and the chatroom)."

The Lecture Must Stand

View more presentations from Stephen Downes

For the web pages with the full videos, see the web presentation.

Enjoy all these session recordings below:

• UK Day 1 
• North America Day 1 
• Australia Day 1 
• UK Day 2 
• North America Day 2 
• Australia Day 2

Source: Stephen Downes

Learning Futures Festival Online 2011

The session recordings from this week's Learning Futures Festival are now available online.

Stephen Downes summarizes, "Go to North America Day 2 to find Donald Clark's argument against the lecture and my spirited defense of the form (note that the recordings are Adobe Connect recordings, so you'll get a full screen presentation with slides, sounds, video and the chatroom)."

The Lecture Must Stand

View more presentations from Stephen Downes

For the web pages with the full videos, see the web presentation.

Enjoy all these session recordings below:

• UK Day 1 
• North America Day 1 
• Australia Day 1 
• UK Day 2 
• North America Day 2 
• Australia Day 2

Source: Stephen Downes

How to Use Cell Phones as Learning Tools by Meg Ormiston

Meg Ormiston, TeachHUB writes, "Regardless of your school’s cell phone policy, the reality in most schools is that students have phones in their pockets, purses, or hoodies. Why not get these tools out in plain sight and use them for good and not evil?" 

Photo: TeachHUB.com

Here are some easy to use strategies to use cell phones in the classrooms.

Why Use Cell Phones as Learning Tools

Cell phones are different from a computer lab filled with computers or a cart of netbooks because the cell phone is personal technology. Most students have invested a great deal of time learning about the features of the cell phone, how to navigate and the limitations of the phone. The other reason to really rethink the cell phone debate is because learning on the cell phone can extend beyond the walls of the school or the confines of a class period.
Read more...

Source: TeachHUB 

How to Use Cell Phones as Learning Tools by Meg Ormiston

Meg Ormiston, TeachHUB writes, "Regardless of your school’s cell phone policy, the reality in most schools is that students have phones in their pockets, purses, or hoodies. Why not get these tools out in plain sight and use them for good and not evil?" 

Photo: TeachHUB.com

Here are some easy to use strategies to use cell phones in the classrooms.

Why Use Cell Phones as Learning Tools

Cell phones are different from a computer lab filled with computers or a cart of netbooks because the cell phone is personal technology. Most students have invested a great deal of time learning about the features of the cell phone, how to navigate and the limitations of the phone. The other reason to really rethink the cell phone debate is because learning on the cell phone can extend beyond the walls of the school or the confines of a class period.
Read more...

Source: TeachHUB 

Student Créche offers students advice

The Student Créche is an online forum for GCSE, A-level and university students.
At www.studentcreche.co.uk, users can discuss courses, career options and general student life and offer each other advice.

Aadilhussain Kasia, 18, has designed the website to help others to make the most of their time in education.

Photo: Batley & Birstall News

The site, paid for and hosted by Aadilhussain’s father, helps students to make the most of their time studying. It provides learning resources as well as advice on health, relationships, jobs and money.
Anyone can browse the website for tips and information, and registered users can post their own thoughts. Aadilhussain’s web design skills are self-taught and he runs the site with help from friends and fellow students.
Read more...

Source: Batley & Birstall News

Student Créche offers students advice

The Student Créche is an online forum for GCSE, A-level and university students.
At www.studentcreche.co.uk, users can discuss courses, career options and general student life and offer each other advice.

Aadilhussain Kasia, 18, has designed the website to help others to make the most of their time in education.

Photo: Batley & Birstall News

The site, paid for and hosted by Aadilhussain’s father, helps students to make the most of their time studying. It provides learning resources as well as advice on health, relationships, jobs and money.
Anyone can browse the website for tips and information, and registered users can post their own thoughts. Aadilhussain’s web design skills are self-taught and he runs the site with help from friends and fellow students.
Read more...

Source: Batley & Birstall News

Children Learn their First Numbers with TeachMe Numbers 1 for iPad

Independent developer Nigel Green has announced the release of TeachMe Numbers 1 for iPad.

Photo: Nigel Green Software Development

The first App in a series of 3, TeachMe Numbers 1 is aimed generally at 1-3 year olds. Designed with the assistance of the developer's wife (who has a background in Early Childhood), the App teaches the child numbers 1 through 10 using multiple techniques which cover the 3 stages of number learning: Recognition, Sequence and Quantity. Sound Effects and Audio in English are also included to help the child to learn their first numbers.

Activities:
Activity 1: Recognition Of Numbers - This activity is designed to teach children the association between the name and visual representation of each number. To reinforce learning, this activity includes an optional English speaking voice that says each number in turn.

Activity 2: Number Sequencing - The aim of this activity is to teach children the concept of number sequence - that there is a set order to how numbers should follow each other. As each numbered balloon rises on the screen the child will see them come up in the same order every time. Once the balloons have reached their final position the child can 'pop' them one-by-one, but only in the correct order. There is an 'Autoplay' option that determines if the next set of balloons will rise without intervention once all the balloons are 'popped', or if a button must be touched to proceed further.
Read more...

Related links
Purchase and Download 
Nigel Green 

Source: prMac 

Children Learn their First Numbers with TeachMe Numbers 1 for iPad

Independent developer Nigel Green has announced the release of TeachMe Numbers 1 for iPad.

Photo: Nigel Green Software Development

The first App in a series of 3, TeachMe Numbers 1 is aimed generally at 1-3 year olds. Designed with the assistance of the developer's wife (who has a background in Early Childhood), the App teaches the child numbers 1 through 10 using multiple techniques which cover the 3 stages of number learning: Recognition, Sequence and Quantity. Sound Effects and Audio in English are also included to help the child to learn their first numbers.

Activities:
Activity 1: Recognition Of Numbers - This activity is designed to teach children the association between the name and visual representation of each number. To reinforce learning, this activity includes an optional English speaking voice that says each number in turn.

Activity 2: Number Sequencing - The aim of this activity is to teach children the concept of number sequence - that there is a set order to how numbers should follow each other. As each numbered balloon rises on the screen the child will see them come up in the same order every time. Once the balloons have reached their final position the child can 'pop' them one-by-one, but only in the correct order. There is an 'Autoplay' option that determines if the next set of balloons will rise without intervention once all the balloons are 'popped', or if a button must be touched to proceed further.
Read more...

Related links
Purchase and Download 
Nigel Green 

Source: prMac 

KidSpring Introduces Two New Apps for iPad

KidSpring, a producer of next generation apps on iPad and Android tablets for early childhood education, today announced the release of two new applications for iPad and iPad2 tablets.

The toddler counting and alphabet applications are designed for early childhood and pre-school development focusing on core cognitive concepts built around alphabet letter and number (ABC and 123) sequencing. The apps are designed in conjunction with parents, child behavioral therapists, school teachers, and evaluated extensively with children throughout the product development cycle.

The "Pond Life" package focuses on animals and insects associated with a pond themed environment while the "Dinosaurs" package is based upon a prehistoric themed environment. Both apps are brought to life with rich illustrations and audio. Children will learn through the exploration and discovery of sequencing puzzles with unique character illustrations while developing their imagination and learning patterns.
 
Cognitive developmental concepts include:

• Alphabet letter and number character and pattern recognition
• Alphabet letter and number character matching
• Alphabet letter sequencing
• Number sequencing
• Refinement of fine motor skills

Audio recognition of letter and number names

Key Features include:

• 4 distinct modes of play including alphabet and counting up to 20
• Easy to use and tested by children in focus groups
• Audio recorded by children for peer association 
• "Sticker Book", audio and animated graphics deliver praise and rewards throughout 
• Audio confirmation of number and alphabet characters 
• Beautiful professional illustrations

Read more...

Related links
Toddler Counting & Alphabet - Dinosaurs
Toddler Counting & Alphabet - Pond Life 

About KidSpring
KidSpring produces next generation apps on iPad and Android tablets for early childhood education. KidSpring apps foster the learning process and nurture a child's development by harnessing today's technology to create new learning experiences for children. KidSpring apps focus on specific educational concepts for a particular stage in a child's perceptual, motor, social and intellectual development. The cognitive building blocks and interaction modalities behind each app are derived from experimental observations of children interacting with their environment as they play and learn. KidSpring is a creation of Space Machine, based in Silicon Valley, California and founded in 1999.
To learn more, please visit: http://www.kidspring.net. 

Source: PRWeb 

KidSpring Introduces Two New Apps for iPad

KidSpring, a producer of next generation apps on iPad and Android tablets for early childhood education, today announced the release of two new applications for iPad and iPad2 tablets.

The toddler counting and alphabet applications are designed for early childhood and pre-school development focusing on core cognitive concepts built around alphabet letter and number (ABC and 123) sequencing. The apps are designed in conjunction with parents, child behavioral therapists, school teachers, and evaluated extensively with children throughout the product development cycle.

The "Pond Life" package focuses on animals and insects associated with a pond themed environment while the "Dinosaurs" package is based upon a prehistoric themed environment. Both apps are brought to life with rich illustrations and audio. Children will learn through the exploration and discovery of sequencing puzzles with unique character illustrations while developing their imagination and learning patterns.
 
Cognitive developmental concepts include:

• Alphabet letter and number character and pattern recognition
• Alphabet letter and number character matching
• Alphabet letter sequencing
• Number sequencing
• Refinement of fine motor skills

Audio recognition of letter and number names

Key Features include:

• 4 distinct modes of play including alphabet and counting up to 20
• Easy to use and tested by children in focus groups
• Audio recorded by children for peer association 
• "Sticker Book", audio and animated graphics deliver praise and rewards throughout 
• Audio confirmation of number and alphabet characters 
• Beautiful professional illustrations

Read more...

Related links
Toddler Counting & Alphabet - Dinosaurs
Toddler Counting & Alphabet - Pond Life 

About KidSpring
KidSpring produces next generation apps on iPad and Android tablets for early childhood education. KidSpring apps foster the learning process and nurture a child's development by harnessing today's technology to create new learning experiences for children. KidSpring apps focus on specific educational concepts for a particular stage in a child's perceptual, motor, social and intellectual development. The cognitive building blocks and interaction modalities behind each app are derived from experimental observations of children interacting with their environment as they play and learn. KidSpring is a creation of Space Machine, based in Silicon Valley, California and founded in 1999.
To learn more, please visit: http://www.kidspring.net. 

Source: PRWeb 

Innovate the Steve Jobs way: 7 principles for breakthrough success

Steve Jobs is synonymous with 'innovation.'
This ebook explores the 7 guiding principles of Steve Jobs' success and how you can use them to emerge from the recession stronger, more inspired and more innovative than ever.

There are very few people in the world today more closely associated with innovation than Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs. He is the classic American entrepreneur — starting his company in the spare bedroom of his parents’ house and pioneering the development of the first personal computer for everyday use.
Jobs was fired from the company he had started but he returned in 1997 . It was 12 years later, and Apple was close to bankruptcy . Jobs not only saved the company but in the next 10 years reinvented not just one industry but four — computing, music, telecommunications and entertainment (let’s not forget he’s the CEO of a little company called Pixar).

In 2010, Fortune magazine named Jobs the CEO of the Decade. Also, the famed New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman wrote a column in which he declared America needs more jobs — Steve Jobs. He meant that innovation and creativity must be nurtured and encouraged to help the United States and other countries emerge from the global recession.

Everyone wants to learn more about Steve Jobs, yet very few journalists have identified the core principles that drive Jobs and his success. Until now, that is.
Carmine Gallo's book The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs (McGraw-Hill, 2010) reveals the 7 principles that are largely responsible for his breakthrough success; principles that have guided Jobs throughout his career and, more important, principles you can adopt today to “think different” and reinvent your company, product or service.
Read more... 

Source: TrainingZone.co.uk

Innovate the Steve Jobs way: 7 principles for breakthrough success

Steve Jobs is synonymous with 'innovation.'
This ebook explores the 7 guiding principles of Steve Jobs' success and how you can use them to emerge from the recession stronger, more inspired and more innovative than ever.

There are very few people in the world today more closely associated with innovation than Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs. He is the classic American entrepreneur — starting his company in the spare bedroom of his parents’ house and pioneering the development of the first personal computer for everyday use.
Jobs was fired from the company he had started but he returned in 1997 . It was 12 years later, and Apple was close to bankruptcy . Jobs not only saved the company but in the next 10 years reinvented not just one industry but four — computing, music, telecommunications and entertainment (let’s not forget he’s the CEO of a little company called Pixar).

In 2010, Fortune magazine named Jobs the CEO of the Decade. Also, the famed New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman wrote a column in which he declared America needs more jobs — Steve Jobs. He meant that innovation and creativity must be nurtured and encouraged to help the United States and other countries emerge from the global recession.

Everyone wants to learn more about Steve Jobs, yet very few journalists have identified the core principles that drive Jobs and his success. Until now, that is.
Carmine Gallo's book The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs (McGraw-Hill, 2010) reveals the 7 principles that are largely responsible for his breakthrough success; principles that have guided Jobs throughout his career and, more important, principles you can adopt today to “think different” and reinvent your company, product or service.
Read more... 

Source: TrainingZone.co.uk

Don’t Forget the Fun Factor in Educational Games by Audrey Watters

Too often, educational games are neither fun nor educational, and there are plenty of educational games that fail on both those counts. Without an exhaustive study of games and game designers, it’s hard to pinpoint why. Do those making educational games have little experience in game design? Or do those making educational games have little experience in instructional technology? Or has the bar just been set incredibly low?

A kid's Dream of School




But the audience is changing for educational games, in part because of the explosion of mobile and Web technologies. Parents are buying more educational games, and kids now have a larger say in what they want. And as a result, games are becoming more engaging, more whimsical — more fun.

Take, for example, the creators of Motion Math, available on the iPhone and iPad. The founders, Jacob Klein and Gabriel Adauto, graduate students in the Learning, Design, and Technology program at Stanford, are both 32 years old. They’re bringing their background in education and cognitive science to the design of the game.

Photo: MindShift

Motion Math has won rave reviews from those who are watching the industry closely.
The Children’s Technology Review, for instance, gave the app 4.5 stars for being able to “bridge the concrete and the abstract.” The creators plan to expand to other platforms, including Android soon. Klein says they’ll also add new subject areas beyond fractions and even beyond math.
Read more... 

Related link
Here’s a fun video of a 7th grade class in Oklahoma competing in Motion Math

Source: MindShift and Motion Math Inc

Don’t Forget the Fun Factor in Educational Games by Audrey Watters

Too often, educational games are neither fun nor educational, and there are plenty of educational games that fail on both those counts. Without an exhaustive study of games and game designers, it’s hard to pinpoint why. Do those making educational games have little experience in game design? Or do those making educational games have little experience in instructional technology? Or has the bar just been set incredibly low?

A kid's Dream of School




But the audience is changing for educational games, in part because of the explosion of mobile and Web technologies. Parents are buying more educational games, and kids now have a larger say in what they want. And as a result, games are becoming more engaging, more whimsical — more fun.

Take, for example, the creators of Motion Math, available on the iPhone and iPad. The founders, Jacob Klein and Gabriel Adauto, graduate students in the Learning, Design, and Technology program at Stanford, are both 32 years old. They’re bringing their background in education and cognitive science to the design of the game.

Photo: MindShift

Motion Math has won rave reviews from those who are watching the industry closely.
The Children’s Technology Review, for instance, gave the app 4.5 stars for being able to “bridge the concrete and the abstract.” The creators plan to expand to other platforms, including Android soon. Klein says they’ll also add new subject areas beyond fractions and even beyond math.
Read more... 

Related link
Here’s a fun video of a 7th grade class in Oklahoma competing in Motion Math

Source: MindShift and Motion Math Inc

Upcoming Free Webinars

Check out these FREE online webinars below!

    

Engage and Inspire Learners - Virtually

Date: April 13, 2011
Time: 10:00AM Pacific / 1:00PM Eastern
(60 Minute Session)

Join Training magazine on April 13 for this complimentary Webinar, sponsored by Knoodle, and learn how to enliven both the virtual classroom and self-paced computer training to create a richer learning experience with a more transformational impact on learners' performance.

Virtual learning thought leader Martyn Lewis, founder of Market-Partners and 3g Selling, will demonstrate:

• Bold new strategies for delivering the live virtual classroom
• Delivery approaches gleaned from broadcast media
• The integration of video, dialogue, and teamwork
• How an ongoing learning community can augment the live virtual classroom

Knoodle speaker Kelly Smith will discuss: 

• Advantages of online self-paced learning environments
• Case study on how the HOPE Project at the University of California, San Diego, has successfully and engagingly delivered continuing medical education for board certification to more than 1,000 doctors and clinicians
• Demonstration on how to integrate audio, video, and presentations to create engaging online learning courses in minutes
Register

Moving Beyond Static and Boring eLearning to Story-Based eLearning

Date: Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Time: 10:00AM Pacific / 1:00PM Eastern
(60 Minute Session)

Speaker: Ray Jimenez, Ph.D., Chief Learning Architect of Vignettes for Training, Inc.

The traditional way of developing eLearning programs is to require learners to learn static, factual and procedural information, then test for retention and memorization. Consequently, learners become bored and are unable to apply ideas back to their work situation.

Innovators are designing eLearning programs and systems to allow learners, mentors and experts to relate and share stories and experiences from real-life situations, adding meaning and context to the factual content and helping learners better retain, relate to and apply the ideas.

In this webinar, these topics will be covered:

• What do experts and research say about the effectiveness of experience-based learning?
• What are the key differences between traditional design and story-based design approaches?
• What is the difference between informal learning and story-based learning?
• How does story-based learning apply to technical, soft-skill, compliance and software type content ?
• What is the five (5) step process in building a story-based learning design?
• What software and tools help developers implement story-based learning?

At the webinar, participants will view demos and examples and download free reference materials.
Register 

Upcoming Free Webinars

Check out these FREE online webinars below!

    

Engage and Inspire Learners - Virtually

Date: April 13, 2011
Time: 10:00AM Pacific / 1:00PM Eastern
(60 Minute Session)

Join Training magazine on April 13 for this complimentary Webinar, sponsored by Knoodle, and learn how to enliven both the virtual classroom and self-paced computer training to create a richer learning experience with a more transformational impact on learners' performance.

Virtual learning thought leader Martyn Lewis, founder of Market-Partners and 3g Selling, will demonstrate:

• Bold new strategies for delivering the live virtual classroom
• Delivery approaches gleaned from broadcast media
• The integration of video, dialogue, and teamwork
• How an ongoing learning community can augment the live virtual classroom

Knoodle speaker Kelly Smith will discuss: 

• Advantages of online self-paced learning environments
• Case study on how the HOPE Project at the University of California, San Diego, has successfully and engagingly delivered continuing medical education for board certification to more than 1,000 doctors and clinicians
• Demonstration on how to integrate audio, video, and presentations to create engaging online learning courses in minutes
Register

Moving Beyond Static and Boring eLearning to Story-Based eLearning

Date: Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Time: 10:00AM Pacific / 1:00PM Eastern
(60 Minute Session)

Speaker: Ray Jimenez, Ph.D., Chief Learning Architect of Vignettes for Training, Inc.

The traditional way of developing eLearning programs is to require learners to learn static, factual and procedural information, then test for retention and memorization. Consequently, learners become bored and are unable to apply ideas back to their work situation.

Innovators are designing eLearning programs and systems to allow learners, mentors and experts to relate and share stories and experiences from real-life situations, adding meaning and context to the factual content and helping learners better retain, relate to and apply the ideas.

In this webinar, these topics will be covered:

• What do experts and research say about the effectiveness of experience-based learning?
• What are the key differences between traditional design and story-based design approaches?
• What is the difference between informal learning and story-based learning?
• How does story-based learning apply to technical, soft-skill, compliance and software type content ?
• What is the five (5) step process in building a story-based learning design?
• What software and tools help developers implement story-based learning?

At the webinar, participants will view demos and examples and download free reference materials.
Register 

20 Incredible iPhone Apps for Troubled Sleepers

Roxanne McAnn has been in touch to reminds us about this recently published article below.

20 Incredible iPhone Apps for Troubled Sleepers

Photo: NursingSchools.Net

If you have trouble sleeping, you know that your frustration leads to a vicious cycle: the more pressure you put on falling asleep quickly, the harder it is to relax, and the worse you feel the next day. If you're a light sleeper, suffer from a sleep disorder or just can't fall asleep, use your iPhone as a tool to help improve the quality of your rest. Good sleep is part of a healthy lifestyle, so stop settling for a mediocre night's rest.

Falling Asleep
Use these apps to help you fall asleep quickly.

1. AmbiScience: The apps from this developer are each designed to help you take the ultimate power nap or full night's rest. Appropriate songs to help you sleep are loaded onto the nap, and the app also comes with an alarm and volume control.
Read more... 

Related link 
Take a closer look at NursingSchools Blog

About Nursingschools.net

Nursingschools.net is a complete online guide to nursing colleges, education, and careers. We endeavor to be the best nursing education resource available, allowing students to compare nursing schools, read common questions and answers, and request more information.

We endeavor to be the best nursing education resource available, allowing students to compare nursing schools, read common questions and answers, and request more information from the schools themselves.

Many thanks to Roxanne.
Enjoy your reading!

Source: NursingSchools.Net 

20 Incredible iPhone Apps for Troubled Sleepers

Roxanne McAnn has been in touch to reminds us about this recently published article below.

20 Incredible iPhone Apps for Troubled Sleepers

Photo: NursingSchools.Net

If you have trouble sleeping, you know that your frustration leads to a vicious cycle: the more pressure you put on falling asleep quickly, the harder it is to relax, and the worse you feel the next day. If you're a light sleeper, suffer from a sleep disorder or just can't fall asleep, use your iPhone as a tool to help improve the quality of your rest. Good sleep is part of a healthy lifestyle, so stop settling for a mediocre night's rest.

Falling Asleep
Use these apps to help you fall asleep quickly.

1. AmbiScience: The apps from this developer are each designed to help you take the ultimate power nap or full night's rest. Appropriate songs to help you sleep are loaded onto the nap, and the app also comes with an alarm and volume control.
Read more... 

Related link 
Take a closer look at NursingSchools Blog

About Nursingschools.net

Nursingschools.net is a complete online guide to nursing colleges, education, and careers. We endeavor to be the best nursing education resource available, allowing students to compare nursing schools, read common questions and answers, and request more information.

We endeavor to be the best nursing education resource available, allowing students to compare nursing schools, read common questions and answers, and request more information from the schools themselves.

Many thanks to Roxanne.
Enjoy your reading!

Source: NursingSchools.Net 

Eight Phases of Workplace Learning: A Framework for Designing Blended Programs

In this whitepaper Dorman Woodall and Sally Hovis, SkillSoft writes, "Today’s learning organizations recognize the prevalence of informal or just-intime learning and search for ways to support this type of learning in tandem with more formal, blended training programs."

How to blend workplace learning: Eight-step guide

The importance of combining informal learning with more formal, blended training programmes is widely recognised. Read this whitepaper to learn eight phases of workplace learning to guide you in designing blended learning solutions with formal and informal components.

The eight phases of workplace learning outlined in this paper provide a framework for making these decisions.

Photo: Whitepaper, SkillSoft

Read more...

Source: TrainingZone 

Eight Phases of Workplace Learning: A Framework for Designing Blended Programs

In this whitepaper Dorman Woodall and Sally Hovis, SkillSoft writes, "Today’s learning organizations recognize the prevalence of informal or just-intime learning and search for ways to support this type of learning in tandem with more formal, blended training programs."

How to blend workplace learning: Eight-step guide

The importance of combining informal learning with more formal, blended training programmes is widely recognised. Read this whitepaper to learn eight phases of workplace learning to guide you in designing blended learning solutions with formal and informal components.

The eight phases of workplace learning outlined in this paper provide a framework for making these decisions.

Photo: Whitepaper, SkillSoft

Read more...

Source: TrainingZone 

A new model for online learning by Wendy Lee

Wendy Lee, Star Tribune writes, "A Minneapolis start-up aims to take advantage of the latest Internet trends to enhance the educational experience.
Students who struggle with math homework may have a devil of a time trying to get help from their parents. They could turn to the Internet, but how would they know which websites are accurate?"

The Minneapolis start-up Sophia hopes to provide a solution. The company, named after the Greek word for wisdom, has an online platform that allows people to upload educational videos, lectures and slide shows on topics that range from U.S. history to chemistry.

Sophia launched this spring and has more than 20,000 users from more than 116 countries. The company hopes to expand access to reliable information that can help parents tutor their children and students refresh their memory on various subjects.

In some cases, videos are uploaded by teachers to let students review lessons on demand.

"I think it's going to be a radical disruption to the educational model," Chief Executive Don Smithmier said. "It's not about replacing teachers. It's not about replacing traditional classrooms. It's just surrounding those traditional classrooms and supporting teachers and students in different ways."
Read more...

Related links
Tour Overview
Getting Started with Sophia

About Sophia
Sophia enables innovation by connecting learners, teachers, experts and parents. We provide an academic community where everyone has access to learning that surrounds and supports the traditional classroom. We encourage variety and creativity in teaching so that everyone can learn in a way that makes sense to them.

Sophia is a social teaching and learning platform that taps the teacher in all of us and enhances the learning process by providing access to a wealth of knowledge, help, instruction, standards-aligned content, and expertise available to learners everywhere.

We want to harness technology for the betterment of the educational system as a whole. We can all help others learn. And Sophia’s mission is to be a catalyst in this educational movement. 

Source: Star Tribune and Sophia Learning 

A new model for online learning by Wendy Lee

Wendy Lee, Star Tribune writes, "A Minneapolis start-up aims to take advantage of the latest Internet trends to enhance the educational experience.
Students who struggle with math homework may have a devil of a time trying to get help from their parents. They could turn to the Internet, but how would they know which websites are accurate?"

The Minneapolis start-up Sophia hopes to provide a solution. The company, named after the Greek word for wisdom, has an online platform that allows people to upload educational videos, lectures and slide shows on topics that range from U.S. history to chemistry.

Sophia launched this spring and has more than 20,000 users from more than 116 countries. The company hopes to expand access to reliable information that can help parents tutor their children and students refresh their memory on various subjects.

In some cases, videos are uploaded by teachers to let students review lessons on demand.

"I think it's going to be a radical disruption to the educational model," Chief Executive Don Smithmier said. "It's not about replacing teachers. It's not about replacing traditional classrooms. It's just surrounding those traditional classrooms and supporting teachers and students in different ways."
Read more...

Related links
Tour Overview
Getting Started with Sophia

About Sophia
Sophia enables innovation by connecting learners, teachers, experts and parents. We provide an academic community where everyone has access to learning that surrounds and supports the traditional classroom. We encourage variety and creativity in teaching so that everyone can learn in a way that makes sense to them.

Sophia is a social teaching and learning platform that taps the teacher in all of us and enhances the learning process by providing access to a wealth of knowledge, help, instruction, standards-aligned content, and expertise available to learners everywhere.

We want to harness technology for the betterment of the educational system as a whole. We can all help others learn. And Sophia’s mission is to be a catalyst in this educational movement. 

Source: Star Tribune and Sophia Learning 

New Knowledge Direct Learning Management System (LMS) Release

Digitec Interactive today announced their partnership with NiUG (National iMIS Users Group) as sponsors of the upcoming NiUG Chicago Conference to be held April 18 - 20, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.


Photo: Knowledge Direct

This year Digitec Interactive is proud to be sponsoring the event and demonstrating the latest version of the Knowledge Direct learning management system (LMS) for mobile and web-based delivered continuing education and professional development. The platform integrates with iMIS to enable:

• Single sign-on for seamless entry into the learning portal
• User authentication with the association's member database
• eCommerce shopping cart for secure payments

With the release of new version 5.0 of the Knowledge Direct learning management system and accompanying rapid content authoring tool, Direct-to-WEB in early 2011, Digitec is preparing to demonstrate the system's new feature set to iMIS users who also have a need for an affordable, easy-to-use learning management system for creating, managing, delivering and marketing online and mobile learning.
To learn more, visit http://www.knowledgedirectweb.com
Read more... 

Related link 
Top 5 Reasons You'll Love New Version 5.0 

About Digitec Interactive
Established in 1988, Digitec Interactive is an award-winning eLearning production company and learning management system provider, developing educational products for corporate, association, medical and non-profit clients. Digitec Interactive is best known for the popular learning management system, Knowledge Direct and has grown to be a leading provider of easy-to-use learning portals and engaging e-Learning programs and courseware. 

Source: PRLog and Knowledge Direct