Virtual Worlds for Learning: An Analysis in the Use of Immersive Environments for Training

Be sure to check out this analysis report. The Brandon Hall Research Analysis just published "Virtual Worlds for Learning: An Analysis in the Use of Immersive Environments for Training by Ross McKerlich.

Virtual worlds such as Second Life are attracting interest from organizations as platforms for learning. Also known as immersive environments, these systems can provide many significant advantages over other learning strategies. As with anything, knowing the basics is crucial before deciding. By understanding what virtual worlds are, their uses as a learning technology, what differentiates them from other learning technologies, and their pros and cons, businesses are able to make a more informed decision regarding using virtual worlds for learning.

Read more...

About Ross McKerlich

He is a distance education professional and an education technology enthusiast. Ross was introduced to virtual
worlds in a graduate course, and has been immersed ever since in the challenge of adding this technology to the educator’s tool chest.
In addition to research and writing for Brandon Hall Research, Ross owns his own consulting company called Centerboard Strategic Learning. (www.centerboard.ca).

Centerboard focuses on evaluating both virtual world platforms, and the quality of teaching that takes place in these environments. The latter evaluation is done using the MUVEEET – an instrument developed by Ross McKerlich and Terry Anderson.
Ross has a master’s degree in distance education, a diploma in adult education and a bachelor of arts degree. He lives in Kelowna, B.C.,Canada with his wife and two sons, and loves sailing and other outdoor pursuits.

Source: Brandon Hall Research

Virtual Worlds for Learning: An Analysis in the Use of Immersive Environments for Training

Be sure to check out this analysis report. The Brandon Hall Research Analysis just published "Virtual Worlds for Learning: An Analysis in the Use of Immersive Environments for Training by Ross McKerlich.

Virtual worlds such as Second Life are attracting interest from organizations as platforms for learning. Also known as immersive environments, these systems can provide many significant advantages over other learning strategies. As with anything, knowing the basics is crucial before deciding. By understanding what virtual worlds are, their uses as a learning technology, what differentiates them from other learning technologies, and their pros and cons, businesses are able to make a more informed decision regarding using virtual worlds for learning.

Read more...

About Ross McKerlich

He is a distance education professional and an education technology enthusiast. Ross was introduced to virtual
worlds in a graduate course, and has been immersed ever since in the challenge of adding this technology to the educator’s tool chest.
In addition to research and writing for Brandon Hall Research, Ross owns his own consulting company called Centerboard Strategic Learning. (www.centerboard.ca).

Centerboard focuses on evaluating both virtual world platforms, and the quality of teaching that takes place in these environments. The latter evaluation is done using the MUVEEET – an instrument developed by Ross McKerlich and Terry Anderson.
Ross has a master’s degree in distance education, a diploma in adult education and a bachelor of arts degree. He lives in Kelowna, B.C.,Canada with his wife and two sons, and loves sailing and other outdoor pursuits.

Source: Brandon Hall Research

Moodle Primer Part 1: Creating a Class by Emmett Dulaney

In a recent article, I mentioned my newfound affection for the open-source course management system Moodle.

It's a great CMS, but there's not a lot of current information available on it. So, in this two-part tutorial, we'll walk through the use of it, starting in Part 1 with the creation of a class and setting

up the resources needed for it.

In the next installment, we'll focus on the administration that must take place once students do begin taking the course.

Read more...

Related link

Moodle

http://edulaney.blogspot.com/

Source: Campus Technology

Moodle Primer Part 1: Creating a Class by Emmett Dulaney

In a recent article, I mentioned my newfound affection for the open-source course management system Moodle.

It's a great CMS, but there's not a lot of current information available on it. So, in this two-part tutorial, we'll walk through the use of it, starting in Part 1 with the creation of a class and setting

up the resources needed for it.

In the next installment, we'll focus on the administration that must take place once students do begin taking the course.

Read more...

Related link

Moodle

http://edulaney.blogspot.com/

Source: Campus Technology

Innovate October/November 2007, Volume 4, Issue 1

Just to let you know that the October/November issue of Innovate is published.

In this issue they provide readers with a survey of technology-enhanced proposals and initiatives in a diverse range of contexts—within the academy, beyond the academy, and across the globe.

Read more...

Source: Innovate

Innovate October/November 2007, Volume 4, Issue 1

Just to let you know that the October/November issue of Innovate is published.

In this issue they provide readers with a survey of technology-enhanced proposals and initiatives in a diverse range of contexts—within the academy, beyond the academy, and across the globe.

Read more...

Source: Innovate

The University of California, Berkeley, is posting course lectures and other campus happenings on YouTube

Berkeley and other universities have been broadcasting a variety of courses on the Web for some time, including an arrangement Berkeley started in 2006 with YouTube's parent company Google Inc.



The agreement with YouTube was formally announced Wednesday.
UC Berkeley launched an audio podcast program with more than 25 courses in 2006. In 2007, the campus is to deliver audio or video for 86 full courses and more than 100 other events — 3,500 hours of content.
More than 300 hours of videotaped courses and events already are available.
Read more...

Related link
http://www.youtube.com/ucberkeley

Source: Yahoo! News

The University of California, Berkeley, is posting course lectures and other campus happenings on YouTube

Berkeley and other universities have been broadcasting a variety of courses on the Web for some time, including an arrangement Berkeley started in 2006 with YouTube's parent company Google Inc.



The agreement with YouTube was formally announced Wednesday.
UC Berkeley launched an audio podcast program with more than 25 courses in 2006. In 2007, the campus is to deliver audio or video for 86 full courses and more than 100 other events — 3,500 hours of content.
More than 300 hours of videotaped courses and events already are available.
Read more...

Related link
http://www.youtube.com/ucberkeley

Source: Yahoo! News

Study suggests that computerized exams hold promise as problem-solving assessment tools

Computer-based testing can be an effective way to measure so-called "21st-century skills" such as the ability to solve problems and synthesize information, according to a recent federal report.

Funded by the National Center for Education Statistics, a division of the U.S. Department of Education, the study looks at two different computer-based scenarios for measuring students' scientific skills on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), commonly known as the Nation's Report Card.
The study concludes that computer-based testing holds promise for measuring higher-order thinking skills that cannot be measured easily via traditional pencil-and-paper exams--a finding that is sure to resonate with advocates of teaching 21st-century skills in classrooms.
However, one of the researchers who wrote the report concedes the United States is probably at least five years away from adopting computer-based testing on a more widespread basis in schools.
The report, called "Problem Solving in Technology-Rich Environments (TREs): A Report from the NAEP Technology-Based Assessment Project," is based on a study of how more than 2,000 eighth-grade students from U.S. public schools performed in one of two computer-based testing scenarios administered in 2003: a search scenario and a simulation scenario.
Read more...

Related link
"Problem Solving in Technology-Rich Environments" report

Source: eSchool News

Study suggests that computerized exams hold promise as problem-solving assessment tools

Computer-based testing can be an effective way to measure so-called "21st-century skills" such as the ability to solve problems and synthesize information, according to a recent federal report.

Funded by the National Center for Education Statistics, a division of the U.S. Department of Education, the study looks at two different computer-based scenarios for measuring students' scientific skills on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), commonly known as the Nation's Report Card.
The study concludes that computer-based testing holds promise for measuring higher-order thinking skills that cannot be measured easily via traditional pencil-and-paper exams--a finding that is sure to resonate with advocates of teaching 21st-century skills in classrooms.
However, one of the researchers who wrote the report concedes the United States is probably at least five years away from adopting computer-based testing on a more widespread basis in schools.
The report, called "Problem Solving in Technology-Rich Environments (TREs): A Report from the NAEP Technology-Based Assessment Project," is based on a study of how more than 2,000 eighth-grade students from U.S. public schools performed in one of two computer-based testing scenarios administered in 2003: a search scenario and a simulation scenario.
Read more...

Related link
"Problem Solving in Technology-Rich Environments" report

Source: eSchool News