Three European universities puts lectures on iTunes

University College London, the Open University and Trinity College Dublin are putting lectures onto iTunes.

Educational content is already available in the United States through the non-charging "iTunes U" section of the music downloading service.
But European universities are now joining, providing video and audio material for students to use on iPods or computers.
The service will include recordings of lectures from leading academics.

The Open University is promising to make available 300 audio and video files with material from current courses.
Trinity College Dublin is promising lectures from journalist Seymour Hersh, scientist Robert Winston, author Anita Desai and politician Alex Salmond.
This will be available from iTunes U, launched by Apple computers last summer as a free education area within the iTunes online music and video store.
It is intended to make lectures available to students at the institutions and to a wider public audience.
This has been used by leading US universities to provide lectures and research news, including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, UC Berkeley and MIT.

Read more...

Related links

UK universities offer downloadable lectures (education.guardian.co.uk - E-learning)

UCL

UCL on iTunes
Open University
Trinity College Dublin

Source: BBC News

Three European universities puts lectures on iTunes

University College London, the Open University and Trinity College Dublin are putting lectures onto iTunes.

Educational content is already available in the United States through the non-charging "iTunes U" section of the music downloading service.
But European universities are now joining, providing video and audio material for students to use on iPods or computers.
The service will include recordings of lectures from leading academics.

The Open University is promising to make available 300 audio and video files with material from current courses.
Trinity College Dublin is promising lectures from journalist Seymour Hersh, scientist Robert Winston, author Anita Desai and politician Alex Salmond.
This will be available from iTunes U, launched by Apple computers last summer as a free education area within the iTunes online music and video store.
It is intended to make lectures available to students at the institutions and to a wider public audience.
This has been used by leading US universities to provide lectures and research news, including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, UC Berkeley and MIT.

Read more...

Related links

UK universities offer downloadable lectures (education.guardian.co.uk - E-learning)

UCL

UCL on iTunes
Open University
Trinity College Dublin

Source: BBC News

TrainingZone.co.uk News & Features!

Learning: When do we want it? Now!
Podcasts, rapid elearning, online discussion forums, mobile learning on iPods and MP3s - are you keeping up?

The massive explosion in new technology, and Web 2.0 in particular, provides a treasure trove for learners and their employers, says Kirstie Donnell the director of products and marketing at Ufi, the organisation behind learndirect and learndirect Business.

More than 31 million adults in Britain are now online and time spent on the internet is increasing month on month. In fact, we now spend more time per week on the internet – an average of 21 hours - than we do watching TV (an average of 17 hours). And it's not just the young or better qualified – those with fewer qualifications and those over 45 are among the fastest growing user groups.
Read more...


Elearning debate: Does rapid development mean dumbing down?

Technology editor John Stokdyk reports from the eLearning Network debate, which asked if the traditions of training design are under threat from rapid development software tools.
The theme of the eLearning Network's recent meeting in London was: "Rapid eLearning: dumbing down or gearing up?" and featured a debate in which Phil Green of Optimum Learning and Richard Naish of QI Concepts spoke in favour of the motion: "We believe that rapid design and development processes represent as much a threat to the elearning community as they do an opportunity".
Opposing the motion were two representatives from software companies - Steve Rayson of Kineo and Atlantic Link's Mike Alcock. eLearning Network chairman Clive Shepherd, who thought up the idea of an old-fashioned, confrontational debate, admitted that it required the two sides to adopt more strident positions than they really believed, but felt the exchanges would help illuminate a persistent source of friction within the training world.
Read more...

Source: TrainingZone.co.uk

TrainingZone.co.uk News & Features!

Learning: When do we want it? Now!
Podcasts, rapid elearning, online discussion forums, mobile learning on iPods and MP3s - are you keeping up?

The massive explosion in new technology, and Web 2.0 in particular, provides a treasure trove for learners and their employers, says Kirstie Donnell the director of products and marketing at Ufi, the organisation behind learndirect and learndirect Business.

More than 31 million adults in Britain are now online and time spent on the internet is increasing month on month. In fact, we now spend more time per week on the internet – an average of 21 hours - than we do watching TV (an average of 17 hours). And it's not just the young or better qualified – those with fewer qualifications and those over 45 are among the fastest growing user groups.
Read more...


Elearning debate: Does rapid development mean dumbing down?

Technology editor John Stokdyk reports from the eLearning Network debate, which asked if the traditions of training design are under threat from rapid development software tools.
The theme of the eLearning Network's recent meeting in London was: "Rapid eLearning: dumbing down or gearing up?" and featured a debate in which Phil Green of Optimum Learning and Richard Naish of QI Concepts spoke in favour of the motion: "We believe that rapid design and development processes represent as much a threat to the elearning community as they do an opportunity".
Opposing the motion were two representatives from software companies - Steve Rayson of Kineo and Atlantic Link's Mike Alcock. eLearning Network chairman Clive Shepherd, who thought up the idea of an old-fashioned, confrontational debate, admitted that it required the two sides to adopt more strident positions than they really believed, but felt the exchanges would help illuminate a persistent source of friction within the training world.
Read more...

Source: TrainingZone.co.uk

New Book: Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It by Jody Thompson and Cali Ressler

Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It is now arriving in bookstores!

Jody and Cali created ROWE: Results-Only Work Environment.

The book is the Results-Only Work Environment manifesto: How it began, what it is, and how it works…complete with a section of “Yeah, Buts” to answer all of the nagging questions people are bound to ask.
It explores why most workplaces are so dysfunctional, and offers a dramatic new way to stop the toxic behaviors and beliefs that keep us from reaching our potential. Filled with passion and common sense.
It will change the way you think about your job, your company, and your quality of life.
Buy this book

Related links
http://caliandjody.com/
Information about Results-Only Work Environment
Cali and Jody speaking
ROWE UNIVERSITY 2-DAY PROGRAM
Their intro and first chapter (PDF)

About Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson
Cali and Jody are the founders of CultureRx and creators of the Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE). Their first book, WHY WORK SUCKS AND HOW TO FIX IT, is now published on 2008-05-29 by Portfolio, a Penguin imprint.
They have been featured on the cover of BusinessWeek, as well as in the New York Times, TIME Magazine, HR Magazine cover story, and on 60 Minutes and National Public Radio. Ms. Ressler and Ms. Thompson are also nationally recognized keynote speakers and have presented to numerous Fortune 500 companies and prominent trade associations. Prior to founding CultureRx, they worked at Best Buy and led the corporate headquarters into a Results-Only Work Environment.
The ROWE workplace model, under study by researchers Phyllis Moen and Erin L. Kelly at the University of Minnesota, is “anticipated to become an innovation with broad adoption and impacts.” (Flexible Work and Well-Being Study, Univ. of Minn., Fall 2007).

New Book: Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It by Jody Thompson and Cali Ressler

Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It is now arriving in bookstores!

Jody and Cali created ROWE: Results-Only Work Environment.

The book is the Results-Only Work Environment manifesto: How it began, what it is, and how it works…complete with a section of “Yeah, Buts” to answer all of the nagging questions people are bound to ask.
It explores why most workplaces are so dysfunctional, and offers a dramatic new way to stop the toxic behaviors and beliefs that keep us from reaching our potential. Filled with passion and common sense.
It will change the way you think about your job, your company, and your quality of life.
Buy this book

Related links
http://caliandjody.com/
Information about Results-Only Work Environment
Cali and Jody speaking
ROWE UNIVERSITY 2-DAY PROGRAM
Their intro and first chapter (PDF)

About Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson
Cali and Jody are the founders of CultureRx and creators of the Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE). Their first book, WHY WORK SUCKS AND HOW TO FIX IT, is now published on 2008-05-29 by Portfolio, a Penguin imprint.
They have been featured on the cover of BusinessWeek, as well as in the New York Times, TIME Magazine, HR Magazine cover story, and on 60 Minutes and National Public Radio. Ms. Ressler and Ms. Thompson are also nationally recognized keynote speakers and have presented to numerous Fortune 500 companies and prominent trade associations. Prior to founding CultureRx, they worked at Best Buy and led the corporate headquarters into a Results-Only Work Environment.
The ROWE workplace model, under study by researchers Phyllis Moen and Erin L. Kelly at the University of Minnesota, is “anticipated to become an innovation with broad adoption and impacts.” (Flexible Work and Well-Being Study, Univ. of Minn., Fall 2007).

Knowledge Representation in Personalized ELearning

Don’t miss this pertinent article, appears in Academic Open Internet Journal, Issue 23, 31/05/2008.

Knowledge Representation in Personalized ELearning
By H. Srimathi
Senior Lecturer, Department of Computer Applications, SRM University, Kattankulathur, 603 203
ak_sir@yahoo.com

By Dr. S.K. Srivatsa
Professor, St. Joseph’ College of Engineering, Chennai 119, India

Abstract

Adaptation is so natural, on the fly for teaching by humans, but it is a challenging issue of distance education. E-learners can experience the best learning when the web based material provides interactive communication; and information presented in a different ways with the control over learning.

Knowledge about a user inferred from user interactions with the Elearning systems is used to adapt offered learning resources and guide a learner through them. Reasoning on the knowledge can be applied to adapt access, presentation, and navigation in the information resources. Semantic web technologies allow to link information of learning objects thus moving from document centric idea of current web to more fine grained semantic structures.

The study is made on the derived Instructional Design Template for further incorporation with the SCORM model which has shifted the course delivery from simple presentation to learning objects. The knowledge items (learning objects) are linked to commonly agreed ontology. This enables construction of a user-specific course, by semantic querying for topics of interest.

The paper highlights the work carried on designing architecture of Elearning portal with the personalization using ontology.

Read more...

Source: Academic Open Internet Journal

Knowledge Representation in Personalized ELearning

Don’t miss this pertinent article, appears in Academic Open Internet Journal, Issue 23, 31/05/2008.

Knowledge Representation in Personalized ELearning
By H. Srimathi
Senior Lecturer, Department of Computer Applications, SRM University, Kattankulathur, 603 203
ak_sir@yahoo.com

By Dr. S.K. Srivatsa
Professor, St. Joseph’ College of Engineering, Chennai 119, India

Abstract

Adaptation is so natural, on the fly for teaching by humans, but it is a challenging issue of distance education. E-learners can experience the best learning when the web based material provides interactive communication; and information presented in a different ways with the control over learning.

Knowledge about a user inferred from user interactions with the Elearning systems is used to adapt offered learning resources and guide a learner through them. Reasoning on the knowledge can be applied to adapt access, presentation, and navigation in the information resources. Semantic web technologies allow to link information of learning objects thus moving from document centric idea of current web to more fine grained semantic structures.

The study is made on the derived Instructional Design Template for further incorporation with the SCORM model which has shifted the course delivery from simple presentation to learning objects. The knowledge items (learning objects) are linked to commonly agreed ontology. This enables construction of a user-specific course, by semantic querying for topics of interest.

The paper highlights the work carried on designing architecture of Elearning portal with the personalization using ontology.

Read more...

Source: Academic Open Internet Journal

Emotional learning by Dave Madden

I came across a very good article by Dave Madden in Apr. 2008 issue of E.learning Age.

Drama, stories and emotion, these can all be used as learning techniques in e-learning design.

Accelerated Learning (AL) continues to grow in popularity, endorsed by learning gurus and orthodox educationalists alike. But can it be used to good effect in e-learning or is it shackled to the classroom?

Read more...

Related links

eMotional eLearning - Clark's Learning Solutions eMag (eLearning Guild) article on adding the emotional component to improve eLearning.

Inside eLearning by Susan Smith Nash, Ph.D. - ( Emotional Intelligence and Online Learning )

Source: E.learning Age

Emotional learning by Dave Madden

I came across a very good article by Dave Madden in Apr. 2008 issue of E.learning Age.

Drama, stories and emotion, these can all be used as learning techniques in e-learning design.

Accelerated Learning (AL) continues to grow in popularity, endorsed by learning gurus and orthodox educationalists alike. But can it be used to good effect in e-learning or is it shackled to the classroom?

Read more...

Related links

eMotional eLearning - Clark's Learning Solutions eMag (eLearning Guild) article on adding the emotional component to improve eLearning.

Inside eLearning by Susan Smith Nash, Ph.D. - ( Emotional Intelligence and Online Learning )

Source: E.learning Age