Free information about Online education http://e-articles.info/e/s/s/Online-education/ en-us E-articles.info 2006 - 2009 The current economic downturn has forced many professionals including IT personnel, bankers, even secretaries out of their jobs. The flip side to the story is the vast plethora of opportunities being now made available thanks to e-learning. Subjects like Math, Economics, and Science have a huge number of takers, no doubt, yet there are plenty of avenues open to people conversant in other disciplines like http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Online-Teaching:-Making-the-World-Conversant/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Online-Teaching:-Making-the-World-Conversant/ Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:33:17 GMT As the world is evolving trends and features that were popular even, say, a couple of years ago disappear.  Alongside with that there is permanent need of new tendencies, techniques and devices. Moreover, people want to get access to everything faster, easier and more efficient... by obeliahall http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/E-learning-management-systems/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/E-learning-management-systems/ Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:41:22 GMT Days are running very fast. No body has time to think for him. So, how they will find the way to get graduate, post graduate, doctorate in any profession they want... by nARESH http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Online-Degrees/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Online-Degrees/ Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:49:27 GMT An online education school is truly one of the best investments you can make in yourself.  Many online schools are accredited and offer a wide range of campus and online degree programs to help enhance and advance your career education. People now days are inclined more and more towards online education... by Gurmeet Pahwa http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Accredited-Online-Schools-vs.-Non-Accredited-schools/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Accredited-Online-Schools-vs.-Non-Accredited-schools/ Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:57:32 GMT Summary : Now, one may be in dilemma how to find the best one online institution? So, website like eduinfo.com is certainly a damn good directory where one can find rich details about online institutions and courses. Winter session also has been almost begun and this is right time to enroll in the suitable courses and enhance career opportunities... by EDU Info http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Is-online-learning-system-helpful/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Is-online-learning-system-helpful/ Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:23:37 GMT As per trend, we have long queue of theoretical institutions so how can we get experts in practical segments. This situation is really alarming and expansion of extra curricular activities is the right method to begin a new era of education which will establish the aesthetic meaning of education. Education makes us human in true sense... by EDU Info http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Quality-of-education-in-contemporary-world/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Quality-of-education-in-contemporary-world/ Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:31:42 GMT With growth in e-learning and training, the demand for a robust, cost effective and easy to use platform has arisen that can be used by educators in education industry, HR managers in corporate houses and even by individuals to disseminate content among distributed audiences. Coggno.com offers FREE tools to meet the demands of all these segments... by Danny Deepak http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Supporting-Tools-for-E-learning/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Supporting-Tools-for-E-learning/ Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:39:47 GMT In recent years, on-line or distributed learning has shown an exponential growth. Be it the education industry or corporate training; distributed learning is on the rise. There has been an increase in on-line universities, and educators find it convenient to publish their lesson on-line for the students to go access at their own pace... by Danny Deepak http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Supporting-Tools-for-E-learning/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Supporting-Tools-for-E-learning/ Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:47:52 GMT A lot of us might be really excited about the new form of education i.e. online education... by Sanjay http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Is-Online-Education-For-You/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Is-Online-Education-For-You/ Mon, 19 May 2008 08:55:57 GMT Saves time and money: One of the major benefits of e-tutoring is the saving of time and money. Tutoring costs are generally 30-40% less than those in the US and the UK and on top of that, the students and parents save a lot of time and money on commuting. Convenience: Rain or shine, the students don’t have to leave their comfy homes for tutoring... by raj atwal http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/E-tutoring-benefits-aplenty/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/E-tutoring-benefits-aplenty/ Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:23:15 GMT If you are considering pursing a college degree or in need of additional http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Starting-a-New-Degree-or-Certification-Program-through-Online-Education/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Starting-a-New-Degree-or-Certification-Program-through-Online-Education/ Fri, 30 Nov 2007 10:31:20 GMT Just as there are laws in place that govern all facets of society, there is no exception to the rule when it comes to distance learning. Here, too, there are laws that have to be honored and upheld in order to prevent any one person or organization from ending up with too much power. One regulation that affects distance learning is the Fifty Percent Rule... by Jennifer Walters http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-Laws-Pertain-to-Distance-Learning/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-Laws-Pertain-to-Distance-Learning/ Fri, 30 Nov 2007 11:39:25 GMT If you have chosen to pursue an online organizational administration and leadership degree, then you should be aware of the curriculum’s main focus before you begin the program... by Jennifer Walters http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Taking-the-Next-Step-with-an-Online-Organizational-Administration-and-Leadership-Degree/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Taking-the-Next-Step-with-an-Online-Organizational-Administration-and-Leadership-Degree/ Fri, 30 Nov 2007 12:47:30 GMT As trainers, we have all experienced the disappointment of seeing promising innovations fizzle out or fail to reach their potential. All too often, on reflection, we realise that, if we’d only put as much care and attention into the implementation as we did into the design and build, we could have made them work. Of course we need to learn from our own mistakes, but we also need to learn from the mistakes of other organisations and, better still, from their successes... by Andana Bertolucci http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-to-Make-E-Learning-Work/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-to-Make-E-Learning-Work/ Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:55:35 GMT You may have the world’s most sophisticated learning management system and enough bandwidth to run a cable TV network, but without content that will satisfy the learning needs of your organisation, on time and to budget, you’ve got yourself a pretty embarrassing white elephant. In this article, I attempt to explain how to fill the content void, making an informed selection between in-house development, having the work done for you outside or buying off-the-shelf. In, out or off? So you’ve forked out half a million dollars for your Saba Turbo Convertible learning management system... by Andana Bertolucci http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Online-Courses:-Where-Do-They-Come-From/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Online-Courses:-Where-Do-They-Come-From/ Tue, 06 Nov 2007 14:23:40 GMT E-learning – at least to the extent that it is delivered in self-study format – suffers in the same way as all of its distance learning predecessors: from high drop-out rates. Although most learners start with good intentions of completing, far too high a proportion never achieve the benefits they were seeking when they were enrolled. In this article, I explore whether drop-out rates are any real indicator of the success of e-learning and, to the extent that they are, what can be done to reduce them to manageable levels... by Andana Bertolucci http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Encouraging-Completion-In-E-Learning/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Encouraging-Completion-In-E-Learning/ Sat, 03 Nov 2007 15:31:45 GMT Research is constantly reinforcing just how important the e-tutor is to the success of an online course. The courses that provide the best support also have the highest completion rates and the most satisfied students. But what makes an effective e-tutor? How would you know one if you saw one? I go in search of the perfect e-tutor and reflect on just what the job has to offer in return... by Andana Bertolucci http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Perfect-E-Tutor/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Perfect-E-Tutor/ Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:39:50 GMT QAI, along with internationally renowned guru, Dr. Roger Pressman, have launched an online curriculum called EdistaLearning to address the enormous need for anytime, anywhere, high-quality and cost effective training to train the thousands of recruits being hired in the IT industry today. EdistaLearning is the exclusive platform that brings together subject experts and QAI's consulting and training experience... by Hina M. http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/EdistaLearning:-Transforming-Learning-into-Behaviors/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/EdistaLearning:-Transforming-Learning-into-Behaviors/ Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:47:55 GMT The forecasts for the growth of e-learning are becoming more extravagant by the month. If these forecasts are even half right, the effect on the IT training industry will be enormous and even the most skeptical classroom trainer must now be looking anxiously over their shoulder. In this article, I examine the implications of the e-learning revolution for those who have made their living delivering learning face-to-face, and look at ways for trainers to make a contribution in an increasingly online world... by Andana Bertolucci http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Classroom-Trainer-In-The-Online-World/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Classroom-Trainer-In-The-Online-World/ Sat, 27 Oct 2007 18:55:15 GMT Training network specialists is an expensive business, whether you use a classroom (expensive to equip), simulations (expensive to build) or on-job learning (potential expense of errors off-the-scale). Until now. Remote, online labs allow learners to experiment to their hearts’ content with real hardware and software, solving real networking problems... by Andana Bertolucci http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-are-E-Labs-and-how-they-work/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-are-E-Labs-and-how-they-work/ Mon, 22 Oct 2007 19:23:20 GMT Several programs are needed for online tutoring. One of the most important is an instant messaging application through which the student and the tutor can communicate via text, voice and video. An online whiteboard can also serve as a place where both the student and the tutor can write down, draw, or visualize the concepts that they are discussing... by satish budde http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Online-Tutoring-Applications/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Online-Tutoring-Applications/ Fri, 12 Oct 2007 20:31:25 GMT Today, tutoring services abound. There are a number of tutoring center franchises that have sprung up in strip malls, online tutoring, and more traditional one-on-one tutoring. But how do you make an informed decision about which tutoring service to use? Here are five tips for choosing the best... by satish budde http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Tutoring-Services:-5-Tips-for-Choosing-the-Best/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Tutoring-Services:-5-Tips-for-Choosing-the-Best/ Fri, 12 Oct 2007 21:39:30 GMT What Is a Live Virtual Classroom? The live virtual classroom (LVC) is an online learning experience in which the instructor and learners work together in real time. Working together, the instructor and students have live audio dialog while sharing slides, viewing a software application, surfing the Internet, working in virtual breakout rooms, conducting polls, and taking assessments. Live virtual classroom technology was one of the early e-learning delivery modes that caught everyone’s attention for the gee-whiz factor... by Tracy D. Steup http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-Is-a-Live-Virtual-Classroom-and-Why-Use-a-LVC/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-Is-a-Live-Virtual-Classroom-and-Why-Use-a-LVC/ Mon, 10 Sep 2007 22:47:35 GMT There are some points to discuss about the benefits and limitations of Live Virtual Classroom (LVC) lessons. The Benefits Many organizations are quick to grasp the economic benefits of the LVC, but they fail to understand the educational benefit. This article will look at the educational benefits and limitations... by Tracy D. Steup http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Benefits-and-Limitations-of-Live-Virtual-Classroom/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Benefits-and-Limitations-of-Live-Virtual-Classroom/ Mon, 10 Sep 2007 23:55:40 GMT Anyone planning to design live virtual classroom programs should attend as many “free” LVC programs as possible in order to see different styles of facilitation and to observe the features such as whiteboarding, application sharing, and polling being demonstrated to best advantage. Good places to find calendars for upcoming live virtual classroom programs are the websites of vendors such as Lotus, WebEx, Centra, Interwise, and IntraCall. If you can’t find the time to attend in real time, you can often find a recorded session to watch in playback mode... by Tracy D. Steup http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Live-Virtual-Classroom-Strategies/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Live-Virtual-Classroom-Strategies/ Mon, 10 Sep 2007 01:23:45 GMT An accepted definition of interactivity in the literature on computer-mediated instruction is a reciprocal exchange between the technology and the learner, a process they refer to as “feedback.” This reciprocal exchange can be categorized into three kinds of interactions: • Learner-content interaction refers to the interaction between the learner and the content being studied. The action in this type of interaction results from the learners having conversations with themselves regarding the content... by Tracy D. Steup http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-Is-Interaction-and-why-use-it-in-Online-learning/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-Is-Interaction-and-why-use-it-in-Online-learning/ Mon, 10 Sep 2007 02:31:50 GMT The last groups of strategies are best described as constructivist in orientation. Learning with computers refers to learners using their computers as tools for learning rather than relying on their computers to act as reference books or as teachers. Interactions in learning with computers rely on the computer’s computation power to do things such as calculate, remember, retrieve information, sort, organize, and graphically present... by Tracy D. Steup http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Strategies-for-Learning-with-Computers/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Strategies-for-Learning-with-Computers/ Mon, 10 Sep 2007 03:39:55 GMT Openings and closings play important roles in communicating content and developing motivation to learn, often in large disproportion to their size. Recognizing this, many designers invest extra effort in designing these parts of a course. The Purposes of an Opening Openings to learning programs (and openings to sections within these programs) serve these key purposes: • To engage interest in the topic • To communicate expectations about the content, often in the form of course objectives but not always (another option, for example, would be to open with organizing questions) • To communicate expectations about the learning experience (for example, how long will the course take? And how will learners be assessed?) • To ensure that learners can use the technology underlying a course The specific content in an opening varies, depending on the type of course being taught... by Tracy D. Steup http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-Are-the-Purposes-of-Openings-and-Closings/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-Are-the-Purposes-of-Openings-and-Closings/ Sun, 09 Sep 2007 04:47:15 GMT Designers of e-learning programs face a number of challenges in designing the openings of learning programs and sections. Some are practical; others are motivational. The following guidelines help instructional designers address these challenges: • For long-term courses, orient learners... by Tracy D. Steup http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guidelines-for-designing-Openings-of--learning-programs/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guidelines-for-designing-Openings-of--learning-programs/ Sun, 09 Sep 2007 05:55:20 GMT One of the ongoing questions in the field of e-learning is “What’s next?” To be honest, who knows? Although e-learning has grown steadily over the past several years, it has not grown as fast as early predictions indicated it would. Similarly, despite substantial efforts to develop technical standards so that organizations can easily find and exchange e-learning content. In contrast, other technical developments come out of nowhere to take over the field... by Tracy D. Steup http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Preparing-for-New-Developments-in-E-Learning/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Preparing-for-New-Developments-in-E-Learning/ Sun, 09 Sep 2007 06:23:25 GMT Designers of e-learning programs face a number of challenges in designing the closings of courses and units. Like the guidelines for designing openings, some are practical, others are motivational. The following guidelines help instructional designers address these challenges: • Appropriately summarize the content... by Tracy D. Steup http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guidelines-for-Designing-Closings/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guidelines-for-Designing-Closings/ Wed, 05 Sep 2007 07:31:30 GMT The basic pedagogical process can be defined as a systematic transfer of knowledge and / or skills from an instructor to a learner. Depending upon the basic objectives of the process, the transfer may be limited to cognition of facts or may be extended to application and extension of facts, their inter-linkages and derivative concepts. Since the important players in this interaction are the instructor and the learner, the important determinants of the effectiveness of the process should include the instructor centric parameters, the learner centric parameters and the transaction centric parameters... by Prashant Yadav http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Online-classes-in-the-context-of-pedagogical-effectiveness/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Online-classes-in-the-context-of-pedagogical-effectiveness/ Tue, 19 Jun 2007 08:39:35 GMT Distance  learning  provides  training  to  remote  locations. Distance learning has been available for many years and can be categorized into public education  (grades K-12), university and colleges, professional (industry), government training, and military training segments. In the early years, distance learning was provided through the use of books and other printed materials and was commonly referred to as correspondence courses... by Jack Johnson http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/WIRELESS-and-DISTANCE-LEARNING/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/WIRELESS-and-DISTANCE-LEARNING/ Sun, 13 May 2007 09:47:40 GMT Informal learning helps designers realize the any time, anywhere aspect of e-learning, by encouraging them to break free from the traditional tutorial and providing learners with just the content they are likely to need at a given point in their use of a particular product or concept, and provide that content in a medium and format that’s suited to that need. • Informal learning is a type of education or training program in which learners define what they want to learn, and learning is considered successful when learners feel that they are able to master their intended objectives (whether or not the course designers believe that the learners have demonstrated mastery). It contrasts with formal learning, in which instructional designers set the objectives and assess whether learners have successfully achieved the objectives... by Gabrielle Shawn http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Advantages-of-Informal-Learning/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Advantages-of-Informal-Learning/ Sat, 07 Apr 2007 10:55:45 GMT Have you ever taught a class of training professionals? If you have, then you have met the toughest group of critics. While critical reflection is good and part of our professional heritage, it needs to be tempered with insight into the context of the examples you are about to experience and with an appreciation for parts done well. As you look at the examples, remember that they have been chosen for a specific aspect that has been done well or for how they have overcome budget constraints, technology limitations, or a design challenge like no right answers or a population with poor reading skills... by Gabrielle Shawn http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Simulation-Strategies-in-Online-Education/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Simulation-Strategies-in-Online-Education/ Sat, 07 Apr 2007 11:23:50 GMT Three primary strategies exist for e-mentoring/e-coaching. The two most straightforward approaches are to simply move coaching and mentoring to the Internet or to blend traditional mentoring/coaching with e-mentoring/e-coaching. The third strategy is to use e-mentoring/e-coaching to support instrumental (tactical) learning, such as assigning a coach or a mentor to help someone who has just completed an online course... by Gabrielle Shawn http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Strategies-for-Mentoring-and-Coaching/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Strategies-for-Mentoring-and-Coaching/ Sat, 07 Apr 2007 12:31:55 GMT Blended learning integrates - or blends - learning programs in different formats to achieve a common goal. Most often, blended learning programs integrate classroom and online programs. For example, a blended learning program might present prerequisite material through an asynchronous web-based program, then teach newer content of the curriculum in a classroom... by Natalia Sparks http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Advantages-of-Blended-Learning/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Advantages-of-Blended-Learning/ Fri, 06 Apr 2007 13:39:15 GMT Addressing this complexity requires an equally complex approach to design. In fact, the more complexity that designers encounter, the larger and more varied the number of solutions they bring to a situation. This body of solutions is called a portfolio of techniques and represents a “bag of tricks” that instructional designers can call on when faced with an e-learning problem... by George Roney http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Why-the-Simple-Solutions-Wont-Solve-Fundamental-Design-Problems-with-eCurricula-and-eCourses/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Why-the-Simple-Solutions-Wont-Solve-Fundamental-Design-Problems-with-eCurricula-and-eCourses/ Thu, 05 Apr 2007 14:47:20 GMT On the one hand, we’ve probably offended a lot of people by now by sacrificing their sacred cow. But the truth is, if these solutions were so effective, they would be working now and e-learning would be in a different state than it is. But we think that the problem with e-learning ultimately arises from the definition of design... by George Roney http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Design-of-e-Learning/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Design-of-e-Learning/ Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:55:25 GMT If you have recently paged through training or human resource magazines, you probably think mentoring and coaching were discovered in the last ten years. You would be a little bit right and a little bit wrong. In reality, the concept of mentoring dates back to Greek mythology... by Gabrielle Shawn http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-Are-Coaching-and-Mentoring/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-Are-Coaching-and-Mentoring/ Thu, 29 Mar 2007 16:23:30 GMT One study found that Canadians perform at least two informal learning projects each year. That’s not surprising; the theory of andragogy (adult learning) suggests that adults are self-motivated learners and are willing to learn things on their own if needed. Informal learning, therefore, is a powerful tool that organizations can harness to their benefit... by Natalia Sparks http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guiding-Principles-of-Informal-Learning/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guiding-Principles-of-Informal-Learning/ Tue, 27 Mar 2007 17:31:35 GMT Simulations are described as “the most cutting-edge e-learning technique” (Lipschutz, 2004). They offer a radical departure from the highly criticized page-turns, drill-and-practice programs, and workbooks online. Simulation-based programs promise to engage learners by making them active participants in real-world problem solving and allowing them to engage in role plays, providing a safe environment for exploration... by Gabrielle Shawn http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Simulation-in-online-education/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Simulation-in-online-education/ Thu, 22 Mar 2007 18:39:40 GMT e-Mentoring and e-coaching are in their infancy. There is a great deal to be learned about how to implement straight-up e-mentoring/e-coaching and blended programs. Some of the early adopters have gathered best practices and lessons learned and have created templates and other tools... by Gabrielle Shawn http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guidelines-for-Design-for-Online-Coaching-and-Mentoring/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guidelines-for-Design-for-Online-Coaching-and-Mentoring/ Sat, 17 Mar 2007 19:47:45 GMT The Benefits Some of the benefits of mentoring and coaching have already been addressed; this article looks at the benefits that are unique to virtual mentoring and coaching. Organizations use e-coaching and e-mentoring for the following reasons: • Makes worldwide talent available locally. National and global organizations have employees who could benefit from mentoring and coaching programs but who are geographically too far apart for traditional programs... by Gabrielle Shawn http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Benefits-and-Limitations-of-Mentoring-and-Coaching/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Benefits-and-Limitations-of-Mentoring-and-Coaching/ Fri, 16 Mar 2007 20:55:50 GMT Informal learning is a type of education or training program in which learners define what they want to learn and learning is considered successful when learners feel that they are able to master their intended objectives (whether or not the course designers believe that the learners have or have not demonstrated mastery) Some experts believe that as much as 70 percent of all adult learning is informal. Informal learning contrasts with formal learning, in which instructional designers “identify the intended outcomes long before the course begins and learners are only considered to have successfully completed the learning program when they demonstrate successful mastery of these outcomes” (Carliner, 2004). Most guides for developing e-learning focus almost exclusively on developing material for formal learning (such as Alessi & Trollip, 2000; Carliner 2002a; Driscoll, 2002; and Horton, 2000)... by Natalia Sparks http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-Is-Informal-Learning-and-Why-Is-It-a-Useful-Approach-to-Online-Curricula/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/What-Is-Informal-Learning-and-Why-Is-It-a-Useful-Approach-to-Online-Curricula/ Fri, 16 Feb 2007 21:23:55 GMT With the guiding principles of design for informal learning in mind—reconsidering the role of instructional objectives and the approach to assessment, making informal learning accessible and quick, and designing for short attention spans—we will now consider some of the specific strategies for designing informal learning programs. These strategies include: • Take a two-tiered approach to design • Design the curriculum as a performance improvement campaign with builtin consistency and redundancy • Consider informal learning either as a stand-alone program or a supplement to formal programs • Creatively package content • Ensure easy navigation to the learning content Take a Two-Tiered Approach to Design Many instructional design texts suggest taking a two-tiered approach to designing individual courses. The two tiers include: • Ahigh-level design, which presents the overall strategy for designing a curriculum... by Natalia Sparks http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/A-Portfolio-of-Strategies-for-Informal-Learning/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/A-Portfolio-of-Strategies-for-Informal-Learning/ Fri, 16 Feb 2007 22:31:15 GMT m-Learning can be grouped into three delivery strategies: m-learning as e-learning, performance support, and communication. Each strategy is based on a different view of the role of the learners and different beliefs regarding how to design and deliver instruction. The first strategy is the least innovative, but probably the easiest to execute and most frequently used... by Lisa Ryan http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Mobile-Learning-Strategies/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Mobile-Learning-Strategies/ Sun, 04 Feb 2007 23:39:20 GMT When designing a curriculum for blended learning, instructional designers should consider: • The role of blending in the overall learning strategy • The purpose of a curriculum in general • The competency and skills to be developed through the particular curriculum featuring blended learning The next three sections explore these issues. The Role of Blending in the Overall Learning Strategy A strategy is a formal, published document that outlines the role of learning in the organization and how the organization will deliver that learning. The strategy provides a general roadmap for the type of learning programs that the organization supports —and which ones it does not support—as well as the way that organization plans to integrate learning technologies into its overall approach to learning... by Natalia Sparks http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guiding-Principles-Underlying-the-Design-of-a-Blended-Curriculum/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guiding-Principles-Underlying-the-Design-of-a-Blended-Curriculum/ Fri, 02 Feb 2007 01:47:25 GMT The question “What is m-learning?” is not rhetorical. The terminology used by people talking about wireless learning, mobile learning, and m-learning has a great deal of variability depending on the journal, website, consultant, or vendor. When developing solutions, make sure your technology suppliers share your definitions... by Lisa Ryan http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Why-Should-You-Use-Wireless-and-Mobile-Learning/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Why-Should-You-Use-Wireless-and-Mobile-Learning/ Fri, 02 Feb 2007 02:55:30 GMT In this article, we’ll review the advantages and disadvantages of m-learning for the two primary delivery strategies: the use of mobile devices to delivery performance support and the use of mobile devices to teach through communication. If you have ever used your cell phone to find a phone number, check the date and time, or calculate a tip, you have experienced m-learning as performance support. You also may have experienced mobile devices that teach through communication... by Lisa Ryan http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Advantages-and-Disadvantages-of-Mobile-Learning/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Advantages-and-Disadvantages-of-Mobile-Learning/ Tue, 02 Jan 2007 03:23:35 GMT People who have implemented wireless mobile learning inevitably recommend that “newbies” master the basics first. What they are referring to is mastering the technical, organizational, and educational challenge of developing traditional desktopbased e-learning before moving to m-learning. This suggestion is based on the increased difficulty inherent in m-learning... by Lisa Ryan http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guidelines-for-Wireless-and-Mobile-Learning/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Guidelines-for-Wireless-and-Mobile-Learning/ Sun, 17 Dec 2006 04:31:40 GMT Once the competencies and skills to be developed through a curriculum are identified, designers figure out how the individual pieces of the curriculum will be presented and how to pull the pieces into a cohesive whole. This is the heart of blending. The next sections explore how to do this... by Natalia Sparks http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/A-Portfolio-of-Strategies-for-Creating-a-Blended-Curriculum/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/A-Portfolio-of-Strategies-for-Creating-a-Blended-Curriculum/ Sat, 09 Dec 2006 05:39:45 GMT How can you build smaller learning communities while you are busy sending e-mail, evaluating assignments, and holding office hours? Getting the whole class to get to know each other is a big job in itself, but once some larger activities, such as chat sessions, have taken place, smaller communities should be fostered. These groups can deepen learners’ educational experiences and create more meaningful interactions. You can break down your regular communication activities and the assignments that you give to learners so that smaller learning groups are formed within the larger class community... by Marina Moore http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Setting-Up-Smaller-Learning-Communities-in-Online-Schooling/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Setting-Up-Smaller-Learning-Communities-in-Online-Schooling/ Thu, 31 Aug 2006 06:47:50 GMT Teachers everywhere value time. There never seems to be enough for educational activities. Three areas per course that require teachers’ time and attention are course preparation, course development/curriculum development, and in-class time spent on synchronous or asynchronous activities... by Marina Moore http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Time-Allocation-Problems-in-Online-Schooling/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Time-Allocation-Problems-in-Online-Schooling/ Thu, 31 Aug 2006 07:55:55 GMT Strategic planning should illustrate how the curriculum should grow— which courses need to be added or removed, which courses need to be updated immediately or on a regular schedule of updates. However, strategic planning as technology changes also includes more than pedagogical changes based on course content. It also includes anticipated developments in technology and a realization of how quickly or slowly those innovations will reach the majority of prospective learners... by Julieta Matheson http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Strategic-Planning-and-Trends-in-Online-Education/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Strategic-Planning-and-Trends-in-Online-Education/ Tue, 29 Aug 2006 08:23:15 GMT Teaching methods and strategies have been categorized in many ways, both for teaching and course development. In regard to course development, researchers often argue for a user-centered design, which is based on the ways computer users work with technology. In fact, an online course itself is a system and a technology with which users (teachers and students) must learn to work... by Julieta Matheson http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Pedagogical-Concerns-~-Approaches-to-Course-Design-and-Constructivism-and-Behaviorism/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Pedagogical-Concerns-~-Approaches-to-Course-Design-and-Constructivism-and-Behaviorism/ Sat, 26 Aug 2006 09:31:20 GMT Learning communities need participants. One of the most common complaints about group activities is that online classes, according to many adult learners, are supposed to be independently completed. Students do not have time to work with others, especially if community members live in other time zones or have different job and personal schedules... by Marina Moore http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Problems-within-Learning-Communities/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Problems-within-Learning-Communities/ Fri, 25 Aug 2006 10:39:25 GMT Accreditation for online educational programs works a little differently than traditional accreditation for on-site courses and programs. However, the need for accreditation is the same. Learners, as well as other educational institutions and commercial vendors, must know that your institution’s programs provide high-quality instruction that has been evaluated by an impartial, outside agency that works regularly with online education... by Marina Moore http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-works-accreditation-for-online-educational-programs/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-works-accreditation-for-online-educational-programs/ Fri, 25 Aug 2006 11:47:30 GMT You need to determine how much information should be available through the class Web site and peripherals such as textbooks, CDs, videotapes, or other materials students have to purchase or borrow for home or office use. You may want a primary textbook (or more than one) that can be kept long after the online class ends and the course site is no longer available. On the other hand, you may want to cut back on the cost of additional materials learners need to complete the course and therefore provide all or a majority of materials through the course site only... by Julieta Matheson http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-The-Course-Content-Has-to-Be-Organized/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/How-The-Course-Content-Has-to-Be-Organized/ Wed, 23 Aug 2006 12:55:35 GMT As you teach a course, you should keep track of learners’ problems with certain assignments or tools. If you spend a lot of time each term explaining instructions or interpreting a source, those materials should be updated. When you have taught a course several times, it becomes apparent quickly if some materials are difficult to understand or tools frequently work improperly... by Marina Moore http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/When-to-Update-Course-Materials/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/When-to-Update-Course-Materials/ Tue, 22 Aug 2006 13:23:40 GMT Creating a safe learning environment, in which teachers are fairly certain that students are who they say they are, only authorized learners and academic community members have access to online information, and electronic information is protected, requires the technical specialists, faculty members, and administrators to have a plan in place. Most often, the technical security of a system is the domain of IT specialists, who receive input from other members of the institution. Other policies, such as those involving privacy, tend to be established by the administration in response to legal or social initiatives... by Julieta Matheson http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Privacy-and-Security-~-How-to-create-a-safe-learning-environment/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Privacy-and-Security-~-How-to-create-a-safe-learning-environment/ Mon, 21 Aug 2006 14:31:45 GMT If the course has been designed to be user (student) centered, rather than teacher centered, your role primarily will be to guide learners in creating meaning from course materials. They may do this by working alone on some assignments, but more often by sharing ideas and discovering connections among ideas through collaborative learning. Group activities, such as discussions and simulations, allow learners to collaborate within the course structure... by Julieta Matheson http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Asynchronous-and-Synchronous-Communication-and-Activities-in-Online-Education/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Asynchronous-and-Synchronous-Communication-and-Activities-in-Online-Education/ Thu, 17 Aug 2006 15:39:50 GMT Facilitating the formation of learning communities is important in the first week of class. Through your group messages, first bulletin board postings, and first weeks’ office hours, you make learners feel that they are part of the larger group studying the same materials at the same time. Introductions among all class members are important, as is socializing the group to the “rules of the road” for taking this class... by Marina Moore http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Teachers-Role-as-Facilitator-in-Online-Education/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Teachers-Role-as-Facilitator-in-Online-Education/ Tue, 15 Aug 2006 16:47:55 GMT For any learning community to succeed, members must trust each other and the teacher, and all community/class members must act ethically at all times. Students should be encouraged to collaborate on group projects or even research for individual projects, but assignments made to individuals must be independently completed. Everyone must understand that original work is of paramount importance and that any use of outside sources must be clearly and thoroughly documented... by Marina Moore http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Honesty-and-Ethics-in-the-Classroom/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Honesty-and-Ethics-in-the-Classroom/ Thu, 10 Aug 2006 17:55:15 GMT A balance between constructivist and behaviorist objectives and methods probably needs to be determined for your institution’s programs. Educators certainly must be actively involved in determining the appropriate pedagogical approaches for their market of students and the types of courses that they teach. Providing an effective learning environment to more students worldwide certainly is an altruistic objective, one that can promote educational ideals—that in itself is at least a theoretical benefit to online education... by Marina Moore http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Benefits-and-Advantages-of-Online-Education/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Benefits-and-Advantages-of-Online-Education/ Sat, 05 Aug 2006 18:23:20 GMT Although online teaching can and should be as high-quality and effective- as on-site education/training, some professionals are better suited than- others to working online. Online educators need to facilitate individuals’- learning; bring together students with diverse interests, skills, and needs- to form learning communities; clearly state expectations and maintain high- standards; be adaptable in regards to learners’ needs; communicate clearly- and effectively; and enjoy working with the Internet.- Facilitate Individuals’ Learning- Teaching online is sometimes like being a coach or a cheerleader... by Julieta Matheson http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Tasks-for-Online-Teachers/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Tasks-for-Online-Teachers/ Sat, 05 Aug 2006 19:31:25 GMT As you develop new materials, you first need to evaluate what you have and what else you need. Some materials are probably still useful: 1) They are not outdated; the information is still accurate and the tone still timely. 2) They have been tested and still provide learners with activities for skill development or thought-provoking ideas for discussion... by Marina Moore http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/When-and-How-to-Gather-New-Materials-for-The-Online-Course/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/When-and-How-to-Gather-New-Materials-for-The-Online-Course/ Wed, 02 Aug 2006 20:39:30 GMT Sometimes, especially in colleges or universities new to online education,- teachers have the responsibility of turning on-site courses into their online- counterparts. This process may be the institution’s (and teacher’s) first- foray into online education. Teachers may determine that a new course- would be well suited to the online format and would be an important- addition to the curriculum... by Julieta Matheson http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Online-education-~-Developing-an-Individual-Course/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Online-education-~-Developing-an-Individual-Course/ Sun, 30 Jul 2006 21:47:35 GMT Online classes vary in the number of learners and the time frame for the course. Some programs continue year round. For example, in the design and structure for one online course, learners may work on their own and turn in assignments to a teacher who evaluates the materials... by Julieta Matheson http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Creating-a-Positive-Learning-Environment-within-Different-Times-and-Spaces/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Creating-a-Positive-Learning-Environment-within-Different-Times-and-Spaces/ Sun, 30 Jul 2006 22:55:40 GMT Perhaps the following list can provide suggestions for implementing successful online programs within an academic institution, while lessening the fears (or the downright animosity) among faculty and administrators. The following five suggestions may pave the way for better relationships among all faculty and administrators and help those who plan future online curricula: 1. Recognize that the ways courses or programs may be created can differ, but the resulting “product” should be equally high quality... by Julieta Matheson http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Five-Principles-for-Developing-an-Online-Curriculum-in-Online-Education/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Five-Principles-for-Developing-an-Online-Curriculum-in-Online-Education/ Sun, 30 Jul 2006 23:23:45 GMT As a teacher, you are one of the front line who works daily with the course design and materials and reads the problems and complaints from students having problems with course content or the technology. By keeping up to date with what is going on in other institutions and with online education in general, you are more likely to keep your teaching skills updated and to offer valuable guidance when a course is modified. Courses are generally evaluated and modified at least once a year, more often if technical changes need to be made... by Marina Moore http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Online-Teachers-Responsibilities/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/The-Online-Teachers-Responsibilities/ Wed, 12 Jul 2006 01:31:50 GMT Online teachers need training in several areas: 1) teaching strategies and methods suitable for the subject matter and delivery formats, 2) subject matter, 3) online resources, and 4) tools. Learning how to be an effective online teacher should be a top priority. Knowing where to point and click to achieve the desired result is necessary, but it has a lower priority than understanding the principles of effective online teaching... by Marina Moore http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Training-~-How-Online-Teachers-Should-Teach-and-What-Learning-Skills-Must-They-Have/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Training-~-How-Online-Teachers-Should-Teach-and-What-Learning-Skills-Must-They-Have/ Mon, 10 Jul 2006 02:39:55 GMT 10 years ago, the term “online schooling” was not too appealing; it is just like and airplane in the beginning of the 20th century. In 1996, the Internet was still under the development process if we get a look to the actual situation. But we don’t live in 1996 anymore and the actual century gets everything acceptable and possible in the USA... by Julieta Matheson http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Online-schooling-~-Pros-and-cons-of-home-schooling/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Online-schooling-~-Pros-and-cons-of-home-schooling/ Sat, 01 Jul 2006 03:47:15 GMT Advantages and Disadvantages of the distance education There are many advantages but some disadvantages of online learning. The first advantage is the comfort. If is a negative factor for a salary increase that you never finished college and you simply cannot quit your job and dedicate your time to finish your degree, then the solution would be to enroll as a student into an online school to complete your studies... by Marina Moore http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Advantages-and-disadvantages-of-distance-learning/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Advantages-and-disadvantages-of-distance-learning/ Sat, 01 Jul 2006 04:55:20 GMT Simulations can rescue many online learning topics. As the challenges discussed previously illustrate, there are some situations for which simulations are ideal. This article looks at the advantages and disadvantages of using this instructional strategy... by Gabrielle Shawn http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Disadvantages-and-Advantages-of-Simulations-in-Online-Education/ http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Disadvantages-and-Advantages-of-Simulations-in-Online-Education/ Thu, 01 Jan 1970 05:23:25 GMT