The chapter 5 in the open licensed ebook "Increasing Access through Mobile Learning"(published by Commonwealth of Learning and Athabasca University, 2014) discusses several issues about linking the user experience to the current context of use.  (authored by Marcus Specht) The linking of the mobile learning support to the current context is seen as key to efficient and effective design of mobile learning applications.... Read More ›

Over the last decade, the importance of mobile devices has grown dramatically in education. The latest issue of RUSC. Universities and Knowledge Society Journal devotes a special section to the analysis and assessment of the current state of m-learning by studying specific cases -  "Apps for M-learning in Higher Education". It presents a general overview of successful mobile learning experiences in higher... Read More ›

An Coppens Gamification in learning works best when you make the learner think and you let them experience the consequences of their choices. Andrew Hughes Gamification can transform your material into something meaningful that users will carry with them long after they’ve finished your training. Anya Andrews Besides the learner audience engagement and development of... Read More ›

As ownership of smartphones and tablets grows there is increasing interest in how they might be used to support learning and teaching, both in the classroom and beyond. This Best Practice Guide has been put together by the UCISA Digital Skills and Development Group Academic Support sub-group to provide examples of good practice in using... Read More ›

In the twenty-first century, learning takes place almost everywhere, at all times, on all kinds of paths and at all kinds of paces. With the click of a mouse or the touch of a screen, young people and adults can access a wealth of information, analyze it, and produce new knowledge at any time. They can do this, moreover, on a "just-in-time" basis,... Read More ›

How Big Data Will Change Our Lives If you’re in the market for a career change or still in school and thinking about your future, consider the growing economy around Big Data and Data Science. It’s not just for computer programmers, mathematicians and statisticians — though that’s a strong factor — but also for business... Read More ›

Why Mobile Learning? The benefits of mobile learning : Benefit 1 : Expand the reach and equity of education Benefit 2 - Facilitate Personalized Learning Benefit 3 - Provide immediate feedback and assessment Benefit 4 - Enable anytime, anywhere learning Benefit 5 - Ensure the productive use of time in classrooms Benefit 6 - Build new communities of learners... Read More ›

News Release from National Science Board The newly updated, online, interactive state data tool allows policymakers, educators, and other users to discern trends in education, science, and research in each of the 50 states. This free resource supplements the state data in the 2014 Science and Engineering Indicators report, the premier source of information and analysis of the nation’s position in science and... Read More ›

The OER world map is an operational service, which allows to: input data through web forms display data on a world map with basic functionalities fulltext search with several filters (e.g. for geographic area, country, resource type) This prototype was developed by hbz and Felix Ostrwoski from February to April 2014 with funding by the... Read More ›

For some years now, technology developers from industries other than education have been releasing products to users as soon as possible and then collecting and using data from the users to determine consumer preferences. Technology developers amass a large user base so they can collect and learn from data about how users respond to their... Read More ›

A study by NTT DOCOMO and GSMA involving 3,528 children ages 8 to 18 and their parents in Paraguay, Japan, India and Egypt found 70% of children use mobile phones. Around 25% of children send six or more text messages per day by age 10 , and about 40% access the internet through their mobile... Read More ›

This updated summary of "Bad Practices in Mobile Learning" from EduTech blog of The World Bank (by Michael Trucano)  is more schools than enterprise, but these are common mistakes observed in multiple initiatives and in multiple places, and seem to repeat over time with only slight variations. In no particular order,  and with specific reference to common realities in middle... Read More ›

Exploring Gamification Techniques for Classroom Management. Paper Presented at Games+Learning+Society 9.0, Madison, WI. Available online here. (Author: Scott Nicholson, Syracuse University School of Information Studies) Abstract A variety of gamification techniques from the literature are used in two college courses. Some techniques, such as an experience point-based system and leaderboards, proved confusing or frustrating, while other techniques,... Read More ›

Great infographic from Mia McMeekin, enjoy! Behaviors are the atomic blocks of gamification designing and engineering, the purpose is to analyze and influence them for desired outcomes. If you think of xAPI (Experience API), the statement is true as well. xAPI and gamification are both data-driven, evidence-centered learning design strategy. They are both like a... Read More ›

When Skype founder Morten Lund was seeking support for his internet phone service in 2004, many businesses turned him away. Now he is back to launch a new business venture, and this time the business officials are listening. Coders Trust is a micro-financing company that is aimed at freelancers and students in emerging markets who... Read More ›

If you are a learning architect, how will you design an ideal learning experience? Leveraging ubiquitous technologies for learning opportunities anytime, anywhere => you need "Mobile Learning" or "Seamless Learning" Learning-on-demand, Just-In-Time, and Just-For-Me => you need "Performance Support" Learning is …a state of play, an experience of flow => you need "Gamification or Game-Based... Read More ›

Learning experience design and development have long been centered around the learning management system. What happens (or should happen) to elearning design and development when the LMS is no longer the center of learning experience tracking? Craig Wiggins, the ADL Experience API(xAPI) community manager, was interviewed by Jessie Chuang to share his vision and projection... Read More ›

[Post by Greg Gammie, Implementations Manager at GeoMetrix Data Systems Inc.] The Game Changers Awards were developed to recognize innovative rising stars for their positive impact on the present and future of the HR profession. "Since 2011, the Workforce Game Changers Awards have recognized high-potential young professionals, under the age of 40, who are making […]

[Post by Phil Cazella, Director of Business Development at Pillar Training Solutions] The eLearning Guild community has introduced a new Learning Exchange for its members to share knowledge and ideas with each other. The Learning Exchange takes peer-based learning to a whole new level by providing a social, easy-to-use platform that enables you to connect, […]

[Post by Arden Rose, Account Manager at GeoMetrix Data Systems Inc.] Now entering its 21st year, the Brandon Hall Group HCM Excellence Awards Program recognize the best organizations that have successfully deployed programs, strategies, modalities, processes, systems, and tools that have achieved measurable results. The awards cover Human Capital Management areas such as organizational improvement and performance, effective technology implementations, insightful models, and compelling success stories. There are categories for program designers, managers, and executives who want to share their winning programs, strategies, technologies. Winners receive: Recognition at Brandon Hall Group’s Annual Excellence Conference Discounted Excellence Conference Pass Rates One plaque per winning entry A digital logo that you may use in any way you wish A Brandon Hall Group issued press release announcing the winners Live online announcement event and inclusion in promotional mailings Recognition on Brandon Hall Group’s web site Recognition on Brandon Hall Group’s social communities - Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter Entries may be included in Brandon Hall Group’s blogs Feedback and scoring on your entry at the request of the organization Entries may be included in Brandon Hall Group’s publications when appropriate and with approval Opportunities to be highlighted in industry webinars The Excellence Awards Technology Fall Program is now OPEN to receive applications through September 18, 2015. For more information visit: HCM Excellence Awards

[Post by Greg Gammie, Implementations Manager at GeoMetrix Data Systems Inc.] Innovation exists at the intersection of invention and value. But innovation doesn’t happen on its own — you must make it happen by taking advantage of today’s cutting-edge technologies. DevLearn 2015 is designed to inspire the innovator in you to discover what technology makes possible for learning today and to examine and experiment with all the growing opportunities for tomorrow. This year’s keynote speakers tap into the four critical elements of learning innovation: Curiosity, Disruption, Passion, and Technology. These keynotes are sure to inspire your inner innovator to take your own learning to new heights. Join the community of industry pioneers that’s shaping the future of learning, and witness learning innovation in the making! For more information visit DevLearn 2015

[Post by Arden Rose, Account Manager at GeoMetrix Data Systems Inc.] The theme of the Fall CLO Symposium this year is The Next Evolution: Learning in a Time of Disruption. "Powerful and volatile forces are reshaping the workplace and driving the need for learning that is nimble, timely and, above all, quickly delivers results. Emerging technology, rapidly proliferating data and emerging management models create significant challenges for learning leaders but also present considerable opportunities for positive and dynamic change." Join Chief Learning Officer magazine at the Fall 2015 Chief Learning Officer Symposium to explore how CLOs can lead and prepare their organizations for this next evolution. The CLO Symposium is an annual live conference for corporate executives who oversee learning and development initiatives for their enterprises’ workforce, customer, suppliers and partners. With an agenda built by the editors of Chief Learning Officer magazine, the CLO Symposium has evolved into the preferred meeting place for learning executives and their corporate peers. For more information visit: Fall CLO Symposium

[Post by Greg Gammie, Implementations Manager at GeoMetrix Data Systems Inc.] As you may know, we’ve been implementing software at GeoMetrix Data Systems for a long, long time — more than 20 years in fact. Our implementers are all veterans, averaging more than 10 years in the industry. We’ve got it down to an art and a science. The principal role of our implementation staff is to understand and interpret the customer’s requirements and to accommodate those requirements during the implementation of our software. In addition to providing assistance with the design of the solution, our Implementation Specialists can advise on the set up and development of procedures and the integration of business rules. To successfully implement the system to meet the goals of your organization, a Needs Analysis, or scoping study, should be undertaken. If you’ve already done this for an RFP or organizational review, then this step can be skipped. Regardless of who does it, this will help ensure that the project parameters and success factors are well defined. If we undertake this, on-site needs analysis sessions are preferred, but online sessions can also be used to lower cost expenditures. Once the needs analysis is complete, the project team can be assembled. Appropriate staff members on the customer side are designated and implementation resources are assigned from GeoMetrix Data Systems (GDS). The project should have two co-project leaders — one leader from the customer organization to manage their internal resources and one leader from GDS to manage the tasks to be completed by our implementation team. Once a Needs Analysis has been concluded the responsibilities of the project leaders would include: Establish the project parameters Develop the project plan Ensure the overall integrity of the plan by managing the staff on each of the project teams Ensure impediments are identified and resolved quickly Control costs Manage communication to project members I talk more about specific roles and responsibilities of the project team in a previous post, but these processes should involve people who are committed to the project. Using skilled, well-trained and experienced team members will ensure a successful implementation. Once the Needs Analysis is complete, the project parameters are established and the project plan is developed. This phase includes meetings that provide an overview of the implementation, which covers items such as data to be migrated, training required, reporting needs and expected customizations. Contact persons in both the customer organization and GDS are identified and responsibilities of each person are discussed. The resulting project plan identifies tasks and activities necessary to complete the project and the resources required for achievement of these objectives. The project plan identifies the mutual involvement of GDS and the customer in the project, identifying review points and major project milestones. The draft project plan is reviewed and revised by both parties and approved before implementation continues. Clarification on the work is defined and reviewed at this stage. This project plan forms the basis for monitoring and measuring the progress and success of the project. Implementations of a very large scope are quite often divided into stages, or phases, that occur over a period of time. These implementations often reflect an organization-wide shift in how the customer conducts their training processes, the effects of which are felt in every department. Breaking the project into stages improves the focus of team members and allows for efficient resource allocation of the implementation team. The GDS implementation team maintains a continuous working relationship with the customer. Regular communications between team members assures implementation progress is constantly tracked. Periodic reviews involving both teams are scheduled to define any new requirements that may have been defined during the implementation process. The implementation of a Learning Management Software system seldom remains static and should change and grow in conjunction with the needs of the organization. If you’d like to know more about our implementation process, please give me a call at 1-800-616-5409.

[Post by Arden Rose, Account Manager at GeoMetrix Data Systems Inc.] The Human Resources Exchange has been created to address the unique needs of senior-level HR executives by offering unparalled access to the resources, technology, and services that are changing the way organizations grow and manage change. "Successful organizations are becoming more adaptive, resilient, and systems-focused and streamlining processes through the use of innovative products and services is no longer an option for multi-faceted HR departments - it’s an absolute necessity." Over the 2.5 days of the conference participants will take part in: Powerful, personal networking with peers and colleagues Pre-set and pre-qualified appointments between senior HR executives and leading product suppliers Thought leadership sessions led by industry experts Multiple formal and informal relationship-building opportunities and market intelligence gathering Attendance is strictly limited to maximize ROI for all participants. Don’t miss your chance to take part in the event that is changing the way HR executives source new products and services. For more information visit: Human Resources Exchange