Dr. Jon Aleckson and Dr. Andy Hicken of Web Courseworks will be speaking on MOOCs (massive open online courses) at the DevLearn 2015 Conference in Las Vegas, September 30 - October 2. Their session will cover innovative work being done by EdCast and other companies using edX, the open-source MOOC platform created by MIT and […] The post Speaking at DevLearn 2015 appeared first on Web Courseworks.

Adobe Captivate 9 is loaded with all sorts of new featu […]The post Effects and Motion Paths in Captivate 9 appeared first on eLearning Brothers.

HBR, September 2015 Gazing at Nature Makes You More Productive The research: University of Melbourne researchers Kate Lee, Kathryn Williams, Leisa Sargent, Nicholas Williams, and Katherine Johnson gave 150 subjects a menial task that involved hitting specific keystrokes when certain numbers flashed on a computer screen. After five minutes the subjects were given a 40-second … Continue reading Gazing at Nature Improves Performance →

The many advantages of using solar power to fascinate each individual to try to start using this energy in their homes. People who rely primarily on the use of commercial electricity always threw the question "Why Go Solar?" Here is the important point. Choosing a solar energy system will allow you to reduce your monthly ...

by CHRISTIAN CAMEROTA, Harvard Business School A good way to build a large user base is to offer something valuable for free. That’s been the strategy so far behind Codecademy. In just a few short years since its inception in 2011, the company has grown into one of the world’s largest online learning platforms, with more [...]

By Linda Haviv, Fox News With technology skills becoming as important as readin’, ritin’ and ’rithmetic in today’s digital world, many parents want to ensure that their children develop the right skills for the future. But many don’t know where to begin and how to make learning tech skills fun for their kids. A new online [...]

Though universities are eager to leverage the potential of mobile learning to provide learning flexibly, most balk at the cost of providing students with mobile hardware. The practice of ‘bring your own device'(BYOD) is often mooted as a cost-effective alternative. This paper provides a snapshot of student ownership of mobile devices at a regional Australian […]

by eCampus News DeakinDigital, a wholly owned subsidiary of Deakin University, is partnering with Credly in the delivery of its new credentialing program, which it touts as an alternative to traditional education models. The move could drastically reduce the time it takes to attain certain degrees, university representatives said. Credly, which offers platforms for managing lifelong [...]

By Carl Straumsheim, Inside Higher Ed Bay Path University is having to adjust downward the number of students it believes will want to study online through its American Women’s College, but university leaders say they see fully online education as one of many endeavors that will help them remain a financially sound women’s college in the [...]

Dr. Maryellen Weimer, professor emerita at Penn State Berks writes, "There’s only one first day of class. Here are some ideas for taking advantage of opportunities that are not available in the same way on any other day of the course."Photo: The Teaching Professor Blog It’s students’ first introduction to the course content. Catalog descriptions of courses may be accurate, but they aren’t all that good at conveying why the content is important, relevant, and useful; why students just may find it interesting; and why a few in the past have actually fallen in love with it. A good introduction provides a bit of background; it builds connections by identifying shared experiences and common interests. The details offered in a good introduction motivate continued conversation. The first day gives you the chance to explain why this course and the content of this field matter to you. Of all the potential majors, you chose one in this field—how did that happen? Did you choose well? Why?The Teaching Professor BlogMost courses develop important skills—concrete ones like how to calculate the Doppler shift and less specific ones like how to evaluate evidence or construct a persuasive argument. The first day is a good time to let students know what they will be able to do—or do better—as a consequence of this course. Too often we focus the conversation on what the course covers and what students will know by the end of the term. That’s important, but we shouldn’t leave out how the course develops skills—some of which students will use for the rest of their lives. Courses have been known to change lives. Most don’t, but why not introduce the possibility on the first day? Adult educators call it transformative learning. It happens when we learn something that not only changes how we think, but also changes what we do; indeed, who we are. Sometimes these big changes occur incrementally; other times they hit like lightning—with a burst of light and a thunderous revelation. It’s been known to happen in all types of courses and with all types of students.  Read more...Source: Faculty Focus

The primary purpose of assessment and evaluation is to improve student learning. I came across this while working on my book. This approach has become part of the teaching ideology throughout much of Canada (2006 for most of western Canada, 2010 for … Continue reading →

Running Towards Publication, Then Walking Away - Culture Digitally. This article caught my eye for a number of reasons. For one thing, I’m just finishing a book and so I’m thinking about this a fair bit, but for another, I … Continue reading →

You know how chance or fleeting encounters with people who cross your path can sometimes leave a lasting impression? The man who drove the forklift at the local feed store has become a symbol in our household. He is a … Continue reading →

I blogged about sessionals earlier this month and the claim was that sessionals (adjuncts) are sessionals because they don’t want tenure track positions. It may be true for some, but it’s certainly not true for all of us, and it may not … Continue reading →

I’ve been pondering this for some time now. It is easier now than ever before in history to get your word out there. This blog is an excellent example. All I need is a little bit of computer knowledge and … Continue reading →

For anyone who’s ever wondered what it means for a game to be 1st person, isometric, top-down, etc, here’s a handy illustrated guide: Types of Game Perspectives | Mozzastryl. Here are some simplified images:

Apparently learning to print and write is no longer important after grade one. the focus will be on keyboarding. Why? Did anyone give any serious thought to what we might lose by not teaching people how to write by hand? … Continue reading →

It seems to be one of the "in" things right now. What does it really mean? Is it always a good thing? How can it be implemented in a way that is meaningful? What Do We Really Mean When We … Continue reading →

This post is a further exploration of the "How do we re-teach something?" question raised in a previous post. Suppose, for whatever reason, you (the teacher) realize your students didn’t understand something you have already ‘covered’. What should you do? … Continue reading →

At a time when many have just finished either high school, or something in higher ed, this is worth watching. More than once. "Published on 3 Oct 2013 Comedian-musician Tim Minchin addresses graduates at the University of Western Australia where … Continue reading →

What do you think of having a summer "off"? Do you think kids suffer from being away from school for 2 months in the summer? I think it is essential. I worry about what we lose when kids don’t have … Continue reading →

I just recently submitted the final draft of my upcoming book to the editor, and I came across this page from Scott Meyers that has some good advice: Scott Meyers: Advice to Prospective Book Authors. It’s long, but if you are thinking … Continue reading →

If you are interested in serious games, this newsletter is one you should get. Mark DeLoura from the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy produces a weekly report on serious games that is well worth reading. Sign up for … Continue reading →

Are children keen to learn even when they have no schools? How can we teach empathy and self-control? This guest post looks at hunter-gatherer societies and gives us a glimpse into an approach to education and interaction that is different … Continue reading →