Archive for the ‘Distance learning’ Category

Nigeria has a large pool of brilliant students who, despite being eligible for university entrance exams, cannot study in universities.  To find a solution to this, The National Universities Commission (NUC) has taken an initiative that will develop an all-encompassing, well-organized and quality framework to prop up distance learning in Nigeria with all its resources.

From the top level people to the professors, all those who are involved with the universities are taking efforts to accommodate more than a hundred thousand students into their learning programs.  They are organizing workshops to boost the morale of their existing students as well as encourage more and more students to take up distance learning in Nigeria.

Nigerian universities, like any other university situated at any part of the world, are incorporating technology to make the whole learning process all the more interesting and interactive for the students.  A comprehensive format is being embraced by the universities so that not only students but also the staff, the faculty, and of course the management can have access to computers and networks.

Fresh pass-outs from high schools are invited to the workshops organized by the universities.  They are given a brief introduction of the universities offering distance learning in Nigeria. Courses that are offered in the learning programs of different universities, are also talked about and students are given tips to enhance their concentration, focus chiefly on studies and avoid any kind of procrastination since when you are studying a course in distance learning mode, you get to have very little or no interaction with your mentors.

A learning pattern that is highly geared towards technology and especially internet is being inculcated into the framework of facilitating education.  Podcasts, Wikis, Blogs and of course social networking are all ways which students of distance learning in Nigeria are being encouraged to have. These will not only be beneficial for their studying but also benefit them in the future for their professional development.



duck-kazooNew Links to New Learning author Amy Sklansky will participate in a story time videoconference on the morning of May 11, connecting with up to three schools interactively & two as view-only (per session). Amy will conduct two sessions, one at 9:15 a.m. CDT and the second at 10 a.m. CDT. Each free* videoconference is about 30 minutes long and the target audience is kindergarten and first grade classrooms.

Amy, one of our most popular content providers, and has written several books, including “a sweet and zany story of friendships lost and found” – The Duck Who Played the Kazoo. Amy will read this story to students… and play kazoo, too!! There will be a brief question and answer session.  For New Links to New Learning members, this videoconference is free! (*For nonmembers, the fee is $50 per site). To see supplemental materials for teachers, visit Amy’s website!

chatting duckiesKindergarten and first grade teachers, please sign up with Cooperating School Districts no later than Friday, April 30 – though spaces fill up fast, and you’ll need to reserve your space as soon as possible. MOREnet will bridge the event.

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Amy will also conduct her Inside a Poet’s Mind videoconference on April 22 and May 4. For more information at that program, click here.

Over the past few months I have been looking to design augmented learning environments.  An augmented learning environment is a mix of the real world and technology.  What I found, about the environments that I have created so far, is that student seem to really get engaged with this type of learning.  I really see the potential of these type of learning environments.  Two key aspects that really enhance these environments are that students must work together to solve a problem, and students must be moving around in the real world not on a computer.

What I am interested in learning from all of you right now is:

  • Have any of you used any of these environments?
  • How have you used these environments?
  • How did you set them up?

I have used Mscape to create CSI type learning environments that require the students work together to solve a mystery or murder.

Please post a response and let me know what are your thoughts.

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The goal of this interactive videoconference session is to allow students the opportunity to investigate, deduce, then synthesize by writing a creative version of the crime. Students will observe, interact, interview, and ultimately create and share during this program.

This ‘crime scene analysis’ distance learning program with author (and former teacher) Barri Bumgarner focuses on a writing exercise designed to be creative, deductive, and interactive. Students will see a portion of an episode of CSI. After viewing the initial crime scene footage, each writer will play investigator through a variety of interviews. Once they conducted each of their interviews, students will then write their version of what happened. This writing workshop videoconference is for 7-12 grades.

How does this work? Students will see a brief excerpt from an episode of CSI. After viewing the scene, each writer will be introduced by Barri to the various suspects and other people associated with both the victim and the suspects. Upon hearing and seeing this information, students will choose which 3 people they will “interview” (they will pull those people’s “jackets” and read about their specific details). Once they conducted each of their “interviews,” the student investigators will write their version of what happened.

The videoconference, lead by Barri, is available Friday, May 7, 2010. Space is still open, but please sign up by April 30. Videotaping/recording this videoconference is not allowed. The videoconference is $200 for New Links to New Learning members and $250 for nonmembers. There are two, 1 hour sessions available (all times Central Daylight Time):

  • 8:30 a.m. for 9-12th graders (high school)
  • 10 a.m. for 7-8th graders  (middle school)

Register here.

People ask my why I attend so many professional conferences.  I’ve been blessed the past 4 years with a Federal Title III grant that funds my various distance learning training initiatives here at Carteret Community College.  The grant also has line items for my travel and travel funds of our distance learning faculty.  As long as there are viable professional development activities at these various educator conferences we can use the funds to attend them.

As my previous post mentions I just returned from the Society for Photographic Education Conference in Philadelphia.  What a great city!  I must say the Philadelphia Museum of Art is absolutely excellent and would give the MET a run for its money as far as the quality of its collection and great exhibits it puts on. 

I was lucky enough to catch the Picasso show during a break from attending my Photo Educator conference workshops.

One of the main things I enjoy about attending distance learning and photography conferences is the inspiration (and current information) I get from being around my colleagues in the field. 

Technology is changing so incredibly fast and getting to hear speakers talk about the latest  innovations in teaching and photographic practices enables me to bring this information back and share it with my students and faculty where I work. I also enjoy sharing what we are doing here at Carteret Community College with my professional peers. Its a two way street as far as exchanging information in order to make us all better at what we do in our respective fields.

This years conference had a great print sharing where my students could see what the work other students and teachers from around the country are making in addition to having the opportunity to build relationships with educators and professionals in my field.

I must admit I was excited about having my daughter Andei who happens to be a budding photographer with me this year. She got the opportunity to share some of the work she is doing with other students and some teachers from colleges around the country.

Its very easy to get caught up in our little routines and worlds with all the demands we have on us as educators – getting away for a few days to attend a professional conference is rejuvenating, inspirational and very beneficial because I always bring back something that I have learned and share the new knowledge with my students and fellow distance learning teachers.

A good example of this would be all the great information I got about digital workflow at last year’s conference. I came back and did more research on this important photographic practice and then incorporated it into all my photography classes.

That is why I make the extra effort to attend good conferences that relate to what I am doing professionally. I attend not only to get information but to share what I have learned with my professional colleagues. Title III has enabled me and many of the staff and faculty of Carteret Community College to expand our knowledge by supplying the funds to travel to these excellent workshops and conferences.

It was also rewarding for me to see one of my photo graduates (Rochelle photo left) moving forward with her photography education and working towards a 4 year degree.  Here she is at the print sharing showing off some of her beautiful black and white landscapes.

I love seeing young enthusiastic photography students getting “out there” and showing their work…..photography is not a job – its a passion!

Final Note….I found an awesome cigar bar near the hotel and must admit I enjoyed a really tasty cigar and terrific beer after all the speakers, workshops and imagemakers were over. Life is good! cheers! K

Here are new videoconferences from New Links to New Learning favorite content providers LEARNnco in Ohio and the Lee Richardson Zoo in Kansas. All are by request only.

From LEARNnco:
Earthquakes and Volcanoes
– by LEARNnco
Earthquakes and Volcanoes have been “shaking and baking” the Earth since the beginning of the planet. Your classroom will learn more about two of Nature’s most powerful forces through LEARNnco’s Earthquakes & Volcanoes.
Audience: Education: Grade(s): 3-10

Space Science – by LEARNnco
Movies and television often depict Space as an easy place to visit. Engaging students in hands on activities, Space Science will give them an understanding of the difficulties, dangers, and expense of Space and Space survival.
Audience: Education: Kindergarten, Grade(s): 1-12

From Lee Richardson Zoo:
Ready…Set…Recycle!
– by Lee Richardson Zoo
Where does our trash go when we throw it away? Animals are helping us out behind-the-scenes. Join us as we discover what happens to trash once it leaves our hands and what we can do to help make our environment a healthier place for everyone to live!
Audience: Education: Grade(s): 2-8

The Animals of “The Mitten” by Jan Brett – by Lee Richardson Zoo
Based off the Ukrainian folk tale adapted and illustrated by Jan Brett, this program will look at some of the animals that find shelter and warmth in the lost mitten of young Nicki. Students will learn why the animals wanted in the mitten, and how animals…
Audience: Education: Pre-K Students- 1st grade

Patricia McKissack’s Creative Writing Workshop – this year focusing on Science Fiction – starts April 15! To participate in this great videoconference series, you must register with Cooperating School Districts by April 1. For details on this videoconference series, scroll down! We hope to see you there.

I know spring break is on the mind, but don’t forget to sign up for these great videoconference offerings (for K-12 students & staff) from Cooperating School Districts’ New Links to New Learning:

To register for any of these distance learning programs, contact Megan Moncure by its registration date. All videoconferences will be bridged by MOREnet. To learn more about each New Links videoconference, click on on the appropriate link above. To see all New Links to New Learning spring videoconferences, click on the globe logo.

Image by Flickr user Patricia Drury

Here’s a chance to sit in the lecture hall with the faculty of the Harvard Business School- log on to the Business Source Complete database, and type in the search term:

Harvard FSS.

Scroll down through the titles of 55 lectures presented in the Harvard Business School Faculty Seminar Series. Click on the video icon to watch the lecture online, or click on the pdf. link to read the transcript.

Included are such current topics as:

Billions of Entrepreneurs: the Yin and Yang of China and India

Jumpstarting Entrepreneurial Innovation

The Life Science Revolution: Changing the Language of Business

Note: Video links available through database search detailed above.


Education

TEACHING AND LEARNING CONFERENCE 2010

CALL FOR PAPERS

International Conference *Teaching and Learning 2010*
Advances in Teaching and Learning Research: http://www.iask-web.org

29 November – 01 December, 2010 | Seville – Spain

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DEADLINES

May 30th, 2010. Papers submission

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CONFERENCE GOALS

The scope of the TL2010 conference is wide and covers all areas around Education from teaching to learning perspectives.

Papers, up a maximum of 7000 words, are invited on any of the topics below or related fields and should be submitted, via e-mail, to tl2010-submission@iask-web.org. Final camera-ready papers must conform to the author guidelines and must not exceed ten pages in length.

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PUBLICATIONS OF PAPERS

All submissions, except invited talks, are subject to a blind refereeing process. Selection will be done according to the score order obtained in the evaluation process.

All accepted papers will be published in the TL2010 Proceedings (book and CD) with ISBN.

Authors of the best papers will be invited to publish extended versions of their work in the following journal:
-   International Journal of Innovation and Learning (ISSN 1471-8197)

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ORGANIZATION

IASK – International Association for Scientific Knowledge
www.iask-web.org

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TOPICS

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

-   Active Learning
-   Adult Education
-   Asynchronous Learning
-   Blended Instruction
-   Classroom Assessment
-   Content Development
-   Content Management Systems
-   Digital Libraries
-   Distance Learning
-   E-Instruction
-   E-Learning in Face-to-Face Environment
-   E-Learning Strategies
-   Innovative Teaching Strategies
-   Instructional Design
-   Knowledge Management
-   Learning Disabilities
-   Learning Management Systems
-   Learning Objects
-   Online Assessment
-   Online Collaboration in Forum
-   Online Forum Discussion
-   Performance Assessment
-   Quality Assurance
-   Smart-Board Teaching
-   Staff Training
-   Student Diversity
-   Student Motivation
-   Table of Specifications
-   Teaching Technologies
-   Virtual Universities and Classroom

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IMPORTANT DATES

May 30th – Submission deadline
Until July 31st – Notification to authors
Until September 30th – Final camera-ready submission and early registration
After September 30th – Late registration (without paper publication)
November 29th to December 1st – Conference

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CONTACTS

For further inquiries please contact: tl2010-secretariat@iask-web.org

Conference Website: http://www.iask-web.org

Posted here by Glenn Rikowski

The Flow of Ideas: http://www.flowideas.co.uk