Producing Distance Education Resources
This course focuses on the production of resources (broadly interpreted) for use in online education (including formal and informal settings). In particular, the course focuses on Internet-based tools and technologies, and how they are developed and applied for use in online learning.
Xerte Online Toolkits
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How (Not) to Read an Academic Article
Dave Harris
Producer (requires Internet Explorer).
This is a demonstration of two approaches to reading an academic article. The first one involves lots of detailed note-taking and slow patient reading: I think the video gives some idea of the tedious nature of this approach, as does the 'alienated' commentary. The second approach demonstrates much more brisk reading for sense and understanding. I tried to 'think aloud' as I did these tasks. I also illustrate on PowerPoint some relevant ch
15.568A Practical Information Technology Management (MIT)
The course purpose is to provide the substance and skill necessary to make sound business decisions relating to information systems and to work with senior line managers in the resolution of issues and problems in this area. Categories of issues which will be addressed in the course include:
How do IT and its various manifestations in business, such as the Internet, affect current and future COMPETITIVENESS? How do we align business strategy and plans with IT strategy and IT plans?
How c
Case It! Case Study Learning via Simulations of Molecular Biology Techniques
Case It! is an NSF-sponsored project to promote collaborative case-based learning in biology education worldwide. This paper describes the latest version of the Case It! simulation software (DNA gel electrophoresis, Southern blotting, and PCR). Students use these open-ended molecular biology computer simulations to analyze case studies involving genetic diseases, then discuss results with their peers at other institutions via web-based "poster sessions." They also use Case It! software to gather
Crops of the Future: A Problem-Based Learning Exercise for the Laboratory
In problem-based learning (PBL), complex, real-world problems motivate students to discover interconnections between important concepts and in doing so acquire essential skills. These skills include teamwork, problem solving, information retrieval and analysis, and communication. The activity presented here suggests a way to add a "hands on" component to PBL by integrating a problem with a guided inquiry exercise. Problem resolution depends on observations made in the laboratory, using probes an
Portrait of Bessie Thomas
Pomona College student Bessie C. Thomas. [Photograph of a photograph; original photograph taken by the Donnell studio in Phoenix, Arizona.]
Take Charge!
Students come to understand static electricity by learning about the nature of electric charge, and different methods for charging objects. In a hands-on activity, students induce an electrical charge on various objects, and experiment with electrical repulsion and attraction.
The co-design of scenarios for a didactic-based E-learning system viewed as an adaptive virtual docu
The design and engineering of E-learning systems must be considered as a transdisciplinary problem requiring the integration of different scientific approaches. The design process of E-learning systems needs to consider several theories, models and artifacts – the e-learning system. We claim it is essential to ensure the traceability and the interpretation of phenomena related to the use of artifacts in studying precisely the relationships between theories, models and artifacts. Consequently, w
Brain as a Learning Space
This workshop will allow us to collaboratively explore the notion of the brain as an innovative learning space, and will provide models and examples that might encourage students to more actively engage in deep learning and broad investigation, as well as develop confidence in their independent acquisition of knowledge.
Quelles machines pour enseigner la langue ?
This paper first presents a history of Computer-Assisted Learning (CAL), setting its origins in the 1920s with the invention of mechanical learning machines. The use of the computer then allowed the development of different types of language learning activities: comprehension tasks, simulations, etc. However, without the contribution of natural language processing (NLP), these activities are of limited use. We address the problem of the integration of NLP in CALL systems while summing up the cha
3.2 Where is the learning?
What is your experience of work and what did you learn from this experience? This unit will enable you to reflect upon what you have learned from work and support you in improving how you learn at work. It will encourage you to think critically about work-based learning and review your own professional knowledge and skills.
6 What you should present
Learning new skills is what makes us human – but can we improve how we go about learning new things in new situations? Learning how to learn can help you to understand what works for you – and what doesn't – when you set out to learn new skills at work, in education or training and in everyday life. In developing and assessing the key skill of improving your own learning and performance, you will learn to recognise, use and adapt your skills confidently and effectively in different situati
The e-learning movement as a process of quality improvement in education
Quality in education has been regognized as an issue that should guide our efforts for improvement for many years. eLearning is the latest attempt to take advantage of developments in technology to improve learning. In this paper, we discuss the possibility of establishing a theory of elearning, the value of design patterns, and the possible scenarios of implementation by higher education institutions attempting to use new technologies in their courses of study. A survey concerning the elearning
Virtual Learning Environments
Is the concept of 'virtual learning environment' just a popular label to describe any educational software? No, the concept includes several interesting features that justify the use of a specific label. We review these features in the first part of our contribution. Do these features guarantee pedagogical effects? No, we review in the second some potential contributions of virtual learning environments.Turning potential effects into actual outcomes is the challenge of designers.
A Grid-aware Implementation for Providing Effective Feedback to On-line Learning Groups
Constantly providing feedback to on-line learning teams is a challenging yet one of the latest and most attractive issues to influence learning experience in a positive manner. The possibility to enhance learning groupÂ’s participation by means of providing appropriate feedback is rapidly gaining popularity due to its great impact on group performance and outcomes. Indeed, by storing parameters of interaction such as participation behaviour and giving constant feedback of these parameters to the
Enabling Efficient Real Time User Modeling in On-line Campus
User modelling in on-line distance learning is an important research
field focusing on two important aspects: describing and predicting studentsÂ’ actions
and intentions as well as adapting the learning process to studentsÂ’ features,
habits, interests, preferences, and so on. The aim is to greatly stimulate
and improve the learning experience. In this context, user modeling implies a
constant processing and analysis of user interaction data during long-term learning
activities, which produces l
Efficient Embedding of Information and Knowledge into CSCL Applications
This study aims to explore two crucial aspects of collaborative work
and learning: the importance of enabling CSCL applications, on the one hand,
to capture and structure the information generated by group activity and, on the
other hand, to extract the relevant knowledge in order to provide learners and
tutors with efficient awareness and support as regards collaboration. To this
end, we first identify and define the main types of information generated in online
group activity and then propose
Improvement of JXTA protocols for supporting reliable distributed applications in P2P systems
In any distributed application, the communication between the distributed processes/nodes of the distributed systems is essential for both reliability and efficiency matters. In this work we address this issue for distributed applications based on JXTA protocols. After a careful examination of the current version of JXTA protocols, we observed the need for improving the original JXTA protocols, such as pipe services, to ensure reliable communication between peer nodes and the discovery and prese
Internet Scout Project
The Philadelphia Education Fund, an independent non-profit organization that "helps to improve the quality of public education for all children in the city of Philadelphia," posts on its website assessment tools and guidelines to help teachers look at student work. An interesting feature of the website is the section which provides samples of student work displayed alongside accompanying teacher commentary. The student work samples are drawn from Philadelphia elementary, middle and high school t
