Online Learning Update

Building a new UC -- in cyberspace - Christopher Edley Jr., Los Angeles Times

2009-07-06T00:10:00.000+01:00

It is time for an 11th University of California campus: a cyber-campus devoted to awarding online degrees to UC-eligible students. No budgetary alchemy will allow us to educate the state's future university students in the same way we do now but with less money.... UC XI would have selective admissions; tuition somewhere between community college and the on-campus UC price, part-time and "anytime" options and lectures by the best faculty from the entire UC system. Our online students might miss the keg parties, but they would have the same world-class faculty, UC graduate student instructors and adjunct faculty.

Study: Students want more online learning - eSchool News

2009-07-06T00:05:00.001+01:00

Despite a growing interest in online learning among students, the availability of on line classes in K-12 schools and districts hasn't kept pace with the demand, according to a new report from Project Tomorrow and Blackboard Inc. According to the report, more than 40 percent of sixth through 12th graders have researched or demonstrated interest in taking a course online, but only 10 percent have actually taken an online course through their school. Meanwhile, 7 percent of middle school students and 4 percent of high school students instead have pursued opportunities outside their school to take online courses--underscoring the disconnect between the supply and demand for online learning in today's schools.

Seven Strategies for Plagiarism-proofing Discussion Threads in Online Courses - Melissa R. Olt - JOLT

2009-07-06T00:01:00.002+01:00

Online discussions are an integral part of distance education courses. They provide a means for interaction among students and the instructor about course content as well as an opportunity for students to develop critical thinking skills. A growing number of faculty, however, have expressed concern about plagiarism occurring in online discussions. Rather than instructors policing discussion threads and then engaging in the time-consuming process of documenting occurrences of plagiarism, this paper considers whether it is possible to deter plagiarism of discussion threads through design and facilitation. Seven strategies for plagiarism-proofing online discussion threads are presented.

Meta-Analysis: Is Blended Learning Most Effective? - David Nagel, THE Journal

2009-07-05T00:10:00.000+01:00

The United States Department of Education reported recently that it's found some evidence to support the notion that blended learning is more effective than either face to face or online learning by themselves. Further, between online and face to face instruction, online is at least as good and may even have the advantage in terms of improving student achievement and potentially expanding the amount of time (and quality time) students spend learning. The report, "Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning," is the result of a meta-analysis involving research published from 1996 to July 2008, in which ED sifted through more than 1,100 empirical studies of online learning, 46 of which "provided sufficient data to compute or estimate 51 independent effect sizes," according to the report. The study included only objective measures of learning (rather than opinions of the effectiveness of learning) from studies with controlled designs that met the researchers' minimum quality standards. It included research on both K-12 and post-secondary education.

Virginia State University to Introduce Online Course on Logistics

2009-07-05T00:05:00.000+01:00

Virginia State University�s (VSU) Department of Engineering and Technology has engaged LeanForward to develop a three dimensional (3D) virtual warehouse to integrate virtual and mixed reality simulations into the university�s online laboratories for distance education students enrolled in the industrial and logistics technology program. The virtual warehouse will provide students with convenient access to a virtual hands-on learning experience, thereby enabling them to learn and test their knowledge on warehouse order management and tracking whenever and wherever they have Internet access. It is believed that this type of video-game style simulation will enable online students to achieve levels of knowledge equal to that achieved through traditional hands on lab experience.

Online Learning: Homeschooling - Karin Piper, Examiner

2009-07-05T00:01:00.001+01:00

It is not just colleges that offer online degrees. Cyber-learning is also not being pursued by homeschoolers alone. K12 (online learning) states that merely and roughly 20% of their enrolled students come from a previous home based learning environment. More and more families take advantage of the progressive technologies offered by online education in all types of formats�charter schools, districts and private. Some families who try this for summer and enrichment programs find that they like it so much they change their kids year-round education�and voila!�there is another home based learner.

Communities of Integrity in Online Learning Courses: Faculty Member Beliefs and Strategies - Lori McNabb & Alicia Olmstead, JOLT

2009-07-04T00:10:00.002+01:00

This paper describes an investigation into beliefs about academic integrity of faculty members who teach both online and on-campus within the University of Texas System, and their opinions regarding differences between the two environments. The research shows that the majority of faculty members surveyed did not believe that there is a difference in cheating between online and on-campus courses. Additionally, this paper shares the results of a project to determine strategies for creating communities of integrity in online courses. Twelve strategies for faculty members to create an environment of academic integrity were identified within three categories: design, communication, and collaboration.

Online Learning Student Authentication: Verifying the Identity of Online Users - Jeffrey L. Bailie & Michael A. Jortberg, JOLT

2009-07-04T00:05:00.002+01:00

This paper addresses how one university has partnered with a corporation to work on the verification of online student identity and describes ongoing efforts to best verify online student identity. Through this collaboration, the university seeks to enhance the credibility of its online evaluation process by employing data forensic techniques commonly used by today�s financial services industry. Detail is presented on how user authentication strategies are being applied to verify remote learner identity during formal online performance appraisals. Additional details on how the existing strategies will be enhanced toward multi-faceted user authentication are discussed.

Issues of Academic Integrity: An Online Course for Students Addressing Academic Dishonesty - Camilla Jones Roberts & Shalin Hai-Jew, JOLT

2009-07-04T00:01:00.001+01:00

At Kansas State University, an institutional strategy to promote academic integrity involves an honor code that is backed up by the K-State Honor and Integrity System, a student judiciary system, and the �Development and Integrity� course for students who have been found in contravention of the code. This article addresses the honor system, related university policies, and the recent development of the online version of the Development and Integrity course. This article includes an introduction, a survey of the literature, relevant pedagogical theories, a brief background, an overview of the course design and development, and lessons learned.

The U.S. Department of Education releases a report on online learning studies -Lauri Harrison, the Examiner

2009-07-03T00:10:00.001+01:00

The U.S. Department of Education, Center for Technology in Learning, recently released their latest report �Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies�. The findings revealed that on average, online students out performed those receiving face-to-face instruction. In addition, they identified that learners in the online environment spent more time performing a task than student�s offline. The research focused on the K-12 environment, but the findings are interesting for online education as a whole.

Growing Demand for Online Learning Not Yet Matched by Opportunities at K-12 Schools, Districts

2009-07-03T00:05:00.000+01:00

Despite growing interest in online learning, the availability of online classes have not kept pace with demand in K-12 schools and districts, according to a survey report from Project Tomorrow(R), a national education nonprofit organization, and Blackboard Inc. (Nasdaq: BBBB), a global leader in education technology. According to the survey, more than 40 percent of 6-12th graders have researched or demonstrated interest in taking a course online, but only 10 percent have actually taken an online course through their school. Meanwhile, comparable percentages of middle school students (7 percent) and high school students (4 percent) have instead pursued opportunities outside their school to take online courses, underscoring the disconnect between the supply and demand of online learning in today's classrooms.

Project seeks to measure ed tech's value - Laura Devaney, eSchool News

2009-07-03T00:01:00.000+01:00

An ambitious new research project aims to revolutionize education by showing that well-implemented technology initiatives can save states money after an initial investment.
Project RED (for Revolutionizing EDucation) will examine the outcomes of educational technology initiatives using a cost-benefit analysis to determine which ed-tech programs and devices are having the most cost-effective impact for schools, parents, and states.

U.S. Push for Free Online Learning Courses - Inside Higher Ed

2009-07-02T00:10:00.004+01:00

Community colleges and high schools would receive federal funds to create free, online courses in a program that is in the final stages of being drafted by the Obama administration. A formal announcement could come in the next few weeks. In addition to the free online courses, the plan would provide $9 billion over 10 years to help community colleges develop and improve programs related to preparing students for good jobs, and a $10 billion loan fund (at low or no interest) for community college facilities. "This is so spot on in terms of what's needed," said Curtis J. Bonk, a professor of instructional systems technology at Indiana University at Bloomington and author of The World Is Open: How Web Technology Is Revolutionizing Education (forthcoming from Jossey-Bass).

U.S. Department of Education Study Finds that Good Teaching can be Enhanced with New Technology - Docuticker

2009-07-02T00:05:00.000+01:00

A systematic search of the research literature from 1996 through July 2008 identified over 1,000 empirical studies of online learning. Of these, 46 met the high bar for quality that was required for the studies to be included in the analysis. The meta analysis showed that �blended� instruction � combining elements of online and face-to-face instruction � had a larger advantage relative to purely face to face instruction or instruction conducted wholly online. The analysis also showed that the instruction conducted wholly on line was more effective in improving student achievement than the purely face to face instruction. In addition, the report noted that the blended conditions often included additional learning time and instructional elements not received by students in control conditions.

Study Indicates Benefits Of Online Learning - City and Town Info

2009-07-02T00:01:00.001+01:00

The new meta-analysis--which looks at existing studies for patterns and conclusions--may very likely further fuel the popularity of online education. U.S. News & World Report noted in April that more than 4 million students enrolled in at least one online course last fall, while in 2003 the number was less than 2 million. An important caveat mentioned by the study pointed out that the evidence did not endorse online learning as a medium. Instead, the analysis credited much of the success of online education to a combination of factors, including curriculum, pedagogy, and time spent taking courses. Indeed, the study noted that "online learning is much more conducive to the expansion to learning time than is face-to-face instruction."

Enquiries Rise as UK Funding Announced for Distance Online Learning Technologies

2009-07-01T00:10:00.001+01:00

Hot on the heels of yesterday's announcement by the Department of Business Innovation and Skills of a new task force and �20 million funding initiative to ensure the UK's universities collaborate more effectively, Asysco has noted a marked increase in enquiries about distance learning technologies. This 'collaboration injection' is designed to help UK universities reach out to communities across the globe, deliver world-class, student-centred online distance learning and engage potential markets that could value around �15bn in the future.

Online learning is gaining credibility - Iris taylor, Richmond Times-Dispatch

2009-07-01T00:09:00.001+01:00

Online learning is gaining credibility and gaining ground in the higher-education field.
About 12.2 million consumers enrolled in roughly 11,200 college-level distance-education programs during the 2006-07 academic year, the latest figures available, according to the U.S. Department of Education. That's up from the 3 million consumers enrolled in 2,320 distance-learning programs in 2000-01. Most traditional colleges and universities now offer online courses as part of their regular degree programs, as well. Some, such as the University of Richmond School of Continuing Studies, offer a few specialized degree programs entirely online.

Completing the Semester at a Distance - Dr. Steve Shirley, VCSU President

2009-07-01T00:01:00.001+01:00

With much cooperation, persistence, and hard work by the entire community and beyond, Valley City has been fortunate to avoid catastrophic loss of property or damage from the flooding Sheyenne River. No doubt there have been some losses, inconveniences, and disruptions, but there has been no loss of life and no widespread/city-wide flooding. At Valley City State University, we are currently engaged in the important work of finishing this academic year online and at a distance while Valley City moves into recovery mode. It is important to note that VCSU is completing the Spring Semester via distance-based and technology-based methods, and that we have NOT canceled the semester as had been stated in some media reports. The spring semester continues at VCSU; it is simply occurring at a distance rather than on the physical campus.

The Online Student - Mike Cattermole, Philadelphia Telecommuting Examiner

2009-06-30T00:10:00.001+01:00

I have taken a long deserved break from writing so that I could refresh myself for the upcoming months and the design of a book about life as an online student. I have several years of experience as a college instructor online and for the past year a Doctoral candidate. So, I am using this forum as a way to give readers a small sample about some of the contents in the book. Enjoy! much more to come....The more obvious benefit to an online student is that she does not have to commute to a physical classroom and devote specific times to course lectures and activities. However, there are many other merits for an online student.

Fund will help students complete degrees online - BCS

2009-06-30T00:05:00.000+01:00

The government is to introduce a new fund to enable students at risk of failing their degrees to complete them online. According to the authorities, the new initiative will be an expansion of the role of the Open University, which is now almost completely based online. The fund is aimed at providing additional support to the 35,000 student who abandon their studies every year. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: 'The success of distance learning, pioneered 40 years ago by the Open University, has been nothing short of a revolution for higher education.

Cheaper eBook reader challenges Kindle - Maya T. Prabhu, eSchool News

2009-06-30T00:01:00.000+01:00

With the popularity of electronic reading devices on the rise, and a handful of colleges set to pilot Amazon.com's Kindle DX this fall, a new eBook reading device from New York-based Interead, called the COOL-ER, offers a less expensive alternative that its creator, Neil Jones, says educators could find appealing. "I thought about what readers need from an eBook. The COOL-ER is 45 to 50 percent lighter than our closest competitors. So it's light in [students'] hands," said Jones, founder and chief executive officer of Interead.

Student leader Wes Streeting wants universities to abolish lectures - Nicola Woolcock, London Times

2009-06-29T00:10:00.000+01:00

University lectures are past their sell-by date and should be abolished in favour of virtual teaching, according to a student leader. Wes Streeting, president of the National Union of Students, says lectures are old-fashioned and increasingly irrelevant to modern learning. For generations, students have packed into cramped lecture theatres to listen to professors enthuse about their subjects. Some students take notes attentively and others struggle to stay awake, but Mr Streeting says the whole concept should be eradicated. Instead students could make greater use of lecture handouts, online learning, chat rooms and downloads, with more time freed for staff to conduct small and intensive tutorial sessions.

$100 Laptop Becomes a $5 PC - David Talbot, Technology Review

2009-06-29T00:05:00.001+01:00

The open-source education software developed for the "$100 laptop" can now be loaded onto a $5 USB stick to run aging PCs and Macs with a new interface and custom educational software. "What we are doing is taking a bunch of old machines that barely run Windows 2000, and turning them into something interesting and useful for essentially zero cost," says Walter Bender, former president of the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) project. "It becomes a whole new computer running off the USB key; we can breathe new life into millions of decrepit old machines."

Jack Welch Launches MBA via Online Learning - Geoff Gloeckler, Business Week

2009-06-29T00:01:00.000+01:00

A corporate icon is diving into the MBA world, and he's bringing his well-documented management and leadership principles with him. Jack Welch, former CEO at General Electric (GE) (and BusinessWeek columnist), has announced plans to start an MBA program based on the business principles he made famous teaching managers and executives in GE's Crotonville classroom.

UA adds writing credit via online learning to gen-ed system - Ben Korta, Daily Wildcat

2009-06-28T00:11:00.001+01:00

General education courses as students know them now are undergoing change.A team of UA instructors and software programmers is currently developing an online writing course that will soon be paired with general education classes across campus. The course will be introduced as a one-credit supplement to the typical three-credit general education class. It is intended to provide an interactive and self-paced online environment in which students' writing skills are diagnosed and improved.