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Blackboard's strategic relationship with MERLOT - posted on Sep. 1, 2004
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Blackboard Inc. announced a strategic relationship with MERLOT (the Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Training) to improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning by increasing the number of high quality resources available to online learning communities this Wednesday(September 1st). Blackboard Inc. is the leading provider of online education learning management system, and a lot of online courses are powered by their software. LMS(Learning Management System) market is still young and we cannot predict how the market will be shaped in the coming years, but Blackboard Inc. is certainly ahead of the race. We'd like to mention about Blackboard Inc. from time to time in OOEN.
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Athletes studying online - posted on Aug. 31, 2004
Many athletes decide not to go to college; many of them often do not even finish high school as they wish to pursue career in professional sports and they cannot spend time going to school at their prime age. However, the situation may change in the coming years, as e-learning allows them more flexibility and they can study while they play sports around the world. There are already some athletes doing this, and Scoville Jenkins is one such example. He currently attends University of Miami On-Line High School, while he has a career as professional tennis player. In fact, he plays in this year's US Open. Pete Sampras decided to not finish high school to become the greatest tennis player in history, but Scoville Jenkins may not have do the same. He may even be able to finish college while he plays against top players such as Roger Federer and Andy Roddick!
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Distance learning from teacher's perspective - posted on Aug. 29, 2004
Teachers need to be updating their skills and knowledge in today's rapidly changing environment. They'd also like to take other opportunities besides teaching if they can. But they face same problems as other working professionals; they simply do not have time to re-train their skills or take other opportunities, commuting to different locations is simply not durable, etc. Distance learning is solving some of these problems, however. Larry Hovey is one of examples; dedicated instructor at San Jacinto College South recently accepted a position at the Regional Computer Forensics Lab. Unfortunately, this means that he does not have time to continue teaching in classrooms; nonetheless, because of distance learning facility, he is able to continue teaching while he keeps the position at the Regional Computer Forensics Lab. Distance learning is not only benefiting students but also teachers as well.
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Distance learning is taking off in the healthcare industry - posted on Aug. 28, 2004
Distance learning is in demand in the healthcare industry; one reason is that it is a great match to healthcare workers. Distance learning allows flexibility in terms of time and place. Another reason is that there is a shortage in healthcare workers, in particular, nurses, and the system to train nurses is in demand. To respond to the situation, Texas Wesleyan University has set up its programs so that students can enroll in their programs in Cincinnati. Much of classwork is done via interactive video; clinical work is required to complete these programs, but students can do clinical work at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Edgewood, Ky., about 15 miles south of Cincinnati. This is a very dynamic learning environment, and we can see serious commitment in distance learning by Texas Wesleyan University.
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Distance learning, classroom learning hybrid - posted on Aug. 27, 2004
Distance learning has its merits and classroom learning has its merits; Armstrong Atlantic State University is one of universities that offer both options to students so that they can get the best of both learning formats. Deirdre Ward, for example, is a third-grader teacher at Taylors Creek Elementary School in Hinesville; she is a full time student at the university, but since she has a full time job, it is difficult for her to arrange the schedule. But since the university offers some courses online, she does not need to commute to the campus any longer. This type of hybrid approach is adapted in many colleges and universities and we will probably continue to see many more colleges and universities adapting the approach.
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Internet2 and distance learning - posted on Aug. 25, 2004
Many of visitors to OOEN are presumably heavy internet users, so we'd like to mention about internet2 and its impact on distance learning. Studying computer science and basics of business can be accomplished online today; however, there are still number of hurdles as we try to teach music online. One of the biggest hurdles is the bandwidth; it is estimated that half of internet users(in US) are using broadband today, but the bandwidth is still narrow in order to deliver music and video online smoothly. People like internationally acclaimed violinist and conductor Pinchas Zukerman who teaches at the Manhattan School of Music are waiting for upcoming Internet2 and what it is capable of with great excitement; in particular, he is wanting to teach music online and internet2 is absolute requirement for him to do that as the teaching requires extensive use of video and audio. Internet2 is not coming near you today or tomorrow, but it is very exciting to wait for what it enables us to do when we hear about what Pinchas Zukerman is planning and wanting to deliver us.
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Sandy beach, a little umbrella and a straw, and distance learning - posted on Aug. 24, 2004
15 UK universities including University of Leicester will partner with RDI, Resource Development International's to provide education in Caribbean through their distance learning programs. Previously, Caribbean nationals had difficulty receiving education in leading European countries like UK for reasons including the cost and immigration problem; however, they have a more accessible method to get education from UK universities now. But there is no reason why you have to be from Caribbean to enroll in these program. If you love sandy beach and a little umbrella and a straw, then you can now go to Caribbean, enjoy the beach, a little umbrella and distance learning.
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Tips for those of you considering the option of studying online - posted on Aug. 23, 2004
While online education is gaining popularity and the technology is improving, online education is not for everyone(yet). American Public University is one of the biggest provider of online education in the world and the university has published tips for those of you considering the option of studying online. You may have heard or read who has good aptitude toward studying online already, but it is worth taking a look again. Also if you have never heard or read about who has good aptitude, then you definitely want to check these tips.
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Top MBA schools to respond to the demand - posted on Aug. 21, 2004
Despite the fact that many are still skeptical about the quality of online education, the demand is there. In particular, the demand for online MBA programs is very high. Previously, traditional top MBA schools did not offer any online program; however, responding to the demand, they started offering online MBA programs including Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. Many of those who enroll in MBA programs are working professionals, so it is very difficult for them to go to classrooms. Many schools offer night classes and weekend classes, but students' work schedule can vary; they need to work very hard to just go to classrooms on time. Online education seems to the only solution that can accommodate working professionals' schedule effectively. Should other B-Schools such as Harvard Business School and Stanford Business School also start offering online programs? Is it a fair request?
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Acquiring computer skills through online education - posted on Aug. 20, 2004
On one hand, we read number articles reporting that the number of CS majors are down; on the other hand, as we observe the increasing demand for online education and their curriculum, it appears that a lot more people are learning computer skills than in the past. The number of CS(computer Science) majors are declining in US; however, more and more higher education institutions are offering programs online including The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and many of these programs put strong emphasis on computer skills. This is one of articles written about a typical online student, who would not be able to attend traditional school because of time constraint; the student attends The Art Institute Online, a division of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is not a technical college; however, the article mentions about how their programs put strong emphasis on computer skills. It is true that the number of CS(computer Science) majors are declining in US; however, do we see still strong demand for computer skills as we look at how online programs are taught today?
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