April+13,+2011+-+Reports,+Publications,+Online+Learning,+Technologies+(Mobile,+Cloud+Computing),+Resources



=**Worthy of Note: April 12, 2011**=

**Reports, Publications and Video Presentations**
2010 Speak Up National Report The 2010 Speak Up National Report polled students, parents, teachers, and administrators on their experiences and opinions regarding educational technology. The survey revealed that students want more interactivity and collaboration in their studies, and parents are much more accepting of online learning than they were just a few years ago—but there are still many gaps in how students and their parents view educational technology and how educators view ed tech.

Listen to the __//Speak Up 2010 National Findings for K-12 Students and Parents//__ and learn about the new Speak Up report: __The New 3 E’s of Education: Enabled, Engaged and Empowered - How Today’s Students are Leveraging Emerging Technologies for Learning__ released during a Congressional Briefing in Washington, DC on Apr 1, 2011. During the podcast, you will hear Julie Evans, Project Tomorrow CEO, discuss the national findings and a panel of students and parents share their perspective about mobile learning, online and blended learning and e-textbooks.

e-Learning, Online Learning, and Distance Learning Environments: Are They the Same? //Joi L. Moore, Camille Dickson-Deane, Krista Galyen, Published in The Internet and Higher Education,// //Volume 14,Issue 2, March 2011, Pages 129-135.// //Reported here in Science Direct.// __ Abstract __ : It is not uncommon that researchers face difficulties when performing meaningful cross-study comparisons for research. Research associated with the distance learning realm can be even more difficult to use as there are different environments with a variety of characteristics. We implemented a mixed-method analysis of research articles to find out how they define the learning environment. In addition, we surveyed 43 persons and discovered that there was inconsistent use of terminology for different types of delivery modes. The results reveal that there are different expectations and perceptions of learning environment labels: distance learning, e-Learning, and online learning.

Where Is the Digital Divide Today? //March 22, 2011// New analysis by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration ( see report, //The Digital Nation, Expanding Internet Usage//, Feb. 2011) underscores what the difference high-speed service can mean for communities, businesses, and individuals

Salman Khan Talk at TED 2011 //TED, March 9, 2011 (20.27)// In this great presentation, Salman Kahn tells how he got started with Kahn Academy, where it has come and what the future holds. There are lots of quotes from parents’ and students’ comments. Teachers also tell him how they use the resources in the classroom

Transforming STEM Learning through Technology in Elementary School //Center for Digital Education, Converge, March 31, 2011.// This strategy paper shows that by using technology daily in the early elementary grades, it sets the technological stage for higher expectations and confidence in students when confronting STEM topics. Download the paper here.

Digital STEM Learning and the High School Student //Center for Digital Education, Converge, March 31, 2011// Through actual school examples, this strategy paper shows that when schools can best match students’ needs with modern learning technologies, the best educational outcomes are produced. Download the paper here.

2011 Poll Shows Unified Communications Progress //Converge, April 6, 2011.// More organizations are adopting unified communications. Seventeen percent of higher education organizations fully implemented unified communications over the last year. That's a 13 percent increase from the year before. And 19 percent of K-12 school districts fully implemented the technology, up 6 percent from last year. Read about the benefits of UC.

**Online Learning**
SREB/iNACOL Colorado Resident Named 2011 National Online K-12 Teacher of Year //Southern Regional Education Board,// Kristin Kipp of Evergreen, Colorado, an online English teacher at Jefferson County’s 21st Century Virtual Academy, was named 2011 National Online Teacher of the Year for K-12 education by the two nonprofit organizations that founded the program, the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) and the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL).

‘Teacher Cheerleaders’ Make Online Learning Successful //Laura Devaney, eSchool News, April 4, 2011// Kristin Kipp, SREB/iNACOL National Online Teacher of the Year, shares some of the key strategies she uses to remain in communication with her online students and to ensure that they are engaged and successful in their online courses. Kipp who teaches English online at the 21st Century Virtual Academy in Jefferson County, Colo., has been teaching online for three years. She teaches 11th and 12th graders, is an instructional leader for the English department, and is a part-time adjunct English teacher with Colorado Online Learning.

iNACOL Webinars April 2011 April 13, 2 pm EDT: “//Mobile Learning: Integrating Mobile Technologies into Online Learning Environments//” The April Leadership webinar will provide participants an opportunity to hear a variety of perspectives on both the challenges and promises of mobile learning.

April 21, 6 pm EDT: “//Best Practices for K-12 Online Classrooms from Award Winning Teachers//” In this webinar, Kristin Kipp and Teresa Dove, National Online Teacher of the Year award winners, will share some of the best practices from their online classrooms.

More Pupils Are Learning Online, Fueling Debate on Quality //Trip Gabriel, New York Times, April 6, 2011// Critics say online education is really driven by a desire to spend less on teachers and buildings, especially as state and local budget crises force deep cuts to education. They note that there is no sound research showing that online courses at the K-12 level are comparable to face-to-face learning. This is a look at online learning in Memphis, Chicago, New York and Idaho. Is that what is happening?

Instructional Strategies for Online Courses Just a really good site that describes addressing different learning styles for effective online instruction. Illinois Online Network is a faculty development initiative that provides comprehensive professional development opportunities in the area of online teaching and learning to faculty and staff from higher education institutions in Illinois and beyond.

You Probably Shouldn’t Teach Online if … //Rob Jenkins, The Chronicle, March 24, 2011// The author doesn’t claim to be an expert in online pedagogy, but he has supervised a number of excellent online teachers over the years, along with some who were not so excellent. In the process, he has developed a pretty good feel for who can do it well and who can’t. Read his ten recommendations.

**Social Media**
20+ Mind-blowing Social Media Statistics: One Year Later //Jake Hird, March 25, 2011// It's been more than twelve months since Jake Hird rounded up some of the more impressive social media stats and pieces of data. But what's happened since then?

**Mobile, Cloud Computing and Other Technologies**
Moving to Mobile //Mary Grush, Campus Technology, April 1, 2011// Given the tremendous adoption of mobile devices and applications in the business and consumer markets, the rising interest in and support for mobile apps on the part of colleges and universities should come as no surprise. According to the fall 2010 Campus Computing Survey, more than 70 percent of the surveyed CIOs and senior IT leaders "agree or strongly agree" that "mobile [LMS] apps are an important part of our campus plan to enhance instructional resources and campus services." (Currently, the majority of mobile apps in higher ed are tied to learning management systems, although their features often extend beyond the LMS.)

Gartner Says Android to Command Nearly Half of Worldwide Smartphone Operating System Market by Year-End 2012 //Gartner Newsroom, Egham, UK, April 7, 2011// Worldwide smartphone sales will reach 468 million units in 2011, a 57.7 percent increase from 2010, according to Gartner Inc. By the end of 2011, Android will move to become the most popular operating system (OS) worldwide and will build on its strength to account for 49 percent of the smartphone market by 2012. Tables of comparisons included. It also reports that Microsoft Windows Phone 7 will overtake Apple iOS market share by 2015. Read more comments here: What Will the Smartphone Market Look Like in 2015? (Ben Parr, Mashable, April 8, 2011.)

Preparing Students for the Future Microsoft Live @edu is cloud-based messaging and collaboration solutions for K-12.

The Impact of the iPad on K-12 Schools //Tanya Roscorla, Converge, February 9, 2011.// This report features pilot programs in Oregon and California. The programs are described and technical and instructional implications of the iPad in the classroom are presented.

Google +1 //March 30, 2011// Google +1 is yet another attempt to make Google more social. It's Google's version of the Facebook "likes", a simple feature that's very powerful because it's part of a social network. And check this Google blog.

**Just for Higher Ed**
New Federal Rule Could Have Worst Impact on Small States //Dennis Carter, eCampus News, March 28, 2011.// Comments about the new “state authorization” rule to be in effect on July 1. At a gathering of online educators, some officials say they would support a lawsuit against Education Department to stop state authorization rule from taking effect.

New Title IV Regulations on Distance Learning Across State Borders //Brian Maloney, Eduventures, January 24, 2011// This Eduventures Report makes sense of the “state authorization” issue. Brian Maloney has also written an update to this report. UPDATE: // Online Learning Across State Borders // ― //Assessing State Regulation of Out-of-State// //Schools// 31 March 2011 Continuing and Professional Education Learning Collaborative (CPE-LC) Online Higher Education Learning Collaborative (OHE-LC)

Governing Boards Turn to Technology to Reinvent the University //Jack Stripling, The Chronicle, April 5, 2011// If there was a recurring theme at the three-day conference of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, it was that a major rethinking of instruction through broader use of online learning is the only real hope for reinventing the business of higher education.

The Chronicle: The Digital Campus (A special report coming May 13) The new Digital Campus special report will examine new and evolving technologies and their implementation in academic fields all across campus. Learn how faculty members, administrators, and students are adapting new technologies for use in academe.

CSU System Shares E-book Pilot Results //Tanya Roscorla, Converge, March 14, 2011// 3 major findings: = =
 * More students purchased digital licenses.
 * The digital material was easy to use.
 * The e-books did not give most students a satisfactory user experience.

Resources
//David Nagel, THE Journal, March 30, 2011// Skype has launched a global community for educators called Skype in the classroom. The free service is focused on connecting teachers from around the world to allow them to communicate, collaborate on projects, draw expertise from one another, and share learning materials and best practices. It also serves as a launch pad for connecting students with their peers in classrooms across the planet using Skype video.
 * Skype Community Comes to the Classroom **

Algebra, Reality-TV Style //Anthony Rebora, Education Week, Teacher PD Sourcebook, April 4, 2011// “ Get the Math ,” produced by WNET’s THIRTEEN, is a kind of educational reality show, with especially strong hints of “The Apprentice.” The single-episode program, as well as the companion website, features three short video segments designed to provide an introduction to teen-favored industries—music recording, fashion design, and video game development.

Writing Re-Launched: Teaching with Digital Tools // Liana Heitin, Education Week Teacher PD Sourcebook, April 4, 2011 // Innovative language arts teachers find that adapting writing instruction to technology can enhance engagement without sacrificing the fundamentals.

790+ Online Courses, 18400+ Videos from Top 30+ Universities on 35+ Categories Free video lectures

Online Courses from the World's Top Scholars From Academic Earth

Best Educational Wikis of 2010 //Carole, Wikispaces Blog, January 17, 2011// The two winners: Greetings from the World and Metasaga.

FREE Federal Resources for Educational Excellence Teaching and learning resources from federal agencies.

Use This Puppet To Explain Twitter To Skeptics //Edudemic, March 7, 2011// “…an absolutely terrific video that explains why Twitter is more useful than some might have ever thought.”

Footnote Go right to the source with Footnote, an online library of more than 70 million historical documents and images.

**Recognition**
Florida Virtual School Named As Top 100 Learning Organization In First Annual Awards Program Elearning! Media Group (EMG), publishers of Elearning! and Government Elearning! magazines, announced Florida Virtual School (FLVS) to be among the Learning!100 Award recipients.

**Just Interesting**
What I Learned at School

// Marie Myung-ok Lee, Op-ed Contributor to the New York Times, March 30, 2011 //
How exactly do we measure the value of a teacher?

Schott’s Vocab Schott’s Vocab is a repository of unconsidered lexicographical trifles — some serious, others frivolous, some neologized, others newly newsworthy. Each day, Schott's Vocab explores news sites around the world to find words and phrases that encapsulate the times in which we live or shed light on a story of note.

Copyright Troll Righthaven Achieves Spectacular "Fair Use" Loss //Nate Anderson, Ars Technica, March 23, 2011 // //Interesting….// //Whoops—in its bid// to sue hundreds of bloggers, commenters, and Website operators from posting even a few sentences from newspaper stories, the copyright zealots at Righthaven have just scored an own goal. Last Friday, a federal judge ruled in one of the company's many lawsuits, saying that even the complete republication of copyrighted newspaper content can be "fair use."