October+19,+2010

In this Worthy of Note ...
Research Studies Tools and Resources How To ... Strictly Opinion Libraries for You and Me Opportunities K-12: Studies and Surveys K-12: Professional Development K-12: Schools Honored K-12: E-Rate Revision K-12: Funding Issues

Research Studies
How long does it take to Create Learning? //SlideShare: Chapman Alliance Research Study, September, 2010// This survey updates earlier studies of how long it takes to create different types of learning. This 2010 study was collected from a single audience of 249 completed surveys of different types of learning formats. The 249 surveys represented 3,947 learning development professionals, who have created content consumed by 19,875,946 learners. All results are shown as ratios, showing number of hours of development to create 1 finished hour of learning (output). This research is available for use through a Creative Commons license.

Tools and Resources
Best Websites for Teaching and Learning (AASL) The "Top 25" Websites foster the qualities of innovation, creativity, active participation, and collaboration. They are free, Web-based sites that are user friendly and encourage a community of learners to explore and discover. * Media Sharing * Digital Storytelling * Manage and Organize * Social Networking and Communication * Curriculum Sharing * Content Resources: Lesson Plans and More * Content Collaboration

KHAN Academy Just a reminder. I’m sure everyone has heard about Khan Academy already. There are 1,800+ videos on core subject topics. The Khan Academy is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) with the mission of providing a world-class education to anyone, anywhere.

Video Primers in an Online Repository for e-Teaching & Learning //Curt Bonk, Instructional Consulting, Indiana University, School of Education// Curt Bonk addresses the design and best practices of Distance Education courses in a video series. The 27 videos are about 10 minutes long and each topic is accompanied by a list of useful resources.

Learn Central //Check out the advantages of participating in Learn Central. Sponsored by Elluminate// It is billed as “the social network for professional development that is ready when you are.” Join and you get: * A free 3-seat Elluminate virtual meeting room * Thousands of community-generated learning resources * A professional learning directory of your peers * To participate in LearnCentral events and webinars

How To ...
Here are Ten Rules to Create Engaging eLearning //Tom Kuhlmann, Rapid E-Learning Blog, May 25, 2010// E-learning expert Tom Kuhlmann has, in the past, tackled the subject of how to create engaging e-learning in his Rapid E-learning Blog. Not long ago, he decided to pull together 10 fundamental ideas that he compiled from his experiences.

Five Tips for Retaining Knowledge //Government, Elearning!, September 05, 2010// Over in the United Kingdom, the E-learning Centre has suggested five simple ways to help your learners better retain the knowledge obtained through e-learning initiatives. Check out the E-learning Centre.

Strictly Opinion
eLearning RoadTrip //Ellen Wagner, Owner of the Blog// Read Ellen’s bio here. And you might find her comments interesting. Try these articles: * You Say "eLearning", I say 'Online Learning". She says "Distance Learning". Does it Matter? (//E-Learning Roadtrip, October 6, 2010//)  * Why For-Profit Universities Matter to Online Learning (//E-Learning Roadtrip, October 5, 2010//)

Libraries for You and Me
One Step Closer to a National Digital Library //Jennifer Howard, The Chronicle of Higher Educaiton, October 6, 2010// Robert Darnton, Historian, Harvard University Library, convened a group of 42 top-level representatives from foundations, cultural institutions, and the library and scholarly worlds to talk about how to build that library. In a short statement, the group endorsed the idea of “a Digital Public Library of America,” envisioning it as “an open, distributed network of comprehensive online resources” drawn from the country’s libraries, archives, museums, and universities.

NetLibrary eContent isn't new to libraries. What is new is the ever-widening array of choices and eResources available through the Web. NetLibrary meets that challenge as the most versatile eContent provider for libraries and publishers today. It supports the most content from leading publishers, the most types of media — including eBooks and eAudiobooks — the widest audience of users and the most types of libraries.

You say “How can I participate in NetLibrary?” Check it out at your university or college library or your public library. //Galileo//, which is Georgia’s virtual library, provides NetLibrary service free through public library access to all interested users. Here in Atlanta, I login to //Galileo// using the password provided by Atlanta Public Library which allows me to have access to all the eBooks and eAudiobooks in the Atlanta Public Library collection. Here’s an example of how it works with a university library. I simply took my laptop to the University of the South Library, logged into their wireless access and signed into NetLibrary with my login information. Now, I have access to their collection wherever I have Internet access. Every individual user must create a personal user name and password in order to check out eBooks.

Opportunities
Next Generation: Learning Challenges Next Generation Learning Challenges is a multi-year initiative focusing on the many ways that technology can be utilized to improve college readiness and completion. The program will launch a new “wave” of challenges every 6-12 months each with a particular focus area.

The first wave of challenges is primarily focused on the postsecondary and ways that technology can be used to dramatically improve college completion for the millions of students who want an education. Specifically they are requesting proposals for transformative educational technology solutions in one or more of the following areas: * Open Core Courseware * Blended Learning * Deeper Learning * Learner Analytics

The second wave of challenges will be focused on grades 9-12 and will be announced in early 2011. For more on upcoming challenges visit the Future Challenges page.


 * K-12 **

Studies and Surveys
Home Computers and Student Achievement //Elisabeth Stock (Computers for Youth) & Ray Fisman (Columbia University). Education Week, October 11, 2010// The authors argue againt evidence from two studies that say “Home Computers Hurt Student Test Scores.” They say a home computer can be introduced in such a way that it will support a more effective home-learning environment and, in turn, improve academic achievement. Their argument is supported from case studies of Computers for Youth and The Texas Technology Immersion Pilot (TEA).

About the Duke University study: Jacob L. Vigdor, Helen F. Ladd, Scaling the Digital Divide: Home Computer Technology and Student Achievement

The Romania Study: Ofer Malamud of the University of Chicago and Cristian Pop-Eleches of Columbia University, Home Computer Use and the Investment of Human Capital.

Survey Outlines District Ed-Tech Priorities //Katie Ash, Education Week, Digital Directions, October 18, 2010// A new survey released by the National School Boards Association found the biggest challenge for district-level ed-tech leaders was "helping teachers effectively use technology.” The survey's first question asked what two ed-tech priorities should be addressed by Congress and the Obama administration. Assessing 21st century skills pulled ahead with 35 percent of the vote, but all the issues received a fairly equal distribution of concern. View the survey results here.

Professional Development
21st Century Teaching //Education Week PD Sourcebook, Fall 2010// This entire issue of PD Sourcebook is devoted to 14 various elements of 21st Century teaching. * What is 21st century learning? * Students are still bored. What do you do? * How do you create healthy Internet behavior? * And more.

Change Agent: Will Richardson //Education Week PD Sourcebook, October 11, 2010// Will Richardson, a former teacher-turned-tech expert, says schools need to revolutionize teaching and learning to keep pace with societal changes. He answers such questions as: * You’ve written that too many teachers are “un-Googleable.” What do you mean by that and why does it matter? * Why do you think many teachers are not out there on the Web? * What could a school administrator do to help teachers make that shift? Say you were a principal? What would you do? * You’ve written about “network literacy” as one of the key 21st-century skills. What does that entail? * And more. Richardson is the author of Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms.

See Learn Central described above.

Schools Honored
National Ranking Reveals Which Schools Keep Students Safest When Searching Online //netTrekker 2009-2010 Safe Search Awards// Do you know some school that is on this list? netTrekker honors these 100 districts for their outstanding commitment to keeping students safe when they search the Internet for educational purposes. This year's list was broken out by small-, medium-, and large-sized districts. The number of safe searches during the 2009-2010 school year by districts in the top 100 ranged from over 338,000 to 5.4 million (top user).

Out of the nine top schools in the three catagories (large, medium and small), there were six schools in the SREB region.

NSBA Honors Four Schools Districts for Technology Innovations //National School Boards Association, September 2, 2010// Four schools, two in the SREB region are recognized: Liberty County School System, Georgia and Jefferson County Public Schools, Kentucky.

E-Rate Revision
E-Rate Order, September 28, 2010 //Ian Quillen, Education Week, October 4, 2010// EdWeek Comments: E-Rate Revisions Seen as Good First Step Additional details (FCC, Funds for Learning, Septemer 29, 2010)

FCC Modernizes Broadband & Mobile Access for Schools & Libraries //Larry Magid, Huffington Post, September 23, 2010// For the first time since 1996, eRate is being upgraded. This article offers a brief summary of what those upgrades are. It also includes an interview with FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.

Funding Issues
Virtual [Charter] Schools in a Fight for Adequate Funding //eSchool News, October 14, 2010// According to the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL), the national average virtual school funding is $6,500 per pupil—significantly less than the average brick-and-mortar school receives per child, which is anywhere between $7,200 and $8,300. These figures are based on data from a 2006 report by Augenblick, Palaich, & Associates (APA), however, so they are likely outdated.

This article features the two virtual charter schools in Georgia that were approved this year but received insufficient funding to open. They were offered $3,200 per student.