…informal work-related updates, resources and topics which may be of interest to colleagues
The Theory and Practice of Online Learning (second edition) edited by Terry Anderson is available for download (licensed by the Creative Commons. Chapters are written by scholars and practitioners in online and distance education.
This post was originally made in a few other sources (I received it from the Web-bits maillist). I find this interesting in light of a conference I attended just this week about the teaching and learning next generation learners…
The British Library and the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) commissioned a study “to identify how the specialist researchers of the future, currently in their school or pre-school years (the ‘Googlegeneration’), are likely to access and interact with digital resources in five to ten years’ time.” How this group uses the Internet for information and research has implications for both instructors and librarians. Some of the group’s characteristics revealed in the study conclude that:
A number of popular myths about the Google generation were explored, with the researchers concluding that many popularly-held beliefs about the generation are, in fact, not substantiated by the research. The study’s report “Information Behaviour of the Researcher of the Future” (January 2008) is available at http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/programmes/reppres/gg_final_keynote_11012008.pdf
The Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) is a strategic advisorycommittee working on behalf of the funding bodies for further and higher education in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. For more information on JISC, see http://www.jisc.ac.uk/
Top 100 Tools for Learning 2008
A list of possible tools for learning compiled from the contributions of 155 professionals and educators. Probably one of many lists, but I’m always on the lookout for lists. If you know of any more, please comment.
Store and share documents online with Office Live Workspace
Wow. More options…now Microsoft. You can create different workspaces: Blank, class, essay, event, household, job search, meeting, project, school, sports team, study group and travel. Looks like there are different tools and templates depending on your workspace selection.
Now to collaborate, I just need to remember 3 logins and passwords and where each doc/workspace is…
Online Office, Word Processor, Spreadsheet, Presentation, CRM and more
“Zoho is a suite of online applications (services) that you sign up for and access from our Website. The applications are free for individuals and some have a subscription fee for organizations. Our vision is to provide our customers (individuals, students, educators, non-profits, small and medium sized businesses) with the most comprehensive set of applications available anywhere (breadth); and for those applications to have enough features (depth) to make your user experience worthwhile.”
There are definitely some useful apps here, especially if you want something in a hurry to support collaboration: knowledge-sharing or building. I’ve yet to try the web conferencing with someone else (meeting with yourself on the same computer, but 2 browsers doesn’t work - it loops and crashes), but it looks intriguing if I find a friend… 
B.C. goes Google
VICTORIA — The B.C. government is close to a deal with online search engine Google that will make it the first Canadian province to link its forestry, mineral and topographical database to the Google Earth mapping software…
There’s a lot of potential for more authentic learning when real data are integrated with tools that are mainstream. Wow, making data accessible in an interesting manner and using technologies that are more commonplace rather than creating yet another system with limited funds and sustainability. Who would’ve thunk?
Blackboard wins patent lawsuit (Washington Business Journal)
Blackboard Inc. won its patent infringement suit against competitor Desire2Learn Inc, to a tune of $3M. Sakai’s response: http://sakaiblog.korcuska.net/2008/02/24/blackboard-desire2learn/
and a more recent article about the issue: http://chronicle.com/free/2008/02/1828n.htm?rss
If you’re interested in a shared work space for you group whether it be a curriculum development, study group, etc., Sakai is available. All you need to do is go to the site, login, create your work site and invite others. It’s CAS enabled so use your SFU login. http://sakai.sfu.ca
E-Textbooks — for Real This Time?
“It’s the central paradox of 21st-century college students: Despite embracing radically new ways of communicating with each other and learning about the world, they still remain wedded to the old-fashioned, paper-bound textbook.”
The section on social networking (e.g. sharing notes with friends) and supporting (e.g. highlighting) and extending studying behaviours unavailable in print text (search for key words) has me thinking that e-texts may be viable. Meeting target audience needs and flexibility for users seem to be a challenge with educational environments and tools…so it’ll be interesting to see how e-books fare if it catches on.
Education Matters: Insights on education, learning and training in Canada
“This article investigates the use of the Internet for education-related reasons based on findings from the 2005 Canadian Internet Use Survey (CIUS). After providing an overview of Internet use in Canada, the article describes selected social, economic and geographic characteristics of those going online for education-related reasons. It then examines specific reasons for going online for education-related purposes, including distance education, self-directed learning and correspondence courses. Finally, it examines urban and rural differences among those using the Internet for distance education.” Statistics Canada