Collaborative learning environments sourcebook.

This is a sourcebook for academics and students who want to develop collaborative learning environments (or communities of practice) in which lecturers, students and others can work together to create new knowledge while learning new skills. [CriticalMethods.org]

This is a project of a group of educators at the University of South Africa. Unfortunately, there seems to be no RSS feed available. It is an online "book," not a weblog. The table of contents indicates how thorough the sourcebook is, and it is a work in progress. Most of the e-learning weblogs seem to be picking up on this resource, so I have gone directly to it with the link here, rather than just cross-posting.

6:41:26 PM    

Commentary: A glass half full.

Technology optimism among consumers peaked during 2000--just like the stock market. But in the past few years, the ranks of the technophobes have shrunk. [CNET News.com]

This has implications for e-Learning as well, even though the numbers are about consumers. First, technology optimism among consumers at large trailed technology adoption by business, as business technology adoption trailed technology optimism among the early adopters. As technophobia (or more likely, just making different choices about where to spend the disposable income rather than being afraid of technology) wanes, we could expect to see more consumers willing to go online for education and training. How fast this will happen depends on several factors, including the speed and strength of the economic recovery, how people deal with the "jobless" recovery itself (they may choose never to go back to work in the traditional sense), and whether business continues to pay for training or shifts that burden off onto the employee. The rate of "outsourcing" will also have its effect, as will confidence levels after the next election (in the US at least). Unknown is the effect of people's fears of travel or being in a large group in a public place. 

The more people see themselves as being responsible for their own learning, the more economic advantage there is to actually expanding one's individual skill set, the less money people have to spend on self-development, and the greater their disinclination to travel, the more likely it is that consumers will turn to online training and education to improve their economic potential.

So -- my guess is that in two years, if someone is going to prosper as an online provider of education and self-development, one will need to already "be there" with product, services, and marketing. My sense is that niches are best, rather than offering broadband education. Some content will be commodity stuff and won't sell for much "per person" and other content will go for a premium. This is the time to decide where to be in the market and start staking out a claim. This year (2003) is too early to start -- too long to payday. Next year (2004) is the year to begin development. Marketing needs to be timed to catch the wave of optimism in the US following the elections.

Remember, you read it here first. 8-)

2:46:30 PM    

ISSN for Weblogs

You can apply for and use an International Standard Serial Number for your Weblog. Your blog will then officially exist in the worldwide standardized encyclopedia of periodicals. [ISSN for Weblogs]

What a great idea!

1:32:30 PM    

More than just eye candy.

"Many studies that compared lessons that used text alone to teach content with lessons that added relevant visuals to the text have shown that the versions with graphics do improve learning. Note the emphasis on the word 'relevant'!"

In tomorrow's issue of The eLearning Developers' Journal, Ruth Clark provides tips and guidelines for graphics in e-Learning products.  Her presentation is centered on the three main factors that her research has shown shape the effectiveness of visual treatments.

The article is based on a forthcoming book by Ruth Clark and Chopeta Lyons, Graphics for Learning: Proven guidelines for planning, designing, and evaluating visuals in training materials. Guild membership is required in order to access the article. 

Ruth and Chopeta will also present a one-day workshop on this topic November 11 in San Francisco; details are on the Guild website. In addition, they will deliver a two-day Graphics for Learning workshop March 23-24, 2004 in Scottsdale, AZ. Contact Clark Training for details.

11:53:34 AM