Badges? Do We Need Your Stinking Badges?

Maybe be we do...? I'm still processing this one...

https://wiki.mozilla.org/Badges
http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/08/mozillas-open-badges-project-a-new-way-to-recognize-learning/

One rather quick reaction though - how might this be different than grades that appear to show competency, but often just show survival skills? I guess I'll need to get some badges to find out.

A Few Timeline Tools

I was looking for some timeline tools the other day. Here are some that appear decent.

XTimeline: http://www.xtimeline.com/
Capzles: http://www.capzles.com/
Dipity: http://www.dipity.com/
Timeglider: http://timeglider.com/
Timetoast: http://www.timetoast.com/

Education Futures Timeline

Source: Education Futures

Experience and Education

I was reading Dewey's Experience & Education while traveling in Europe. And this read was immediately preceded by re-reading Watership Down. The two fit rather nicely together - rabbits all learning through their experience of finding a new place to live. There are many educators who seem to be returning to Dewey's statements - and I think they are right to do so. Bruce Hammonds writes a nice summary. And then this video surfaced:



I do enjoy these old videos. Not so much for the content necessarily. I find them interesting propaganda of the past that often never really succeeded (sometimes for good reason).

Seeking Gold Standard

Dr. Patricia McGee opened the second day of the conference with a whirlwind of a presentation. Gold standards are apparently not sought lightly. Nor should they be. Her presentation ended with an image of the Conference Bike:


I think DL should get one of these. Or maybe KCELT? Or maybe for the next Institutional Effectiveness retreat?

The point of the bike illustrates the need to collaborate across many departments for what we hope to accomplish in teaching and learning at a distance. We need to be working with IT, training, advising, all the programs, etc... And the bike would, in theory, bring those people together, at least for as long as their legs hold out.

There was so much covered in this talk, I'm not sure where to begin. Her presentation is online via SlideShare (I couldn't find it just yet, but search for 'gold standard').

A couple of book recommendation: "Future Shock", "The Kids Are Alright", "Course Management Systems for Learning".

Several Web 2.0 type site recommendations: Gabbly, Bubbl.us, Notemesh, Buddyspace, Wikihow, and a repository of many more on Go2Web20.net.

And finally, Dr. McGee is big time into researching more about what is happening in the teaching and learning process. Her website will have more.

Virtual Orientations

Presenters from Tri-C explained their set up to deliver live training events for online learners. They focused on using the LMS (Blackboard) and not so much on study habits, learning strategies, etc. They used Adobe Connect, but are in the process of reviewing potential, more cost-effective systems. It sounded like the only feature Adobe didn't provide that they wanted was break-out rooms.

There are plenty of other live, web-meeting type software out there. Adobe is cool since it is entirely flash-based, needing no extra downloads. Few probably know this, but Kirkwood has a software called iLinc that does the same thing. I have been looking at that for virtual instructor training. Never really thought about it for student training -- we have a limited seat number.

A website is available with a recorded example of what they are doing.

"Students like it."

I don't doubt that. But I have to wonder how much they need all this. Seems like a big investment and maybe it doesn't much matter. They are doing some comparative testing now. Perhaps next conference they will report on their findings.

They also mentioned a software called Zoho that begs some checking out.

e-Learning Conference 2008

Made it a little on the wrinkled side. Flights were fine, some traffic in Orlando, but that's the price you pay for large cities.

The sun is rising now. The day beckons discussion about learning at a distance (and surfing). I can see a few surfers heading out to catch some waves already. I'm still drinking coffee and looking over the conference agenda. I have a pretty good idea which sessions I will attend today, but I will carefully choose my seat in case I need to change my mind and make a quick exit.

If there are particular questions about teaching and learning at a distance anyone wants me to watch for, let me know.