Here is an extensive list of resources on various aspects of distance learning.The best way to find information on these or any other topics is to conduct a search using the search tool below. You should also visit our site Journals, Links and Resources for more resources. Categories include:
• academic advising
• academic resources - business,
humanities, math, sciences,
social science
• accessibility issues
• accreditation
• best practices
• blended/hybrid learning
• broadband
• career and technical education
• case studies
• cheating and plagiarism
• computer software
• copyright and fair use
• corporate e-learning
• costs for distance learning
• course management
• the digital divide
• digital libraries and learning object repositories• effectiveness of e-learning
• e-books
• e-portfolios
• faculty compensation and support
• faculty training and education
• gaming and simulations
• Higher Education OpportunitiesAct (HEOA Authentication)
• instructional design
• intellectual property issues
• interactivity and teaching online
• K-12 technology
• marketing
• national data and statistics
• online student orientation
• open source
• quality assessment
• rural distance education• science labs/courses
• second life
• security
• social networking
• statewide virtual colleges
• strategic and policy plans
• student retention
• student services
• students and technology
• technologies
• testing and assessment
• Twitter
• videoconferencing/ITFS
• Web design
• Web tools
• wireless
• wikis
• women and the Web
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Safeguarding the Tower: IT Security in Higher Education 2006:Web site | |
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Safeguarding Your Technology:(1998) From the National Center for Education Statistics. Guidelines to help administrators and staff at the buildings, campus, district, and state levels understand why and how to secure their organization's sensitive information, critical systems, computer equipment and networks. Web Site | |
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San Antonio College:Online student orientations and tutorials Web Site | |
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Scenario Planning and the Future of Education:(June, 2008) by Daniel W. Rasmus, Director of Business Insights, Business Division, Microsoft. In 2006, Microsoft developed a vision for the future of education that reflects the impact technology can have on policy and practice. In this article, Daniel W. Rasmus describes how Microsoft used its Future of Work scenarios to explore possible scenarios for learning in the future. Microsoft used a scenario-planning process to explore education through the lens of work, examining educators, learners, and administrators in the context of creating, synthesizing, absorbing, sharing, and managing information. This approach provided a unique perspective through which to view the application of commercially available software to solve the challenges of learning while concomitantly generating ideas that might not have arisen from a strictly pedagogical perspective. Web site |
Scholars, Scholarship, and the Scholarly Enterprise in the Digital Age:(March/April 2010) by Richard N. Katz, EDUCAUSE Review . . . “It is time for those of us who are knowledgeable about both higher education and information technology to admit that we live in portentous times. We must balance two arguments. First, we may rightly argue that information technology has truly revolutionized the mission of higher education and is a prime enabler of the knowledge-driven era. The place in such an era for scholars and in particular for scholarship is secure. Second, we may also rightly argue that those forces that have doomed the current form of the newspaper, music, television, and book-publishing industries will soon be unleashed in education -- particularly higher education. The stability of traditional higher education will be rocked by for-profit educators -- whose share of the U.S. higher education market rose to 9 percent in 2009.9 The education industry will be further challenged by globalization and by home schooling, charter schooling, and other educational alternatives. And higher education will be disrupted by new -- and in some cases breathtaking -- technological capacities. We have entered the next, torrential phase of the Digital Age, when consumer expectations and technological innovations not only make new possibilities evident and desirable but also put old capabilities and investments at a competitive disadvantage.” “This second argument should lead us to insist on starting and enabling an ongoing discussion of the possibility that information technology and the "consumerization of everything" may represent both the greatest opportunity for scholars and scholarship in human history and the greatest threat to the scholarly enterprise in the thousand-year history of the Western university.” . . . Web site |
Schumer Wants Info Sharing Guidelines for Social Networking Sites:by Jordan Fabian April 25, 2010, The Hill “Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Sunday asking the agency to provide guidelines to social networking sites on user's private information. As the Associated Press reported, the New York senator wants to ensure that private information submitted to the websites is not given away improperly to third parties. The letter comes amid reports that Facebook has begun to provide user's information to third-party sites that users used to be able to prevent from being shared.” "‘Hundreds of millions of people use social networking sites like Facebook, Myspace and Twitter every day," Schumer said. "These sites have helped reconnect old friends, allow families from far away to stay in touch, and created new friendships; overall they provide a great new way to communicate. As these sites become more and more popular, however, it's vitally important that safeguards are in place that provide users with control over their personal information to ensure they don't receive unwanted solicitations.’ “ . . . Web site |
Secretary Locke Announces Recovery Act Investments to Expand Broadband Internet Access and Spur Economic Growth:(April 26, 2010) Press Release, NTIA “U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today announced nine American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investments to help bridge the technological divide, boost economic growth, create jobs, and improve education and healthcare across the country. The investments, totaling more than $114 million in grants, will increase broadband access and adoption in more than a dozen states. The grants will fund projects that lay the groundwork to bring enhanced high-speed Internet access to thousands of households and businesses and link hundreds of schools, hospitals, libraries, and public safety offices to the information superhighway.” “Today’s announcement marks the final grant awards from the first round of BTOP applications. All told, NTIA awarded 82 BTOP grants worth $1.2 billion that will expand broadband access and adoption through projects in a majority of states and territories. A total of 45 states and territories will be affected by this round of BTOP grants. NTIA recently began reviewing second round applications with the goal of making the first round two grant announcements this summer.” . . . See the grants awarded at http://www2.ntia.doc.gov/ Web site |
Section 508 of the Rehabilition Act:In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities to eliminate barriers, make new opportunities available, and encourage development of technologies that will help achieve these goals. The law applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Web Site | |
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Seeking Clarity about D2L Work-Around:(March 14, 2008) by Barry Dahl for Desire2Blog. “I've been trying to get accurate information about the process related to Desire2Learn's efforts to stop infringing on the (bogus) Blackboard patent. This is the information that I am relying on so far. . . .” Web site | |
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Self-aware and Self-directed: Student Conceptions of Blended Learning:This paper reports on an investigation into student conceptions of “blended learning”, (hybrid in US) in the light of their experience of a Higher Education Masters level module at a British university. The small scale study used a rigorous qualitative method to discover in the students’ words a range of conceptions relating to this learning experience. The students’ conceptions were related to the stage of study and an analysis of motivations for learning in this context. The study identified a new dimension of learning motivation with practical implications for attempting to blend traditional face-to-face teaching methods with online support and study options." Website | |
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Serving Adult Learners in Higher Education Principles of Effectiveness:(2000) Executive summary from the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning Web Site | |
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Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education: | |
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Seven Principles of Effective Teaching: A Practical Lens for Evaluating Online Courses:(March/April, 2001) by Charles Graham, Jursat Cagiltay, Byung-Ro Lim, Joni Craner and Thomas M. Duffy. A team of five evaluators used seven principles to evaluate four online courses taught by faculty who also taught face-to-face courses. The evaluators examined online course materials, student and instructor discussion-forum postings, and faculty interviews. Web Site | |
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Shall I Plan for Supplemental or Totally Web-based Teaching?:(2000) by Barb Solberg. The terms supplemental, Web-supported, and Web-based courses indicate the degree educators use the online environments, but can be confusing to faculty who are new to online technologies and trying to understand the scope of the online portion and what goes into planning various courses. Web Site | |
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SHEEO New Report:(2006) State Higher Education Finance FY 2005: Unremitting enrollment growth and inflation push state and local support per student to 25-year low; increases in net tuition partially compensate. Web Site | |
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simSchool: The Game of Teaching:(2005) Melanie Zibit and David Gibson. The authors describe simSchool, a video game that prepares teachers for the complexities of classroom management. The authors illustrate how the game's non-player characters (i.e., the virtual students) incorporate a diverse range of cognitive, demographic, and behavioral variables. Web Site | |
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Situating the Zone of Proximal Development:(2005) by George E. Marsh II and John J. Ketterer. The authors briefly trace the evolution of social constructivism, the influence of Piaget and Vygotsky, and analyze the effects of contemporary social constructivism with implications for instructional theory and practice. Web Site | |
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Six Factors to Consider When Planning Online Distance Learning:(2003) by Suzanne Levy. A review of the literature as it pertains to six factors for planning and developing an online distance learning program: vision and plans, curriculum, staff training and support, student services, student training and support, and copyright and intellectual property. Web Site | |
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Six Questions for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation in Distance Education:(Winter 2009-2010) by Connie Reimers-Hild, Ph.D., and James W. King, Ed.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institutions offering distance education courses and programs may benefit by encouraging administrators, faculty, staff and students to be more entrepreneurial. Organizational cultures designed to support this type of environment are characterized by entrepreneurial leadership, innovation and change. This article provides information on how distance education institutions can incorporate entrepreneurial leadership and innovation into their organizations. Six questions for administrators of distance education to consider are presented in an effort to provoke discussion and thought on the importance of incorporating entrepreneurial leadership and innovation throughout distance education organizations. Web site |
Sizing the Opportunity: The Quality and Extent of Online Education in the United States, 2002 and 2003:(2003) by I. Elaine Allen and Jeff Seaman. This survey of 994 colleges and universities finds online learning is at historically high levels and will continue to grow at a rate of nearly 20 percent. A majority of responders said online learning outcomes were the same as those of face-to-face instruction. This report also examines characteristics of online learners, student and faculty perceptions, and how private and public institutions approach online learning. From Babson College and the Sloan Consortium. Web Site | |
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Small Business Video Seminar:A collection of 11 “how-to” seminars and podcasts on starting a business from the New York Public Library and the Partnership for New York City. The sessions relate to doing business in New York City, most of the material and suggestions could apply to nearly anywhere. Titles include, “Credit Management and Credit Repair for Entrepreneurs,” “Market Research: Information Sources for Small Business,” and “Retail Essentials: How to Open and Run a Successful Retail Store.” Web site | |
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Smarthistory:A free multi-media web-book designed as a dynamic enhancement (or even substitute) for the traditional art history textbook. Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker began smARThistory in 2005 by creating a blog featuring free audio guides in the form of podcasts for use in The Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Soon after, we embedded the audio files in our online survey courses. The response from our students was so positive that we decided to create a multi-media survey of art history web-book. We created audios and videos about works of art found in standard art history survey texts, organized the files stylistically and chronologically, and added text and still images. Website | |
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Social Isolation and New Technology:(Nov 4, 2009) by Keith Hampton, Lauren Sessions, Eun Ja Her, Lee Rainie, Pew Internet and American Life Project . . . “A widely-reported 2006 study argued that since 1985 Americans have become more socially isolated, the size of their discussion networks has declined, and the diversity of those people with whom they discuss important matters has decreased. In particular, the study found that Americans have fewer close ties to those from their neighborhoods and from voluntary associations. Sociologists Miller McPherson, Lynn Smith-Lovin and Matthew Brashears suggest that new technologies, such as the internet and mobile phone, may play a role in advancing this trend.” . . . “This Pew Internet Personal Networks and Community survey finds that Americans are not as isolated as has been previously reported. People’s use of the mobile phone and the internet is associated with larger and more diverse discussion networks. And, when we examine people’s full personal network – their strong and weak ties – internet use in general and use of social networking services such as Facebook in particular are associated with more diverse social networks.” . . . Web site | |
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Social Learning Examples - Part 1: 100+ Ways to Use Social Media for Learning:(Nov. 14, 2009) by Jane Hart, Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies “I am constantly being asked, by those new to social media, for specific examples of how social media (Web 2.0) tools can be used for learning - whether it be for personal learning, informal learning or formal learning - in education or the workplace. So here are over 100 ways that different social technologies (and tools) are being used by learning professionals worldwide - compiled from the comments of those who have contributed their Top Tools for Learning. I will continue to add to this list on an ongoing basis.” . . . Web site |
Social Media For Learning Examples - Part 2: Using Social Media for Different Types of Learning:(Nov. 15, 2009) by Jane Hart, Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies “In the first part of this series I compiled a list of 100+ ways that different social technologies (and tools) can be used for learning. Here I am going to demonstrate the ways that social media TECHNOLOGIES can be used for different types of learning. Rather than use the broad terms of formal and informal learning, I am categorising them in the following five ways” 1. IOL - Intra-Organisational Learning - how social media can be used to keep the employees up to date and up to speed on strategic and other internal initiatives and activities 2. FSL - Formal Structured Learning - how educators (teachers, trainers, learning designers) as well as students can use social media within formal education and training 3. GDL - Group Directed Learning - how groups of individuals - teams, projects, study groups etc - can use social media to work and learn together (Note: a "group" could be as small as two people, so coaching and mentoring falls into this category) 4. PDL - Personal Directed Learning - how individuals can use social media for their own (self-directed) personal or professional learning 5. ASL - Accidental & Serendipitous Learning - how individuals, by using social media, can learn without consciously realising it (aka incidental or random learning) Web site |
Social Network Sites: Definition, History, and Scholarship:by Danah M. Boyd, School of Information, University of California-Berkeley, and Nicole B. Ellison, Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media, Michigan State University 2007, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication Abstract: Social network sites (SNSs) are increasingly attracting the attention of academic and industry researchers intrigued by their affordances and reach. This special theme section of the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication brings together scholarship on these emergent phenomena. In this introductory article, we describe features of SNSs and propose a comprehensive definition. We then present one perspective on the history of such sites, discussing key changes and developments. After briefly summarizing existing scholarship concerning SNSs, we discuss the articles in this special section and conclude with considerations for future research. Web site | |
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Social Networking in Higher Education:by Shannon Ritter, Sept. 4, 2008, Terra Incognita from Penn State World Campus “At Penn State , twitter has changed the culture on campus and has given us ways to connect across our university that we couldn’t have imagined. We’ve used twitter to ask for help, work on projects, discuss topics during conferences, schedule impromptu lunches, and offer things for sale. We’ve planned meetings, found opportunities to collaborate and have become a much more connected, intelligent, communicative group that now includes people from several Penn State campuses, departments and academic colleges. We are IT professionals, professors, advisers, learning designers, and students. We have used twitter to build a community that now thrives at Penn State .” Website | |
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Social Networking Technologies: A "Poke" for Campus Services: | |
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Social Networking: Boomer Adoption Up, Gen Y Plateaus:If you think years of experience in the electronics industry gives you a unique perspective into the consumer market and consumer behavior, you’re probably wrong. Accenture, a management consulting firm, recently conducted a survey among 3,000 consumers across the United States to create its annual report on consumer electronics products and services usage. The survey’s results offer a host of surprising discoveries. Here are a few highlights: - Baby boomers, defined in Accenture’s survey as those 45 years old or older, are embracing popular consumer technology applications nearly 20 times faster than younger generations. - Compared to a year ago, Gen Y, consumers between the ages of 18 and 24, are decelerating their use of consumer electronics and related services (social networking, blogging, listening to podcasts, watching and posting video on the Internet). - The “connected home” isn’t happening. Survey respondents picked game consoles, television and portable music players as three consumer electronics products whose ability to connect to the Internet either directly or through a home network is “unimportant” to them. - Last, 91 percent of survey respondents said they spend “zero hours per week” in a virtual world such as “Second Life.” “Meanwhile, the faster growth of new consumer services adoption by baby boomers over the last 12 months appears to be something of a social imperative. ‘Baby boomers are more hip with technologies than we usually give them credit for,’ said Kumu Puri, a senior executive with Accenture’s consumer technology practice. Clearly, boomers want to ’stay up-to-date,’ and ’stay connected with children and their grand children,’ she said, through the use of popular consumer technology applications.” “The survey showed a 67 percent increase among baby boomers reading blogs or listening to podcasts. In contrast, Gen Y’s usage of such applications was flat, declining by less than one percentage point. Today, 45 percent of Gen Y are engaged in reading blogs or listening to podcasts, while 26 percent of baby boomers have begun to do so. Similarly, baby boomers connected on social networking sites jumped by 59 percent. Meanwhile, the usage and activities among Gen Y on social networking sites have also plateaued, showing only a two percent increase.” “The survey also indicated that Gen Y consumers watching and posting videos on the Internet declined by 2 percent over the last 12 months, while similar use among baby boomers increased by 35 percent. In essence, among Gen Y, the use of consumer electronics and related services is showing an overall slowdown and, in some cases, a flattening or decline compared with boomers, Accenture’s report concluded.” . . . Website | |
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Sociodemographic Changes: Promise and Problems for Rural Education:(1999) by Gary Huang. Favorable changes in rural demographics and economic conditions promise opportunities and raise questions about public programs, including rural schools. This Digest summarizes changes relevant to rural education and calls for more research into their impact on rural education. (Eric Digests ed425048) Web Site | |
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