Jul 2
At the recent DLA conference in Jekyll Island, Georgia, Dr. Mac Adkins, President of SmarterServices was awarded the AliveTek Innovation Award. He was awarded for his long standing efforts in distance learning.
Entries Tagged as 'In the news'
Jun 21
Did the lines get crossed somewhere? What do television shows, movies, and college courses have in common? According to a recent blog post I stumbled upon, there is a connection. Check out the list below from OnlineClasses.org. Do you have others that could be added to the list?
"The Wire": HBO’s five-season drama about crime, politics, and the economy of Baltimore has been hailed by many critics as the best show ever made, so it was only a matter of time before it made its way into the classroom. Harvard University announced plans last fall to use the show in fall 2010 in a course examining poverty in America.
Star Wars, The Matrix, and The Lord of the Rings: The "Myth and Science Fiction" course at Centre College used these three popular films series to deconstruct narrative patterns and talk about what makes stories work.
"Judge Judy": Students at UC Berkeley were able to take a course that used "Judge Judy" to examine logical fallacies in arguments witnessed on television court series. A great way to get to the heart of rhetoric.
"The Muppet Show": Jim Henson’s Muppets are iconic characters, and this UC Santa Cruz course examines the series’ impact on puppetry and effects, children’s entertainment, and the popular media.
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer": The cult hit TV show has spawned legions of passionate fans and high-level studies, including this UC San Diego course that uses the series to explore feminist writing, religion, and more.
"The Simpsons": This is just the place to argue about whether the show’s still any good: Rochester Institute of Technology’s introduction to cultural studies uses the animated modern classic to demonstrate changes in political and social climate.
"Star Trek": There have been numerous series and films set in the world of "Star Trek," but it’s the original 1960s series that Georgetown students used to learn about philosophy.
"The Apprentice"The show that brought Donald Trump even more prominence has inspired courses on business ethics and personal relationships in the workplace.
"South Park": CUNY’s Brooklyn College used Comedy Central’s irreverent animated series to talk about the show’s very real messages on everything from war to political correctness.
Soap operas.: Yes, soap operas. This University of Wisconsin course used them to show how the roles of women on the shows had an impact on real-world families and workplaces. Who knew?
May 20
It seems as though there are new technologies or devices launching on a monthly basis to help us do things better and faster! The recent release of Apple's iPad is no exception. In short, it seems to be an overgrown iPhone that you use for virtually anything but to make a phone call (well not yet anyway). Some describe it as the iPhone and laptop reproducing. Whatever your take, one thing is for sure, it will become a part of the educational world one way or the other.
Kevin Cummings of EdGalaxy (a cool site for nerdy teachers) warns red flags should go up when products claim to "revolutionize education" when they haven't been used extensively to prove theory. A recent blog post from his site list the pros and cons to using the iPad in an educational setting. He references battery life, multi-tasking, breakability, cheap apps, and more.
May 3
Cyberschools is an online blog about conversations on e-Learning and is offering a free digital edition of their newly published book Cyberschools; An Education Renaissance by Glenn R. Jones. Originally published in 1996, Cyberschools explained how the fusion of technology and education would transform the way we learn. Jones anticipated the global boom in distance learning and the mainstreaming of online education. The new edition examines the implications of the latest technology trends and makes a compelling case for increased investment, creative collaboration and entrepreneurship. To get your free copy click here.
Apr 29
Alabama is making great strides in education! Through the Alabama ACCESS Distance Learning Initiative, all high schoolers are able to access courses via video conferencing that were once not available. In the recent press release, Mr. Reggie Smith III, President, USDLA Board of Directors and chair of the awards committee, noted that, "The work of Governor Bob Riley and his Alabama ACCESS Distance Learning Initiative team demonstrates and confirms the transformative power of distance learning"." In addition to accolades Governor Riley was honored with the nation’s highest distance learning award for 2010, by the United States Distance Learning Association. Governor Riley is expected to be recognized with his award at the upcoming USDLA 2010 National Conference in St. Louis, Missouri on May 4, 2010. He commented "I'm truly honored to receive this award. In my state, every high school now offers distance learning classes. That has leveled the playing field for our students in a way no other education program ever has before. Now, no matter if they live in an urban, suburban or rural community, our students have access to classes they otherwise would not. It's broadened their horizons and opened up a whole new world of learning opportunity for our students in Alabama". That's what distance learning is all about - availability and accessibility. What an outstanding example!
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