Can you "feel" me now?

How cool is this? There's a new product out, two as a matter of fact, that allows you to hug from a distance.

The "Hug from a Distance" is a vest that can be electronically controlled to give someone a hug over the Internet. The hope is that children with autism spectrum disorders who calm with pressure might benefit from this type of vest.

The second is the "Hug Shirt" where the user hugs themselves, then uses their cellphone and bluetooth technology to send the hug to someone else wearing a hug shirt. The shirt stimulates the feeling of a hug.

Ok. so this isn't directly related to eLearning, but you have to admit it is super cool!!
And who knows, maybe they can reinstate corporal punishment in the virtual classroom :o)

To find out more about these new "toys" check out these sites.
Hug Shirt - http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/ptech/01/08/wearable.digital/index.html
Hug from a Distance - http://floydmueller.com/portfolio/hug_over_a_distance.htm

Game Show Software

During this week I have spent a lot of time working on my game for our final class in Centra. I have had fun creating pictures and other materials in Power Point, but realistically this would be pretty hard to do for the classroom. With all of the lesson plans and grading that needs to be done, teachers rarely get time to sit down and design their own games on Power Point. But as I searched the internet I came across a very cool tool that allows teachers to use pre-made templates to create game shows for their classroom. I think this would be a great tool for reviewing before a test or even providing remediation for students in need. The software runs for about $79 to $149 and offers a discount for educators. You can visit http://www.almorale.com/classroom.html to learn more about the software and pricing.

While checking out this software I also came across a web page that has some cool articles about E-learning in education. On this site one teacher reviews her use of the software in her classroom. By following various links you can also find other articles about integrating technology into the classroom curriculum. Visit http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/teacher_feature/teacher_feature075.shtml to read more about the article and technology integration.

I have had a wonderful time Blogging with everyone and I look forward to having classes with some of you in the future. Good Luck in your future endeavors.
Kabrene

ZLoop

I am sure that many of you are familiar with and / or have one of the many popular networking accounts such as myspace and facebook and today I would like to show you another one that is picking up pace for corporations and I think will start rank in popularity. I would like to introduce ZLoop. It was introduced to me through my family and I think it has some great potential for learning environments.

Short Background
ZLoop is a small company based in Portland, Oregon founded by Jim Bisenius. The ZLoop is currently in it's Alpha development stage but still has great functionality and nice features.

An Overview - so what is a loop?

From the ZLoop site - Each loop is a private, secure online environment that enables social interaction and collaboration between designated people. Use it to create an online community for your entire organization or to collaborate with the members of a single team. You may create an unlimited number of loops for anything and everything; or easily join loops others have invited you to. Each loop is only accessible to invited members. The information you share may only be seen by other invited members of the loop.

This collaboration and communication tool is easy to use and provides a secure connection. Loops can be a group of family members, a class or group members for an organization. Some possible uses could be project managements, classroom communication, corporate training, etc.

Administration of Course
Loop creators assign admin privileges to others members such as editing the layout and content, adding / removing members.

Neat Feature - Customize Profiles
This tool allows the user to centrally edit and update personal info in "full identity". From there various types of information can be filtered to derive multiple "limited identities" so the user can choose to apply a social or professional identity label depending upon what loop is selected.

Here is a screen shot of the interface

So in a nutshell, this free, secure tool allows customizable group affiliation and profiling. It uses an in-box email type format for new messages and allows for the viewing of users based on their customized profile. Documents and multimedia elements such as pictures, audio and video can be uploaded and shared. Quick chat and conversion threads allow for additional communication, event scheduling and commenting. Members can change loops like clicking on tabs and did I mention it is free!

I use this tool to communicate to busy family members and has proved it's value to me. I can comment on pictures taken by my Uncle Joe on the other side of the state, hear about news and information from my Aunt Chris in Oregon. I just got an in-box message from my Uncle Steve about his trip to Arizona and I can read about the new motorcycle my dad bought or the dancing lessons my mom is taking in Pittsburgh. I wonder if my brother in Columbus will be in the loop at some time but in my eyes has always been a little out of the loop! Again, I recommend it's use and if you are interested in this tool in a classroom or other educational / corporate setting, I would contact company about how to get started.

While I was doing my webliography assignment, I came across this website at the Massachusetts Institute for Technology (MIT). MIT has opened its education to the public. That is, people can visit the MIT website, choose a course to pursue, then follow the course materials through presentations, power points, and lecture notes.

MIT makes sure not to mislead its potential learners though, by stating that the program does not: "
* grant degrees or certificates.
* provide access to MIT faculty.
* Materials may not reflect entire content of the course"

If you're not expecting to obtain a degree from MIT, but are interested in some of the courses they offer, you can still learn what those brainiacs are learning at your own pace!MIT Open CourseWare Webiste

Elearning for kids

http://www.e-learningforkids.org/


I may have missed this post when someone wrote something about it previously but this is a e-learning site just for kids. I didn't get too far into it but I think it's really cute and a great idea! I believe that a lot of people these days are afraid of moving away from their comfort zone and onto online training. I believe that if kids start learning when they are adults they will be more comfortable with technology changes. I also believe that it is up to people like us to enforce into our children to be appreciative of change and embrace it! Change can be negative but if looked at in a positive manner it can help a lot of people!

Bringing it Around Full Circle

The video clip below sorta sums up the basis for any concept, need, or rationale of/for elearning. (Hence, a need for an Elearning Concepts course.) Perhaps this could have (or should have) been an introductory video clip within this blog; rather than here at the end. Personally, I love when things come around full circle, so this seemed fitting - a little reminder of the existing need for learning via digital means.

Throughout this entire semester, I examined, read and used a variety of elearning type techniques and tools. Additionally, I had the opportunity to electronically explore what other peers were reading, researching or producing. We learned a lot of concepts that can enhance learning via current e-trends. And on top of that, we've learned about all these elearning concepts, electronically - first-hand - a solid example of elearning at it's best. Now, it's time to apply what was learned/gained in my own teaching on the secondary level. Realizing my mind has a tendency to be clouded with 10th-12th graders, it's exciting to consider the technology and tools available at the time of this IT program's completion. It's been a pleasure.

It’s OK when the kids forget their book the night of a test!!

Now that kids are so hooked on the internet, its ok they forget their text books to study for tests…they are online! So not only will they be doing their favorite pastime, they will be studying for school!!

The other night, it was time for my son to study for his science test. Guess what? He forgot his book. Well, with his book, the chapter reviews, the vocabulary and a quick quiz are online. It’s an overall study guide with a couple games to make it fun and it all is available online.

There is a quick e-glossary online that will list all the important words and you can also have them read to you. The web site is http://www.mhschool.com/science/2008/student/index.html

This online experience is motivating and provides multiple learning opportunities for young children. It also prepares them for a changing world.

-Lynn

eLearning and the environment?

Which educational model is better for the environment, eLearning or the traditional face to face?

eLearning requires more electronic devices to be on thus using more power than a face-to-face class that is not using electronics to a great extent.

A face-to-face class however requires many people to drive to class thus creating more CO2 emissions and large buildings that may not be very energy efficient.

I’m not sure which model is the better choice for the environment and I suppose I could find grant money to conduct a study but that would use a number of resources that would lead to even more pollution in the environment. A study like this would be of interest to me and most likely others with the focus on global warming and saving the planet. I would think however that no matter which model proved the better little would change as to educational offerings.

I guess I will just sit and wonder for I have no desire to learn the truth for as a face to face instructor at a high school and a instruction design student I would not want to put myself out of a job or future job.

If you have nay thoughts please add a comment.

I have to go I am getting tired riding this Bicycle to power my computer ☺.

A Day at the Opera

Okay this is the post that I have been trying to share but I have not been able to. I think I have typed this experience about 2 - 3 times! Anyway, after reading Lynn's posting about the Philadelphia orchestra I felt led to share my experience with the Metropolitan Opera. While I was in Santa Fe NM I had the pleasure of attending a live HDTV broadcast of Macbeth. At first I thought that I was not going to enjoy the experience because it was not a live show, yet with the realistic images provided by the HD screen I felt like I was right there. In addition to being able to enjoy the show the HD audience also had the pleasure of behind the scenes interviews during intermissions and between scenes. This was my first opera and I had a blast! So I guess you are wondering what this has to do with e-learning. Well the Met has given free live broadcasts for public schools in NY and California. During the broadcasts students are able to enjoy the show with subtitles and they also have the experience of operating their school auditorium as an opera house. The Met's website has a listing of all of the wonderful shows that are available. For the public each show can be about $24 or so. The Met started this program to get future generations interested in Opera. As a teacher I think that this could be a great teaching tool that can link history and English literature experiences. This was so awesome.

"To text or not to text..."

I know I just posted earlier this evening, but I was counting my blog entries and for some reason the numbers don't add up and I seemed to have missed one somewhere...not to mention that fact that I had a thought or two and wanted to share it.

Several of us have blogged during this semester about the technologies that are available for use by high school students...let's face it, it's out there...they've got it and they are using it. Yet for some reason (as I've noticed especially being involved in the review of our district's computer usage policy) school districts seem hesitant to embrace it. We tell the kids..."put away the cell phones...close the IM...take out the headphones...get out of the games...put away the iPods..." for me at least...this has become a daily litany

So as I was teaching what I consider to be one of my better lessons of the semester on color theory, I made one of my occassional random comments to see how many of the kids were actually listening to the words coming out of my mouth. Looking around, I saw, one kid with headphones in his ears, one texting under his desk where he thought I couldn't see him and several more playing games and IM'ing...interestingly, they all looked at me when I made the comment...most of them were actually listening...

My next comment to them (all names have been changed) was, "Heck...I should stream my lesson through Joey's headphones, text it to Michael and IM it to Jessica and Susan and then I'd know you were all getting it." Suprisingly, they all laughed and said they thought that was a great idea...

hmmm........the possibilities are endless...but how on earth could you manage it ! Each year that goes by the kids get more and more tech savy (they found my story of how I had to manually load MS-DOS and Norton Textra onto the computers in college kind of amusing -- I know...I just dated myself there :) ) I am personally both very excited and very frightened at what my classroom is going to look like in another 10 years.

Who knows...I may be texting them their assignments in the near future (I'm actually getting better at it...I use both hands now :) )

"Junior Professionals of Instructional Technology"

I liked the terminology Dr. Kapp used at the Corporate Advisory Council (CAC) banquet, that we are all now "Junior Professionals". So I would like to first congratulate those of you whom have complete the RFP for Dr. Kapp’s class of Managing Multimedia Projects. Everyone looked outstanding in their Sunday’s best! The “learning exercise” was truly and outstanding and exhausting experience that went from dry research to adrenaline pumping competition.

For those who are in Dr. Byer’s class focused on grant writing, I hope the experience is as rewarding and as well, looking forward to the completion of the projects.

SECRET! No wait, anonymous!

I think the hardest part of any RFP or when writing a grant is how to quickly address the vague set of guidelines and goals atop of NOT KNOWING WHAT THE COMPETITION IS WORKING ON or as my colleague so wildly used, “secret”.

This week, Dr. Kapp had each team give a run through of their presentation of their proposed solution to see different perspectives and gain a better insight into the proposed solutions, something that is not practiced in "the real world" as it is so commonly referred to. Each team had similar types of solutions in the most basic sense focusing primarily on the evaluation of a Risk Management’s existing stand up training sessions. The challenge seemed to be how one team can stand apart from the others when we have all taken the same classes and been educated on similar models of evaluation. Furthermore, it is just as difficult to think “outside the box” on how to conduct evaluations or the methods used to collect the data and then present it in an exciting fashion to a group of Risk Management business representatives.

And the winner is.....

So, I would like to further congratulate team CLARUS consisting of Brian and Sara Boyce, Tony Blusius, Sara Peters and Hong Yan Yuan (hope I did not misspell any names) for their outstanding solution in regards to the RFP. I am perplexed as to how they were able to present this dynamic “roadmap” of evaluation in the limited twenty minute time line. It seems they took BARM members on a sales trip using a GPS, compass, map, tour guide and anything else under the sun. Their solution was well thought out focusing heavily on the conduction and delivery of evaluation as well as the validity of the data that was to be collected and reviewed. They included all of the essential elements of BARM’s request and even developed customized models of evaluation that seemed to focus evaluation of training to help the learner, something that many companies tend to over look. But team Clarus, where was the prototype??? (Just kidding!)

I would even further congratulate group representatives from DigiCore, Born Digital and of course my team members of eVoyage. For the sake of CAC, there must be winners and to sound as corny as I possibly can, there are no winners or losers. It is what we have all taken out of the class, good and bad. The friendships made with team members and class mates is the essence that truly make this more than just writing and speaking, it is the heart and soul of the IIT and Instructional Technology, networking and TEAMWORK!

McDonalds and e-Learning

The idea for this post was arrived at quite accidentally. I was on my way home from Harrisburg today and stopped with a van full of kids at a McDonald's. One of my kids started joking that his friend was going to work for McDonald's and that he was at least smart enough to run a fryer. I was drawing a blank on what to post on this blog when he made this remark and I started thinking that McDonald's probably would have a lot of e-learning opportunities for training employees on their equipment and probably had a variety of mandatory trainings on safety issues and the like. I went on Google and looked around (not for long), and I found this article that discusses the role of e-Learning in the McDonald's corporation.

http://www.raysvenson.com/articles/Integrating_elearning_in_McDonalds.pdf

Maybe not the most engaging of topics, but I found the article interesting.

The One Laptop Per Child Project

"The mission of the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) movement is to ensure that all school-aged children in the developing world are able to engage effectively with their own personal laptop, networked to the world, so that they, their families and their communities can openly learn and learn about learning."

This is a bold and amazing project that aims to find the means to allow children in the developing world NOT to fall behind as the rest of the world advances technologically. The organization found a way to reduce the cost of producing very basic laptops (that are very durable) to about US $200. In its initial development phase, the laptop had a little crank on the side of it as a power source, but today that laptops are powered through an AC adapter.

"The origins of OLPC stretch back more than four decades to the primordial days of computing, when most machines were still the size of small dinosaurs and next to no one imagined they had any connection to children. Pioneer thinkers such as Seymour Papert dreamed they would be suitable for children, and time has proved the immense power of the personal computer as a learning tool."

The OLPC website also has a time line as well as information on the various ways people can participate!

The Wonder of Podcasting

I was wandering around the Internet a couple hours ago and I found myself at the website of one of my favorite authors, Jodi Picoult. I had just finished one of her books and I was looking for information on the one that just came out a couple of weeks ago. While I was perusing her website, I found a section where she had posted several podcasts.

For the most part, they are short, averaging anywhere from 5-15 minutes each, but the ones I've listened to so far have been an amazing trip into her mind. She describes how she comes up with the ideas for her books, just talks about general things that are going on and gives honest tips to people who might want to be writers someday.

It was after the fourth one I listened to, that I got the idea to write about this in this weeks post. For all the technology that I use on a daily basis, it is these little nuggets that will always amaze me. Podcasts have allowed me the opportunity to listen to this author, in her own words, talk to me as though I had gone to a lecture or an appearance.

I think that podcasting is really an undervalued resource that should definitely be paid more attention to. Especially as many more colleges and universities seem to be embracing it as an emerging technology. High schools, however...not so much. That is going to be the subject of my next post :)

And by the way.......the podcasts I just spoke about are at www.jodipicoult.com

The Philadelphia Orchestra and e-Learning Technology

The Philadelphia Orchestra is offering a global concert series live and interactive using internet2. The Concert Series transmissions provide remote audiences with an up-close look at the musicians and conductor in views not seen in person. The concerts are captured using seven high definition cameras and broadcasted live via the Internet2 network.

These live concerts are offered to students at all levels, from music appreciation to music majors. These students have opportunities to participate in interviews with musicians and conductors through e-mail and text messaging. From classrooms to performance halls, the program has appeal for students, educators, administrators and the community.

The Orchestra has two additional transmissions scheduled for the remainder of the season on May 3rd and May 16th 2008.

Check out a four minute video at http://www.philorch.org/internet2_1.html. The video quality is amazing!!

--Lynn

IIT at BU

This week I would like to devote to blogging about the recent CAC experience at Bloomsburg University. I understand that most of the folks that read this blog are those who are either in the class or Dr. Nicholson. For those who view it and are in the professional field I hope that you learn a little about our experiences at BU. The opportunity that the Department gives to us is absoulutely outstanding!! We have recently had what we call CAC (Corporate Advisory Council) week at our university. This is a three day extravaganza with many opportunities for us to learn more about the eLearning field. The first day (sorry for those of you who know the process!) is where the professionals that attend present about projects or topics that they are working on in their jobs. The second day is when the students in the Managing Multimedia Projects class present their solution to the Request for Proposal. Following the presentation each group gets to hear feedback on the positives and areas for improvement on their presentation and written document. After each group has presented, all enter the room with all the members of the CAC. Just for clarification, the CAC members are comprised of folks that mostly work in the eLearning field but a large percentage of them are alumni from the program as well. The CAC then vote on winners from several caterogories as well as an overall winner.

After the winners are determined there is then a mingling period at the Technology center. This time is an AMAZING opportunity to talk with various members of the CAC and find out about their companies and their current positions. You also have this relaxing period after an emotionally draining morning. Immediately following the Technology center we dine at a local restaurant with the CAC. You are split up and may sit with CAC members, students in your class as well as professors. This is another phenominal opportunity to speak with others and get to know about their companies as well as opportunities in the field. The final day all students get to show off their projects that they have been working on all semester as well as interview with the CAC memebers for internships or job possibilities.

My main point of all this rambling is that we could not ask for a better opportunity to meet with all these amazing people in the field. This is such a great time for us to really get to know where we can possibly be headed after graduation and put our hard work from the program into use in the "real world." I had the opportunity to learn about companies that I never knew existed and talk to many experienced people in the field. I never realized just how many networks I could establish just in this three day period! Overall it was a great opportunity and thank you to all the Professors and CAC members for such a rewarding experience!!!

Internet2 Launches Muse, an internet Social Networking Site for Faculty, Administrators and Students

Internet2 K20 announced a new social networking site called Muse (http://k20.internet2.edu/) which promotes collaboration, information-sharing and technology opportunities for over 50,000 schools. The schools include K-12 schools, community colleges, libraries and museums in 38 US states. This is growing daily.

Muse is a social utility that connects you with Internet2 enabled technologies and educators in your neighborhood and around the globe. Muse will show you how next generation Internet applications are being used everyday to inspire educational excellence.

The national initiative brings together Internet2 member institutions and innovators from primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, libraries and museums to extend new technologies, applications, middleware, and content to all educational sectors, as quickly and connectedly as possible.

Some the most popular categories are video conferencing, collaboration, podcasting, distance learning, social networking, blogging and technology integration.

Within the short time since launching, the new site has already experienced significant uptake within the community. Currently, there are 798 people from 627 organizations enjoying the muse community.

--Lynn

Top 100 iPod to Learn/Study Resources

The Online Education Database developed this list of 100 Ways to use Your iPod to Learn and Study Better - perfect for this eLearning Concepts blog.

• http://oedb.org/library/beginning-online-learning/100-ways-to-use-your-ipod-to-learn-and-study-better

Items presented included tools like study guides, podcasts (of course), tutorials, applications, downloads, tools, and a bunch of other odds and ends. Some are free, some have minor fees. Some of the most interesting (at least to me) include:

• portable notes - a way to make it easy to review class notes and study guides even if you're away from your computer.
• mogopop - an online program to enhance iPod learning by adding notes, video and illustrations to audiobooks and study notes.
• iGadget - makes class notes, presentations, study guides and other materials iPod-friendly by using iGadget. Also allows you to move documents and files back and forth between your iPod and your computer easily and securely.
• iSquint - convert DVDs, TiVo, AVI, WMV and other video formats to iPod-friendly videos with iSquint (plus, if I were to be honest, I just like the name of it).

my first webcast

I was so excited last week. I started a new job and I had to attend a webcast during the first three days. Let me tell you, I was SO excited!!!

And then it started...

SO NOT LIKE CENTRA :o)
Ok, if you've never experienced a webcast, think of Dr. N. doing a presentation in Centra, but without the smileys or being able to participate on the screen at all. Also, there's no text chat box. So you have to sit and watch on the computer screen, while listening on the phone (as a conference call). And if you have a question, there's no way to "raise your hand" you simply say "excuse me, i have a question" then you have to verbally identify yourself, cause no one knows who's actually talking, except the trainer (and you only recognize his voice because he's doing most of the talking). That's the long and short of it.

My experience was......interesting. For one thing, one of the callers put the conference call on hold, so there was elevator music in the background. The good thing was that the trainer/presenter had the option to mute all. So he muted the lot of us, and you had to unmute yourself if you wanted to or if you wanted to talk.

The other thing was that the whole thing was boring. There was absolutely no learner interaction or feedback. Yes, you got the opportunity to ask questions and you could interrupt at anytime, but there was nothing checking that the "listeners" were actually listening or learning something. I'll be objective and say that it was only my 3rd day and I probably had no clue what was goind on, but............still!

Let's see. The only other thing was that even though the trainer tried to review different parts of the software updates, there were so many holes that there would be no way to know what you really knew until you went to work in the software yourself.

There were some good points. It didn't matter if any of the learners actually had the software. All you needed was a phone line to do the conference call, and an internet connection to view the demonstration. I think that this was a great option if you have people uning in from all over the world. You'd just have to be careful of the time changes. We were 1 hour early because we forgot the presenter was in a different time zone.

It didn't take a lot of time to log in and get started. You had the option of getting your question answered right there and then. (Even if that meant that the instructor didn't know the answer).And you could get everyone in one "place" at the same time.

Well. Have any of you ever been in a webcast? Do you have any comments to add to mine?

Note: Next week there will be two more. And the following week, the entire office will be in full fledge training!! So I really get some first hand learner experience :o) I'm excited.

New music eLearning?

Would you like to learn to play the piano in your home and not have a live instructor well that is possible thanks to Yamaha.
The piano connects to the internet and can download lessons. It has a built in computer and screen and can be used as just a player piano.

It is very expensive however starting at $42,000 and climbing to $150,000.

If you are interested read more at David Pogue's website on the topic.