Posted 5:36 PM by George Siemens
One of my favorite themes is the role of education theory in online learning. This is what initially drew me to elearning. As I started exploring, the theme seemed to focus on technology, not learning...the tools, not the learner...learning objects, not learner needs...cost effectiveness, not the greater role of learning in a society...etc. This is not to say that components like technology and learning objects are not relevant...simply that the learner, the purpose of learning, and the process of learning should be central. A sustainable, effective model must be built from the learner outward. Some things to consider in designing and developing elearning:

• Learning styles. Every learner learns differently. Some prefer active hands-on involvement...other like to think things through...and others like to socialize the learning experience. Course design and instruction should accomodate various styles.
  
• Multiple Intelligences. Apparently many different kinds of intelligence exist (visual/spatial, verbal/linguistic, musical/rhythmic, logical/mathematical, etc. For more info see: MI Explained
  
• Brain compatible learning (I'll post more on this in the next several weeks). The brain is an organ that functions more effectively under certain conditions. By recognizing and designing according to these conditions, learning quality is increased.
  
• Learning happens at various levels - (Bloom's Taxonomy) - knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation.
  
• Evaluation should be authentic. Skills and concepts taught should be evaluated in the situations in which they will be used. Exams and tests are fine for certain evaluations...but other approaches need to be explored - performances, reflective journals, projects, simulations, demonstrations...
  
• Learner performance should inform instruction. Courseware should not be too rigid. Adjustments are part of teaching/learning.
  
• Learner motivation is the responsibility of both learner and teacher. See ARCS Model and ICE-PAC
  

Posted 5:28 PM by George Siemens
H2O Project from Nancy White
Quote: "The Rotisserie implements an innovative approach to online discussion that encourages measured, thoughtful discourse in a way that traditional threaded messaging systems cannot. In contrast to the completely asynchronous, broadcast-to-broadcast mode of existing threaded messaging systems, the Rotisserie adds structure to both the timing and the flow of the discussion."
Comment: Looks interesting...discussion forums are very effective...and untouched by innovation. This could be a start.

Posted 5:14 PM by George Siemens
Creative Types: A Lot in Common
Quote: "...many artists are turning to the Web to maximize exposure, yet retain some control over their work. McGuinn is just one of the artists who will publish works under a new set of licenses that offer an alternative to conventional copyright."
Comment: Introduces Creative Commons. An excellent attempt to create a content model for the Internet. Various licenses can be assigned to author/artists work, including: attribution, no commercial, share-alike, no derivative works, etc. This could be significant if it receives the adoption it deserves.

Posted 1:29 PM by George Siemens
Elearning's Unique Capability
Quote: "What does e-learning make sense for? Does e-learning have capabilities that make it unique?...Among all the learning media, e-learning is the only one that has the potential to have meaningful and renewable contact with learners over time."
Comment: Article details four learning effects (spacing, delayed feedback, relearning, and reducing the retention interval)...and asserts the characteristics of elearning uniquely meets those effects. Particularly valuable statement: eleanring as means to extend the learning timeline through us of "pre" and "post" learning event activities...as well as the learning event itself. Simple concept, but like the author states, not really being explored.

Posted 11:37 AM by George Siemens
Moving Beyond the Classroom With Executive Education
Quote: "In today's fast-moving business environment, companies lose competitiveness if their executives and employees can't keep pace with advancing knowledge in their disciplines. The good news: Great strides have been taken on research and technology to deliver new levels of adult learning. The less-than-good news: There is still much debate on what works, what doesn't, and little research into how face-to-face and distance learning can be combined into an effective hybrid program."
Comment: An excellent resource that applies to fields well beyond executive education. Several articles and video clips are available (as much as I like video...I still find that its lack of "surveyability" is frustrating for online content consumption).

See: Marrying Distance and Classroom Education and Designing Hybrid Online/In-Class Learning (.pdf)

Quotes from videos:
John Seely Brown: "We spend too much time bringing the classroom out, rather than bringing reality in"
Lynda Applegate: "One of the biggest challenges is to design a learning environment that allows learners to engage at different levels and in different ways."
Chris Dede: "One of the biggest challenges...is moving beyond automating conventional instruction, to reinventing teaching and learning.

Posted 7:44 AM by George Siemens
Copy protection logjam shows signs of breaking via The Shifted Librarian
Quote: "The goal is to let consumers access content from any "compliant" device on a private network, while providing end-to-end encryption security. If content is stored in a non-compliant device with no associated rights, such as a PC's hard-disk drive, SmartRight technology would block it from being displayed on a screen, Jaboulet said."
Comment: Currently, the debate of copyright and content use is framed as having content providers (i.e. Hollywood, record labels) on one side of the battle line...and consumers on the other side. Is this idiotic? Don't content creators understand who buys their products? Shouldn't the needs and desires of consumers play a role somewhere in the content use equation? Sure...you might win and secure your product so no one can use it for any purposes other than what you intended...but in the process you sever your potential audience.