eLearning eVolution

For the past three years, Elluminate has recognized those academic institutions and other organizations that are on the leading edge of adopting our live eLearning and web collaboration technology in innovative and creative ways. We call them Elluminate Centers of Excellence. This year we have 11 winners that have demonstrated a progressive approach to change with a goal of transforming teaching and learning.

I encourage you to learn about more about these schools and their Elluminate Heroes who are doing groundbreaking work. I have no doubt that these stories will spark your imagination and fuel your creativity. Get ready to be inspired!

Here also is something new we’ve been trying out. It’s a social media release, the Web 2.0 version of the traditional press release. Check out the one for the 2008 CoEs. And let me know what you think about the format.

Think you have what it takes to be an Elluminate Center of Excellence? Apply now for 2009.

Keep on Elluminating!

- Beth, Elluminate Goddess of Communication

To continue on from my previous post about celebrating enabling learning technology, it’s important to remember that the technology should be transparent, allowing users to focus on communicating, collaborating, educating, and more. It’s a means to an end, not an end in itself.

That said, I’d like to introduce you to Alison Hancox, an award-winning distance education teacher at the Argyll Centre in Canada. She recently presented at one of our webinars, showing us how she and her students create learning spaces and e-portfolios using Elluminate Live!

I was blown away by how Alison’s students embraced the technology to build social presence, collaborate virtually, and build visual literacy skills. Check out the interactive session recording. I think you’ll be impressed and inspired!

Keep on Elluminating!

- Beth, Elluminate Goddess of Communication

Although I’ve worked in the technology arena for more than 30 years, I remain a bit of a technophobe. For example, I still have a book where I track my appointments rather than a PDA, and while I IM daily, I rarely text message on my cell phone. So I can understand why many educators remain hesitant to explore, much less adopt, learning technology.

Recently, I read an interesting entry (”Rethinking the Cost of Accommodating Classroom Technology”) on the EdTechTrek blog that made the case for embracing technology that supports learning and building a network of like-minded educators who understand that technology should accommodate pedagogy, not the other way around. You may be able to use the point/counterpoint arguments here to address the fears of those learning technology naysayers in your organization.

Keep on Elluminating!

- Beth, Elluminate Goddess of Communication