eLearning eVolution

It’s the title of an article by Charlene O’Hanlon that was published in THE Journal in March, which is about the need for educators to adopt technology products for education. It’s not only good for the students, it makes an educator’s job even more interesting.

For me it means that it’s critical for educators to get on the bandwagon for using Web 2.0 and online collaborative technology–like Elluminate Live! and our soon-to-be launched LearnCentral social learning network–or get left in the dust.

If you’re going to NECC, stop by our booth #3542 to learn more about LearnCentral, as well as new enhancements to the Elluminate Learning Suite, like best-in-class breakout rooms.

Elluminate aside, there is so much wonderful educational technology out there, it boggles the mind! Now, I have to admit, all this blogging and twittering stuff put me off at first, but I’ve grown to understand the power and benefit of it. The same is true of tools that are designed to transform teaching and learning. So my advice, is to just jump right in. A good place to start is LearnCentral, where you get a free vRoom when you join. Tours will be starting next week.

- Beth, Elluminate Goddess of Communication

Many of you know that Elluminate integrates with many of the popular learning and content management systems, like ANGEL, Blackboard, Moodle, eCollege, and Sakai. But did you know that the virtual classroom is also integrated with a number of social networking and collaborative online communities as well?

Elluminate Community Partners, including Classroom 2.0, Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC), and the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), have integrated Elluminate vRoom™ into their online communities, providing thousands of members with access to a virtual meeting room that enables them to expand educational boundaries and interact with more peers and experts. Learn more.

Get ready for EDU 2.0!

And keep on Elluminating!

- Beth, Elluminate Goddess of Communication

I recently ran across a ‘virtual paper’ (which is a great idea by the way) on blip.tv about “Collaborating by Design,” where author and presenter Hazel Owen of Unitec New Zealand discusses a process model and framework you can use to get started with ICTELT (Information, Communmication Technology Enhanced Learning and Teaching).

One of the basic things to understand about using technology for online collaboration is that you must move from a teacher-centered to a learning-centered approach. In other words, it’s more important what the student does than what the teacher does, says Owen. And while it’s tempting to just let the technology dictate the online activities, pedagogy should actually be the driving force. In my mind, the technology should be as invisible as possible to facilitate a focus on teaching and learning.

Owen believes it’s all about meeting the needs of today’s students, who are sophisticated users of technology and who expect online or blended sessions where formal or informal collaboration can happen. In fact, interactive online activities are very important to collaborative learning. Something we understand at Elluminate.

Interestingly enough, Owen tests her model at Dubai Men’s College, a great story in itself. Enjoy.

Keep on Elluminating.

Beth – Elluminate Goddess of Communication

While live interaction in the virtual classroom is key to transforming teaching and learning on a global level, Elluminate understands that the eLearning landscape is evolving to include what happens BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER the live, online session.

We believe the “next big thing” in the real-time collaboration space is a solution that addresses an entire instructional cycle that includes the design, delivery, archival, distribution, and integration of interactive content and activities on a system-wide level. At the same time, this 21st Century eLearning solution must support communities of practice where experiences are shared, creativity is embraced, and innovative ideas are formed.

In the days and weeks that follow, I’ll be sharing what’s new at Elluminate with you. So stay tuned. We hope you’ll be as excited as we are about what we call EDU 2.0!

- Beth, Elluminate Goddess of Communication

I was just perusing the CR 2.0 wiki. This site is devoted to building resources for the classroom and professional-development use of Web 2.0 and collaborative technologies.

Their event series is called CR 2.0 Live Conversations and the sessions are amazing! Plus there are recordings of past sessions. Topics include: educational blogging, Ning, reinventing project-based learning, living with learning disabilities, and much more!

This is another resource you’ll want to check out!

- Beth, Elluminate Goddess of Communication

Under the ‘what will they think of next’ category, our friends at Florida Virtual School are holding a virtual Shakespeare Festival. What a great idea! It’s a full week of speakers, activities, and even a Shakespeare Idol Contest. Check out the schedule to get some ideas of what you could be doing at your school with the help of Elluminate Live!

And speaking of FLVS, here’s an article they wrote, “Taking the Edge Off College Admissions.” It discusses The College Hub, the school’s online resource and student network that provides students with 24/7 access to help them with the college application process. Students and their parents can even speak directly with college representives via Elluminate Live!

By the way, this article is part of our new Community Resources portal that contains white papers, best practice briefs, and article, like this one, about how Elluminate Live! is being used in specific applications.

Keep on Elluminating!

- Beth, Elluminate Goddess of Communication

One of the early Elluminate case studies I developed was with Val Brooks of Stockton City Learning Centre in the UK. I was impressed, and so for the past four years I’ve been keeping up with all the creative programs Val and her colleagues have developed, like Maths in Motion and Rocks From Space.

Here’s an entry Val recently contributed as a new eTwinning ambassador in which she talks about some of her projects. BTW, the eTwinning concept is also pretty interesting. It’s an initiative that provides collaborative tools and access to experienced educational technology users like Val to enable schools throughout Europe to work together.

As you’ll see in the blog entry, Stockton CLC has created some case studies, videos, and presentations of their own to showcase these wonderful projects. Just go to the Stockton CLC VLE and login as a guest. Pretty cool stuff.

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