Ft. Sumner Zunies on Lou Dobbs Radio Show!

Thanks Jana for the below news!
:)
~julz

Just wanted to share some excitement…..!!!

I just found out that one of our own (from New Mexico)—Patricia
Miller…will be interviewed tomorrow by Lou Dobbs (from CNN).
Patricia Miller and the Ft. Sumner school's podcasting project will be
highlighted on the Lou Dobbs Radio Show.

You can listen live at 2pm Friday, June 27, by going to the website
www.loudobbsradio.com . You need to first download the player by
clicking on the "Listen Live" link located toward the top right side of
the webpage. Then, find the download link near the center of the page.

OR…you can listen later by going to the same website and downloading the
archived show for June 27th.

I Googled " Ft. Sumner and Zune" and you cannot believe how many times
they are listed! Apparently, the Associated Press came to Ft. Sumner
in May and wrote a story on their project. This story is being
reprinted globally.

Thanks to Patricia and Ft. Sumner Schools for creating positive
educational news from New Mexico!!!

Business Card 2.0

Retaggr is cool but a bit big for my widgets. So I'm adding it as a post instead. I suppose I can try resizing it...

Low-Cost Laptop: A Redesigned Computer for the World's Children

Thanks to Bonnie Bracey for this update:

Low-Cost Laptop: A Redesigned Computer for the World's Children
<http://www.edutopia.org/one-laptop-per-child-redesign>

By Jim Moulton from Edutopia
5/20/08

If you're not aware of the One Laptop per Child <http://www.laptop.org>
effort, you should be, if only because the rest of the world clearly is. And
don't stop at reading what the One Laptop per Child Foundation has to say
about it; read this article <http://www.edutopia.org/computers-peace> about
it, and search "olpc," and you'll soon be an expert.

I attended a meeting today, May 20, 2008, at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, where Nicholas Negroponte and his OLPC team discussed their
current efforts and the next-generation device. (On one side of me sat a
colleague from Maine; on the other was a fellow from the Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan's Education Ministry.) Here is some of what was announced:

- The next iteration of the OLPC XO computer will be released in 2010.
- It will work both in Sugar, the open source operating system on the
first-generation XO, and on Windows XP. (Microsoft has reduced the price of
XP to $3 per license to make it possible for OLPC to keep costs low.)
- The screen will be much improved.
- The overall format will be like an e-book -- folding, with two touch
screens (each screen will behave somewhat like the iPhone) -- and a virtual
keyboard will be available.
- The target cost is $75.
- The discontinued Give One Get One program, in which buyers donate a laptop
to a child in a developing nation when they purchase their own, will resume.

In 2000, the European Union designated global distribution of XO laptops as
a Millennium Development Goal to help reduce world poverty. How will the
world change when every student ages 6-12 in, say, Uruguay, as well as every
teacher, has a laptop? Will that make a difference to your school? What are
your thoughts about the porting of Sugar into Windows XP? Does the apparent
move from open source concern you?

When I spoke to Negroponte before the session began today, he described
responses to the OLPC as resembling an "anti-bell curve" -- no one is in the
middle. They either love it, or they hate it. Go take a look and share your
thoughts. It is the future.

Did you grow up online? Our students have!

If you have not seen PBS' Front Line's Growing Up Online, I highly recommend
it. (I just watched it - online of course). I suspect the documentary is
well known to many of you.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/

The issues, concerns, & insights raised are interesting and troubling at the
same time. One message I took away; kids are experiencing a totally
different online world than their parents and teachers. I should rephrase,
We ARE aware of their online world. But, not being part of the their online
world, NOT REALLY AWARE.

What implications do their online experiences have for using technology in
the classroom and using technology for the classroom? Their relationship
with/to technology is much different than ours. Despite our best efforts to
understand, what are the unintended learning results affected by this
relationship?

I wonder if we will ever know the unintended lessons learned in the
classroom as a result of the now ubiquitous technology available in most
kids lives? (If we looked into it, are those kids who we worry are without
online access at home just as active in today's student online world as
connected classmates?)

Larry Jeffryes
Los Alamos, NM

S.O.S -- Help for Busy Teachers (Site 39) : Diigo Social Bookmarking

Thanks to my friend Pam for this resource!
:)
~julz

Check this list out from Kathy Shrock, pages and pages of cool Web 2.0 apps!
Diigo: Web 2.0 Sites Collection, link below.

Diigo: Web 2.0 Sites Collection
http://www.diigo.com/list/Kathyschrock/web20tools

Visit this and previous Sites of the School Days by going to
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/sos.html

The XOXO! XO v2.0

“Now, with XOXO (2.0), we are challenging what a truly collaborative and creative computing experience could be ... a true departure from the traditional keyboard and screen layout, a new way to interface and play with data, information and communication”

Check out the pics and more of the story at:
http://blog.ted.com/2008/05/xo_laptop_redes.php

IDEAL-NM eTeachers

CIDER session on Assessing K12 Online Content

Dear CIDER member:

We would like to invite you to the next presentation in our series of free
CIDER sessions. Our next session features a presentation and discussion with
Lara Jongedijk, University of Calgary.

Title: Assessing the quality of K-12 online content: A sample assessment
rubric

What factors create an effective online course from a "content" point of
view? This session will highlight the assessment criteria and the review
process that was used to review the content of K-12 online learning tools in
BC in 2007. Content reviewed included online courses and learning objects.
To complete the reviews, the BC Provincial Content Review team researched
and built a comprehensive assessment rubric for online content based on the
BC K-12 DL Standards Document and on current research which highlights
effective practice in online learning. This session will highlight the
assessment rubric that was created and the criteria that contribute to
effective content in an online environment.

The session is intended as a collegial discussion on the topic of assessing
online content. For maximum benefit, please review the assessment documents
available from the CIDER Session website -
http://cider.athabascau.ca/CIDERSessions/ - prior to the session so that the
discussion can focus on practical implications and applications for your
educational community.

When: Friday, May 23, 2008, 11am-12pm Mountain Daylight Time

Where: Online via Elluminate at:
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.8B71B60F2931D029AC3837DC06B70D

Pre-Configuration:
Please make sure your Mac or PC is equipped with a microphone and speakers,
so that we can use the Voice over IP functionality built into the web
conferencing software. Please note that it is extremely important that you
get your system set up prior to the start of the event. Please don't wait
until the day of the session to do this. Information on installing the
necessary software and configuring your PC is available at
http://www.elluminate.com/support/ in the "First Time Users" section.

________________

CIDER is a Community Partner of Elluminate - http://www.elluminate.com/ -
who proudly sponsors our web conferencing needs. To sign up for a free, no
obligation three-user version of Elluminate, please visit
http://www.getvroom.com

________________

This message is intended for registered members of the Canadian Institute
for Distance Education Research portal. To learn more about CIDER, visit
http://cider.athabascau.ca/

To request no further CIDER Notices, please
contact the CIDER site manager at cider-webmaster@athabascau.ca

Have a Green Tech Day with these sites

Thanks to Bethany for sharing these sites that can help us be green tech
users...
http://www.secondrotation.com/ buys your old gadgets
http://earth911.org is for battery recycle
http://buymytronics.com is for even broken electronics
http://greensight.com is a trade in for credit place
http://collectivegood.com/ purchases pda, cell phone, pager and will donate
them to a place of your choosing

Examples of Disruptive Technologies/Innovations in the Classroom

Thanks Larry for this resource and the laugh!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Guess this topic has disrupted my thinking.....interesting topic that I
should have know about. Why didn't anybody tell me?

Rip-Van Jeffryes

Examples of Disruptive Technologies/Innovations in the Classroom

http://k12wiki.wikispaces.com/Disruptive+Technology+in+the+Classroom

Discovery Earth Live

Thanks Bethany for this fabulous resource! Check it out folks, it’s really cool...

http://dsc.discovery.com/guides/discovery-earth-live/discovery-earth-live.html

Google Teacher Academy Applications

Google Announcement...

Since today is National Teacher Day, we thought it would be the perfect day to announce that Google's FREE training program for K-12 educators is back at the Google headquarters! Outstanding educators from across the country (and beyond!) are encouraged to apply for the Google Teacher Academy taking place on Wed, June 25, 2008.

The GTA is an intensive, one-day event (8:30am-7:30pm) where participants get hands-on experience with Google's free products and other technologies, learn about innovative instructional strategies, collaborate with exceptional educators, and immerse themselves in an innovative corporate environment. Upon completion, GTA participants become Google Certified Teachers who share what they learn with other K-12 educators in their local region.

50 outstanding educators from across the country will be selected to attend the GTA based on their passion for teaching, their experience as leaders, and their use of technology in K-12 settings. Each applicant is REQUIRED to produce and submit an original one-minute video, and applications for the event in Mountain View are due on May 28, 2008. Please use Google Video or YouTube to post these original videos. Participants must provide their own travel, and if necessary, their own lodging.  Though we will give preference to K-12 educators within a 90-minute local commute of an Academy event, anyone may apply.

Learn more about the program and the application at: http://www.google.com/educators/gta.html

The GTAs have been a wonderful experience for everyone involved, with 97% of all attendees rating the GTA as "outstanding."

Here are a few quotes from GTA participants:
----------------------------------------
"The academy was everything I hoped for and more! I can't wait to plan out ways to use the tools we learned about, to share my experiences with my colleagues and to re-connect with the other academy participants!"
----------------------------------------
"The focus on innovation in education, and not just about the tools, was right on target."
----------------------------------------  
"I appreciate the opportunity to be connected to a group of educators that are passionate about preparing students for the 21st century. I feel inspired and able to meet the challenges that lie ahead!"
----------------------------------------
"Until now, I had never attended a conference where I was so engaged and loving every minute of it."
----------------------------------------
"This was easily the most important professional development experience I have ever had as an educator. World-class tools demonstrated by world-class people at a world-class facility. THANK YOU!"
----------------------------------------
"I love [the Google Certified Teacher community] for the ideas and inspiration that comes flowing to and from it...folks share professional development strategies (technology or otherwise) that have worked. It's nice to have a variety of ways to assist others and having that variety also provides spice for those of us responsible for doing the providing."
----------------------------------------

Feel free to send any questions to "gteachers@gmail.com", and please spread the word to anyone who may be interested in joining us.

We're looking forward to another great event!

- The GTA Team

--------------------------------------------------------
Google Teacher Academy
June 25, 2008
Mountain View, CA

Applications Due: May 28, 2008
http://www.google.com/educators/gta.html
--------------------------------------------------------

PodCast: NBC News Launches New Learning Platform

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - May 8, 2008.
#519 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,211 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host, Learning '08 - Oct. 26-28 - Orlando.

Podcast: NBC News Launches Learning/Networking/Engagement Platform

Special Note! I just finished interviewing Adam Jones, NBC News - Senior
Vice President of Network Development and CFO for a special Learning TRENDS
Podcast.

We talked about a revolutionary learning platform that NBC News has just
released: iCUE. They have even opened up a new group called NBC Learn.
There is a combination of journalists, media specialists and learning
professionals working in this group. And, NBC has partnered with MIT on
developing the design of this next generational learning model. I was
impressed with the ability of the learner being able to manipulate and
contextualize video content with thie platform.

iCue takes "e-learning" a huge step forward, with the introduction of small
video chunks (from the NBC News archives), social networking and gaming.
They blend these learning and engagement components in new ways, which will
form the basis of new pedagogical approaches.

iCue is a free service and is starting with content/courses aimed at
Advanced Placement classes for high school students. In the future, the
platform could be ideal for learning design for a wider range of learners
and content.

Go to http://www.masieweb.com/nbcicue for the Podcast and links to the
service.

I'd love to get your thoughts and questions via email to emasie@masie.com

Thanks to NBC News for the podcast and their work in learning.

Elliott Masie
Upcoming MASIE Center Services & Events:
* 0ver 4,100 Learning Colleagues on LearningTown. Join us
today:http://www.learningtown.com
* Learning Design Seminar & LAB: June 23-26 - Saratoga Springs
* Performance Support Seminar & LAB: July 9-11 - Saratoga Springs
* Learning 2008: Oct 26-29 - Orlando
Information and Registration at http://www.masie.com
Contact Elliott Masie: emasie@masie.com

You have received this message as part of your subscription to Learning
TRENDS by Elliott Masie.
- To Unsubscribe: http://masieweb.com/trends/subscribe-to-trends
- To Subscribe: http://www.masie.com

The MASIE Center, PO Box 397, Saratoga Springs, NY

FW: Invitation to Introduction to Moodle II

You have been invited to the following event:
Event: Introduction to Moodle II
Description: In this demonstration, Holly will show you how a basic Moodle
course shell can be designed into a learning module. This will give you an
overview of the Moodle design process. Participants will discuss ideas for
integrating Moodle in the classroom and other learning situations.
When: Tuesday 13 May 2008, 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM

TO JOIN THIS EVENT
Our webinars are one hour and will begin promptly at 4:30 pm MT (5:30 CST;
6:30 EST; 3:30 PST).

*Please register for this event at least 24 hours prior to the event.
*To register, please go to the following link:
http://nmsu.acrobat.com/intromoodle2/event/registration.html
*The email and password you use to register will be your login and password
to attend the event.
*You will receive a reminder email with the link to attend 24 hours prior to
the event.
*You can also attend the event by going to
http://webinars.nmsu.edu/schedule.html and selecting the "attend" link (you
still need to register prior to the event)

To participate speakers are required. A simple computer microphone and/or
headset is ideal for complete interaction. A webcam is optional. If you
have never used Acrobat Connect Professional, please test your connection
at: http://admin.adobe.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

TECH ASSISTANCE
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Cissy Lujan-Pincomb
or Miley Grandjean at webinars@nmsu.edu or call us at 575.646.6143.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please visit us at http://webinars.nmsu.edu

Have a cup of coffee, invite a colleague and raise your eQ (eLearning
Quotient) with us!

Thank you,
The RETA Webinar Team

Introducing JASON's New FREE Ecology Curriculum

The preview site for The JASON Project's new ecology curriculum unit is
live!

Get an early look at Operation: Resilient Planet
http://www.jason.org/public/curriculum/orp.aspx?pos=1
and its multimedia components, standards alignments and more.

Download a full-color, 32-page curriculum sampler and follow Dr. Sylvia
Earle, the renowned oceanographer and National Geographic Society
Explorer-in-Residence, as she leads JASON Argonauts on a mission to help
restore Chesapeake Bay!

Operation: Resilient Planet will be available in summer 2008, both in print
and online.

Go to http://jason.org, log in, and register &lsqauo; it's FREE!

FW: ASCD SmartBrief

Blogging may help students understand value of writing
Teens who blog write more -- not only online but offline -- and may be
gleaning more practical writing tips than they are via the SAT-style
exercises used in many classrooms, according to a recent Pew Internet and
American Life Project survey. "Blogging and other forms of virtual debate
actually foster the very types of intellectual exchange, analysis and
argumentative writing that universities value," said Bradley A. Hammer, an
instructor in Duke University's writing program. eSchool News
<http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/kzegcsuhirSDFF> (4/30)

<http://www.smartbrief.com/ascd/> Designed specifically for professionals
in K-12 education, ASCD SmartBrief is a FREE daily e-mail newsletter. It
provides the latest education news and information you need to stay on top
of issues that are important to you.

Sign up <http://www.smartbrief.com/ascd/> for your very own free
subscription to ASCD SmartBrief.

Can the web exist without clicking?

Find out at
http://www.dontclick.it/

Thanks to Holly for this intriguing project link.

NMSU CMI Montage

Check out this cool montage of student work at NMSU's creative media
institute!

http://cmi.nmsu.edu/cmi-montage/

:)
~julia

Introduction to Moodle Reminder

We encourage you to forward this to other educators.

This is a reminder that you are invited to Introduction to Moodle, which is
due to start at Tuesday 29 April 2008, 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM.

Below are the event details and instructions for participating:
Event: Introduction to Moodle
Description: Moodle is an open source course management system used by
educators around the world. Created by Martin Dougiamas to support social
constructivism,
Moodle provides flexibility and autonomy for districts and teachers while
supporting a wide variety of interactive social learning tools. In this
introductory session you will learn more about what Moodle can do and find
out how it can be implemented.
When: Tuesday 29 April 2008, 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM


TO JOIN THE WEBINAR
Our webinars are one hour and will begin promptly at 4:30pm MT (5:30 CST;
6:30 EST; 3:30 PST).

If you have not registered for this event, please go to the following link
to register at least 24 hours prior to the event:
http://nmsu.acrobat.com/intromoodle1/event/registration.html

If you have previously registered for this event, attend by going to the
following link and enter the email address and password you used to
register: http://nmsu.acrobat.com/intromoodle1/event/login.html

Join the webinar 20-30 minutes prior to the start time to configure your
computer. To participate speakers are required; a simple computer microphone
and/or headset is ideal for complete interaction. A webcam is
optional. If you have never used Acrobat Connect Professional, please test
your connection at:
http://admin.adobe.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

TECH ASSISTANCE
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Cissy Lujan-Pincomb
or Miley Grandjean at webinars at nmsu.edu or call us at 575.646.6143.


FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please visit us at http://webinars.nmsu.edu

Have a cup of coffee, invite a colleague and raise your eQ (eLearning
Quotient) with us.


Thank you,
The RETA Webinar Team

O Hai Web 2.0!

My first Animoto is for a Web 2.0 presentation I am scheduled for this week.

VidyUp from Magnify.net

...looks something like this:

Check out 100+ Web 2.0 Ideas for Educators & Scribd

100+ Web 2.0 Ideas for Educators is hosted on a cool site called Scribd. It says:
We accept all major formats
FREE UNLIMITED Storage!

Here’s the link:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3273/100-Web-20-Ideas-for-Educators

Very cool.
:)
~julz

Gaming helps students hone 21st-century skills

This one's for you, Pam. :) Gaming helps students hone 21st-century skills

It's Earth Day!

For Everyone - Earthcast 2008:
http://edtechtalk.com/earthcast08

For Middle Schoolers - Planet Green Game:
http://planetgreengame.com/

What are you doing on Earth Day?
:)
~julz

OMG! LOL Funny...

Please to read the hilarious article by A. J. Jacobs titled - My Outsourced Life.

This is sooo cool!

Thanks Larry for the Ted link and Mel for Dave Eggers focused video:

Dave Eggers: 2008 TED Prize wish: Once Upon a School
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/233

Eggers wrote one of my all time fave books:
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

And I’ve heard What is the What? Is also a great book.
:)
~julz

UK Top 100 Learning Tools

Top 100 Tools for Learning Spring 2008
http://www.c4lpt.co.uk/recommended/top100.html

And the accompanying
 
Core Toolset for Learning 2008
http://www.c4lpt.co.uk/recommended/toolbox2008.html

Blogs, Wikis, and Web 2.0, O My!

A few cool things you oughta know about.
:)
~julz

The Edublog Awards Site
http://edublogawards.com/2007/

Flat Classroom Project Wiki
http://flatclassroomproject.wikispaces.com/

Steve Hargadon’s Support Blogging Wiki
http://supportblogging.com/

Classroom Google Earth wiki
http://classroomgoogleearth.wikispaces.com/

David Warlick's CoLearners Wiki
http://davidwarlick.com/wiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HomePage

Wikis Make Learning Wicked Fun
http://techlearning.com/story/showArticle.php?articleID=196605118

Web 2.0 for the Classroom Teacher
http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listweb20s.html

Remember Round Robin Story Writing?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR3d01bQInE

Social Networking for Teachers
http://socialnetworking4teachers.wikispaces.com/
---make sure to check out the bloggers and books to Learn From

ScreencastOMatic Reminder

In my opinion, Screencast-o-matic is a must have tool for online educators!
:)
~julz
------------------------------------------------------

We encourage you to forward this to other eductors.

This is a reminder that you are invited to ScreencastOMatic, which is due to
start at Tuesday 22 April 2008, 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM.

Below are the event details and instructions for participating:
Event: ScreencastOMatic
Description:
When: Tuesday 22 April 2008, 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM

TO JOIN THE WEBINAR
Our Brown Bag sessions are 30 minutes long and will begin promptly at
12:00pm MT (1:00 CT; 2:00 ET; 11:00 PT).

* If you have not registered for this event, please go to the following
link to register at least 24 hours prior to the event:
http://nmsu.acrobat.com/e73241264/event/registration.html

* If you have previously registered for this event, attend by going to
the following link and enter the email address and password you used to
register: http://nmsu.acrobat.com/e73241264/event/login.html

Join the webinar 20-30 minutes prior to the start time to configure your
computer. To participate speakers are required; a simple computer microphone
and/or headset is ideal for complete interaction. A webcam is optional. If
you have never used Acrobat Connect Professional, please test your
connection at:

http://admin.adobe.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

TECH ASSISTANCE
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Cissy Lujan-Pincomb
or Miley Grandjean at webinars at nmsu.edu or call us at 575.646.6143.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please visit us at http://webinars.nmsu.edu

Have a cup of coffee, invite a colleague and raise your eQ (eLearning
Quotient) with us.

Thank you,
The RETA Webinar Team

Wow!

Dude the Girlfriend matches ur phone!

The Uptown is a fab choice!

Beijo Bag Party!

Aw, I love this post...

Lies I've told my 3 year old recently... I hope the sun and the moon make up. :) ~julz Original image at: http://nielsen.sp01.ab-webspace.de/gallery/details.php?image_id=63

Classroom 2.0 LIVE Conversations

Classroom 2.0 LIVE Conversations are community-scheduled opportunities to talk on specific topics with other members of the Classroom 2.0 using one of the online voice/video/sharing programs.
http://www.classroom20wiki.com/live+conversations

The problem with behaviorist theory ;)

You can tell that problem-solving education has not been a priority here:

What students want...

Read the eSchool News article about what students want:
http://snipurl.com/23xeq  

In a nutshell, they want laptops and more video game technology used for learning. Make sure to check out the algebra video game discussed called DimensionM – http://dimensionm.com

:)
~julz

Google Earth, Google Sky, & Google Universe!

Thanks to Holly!
Google Earth teacher created website...

http://gelessons.com/lessons/

And now there’s Google Sky!
Check it out at: http://www.google.com/sky/

Just kidding about the Google Universe! Latent April Fool’s Day reaction.
Although it might be in development...

--Sincerely,
   Susie B. =;->  

Various 10min online tutorials related to NETS

Thanks to Bethany for this resource on 21st Century Information Fluency.

http://208.109.122.145/tutorials/micro/

I have proof that I made to the end :)

Here I am at the end. I look pretty peppy but I really wanted to die from feet pain:

One World, One Dream - Free Tibet

Banner Furled on the Golden Gate Bridge - see it live at CNN!

Why are the ColorWars fun?

This Twitter ColorWars2008 phenom is fun because I think it makes us feel like kids again. So many things we have to take so seriously and it's cool to have a moment of utter silliness. I'm bummed that I missed Bingo Challenge, hopefully it will run again next week. Go PurpleTeam and TeamPurple! Oh yeah, go FF1CAEteam!

Provocative DE Quote

"I believe within my lifetime pure face-to-face instruction will be seen as professional malpractice.”~Chris Dede From How Technology Might Affect Teaching

Very cool tool!

It's called Many Eyes and it's an amazing data visualization tool. Check it out at: http://services.alphaworks.ibm.com/manyeyes/app

Great conversation

There's a great conversation going on about the urgency of teacher development of 21st Century Skills at Will Richardson's site - Weblogg-ed: URGENT: 21st Century Skills for Educators (and Others)

Moodle vs Edu2.0

For those who are interested, there is an interesting dialog between the
developer of Edu2.0 and the developer of Moodle at the following link.

It is mostly technical jargon, but I find the dialog interesting as an
example of collaborative online learning.

FYI:

http://grahamglass.blogs.com/main/2008/03/code-stats-edu2.html

Judy

Invitation to Google Educator: Google Earth

You have been invited to the following free event:

Event: Google Educator: Google Earth

Description: Join Celia Einhorn as she introduces you to the exciting world
of Google Earth. Learn how to navigate through different cities across the
world, interpret maps, and investigate your final destination and all the
continents, countries, cities, roads, buildings, and lakes in between. Begin
building a curriculum rich in culture!

When: Tuesday 8 April 2008, 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM

TO JOIN THIS EVENT
Our Brown Bag sessions are 30 minutes long and will begin promptly at
12:00pm MST (1:00 CST; 2:00 EST; 11:00 PST).

*Please register for this event at least 24 hours prior to the event.
*To register, please go to the following link:
http://nmsu.acrobat.com/bbbgoogleearth/event/registration.html
*The email and password you use to register will be your login and password
to attend the event.
*You will receive a reminder email with the link to attend 24 hours prior to
the event.
*You can also attend the event by going to
http://webinars.nmsu.edu/bbbs_schedule.htm and selecting the "attend" link
(you still need to register prior to the event)

To participate speakers are required. A simple computer microphone and/or
headset is ideal for complete interaction.
A webcam is optional. If you have never used Acrobat Connect Professional,
please test your connection at:
http://admin.adobe.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

TECH ASSISTANCE
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Cissy Lujan-Pincomb
or Miley Grandjean at webinars at nmsu.edu
or call us at 575-649-0768 or 575.646.6143.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please visit us at http://webinars.nmsu.edu
Have a cup of coffee, invite a colleague and raise your eQ (eLearning
Quotient) with us!

We encourage you to forward this invitation to other educators!!

Thank you,
The RETA Webinar Team

El Paso Moodle Teacher

OMG! Done

Somewhere over there, the promised land

Satans sandpit

About 9 miles 2 go but feels like 4ever

Mister truck and my feet r not so very happy

Bagpipe dude

10 miles, on hell hill

Almost around this Mt.

Cool tin structure thing

Some ranch

We r really off 4 sure now

And we start, 7am

Ceremony Invocation

Jacobs head, sunrise, mountains

Flag at 7am

Flag and moon

Oddly Elvis is here 2...

Bagpipes @ 5am, sweet!

5:26am and the floodlights r fantastic!

Representin Fort Hood, my girls in pink!

Should be illegal to be up at 4am!

The rockhouse

Mel and the rockhouse

What a view...

Mel

Aw Pepper is 2 cute!

Next Sunday My Team Walks in Honor of Bataan Death March

The Bataan Memorial Death March honors a special group of World War II heroes. These brave soldiers were responsible for the defense of the islands of Luzon, Corregidor and the harbor defense forts of the Philippines.

The conditions they encountered and the aftermath of the battle were unique. They fought in a malaria-infested region, surviving on half or quarter rations with little or no medical help. They fought with outdated equipment and virtually no air power.

On April 9, 1942, tens of thousands of American and Filipino soldiers were surrendered to Japanese forces. The Americans were Army, Army Air Corps, Navy and Marines. Among those seized were members of the 200^th Coast Artillery, New Mexico National Guard.

They were marched for days in the scorching heat through the Philippine jungles. Thousands died. Those who survived faced the hardships of a prisoner of war camp. Others were wounded or killed when unmarked enemy ships transporting prisoners of war to Japan were sunk by U.S. air and naval forces.

Memorial March began in 1989

The Army ROTC Department at New Mexico State University began sponsoring the memorial march in 1989 to mark a page in history that included so many native sons and affected many families in the state. In 1992, White Sands Missile Range and the New Mexico National Guard joined in the sponsorship and the event was moved to the missile range.

In 2003, for the only time in its history, the memorial march was canceled. Operation Iraqi Free required extensive deployment among the units that usually support the march and event could not be safely and efficiently conducted.

Since its inception, the memorial march has grown from about 100 to some 4,000 marchers from across the United States and several foreign countries. While still primarily a military event, many civilians choose to take the challenge.

Marchers come to this memorial event for many reasons — personal challenge, the spirit of competition or to foster esprit de corps in their unit. Some march in honor of a family member or a particular veteran who was in the Bataan Death March or was taken a prisoner of war by the Japanese in the Philippines.

Two Routes Offered

Participants entering the Bataan Memorial Death March may choose between two routes. The different routes are clearly marked with colors/signs directing marchers. The GREEN route is the full 26.2 mile Bataan Memorial Death March. Awards will be given to the top two finishers in each route category. Those marching the 26.2 miles will be able to experience, in part, what the Soldiers endured during their long trek through the Philippines. Participants of this full march will follow signs clearly identifying the GREEN route.

• 26.2 miles

• Desert trails and washes

• 4,100-5,300 feet elevation

The 26.2 mile memorial march route starts on the White Sands main post, crosses dusty and hilly desert terrain, circles a small mountain and returns to the main post through sandy desert trails and washes. The elevation ranges from about 4,100 to 5,300 feet. Be sure to look at the course description page.

The BLUE route is approximately 15 miles in length. This shorter march is designed for participates who would like to memorialize Bataan but do not wish to march the full 26.2 mile route. There are NO awards given for this march. Participants of this shorter march will follow signs clearly identifying the BLUE route.

Go to the site for much more information...

I want a Wii :)

RETA Webinar: Blogs in the Classroom II

You are invited to a RETA Webinar: The eLearning with Emerging
Technologies Series!

**This week¹s webinar is: Blogs in the Classroom II

Whether you joined us for Blogging I or not, this session will surely
help any educator take their blogs to a heightened level. Here we will
go more in depth with adding features to your blogs (RSS feeds,
widgets, polls, images, slideshows, etc.). Not only will we ³Bling your
Blog,² we will also discuss the ³how-to² of classroom blog management
and assessment.

**When: March 18, 2008 from 4:30-5:30pm

TO JOIN THIS EVENT
Our Webinar sessions are one hour long and will begin promptly at
4:30pm MST (5:30 CST; 6:30 EST; 3:30 PST).

To attend this event, please go to the following url:
http://nmsu.acrobat.com/r21506815/

To participate speakers are encouraged. A simple computer microphone
and/or headset are ideal for complete interaction. A webcam is
optional. If you have never used Acrobat Connect Professional, please
test your connection at:
http://admin.adobe.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

TECH ASSISTANCE
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Cissy
Lujan-Pincomb or Miley Grandjean at webinars at nmsu.edu or call us at
575-649-0768 or 575.646.6143.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please visit us at http://webinars.nmsu.edu

Have a cup of coffee, invite a colleague and raise your eQ (eLearning
Quotient) with us!

Thank you,
The RETA Webinar Team

Tag, you're it, pass it on...

Thank to Holly, I’ve been tagged with this information. Read, reflect, ponder and please pass it on.

Quote from Karl Fisch:
“If a teacher today is not technologically literate - and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more - it's equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn't know how to read and write.

Extreme? Maybe. Your thoughts?”

Read his blog post on this:
http://snipurl.com/21552  

Read the Article - Are Teachers Ready for 21st Century Learning? You may need to register to read, but it’s free.
http://snipurl.com/21554

Reminder: Show me the Moodle Blocks!

Want to spice up your Moodle course?

Show me the Moodle - Blocks by Holly Rae Bemis-Schurtz
Thursday, March 6, 2008 - 5 – 6 pm Mountain Standard Time
Register at: http://moodlebots.pbwiki.com/register+here
Attend at: http://nmsu.acrobat.com/retashowmethemoodle/

How do you add RSS feeds to the sidebar of your course? What if you want an interactive calendar for students? These are only a couple of the Blocks available in Moodle. In this one hour session, we will demonstrate implementation of these popular blocks and show you how you can add Widgets to incorporate other dynamic content into your course.

This session is for Moodlers who have already had an introduction to Moodle Course Design.

This session will be recorded for on demand viewing. Details will be shared after the session.

Attending these sessions

A simple computer microphone and/or chat headset is ideal for participation. A web cam is also nice, but not required. Please plan to join the session at least 20 minutes prior to the start time to configure your computer.
 
If you have never used Acrobat Connect Professional, please test your connection at:

http://admin.adobe.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

Tech Assistance

Support will be available 30 minutes prior to the start of session for tech assistance.

More great eLearning webinars and webclass sessions coming up every week! For more information, see
http://moodlebots.pbwiki.com/Synchronous+Learning+Events

For more information on Moodle

Our ancillary resource for this session is the Moodle 1.8 Handbook at our site at http://reta.nmsu.edu/moodle. After attending, you should be able to practice the ‘hands on’ component in your own Moodle classroom (contact me if you would like a course environment for your use at RETAMoodle - http://reta.nmsu.edu/moodle).

Can’t make it?

Sessions will be recorded. A link for a session recording will be available
=========================
Holly Rae Bemis-Schurtz
hollyrae at nmsu.edu

Student Success is everybody's business!

Ph. 505.646.4699  Fx. 505.646.2044
New Mexico State University
MSC 3WEC/PO Box 30001; Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001

~Division of Student Success & College of Extended Learning~
http://extended.nmsu.edu

~Regional Educational Technology Assistance Program~
http://reta.nmsu.edu
1.800.821.1574
=========================

Invitation to NETS Standards / NMSTE

You have been invited to the following event:

Event: NETS Standards / NMSTE

Description: Dr Jill Brown will provide you with information regarding the
updated NETS( National Educational Technology Standards), an update on the
International Society of Technology in Education, and information on the
newly formed New Mexico Society for Technology in Education (NMSTE).

When: Tuesday 11 March 2008, 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM

TO JOIN THIS EVENT
Our webinars are one hour and will begin promptly at 4:30 pm MST (5:30 CST;
6:30 EST; 3:30 PST).

-Please register for this event at least 24 hours prior to the event.
-To register, please go to the following link:
http://nmsu.acrobat.com/nets/event/registration.html

-The email and password you use to register will be your login and
password to attend the event.
-You will receive a reminder email with the link to attend 24 hours prior
to the event.

To participate speakers are required. A simple computer microphone and/or
headset is ideal for complete interaction. A webcam is optional. If you
have never used Acrobat Connect Professional, please test your connection
at: http://admin.adobe.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

TECH ASSISTANCE
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Cissy Lujan-Pincomb
or Miley Grandjean at webinars@nmsu.edu or call us at 575-649-0768 or
575.646.6143.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please visit us at http://webinars.nmsu.edu
Have a cup of coffee, invite a colleague and raise your eQ (eLearning
Quotient) with us!

Thank you,
The RETA Webinar Team

U.S. educators seek lessons from Scandinavia

In Finland, Sweden, and Denmark “students start formal schooling at age seven after participating in extensive early-childhood and preschool programs focused on self-reflection and social behavior, rather than academic content. By focusing on self-reflection, students learn to become responsible for their own education, delegates said.”

http://snipurl.com/211v6  [www_eschoolnews_com]

A Complete Guide to One-to-One Computing in the K-12 Environment

Join MPC Gateway and the Center for Digital Education as they explore both
the inner workings of one-to-one computing and the effects of technology on
educating the "Millennials".

Access a FREE version of "K-12 2.0: A Complete Guide to One-to-One Computing
in the K-12 Environment." <http://www.convergemag.com/mpc_gateway/>

Join a Webinar to hear about One-to-One computing implementation.
<http://www.centerdigitaled.com/conference.php?confid=396>
South Dakota is nationally recognized for its progressive and successful
technology agenda. The Center for Digital Education is pleased to share an
overview of the wonderful work the state is doing for its students.

<http://www.mpccorp.com/>

<http://www.centerdigitaled.com/>

Cool Social Studies Resource

Letter-scanning project brings history to life
University of Rochester posts to web letters written to and from Abraham Lincoln

http://snipurl.com/211uc  [www_eschoolnews_com]

Blogs in the Classroom I Reminder

This is a reminder that you are invited to Blogs in the Classroom I, which
is due to start at Tuesday 4 March 2008, 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM. Below are the
event details and instructions for participating:

Event: Blogs in the Classroom I

Description: You hear about blogs everyday from students or co-workers, but
have you thought about using them in your classroom? In this webinar
session you will be introduced to the refreshing world of blogging where you
will begin generating ideas on how you might use blogs within your own
classroom. In this first session we will introduce you to: what a blog is,
what can a blog be used for, help you set up your own blogging account, and
then send you on your way with resources, so that you will make an informed
and enjoyable push into the ³blogging world.²

When: Tuesday 4 March 2008, 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM

TO JOIN THE WEBINAR
Our webinars are one hour and will begin promptly at 4:30pm MST (5:30 CST;
6:30 EST; 3:30 PST).

--If you have not registered for this event, please go to the following
link to register at least 24 hours prior to the event:
http://nmsu.acrobat.com/blogs1/event/registration.html

--If you have previously registered for this event, attend by going to the
following link and enter the email address and password you used to
register: http://nmsu.acrobat.com/blogs1/event/login.html

Join the webinar 20-30 minutes prior to the start time to configure your
computer. To participate speakers are required; a simple computer microphone
and/or headset is ideal for complete interaction. A webcam is optional. If
you have never used Acrobat Connect Professional, please test your
connection at:

http://admin.adobe.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

TECH ASSISTANCE
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Cissy Lujan-Pincomb
or Miley Grandjean at webinars at nmsu.edu or call us at 575.649.0768 or
575.646.6143.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please visit us at http://webinars.nmsu.edu

Have a cup of coffee, invite a colleague and raise your eQ (eLearning
Quotient) with us.

Thank you,
The RETA Webinar Team
----------------

Venti Learning with Foam: A Video Report from Starbucks

On Feb 26, 2008, Starbucks closed over 7,000 stores for a unique 3 hour company wide training effort. The following day, Elliott Masie visited the local Starbucks in Saratoga Springs, NY and did an in-depth interview with the store manager on the learning outcomes, processes and texture of this experiment.

Check out the 8 minute video at Elliot Masie's site: http://www.masieweb.com/starbucks

My next book to read...

My friend Bethany recommends this book and two blogs/bloggers have some great cheats on reading this book:

Mobile Mind

and

Learning Visions

Check it out at Amazon:

Next TalkShoe

Tomorrow (Thursday), on my TalkShoe show - Julz little bit of everything show..., Holly will tell us about her love for Sirius and I will bring in my Sirius setup that she got me for Christmas and set it up.

On my accompanying wiki, resources will be available if you are a serious Sirius fan.

Edie Carey

Got an invite today to go see a songstress from Boston at a house concert. Listening to her at her myspace, very lovely songs, I plan to attend :)

http://www.myspace.com/ediecareymusic

Signing up for Triggit!

Triggit: WYSIWYG Content Insertion from Dion Almaer on Vimeo.

I'm reading Michael Feldstein's blog now and came across his post on Triggit. I don't completely understand it, but it's one of those things like Lijit that I see and think, wow, I know it's cool but don't quite understand why, so I'll jump on board and check it out... Read more about it at Ajaxian:

http://snipurl.com/20gvl

Blackboard Patent Win Shocks D2L and Me!

You could call it, simply, "Round One" for Blackboard Inc.

At least, that's the term that people in the Kitchener, Ontario, offices of Desire2Learn Inc. (D2L), were using after a federal district-court jury in Texas hit their small Canadian company with a $3.1 million judgment fohttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifr infringing the patent rights of Blackboard, a much larger American company that dominates the commercial market for course-management software.

Read the rest of the story at eSchool News:

Blackboard's patent win shocks D2L

Along with others, I would like to know more about the implications of this on the world of LMS/LCMS...Michael Feldstein's blog e-Literate has an interesting reaction and lots of great related posts.

Amazing Story

My friend Mel shared with me this story that is reported by Wired. First I watched this video: http://snipurl.com/20gqg Then I wanted to know the whole story so I read the following article, what a cool movie or science lesson could come from this! High Tech Cowboys of the Deep Seas: The Race to Save the Cougar Ace

TalkShoe

Having one's own little radio show is odd but fun. I have difficulty with the whole talking to myself juxtaposed with talking to someone else. But we will keep at it. We have two shows under our belt. I think next week's topic should be Sirius featuring Holly Rae. You can check out the show by checking out the widget to the far upper right on this blog. :) ~julia

Podcasting II for Educators Reminder

This is a reminder that you are invited to Podcasting II for Educators,
which is due to start at Tuesday 19 February 2008, 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM.
Below are the event details and instructions for participating:
Event: Podcasting II for Educators
Description: In Podcasting I, you were introduced to some great podcasting
tools. Now, in Podcasting II, we're going to explore a variety of strategies
to energize your teaching, engage your students, and improve learning.

During this webinar, you'll have the opportunity to learn what educators
around the U.S. are doing with podcasts as well as share ideas, tips, and
strategies with colleagues. Along the way, we'll also look into other free,
easy technologies to improve the interactivity of your podcasts!
When: Tuesday 19 February 2008, 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM

TO JOIN THE WEBINAR
Our webinars are one hour and will begin promptly at 4:30pm MST (5:30 CST;
6:30 EST; 3:30 PST).

* If you have not registered for this event, please go to the following
link to register at least 24 hours prior to the event:
http://nmsu.acrobat.com/podcasting2/event/registration.html

* If you have previously registered for this event, attend by going to
the following link and enter the email address and password you used to
register: http://nmsu.acrobat.com/podcasting2/event/login.html

Join the webinar 20-30 minutes prior to the start time to configure your
computer. To participate speakers are required; a simple computer microphone
and/or headset is ideal for complete interaction. A webcam is optional. If
you have never used Acrobat Connect Professional, please test your
connection at:

http://admin.adobe.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

TECH ASSISTANCE
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Cissy Lujan-Pincomb
or Miley Grandjean at webinars at nmsu.edu or call us at 575.649.0768 or
575.646.6143.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please visit us at http://webinars.nmsu.edu

Have a cup of coffee, invite a colleague and raise your eQ (eLearning
Quotient) with us.

Thank you,
The RETA Webinar Team

Watch the video that led to the beef recall - then take action

Dear Friend,

This video from The Humane Society of the U.S. is the one that
led to the largest beef recall in history.

It's really hard to watch. But I encourage you to try, and then
take action online by asking the USDA to clean up cruel
slaughterhouses by banning "downers," or animals who can't walk,
from the food supply.

The current lax enforcement and loophole-ridden government
policy allow hideous abuses to occur, causing excessive
suffering and endangering our food supply. Please join me in
asking the USDA to crack down on downers.

It will only take a minute. Here is the link:
https://community.hsus.org/campaign/CA_2008_investigation?rk=mdw8fv6qQcklW

******************************
This email is Powered by Convio, Inc.

http://www.convio.com

******************************

Cool Blogger

Thanks to Bethany for this cool blogger link!

http://mscofino.edublogs.org/

FW: On Classroom 2.0: Live "Talk-casts" Starting Tomorrow

Check out the below message from the very cool Steve Hargadon. Please note
that the first talk-cast occurred yesterday.

Also, Steve inspired Holly and I to start testing TalkShoe, check out our
first TalkShoe at http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/14645
___________________________________________

A message to all members of Classroom 2.0

Howdy, Classroom 2.0 Members!

I was pretty busy this last month organizing our first live CR 2.0 workshop
in San Francisco, but I have had a couple of days this week to finally pull
together something I've wanted to do for a while: regular audio (and soon
video) virtual "meet-ups" for Classroom 2.0 members.

The schedule for these talk-casts is on our wiki at
http://www.classroom20wiki.com/LIVE+Conversations.

I've scheduled sessions
starting tomorrow (!), and you are also welcome to add and facilitate any
events you would like that pertain to Classroom 2.0. Once we have a good
grasp of the different audio/video/whiteboard/desktop-sharing programs
available, we could even do some training sessions for those who want to
moderate. (Elluminate has generously agreed to provide access to their web
meeting software for these meetings, but until that's in place I've set up
to use Talkshoe.com for our first sessions. I've also put in some notes on
the best way to use Talkshoe, which you can see by clicking on the link in
the "medium" column.)

Tomorrow's session will be just an introduction and for fun, especially
since it's Valentine's Day here in the U.S. and we might get limited
participation from the more romantic crowd! :) Friday's session will be on
"Creative Commons, Open Content, and Copyright" in education. Then I've
listed some others for next week that would start us on a series of
discussions about different Web 2.0 programs in education. My thought is to
create enough variety in topics that most of our members will find something
they want to be a part of--or listen to later (we'll record the sessions so
they are available afterwards). I've also scheduled one for next week that
should accomodate non-North-American time zones--and could use some feedback
on doing that regularly, or even having a separate organizing facilitator.

I'm particularly interested in encouraging folks who might want to start and
facilitate their own series of Talk-casts--say, ""Web 2.0 in the History
Classroom," or the like. If you think that might be you, email me
separately and we can organize that on the wiki.

Thanks for being a part of Classroom 2.0! I'll look forward to talking to
those who join the calls.

Steve

Steve Hargadon
Steve at hargadon.com

Visit Classroom 2.0 at: http://www.classroom20.com

The Chocolate Lady is My Mom!

And she's in the local paper today, yay mom! http://tinyurl.com/28r4e4

Happy Valentines Day!

On this $15 billion dollar day, enjoy this History Channel video on the history of Valentines Day. I plan to avoid getting slapped with strips of sacrificed animal meat.

It’s kinda like the Anna Nicole story – the real story is stranger than fiction...

http://tinyurl.com/2pux8q

;)
~julia

12 Wishes for Our LMS and LCMS

I concur! Thanks Elliot.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
12 Wishes for Our LMS and LCMS Systems
By Elliott Masie, Host, Learning Systems 2008

1. Focus on the Learner: Most Learning Management Systems are focused
on the organization's perspectives on learning and training. They know
how to track attendance, participation and certification. These are
important, but not sufficient. We need to have our Learning Systems
focus on the LEARNER. They should know more about the learner, from
background to style to context, and aggressively make learning easier,
more efficient and continuous for the learner. While reports of
learning consumed are interesting, we really want our learners to turn
to these systems for real support in learning.

2. Content, Content and Content: When the first LMS systems were
launched, they were primarily "vending machines" to dispense and track
the consumption of e-Learning (then called CBT) courses, mostly from
3rd party providers. As the creation of internally-created increased,
many organizations purchased Learning Content Management Systems
(LCMS) to add content creation/management capabilities. Our Learning
Systems now need to hone in on the vast amount of UserContent (from
PodCasts to FAQs to Performance Guides) that will be created by
workers in the workplace.

3. Ratings, Please: Learners want to know how other employees who are
similar to them have rated and valued a program's content before they
start that program. Why not provide ratings, sorted by demographics
and roles, to help a learner select the content and activities that
were most highly valued? This can be a simple Thumbs Up/Down, a
5-point scale or more in-depth rating system. Great content should
rapidly float to the surface and be visible to the workforce. Poor
content should also be labeled and either improved or avoided.

4. More Context: Every classroom experience blends formal CONTENT with
informal CONTEXT. This may be in the form of a side-bar story from the
instructor, comments/questions from fellow students or conversations
at the coffee pot on breaks. Yet, as we moved towards on-line
learning, less attention is paid to the role that CONTEXT plays. We
need to address how learners will get that context - from
collaborative tools like discussion boards/wikis and blogs to more
fundamental design changes - to incorporate the voice of the field
more actively into the learning experiences. I have yet to see a
Context Management System, even though in many situations the quality
of the Context is more impactful than the quality of the Content.

5. Performance Support Tools: Our Learning Systems are mostly geared
for learning in anticipation of need or requirement. I want my systems
to also have a healthy dose of Performance Support resources to allow
for "learning at the moment of need". Ideally, I should be able to
pose a question, requirement or topic to my Learning Systems and be
provided with both an immediate Performance Support Tool that will
walk me through my need, as well as a module to learn about it in
greater depth for future requirements. Our learners need more
Performance Support and our Learning Systems have to step up to the
plate for this!

6. Social Knowledge: Learning Systems will need to include and be
integrated with Social Networking Systems. Some of the best and most
important knowledge will be shared person-to-person in an
organization. The learner wants to know, "Who in this organization has
any experience that could help me as a learner/worker?" In addition to
the LMS pointing to a module or course, we need to be able to link to
a colleague who may have the perfect, relevant experience based on
their work from 2 jobs ago. The social dimension of learning needs to
be harvested and accelerated by a new vision of our Learning Systems.

7. Learning Systems as Components: Most of our workers do not want to
go your "learning portal page". Instead, they want to have components
along the lines of "Gadgets" or "Wizards" that will live on their
screens or pop up based on tasks/situations. Those will feed content,
requirements and reminders from the learning systems. For example, if
I am reading a document and I come upon a term that I don't know, is
there a way to launch a component that would offer me definitions,
social networking and even registration into an on-line or in-person
class on that topic? Can I have a graphic on my screen that changes
color based on my current continuing education requirements?

8. Focus on the Role: Our workplace is increasingly role-based. Most
of our learning systems are more focused on jobs or positions. If I am
assigned a new project, it may shift my role, and the Learning Systems
should help me prepare for and perform in that role. My history in
previous assignments should inform the set of learning activities that
are offered to me in the new role.

9. UserContent Authoring: YouTube is coming to the office! Our
learners are already creating simple and short half-life content,
using simple video, audio and text tools. Many Learning Systems are in
shock at the thought of this new wave of content. How will we author,
approve, edit, tag and make discoverable this content? Should we even
try to track the usage of UserContent? How do we blend authored
learning content with UserContent? What is the lifecycle of content -
when do we expire a module?

10. Learning Systems as Service: Each business unit may want or need a
very different front end experience for its Learning Systems. Do we
allow our enterprise LMS to evolve into a cluster of Learning Services
that are tailored for our business units, but that share a common set
of data profiles? In other words, are our Learning Systems ready to be
part of a Learning "Cloud", where the functionalities are delivered as
a software service rather than from a single enterprise system? This
is Web 3.0 - are our systems ready?

11. The Lifecycle of Learning Systems: Many of our Learning CONSORTIUM
members are in the midst of re-evaluating their LMS and LCMS. Some are
shocked that this point of re-evaluation has arrived only 36 or 42
months after the original purchase point. What are our realistic
Lifecycle expectations for our Learning Systems? We need to take an
industry perspective on those systems which will serve valiantly, but
for a 2 to 3 year period. How do we have the Lifecycle conversation
with our IT department and even learning suppliers?

12. Learning Systems as Human Capital/Talent Systems: Ultimately,
there is also a lifecycle of the knowledge/skill sets of an employee.
From the moment we start the recruitment/interview process, through
hiring/training to succession and promotion, and eventually
retirement, we have a need to integrate learning resources and
information into the larger Human Capital/Talent systems. If your
organization were about to be purchased by another company, what
information lives in your Learning Systems that would assist the
valuation or merger process? Learning Systems must become more
friendly and integrated with their cousins.

These issues and more will be address by Elliott Masie and Cushing
Anderson at our annual User Group event, focused on LMS and LCMS
utilization:

Learning Systems '08
April 10 and 11, 2008
Las Vegas, Nevada

http://www.learningsystems08.com

The MASIE Center, PO Box 397, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
trends@masie.com

------ End of Forwarded Message

Where do the 2008 Candidates Stand on Education?

eSchool News reports on the top three candidates’ positions on education:
http://tinyurl.com/28odue