UBIQUITOUS LEARNING CONFERENCE
Illini Center, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA
17-19 November 2008 http://www.ULConference.com
The Ubiquitous Learning Conference investigates the uses of technologies in learning, including devices with sophisticated computing and networking capacities which are now pervasively part of our everyday lives - from laptops to mobile phones, games, digital music players, personal digital assistants and cameras. The Conference explores the possibilities of new forms of learning using these devices not only in the classroom, but in a wider range of places and times than was conventionally the case for education. Ubiquitous learning is made possible in part by the affordances of the new, digital media. What’s new about it? What’s not-so-new? What are the main challenges of access to these new learning opportunities?
George Siemens joined me for an interview about Connectivism, a theory about learning that draws on network theory, social networking, and social constructivism among other things. This interview discusses what connectivism is and where it came from, as well as its unique features and applications to education.
I was producing this for my class on Historical and Theoretical Foundations of Educational Technology, but I know it deserves a much wider audience. George was his usual articulate self, and he gave a sparkling overview of connectivism in this 25 minute video. It’s just talking head video captured from a Skype conversation — two talking heads as a matter of fact — but his ideas are rich, and it’s always nice to see the person behind the ideas. I could listen to this guy all day long.
Don’t be distracted by the 30 seconds when I moved the video out of the screen capture space.
Listed below are the most recent Job Postings that have been added to the SALT® Web Site (http://www.salt.org/).
1. Assistant Dean of Online Learning
Albany, New York
Reporting to the Dean of Online Education and Learning Services, the Assistant Dean of Online Education has principal responsibility for integration of technology into teaching and learning. The Assistant Dean for Online Education provides an educational role in working with faculty and academic administrators to shape e-learning courses and teaching strategies. This position also assists in the application of technology and support of delivery of instruction
2. Training Instructional Designer/ Project Analyst
Sacramento, California
Develop courses and learning aids in a variety of formats including classroom, on-demand, and web based options. Qualifications include:3+ years experience in development of training programs. Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Publisher,Flash, Adobe Connect or other authoring tool systems. Fluent in Spanish is preferred as well as having experience with creating and publishing video and other components electronically is a definite plus.
3. Coordinator Instructional Design and Support Services
Norfolk, Virginia
Tidewater Community College invites applications and nominations for the position of Coordinator of Instructional Design and Support Services. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Education Technology, the position provides strong leadership for college-wide uses of instructional technologies, coordinates and provides for faculty training and development, and supervises instructional technologists, instructional designers, and faculty trainers to support the college’s instructional programs.
4. Manager Education Systems and Technologies
New York, New York
Manage the processes, systems and technical infrastructure that supports the design, development and delivery of all training programs to the U.S. retail audience; as well as merchandising sytems training to the corporate merchandising division, Manage and develop a team responsible for overseeing the learning management system, virtual classroom and e-learning.
New Tiered Structure Attracts Convention Volunteers
A new tiered volunteer structure is now ready for implementation at the 2008 convention in Orlando! All that is needed are the volunteer applicants! This new system has been developed at the suggestion of the Graduate Student Assembly after the 2007 convention in Anaheim, in an attempt to provide volunteers flexibility in their schedules and compensation that reflects the level of commitment. A new volunteer application is posted at aect.org. Here are the details of the new system.
Our latest podcast is up and ready for public consumption. You can find it at http://edtechposse.ca/?p=22 (website blog post) or to http://media.libsyn.com/media/edtechposse/etp4.4.mp3 (audio file). Heather, Rob, Dean and I had a casual conversation about many things, including disconnecting from our social networks deliberately from time-to-time, and for particular reasons. A nice summer chat.
This one’s just for fun–warning, proud father alert. Some of you know my son, Benjamin, is a professional musician in San Francisco. He plays all over the place and with all kinds of artists, actually, but his favourite and most regular occupation is performing with Nino Moschella and his closest friends in The Park.
That’s Benjamin on keyboards (Nino at the mic) earlier this month at a gig in S.F. They were joined on stage by the other artists they were appearing with that night (wooeee, the park, gavin, mz mimz, wonway, do dat, ajayi jackson, mia zuniga, melina jones), and it looks like it was too much fun.
I love being able to find YouTube videos to track what he’s up to lately. When it comes to great jobs, I always thought I had the best one possible, but I’m beginning to think that Ben has edged me out by a nose.
E-Portfolios and Global Diffusion: Solutions for Collaborative Education
Edited by Philip D. Jones, Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong
Jesus Meza Lueza, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico
Introduction
With today’s international belief that ePortfolios are likely to become the most important electronic professional development and learning tool for the next decade and beyond, this publication will report the current global penetration and exploitation of ePortfolios. This publication will also offer predictions as to the future trends of ePortfolio use so that ePortfolio academics, creators, users and administrators can be prepared for tomorrow’s ePortfolio use today.
The key challenges for ePortfolio creators and academics over the next decade will be the examination of the potential of ePortfolios as international collaborative learning tools and the consideration of the infrastructure issues that will need to be addressed to create and maintain international communities of practice. This publication will provide an opportunity for those institutions that are new to ePortfolio use to easily identify on a global scale other institutions that are utilizing ePortfolios for a similar purpose, and thus, allowing for an international exchange of ideas as well as the formation of international collaborative ePortfolio networks. Read the rest of this entry »
