penrose's blog

ABSTRACT:
Investigating the social structure in online courses helps in designing for and facilitating student support and retention. This paper aims to provide data showing how course design and use of social software technologies provided social and collaborative learning opportunities for online students. A study consisted of computer-mediated groups that utilized social media technologies and a web-based collaborative model in an online program. Participants were put into groups and observed as they constructed knowledge using both online dialogue (synchronous and asynchronous) and social media technologies as tools to support their learning. It was found that the integration of web-based learning communities and collaborative group assignments into the course design has a positive influence on student retention in online courses.
Fisher, M. & Baird, D. E. (2005). Online learning design that fosters student support, self-regulation, and retention. Campus - Wide Information Systems. Bradford: 22(2), 88-107

You publish NOT because you submit NOT!
Now that doesn't seem to be too difficult, but I was recently searching for a list of journals publishing on the topic of Instructional Design and decided to publish the list with links to submission guidelines.

• Journal of the Learning Sciences
  [author guidelines click here]

• British Journal of Educational Technology
  [author guidelines click here]
• Educational Technology Research and Development (ETR&D)
  [author guidelines click here]
• Educational Media International
  [author guidelines click here]
• College Student Journal
  [author guidelines click here]
• Computer Science Education
  [author guidelines click here]
• Quarterly Review of Distance Education
  [author guidelines click here]
• International Journal of Instructional Media
  [author guidelines click here]
• THE Journal
  [author guidelines click here]
• Studies in the Education of Adults
  [author guidelines click here]
• Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics, & Technology Education
  [author guidelines click here]
• Journal of Educational Psychology
  [author guidelines click here]
• Equity and Excellence in Education
  [author guidelines click here]
• Reading and Writing Quarterly
  [author guidelines click here]
• Journal of Computer Assisted Learning
  [author guidelines click here]
• American Journal of Distance Education
  [author guidelines click here]
• T & D
  [author guidelines click here]
• Journal of Quality and Participation
  [author guidelines click here]
• Computers in the Schools
  [author guidelines click here]
• Journal of Interprofessional Care
  [author guidelines click here]
• Knowledge Quest
  [author guidelines click here]

Journals are listed in the order that they have recently published articles in the area of instructional design, according to a search using EBSCO.

David

Now this is great news. Maybe you have heard or read about the results of a Dutch study which has shown that increasing daily intake of folic acid can be linked to decreased memory loss (memory retention). How much folic acid should we eat each day? The study reports the benefits of eating the equivalent of 2.5 POUNDS of strawberries EVERY DAY! Now I hate to be the one to break the bad news, but you can't just eat strawberries! You MUST put them on top of something, like cheesecake or shortcake. Of course, I get it, this study is really equating the consumption of cheesecake with good memory. I knew I was storing up on that food source for a reason.

I wonder if they realize that cheesecake is also associated with increased coronary disease, obesity, and sugar addiction? Maybe that is what is meant by taking the good with the bad.

read the article

David

Ever wonder how you could convert your original video to DVD "AND" streaming media? Assuming that you already have a camera and tape, the cost for making your own DVDs and secure Streaming Media (Flash) is around $215

For equipment you will need a DVD Recorder.
I purchased the ilo DVD+R/RW Recorder from Wal-Mart for $149.00.

For software you will need
DVD2AVI - $23.90
Riva FLV Encoder and Player - FREE
Wimpy AV - $29.95

Here is how it works.

1. transfer your video directly to DVD using the recorder.
   ... you can put as much as 6 hours on one DVD
   ... there are connections for VHS and DV Cameras
2. finalize the DVD
   this process will make sure that the DVD is not overwritten
3. convert the *.VOB file to AVI using DVD2AVI software
4. using the free Riva FLV (Flash Video) Encoder
   convert your AVI file to FLV
   this process converts your quality video to a format not readily
   edited
5. using Wimpy AV you can put your FLV movie online
   in a directory that is not accessed directly by webpages
   the program will list any FLV files in the player simply by
   posting them to the same directory

That is as simple as it gets.

David

Whenever asked about my favorite tools, I emphatically share the following.

EndNote 8
This program is helpful for two reasons. First, I collect full reference information about every source that I utilize in my writings. Second, I use the "connect" feature to search the complete book collection from area libraries. Imagine, as a student, finding your local sources BEFORE you select a research paper topic.

Print.Google.com
Yesterday, while searching for a specific reference in a text book, in less than 30 seconds this search engine provided me a nice summary of EVERY page that included the cited works of an author. Any search terms work. Imagine searching texts to find EXACT pages referring to terms or authors or ideas or anything that is searchable.

X1
This desktop file searching engine may require lots of HD space for index files, but the sacrifice is marginal. Imagine searching for information on your computer using a reverse searching model. First, the program knows exactly how many files it will be searching. Second, as you type in your search term files are eliminated for consideration. The program eliminates those programs that do not match. Third, within seconds (not minutes) you have your list of matching files.

Good research in the 21st century is about being able to access information, accurately and quickly. Consider the number of students that rely on web sources in their writing. This does not need to be the case anymore. Encourage your colleagues to utilize these remarkable technologies.

David

With the ongoing competition between commercial CMS (course management systems) and OpenSource CMS, I am suprised that Blackboard and WebCT do not host "try-it-out" shell accounts for faculty. Why? Faculty who can, at their leisure, build sample courses will likely use their influence to encourage their institution to adopt that particular platform.

One problem that I have observed with the commercial packages is that administrators have typically been more restrictive in allowing faculty to have a non-productive course shell. While the latest versions of the popular systems may have tried to make accomodations, the bottom line is that faculty need a place to "experiment" with the features.

Evidence of this being true? Consider the growing popularity of CMS's like Moodle, WordCircle, Claroline, ATutor, and Segue.

David

Have you heard about the influence of gaming in higher education? Working with a professor at my institution, concerned with creating 3D human models that speak, I decided to conduct some research on my own. Realizing that Poser 5, Mimic, and Bryce 3D would allow me to create a virtual world and talking characters, I wondered if there might be a less expensive alternative.

Hold the presses! I stumbled upon the latest release of the Sims game. Sims2 comes with a University expansion pack so that is appealing. Even better is the ability to mix DNA of characters, give characters purpose (goals and career plans), real world buildings with over 2500 building options, and the ability to create movies.

All of this graphic potential has a drawback ... EXTREMELY memory intensive. It isn't likely that my Pentium IV 3.0 ghz processor will be able to handle this program. At least that is what Sims2 users are saying. The website sets the minimum requirements at 800mhz, 256mb or RAM, and 3.5 GB of available hard drive space.

cost - $49 (base)
site - www.theSims2.com

David

Many have heard about Skype for VoIP, but what about ineen? This nifty product can make unlimited calls to users, but even more importantly record to an audio file the entire conversation. If you have a web camera, you can save YOUR vodcast and the entire audio conversation.

Noteworthy is the fact that you can create your audio/video without even being connected to another user. The quality is equal to your best possible local configuration. In most cases, this is much better than you would need to either podcast or vodcast. I record every ineen call, providing an audio archive to the participants. Yes, I always remind everyone that I have started the recording.

cost - free
site - www.ineen.com

David

The functionality of Blackboard Learning System and Portal System are expanded with the implementation of Building Blocks. You can download the Software Development Kit (SDK) for free. However, I am curious if there are individuals in this group who have actually created products to share.

If not, based upon the catalog of available Building Blocks, what seems to be missing?

David

How is this for news?

Michael Dell is thinking different about the Mac OS.

The founder and chairman of the No. 1 computer maker told Fortune magazine that he would be interested in becoming a switcher himself if the opportunity ever came up.

"If Apple decides to open the Mac OS to others, we would be happy to offer it to our customers," Dell wrote in an e-mail.

[ X ] click here to read the entire story ... 

David