Category Archives: Online Learning

Open-Sankoré Alternative: OpenBoard

Gadgets, Online Learning, , , ,

Open-Sankoré does not work with OS X Yosemite. If you run the program in OS X 10.10, Open-Sankoré closes immediately. The only workaround I have discovered is rolling back to OS X 10.9 (Mavericks). The Open-Sankoré website does not provide much insight on when this issue might be fixed. However, it looks like there may be an alternative…

OpenBoard

OpenBoard

Using Google Translate, I can see that SEM-Logistics and Christian Oihenart have released a version of OpenBoard that works on OS X Yosemite (although there is apparently a small bug in the display of the dock). I have not installed or tested OpenBoard, and have no idea how well this might work, but it is now on my radar.

Update: 30th July, 2015

The old link to OpenBoard is dead. This new one seems to work.

Distance & Learning Conference: Call for Proposals Now Open

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Call for Proposals

The Call for Proposals is now open for the Distance Teaching & Learning Conference that takes place Madison, Wisconsin from August 11-13, 2015.

The deadline to submit your Call for Proposal is: Monday, January 26, 2015 at 4pm CST

The Distance Teaching & Learning Conference welcomes hundreds of distance education and online learning professionals every year to share effective practices, research, strategies, and new tools/techniques.

  • Share your data on established practices
  • Present a hot new topic in distance learning
  • Have your results published in the proceedings publication
  • Network with experts from around the world

Some suggested topics include: New course design models, mobile & social learning, learning analytics,

competency-based learning, gamification & badges, open educational resources

More information can be found at:

https://dtlconference.wisc.edu/call-for-proposals/

Open-Sankoré Error – Don’t Update to OS X Yosemite

Gadgets, Internet, Online Learning, , , ,

 

Open-Sankoré Error MessageIf using Open-Sankoré, don’t make the mistake I made and update to OS X 10.10 Yosemite.  I learnt this the hard way. The Open-Sankoré website does not post this prominently, but Open-Sankoré will not run on Yosemite (there are some discussions hidden away on the support boards). According to their Open-Sankoré Facebook page, Open-Sankoré will be updated in late November and should work again. The Facebook message reads as follows:Open-Sankoré Facebook Message

 

Unfortunately we know this problem for a few weeks with the beta version. Apple changed several important elements that prevents QT to work correctly in Yosemite. We will work to correct this problem as soon as possible (probably late November). Thank you for your patience.

Only workaround at the moment is to rollback to OS X Mavericks. This can be done, but might be a tad painful.

Update (24th November, 2014)

Looks like January of 2015 is when Open-Sankoré is most likely to be updated (according to this post) to work with OS X 10.10 Yosemite.

Meta-analysis Of Research on Online Learning

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meta-analysis of online-learning

A colleague at work shared a link to some meta-analysis of research on online learning. The study is from several years ago, and was conducted for the U.S. Department of Education.

Some interesting findings, and generally supportive of online learning:

The overall finding of the meta-analysis is that classes with online learning (whether taught completely online or blended) on average produce stronger student learning outcomes than do classes with solely face-to-face instruction. The mean effect size for all 50 contrasts was +0.20, p < .001.

However, the student featured on the front page of the report needs to find a more ergonomic way to study…

Annual Conference on Distance Teaching & Learning 2014: My Notes

Online Learning

I was lucky enough to participate in the 30th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching & Learning this year.

A Brief History In Tweets

Mike Kern and Kimary Peterson used Storify to assemble a short overview of the conference. Collating the various tweets and pictures in this fashion demonstrated the powerful community that the conference brings together, and the value of back-channel communication.

Celebration Forum & Dessert Reception

Celebration Forum & Dessert Reception

Captioning (Subtitles) and Transcription On The Cheap

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Dictate

One idea that has been bouncing about my head, but I have yet to fully investigate, is creating captions/subtitles on the cheap. Paying a third party to provide this  transcription service can get expensive – you can expect to pay $1 a minute, although there are places where you can go for a cheaper  deal.

However, there are automated services like Siri, OS X Dictation, or Dragon Dictate. YouTube will automatically create a transcript when you upload a video (although the accuracy might not be there), and this text file can be downloaded and edited.

My thoughts are to take a regular video recording, and then parse it into one of these services. I just have not got round to this yet, but may give it a go soon.

Dragon Dictate looks like it has part of this capability, but costs about $200 and works with one voice only (no good for interviews).

The two approaches that look like they will work best for me (for free) are:

  1. Uploading an audio or video file to YouTube, and then editing the transcribed text file.
  2. Using Soundflower to send an audio file into the OS X Dictation service. This post from Level Up Lunch describes the process.

Option 1 is the way to go with video. The process here is going to synch the transcription with the video. Option 2 will be realtime, but could be useful for situations where I do not have Internet connectivity, or just want a text file.

Shindig

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Shindig

Shindig

I (and two of my work colleagues) got a chance to see Shindig in practice last Friday. Shindig is a video collaboration service that is currently in beta. The user interface is particularly impressive – at work we use tools like this on a regular basis, and typically students and faculty need significant assistance to collaborate. Shindig was something that “just worked.”

However, Shindig is still in beta. I get the impression that the company is still trying to find its way, and work out the best way to make money. Thus, the company is now reaching out to education. This could be a tough sell – education does not have money to spare. There a some important features that Shindig does not have just yet, such as:

  • Native recording of video events.
  • Native recording of text-chat.
  • Polling / quizzing functionality.
  • Mobile client (service only works on desktop browsers).
  • LTI (Learning Tool Interoperability) API (Application Programming Interface)- i.e. works with all the major LMS ( Learning Management System) platforms.

Additionally, some of the ways that the company markets itself via the website and YouTube sends the wrong message. I get the impression that the company is in a somewhat precarious position.

I hope they make it. I really liked the user interface and basic functionality. Shindig felt like a product where I did not need to crack open the manual.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JwZoQYnnKc&list=PLRhWiq5YAdTtyuCgLxq0-08jxrm1To-NM

http://youtu.be/ICsNKttfsOE

 

UW-Madison Online Learning Jobs

Online Learning, , ,

Kimary Peterson just shared information about these three positions with me:

1) Online Instructor in Distance Education (DEPD position)
UW-Madison, Division of Continuing Studies (DCS)
We are working to fill a vacancy for an Online Instructor in Distance Education in our Continuing Studies Distance Education and Professional Development department.
The application deadline is Aug. 22nd, 2014.

For a full description of the position and how to apply, please go to: http://go.wisc.edu/59374a

2) Instructional Designer/Instructional Technologist (DEPD position)
UW-Madison, Division of Continuing Studies (DCS)
Are you interested in joining a team of outstanding professionals to engage lifelong learners through high-quality and innovative programs and services? We are seeking an instructional designer/technologist to work with faculty and staff developing blended and online courses primarily within the Distance Education Professional Development (DEPD) unit. DEPD prepares educators for online teaching and leadership roles through online courses, certificates, and participation in the Annual Conference on Distance Teaching & Learning. You would also develop online/blended courses for a variety of other units in the DCS Department of Liberal Arts and Applied Studies (LAAS).

The ideal candidate will have at least three (3) years of demonstrated experience in instructional design and instructional materials development. A Bachelor’s degree required; graduate degree in educational technology, instructional design, education/curriculum development or related discipline preferred.

This position is based in Madison, WI. Applications are due by September 2nd,, 2014.

For a full description of the position and how to apply, please go to: http://go.wisc.edu/mg7tc5

3) Professor of Adult Teaching & Learning (Division position)
UW-Madison, Division of Continuing Studies
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public, land-grant institution that exemplifies the “Wisconsin Idea” – that the boundaries of the university are the boundaries of the state and beyond. We seek two tenurable or tenure track faculty to provide leadership and contribute to the department’s expertise in adult teaching and learning, continuing education, and distance learning. These individuals will enhance the department’s capacity to conduct research related to continuing education, including distance education. Applicants must show evidence of the ability to develop an excellent research program in adult teaching & learning, and/or continuing education, as well as evidence of knowledge and demonstrated excellence in distance education and teaching adults. An earned Ph.D. in education or related field is required.

Applications are due October 8th, 2014.

For a full description of the position and how to apply, please go to: http://go.wisc.edu/n03l2d

iPad Lecture Capture

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iPad Lecture Capture

I am presenting an Information Session (iPad Lecture Capture: Information Session I-3) at the 30th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning. The presentation will take place on Wednesday 13th August from 10:30-11:15 a.m. This will be part of the Technology, Tools, and Media track.

The presentation notes, hyperlinks, and PDF can be accessed here: http://condor.depaul.edu/jmoore/ipad-capture/