In addition to a counterintuitive organizational scheme, integrated commercial systems have a built-in pedagogy, evident in the easiest-to-use, most accessible features. The focus on presentation (written documents to read), complemented by basic “discussion” input from students, is based on traditional lecture, review, and test pedagogy. This orientation is very different from the development of knowledge through a constructivist, learner-centered, or inquiry-based approach, which a number of faculty use successfully in the classroom. In constructivist pedagogy, the instructor’s role is to provide a rich learning environment, which often includes extensive social interaction, self-assessment, and independent projects. These techniques are better supported by Web 2.0 applications or by learning management systems that encourage such pedagogy at the novice level. The more a CMS promotes traditional pedagogy, the more likely it will limit faculty creativity—and flexibility and creativity are the foundations of academic freedom and good teaching.

Source: EDUCAUSE Quarterly

Overall the administrator’s perceptions are positively inclined toward Web-based instruction. They believe that high quality learning can take place in Web-based courses and they are interested in increasing Web-based instruction. The majority of administrators agreed that students were genuinely interested in Web-based courses, and they almost unanimously agreed that Web-based instruction can overcome students’ traveling and scheduling barriers. On the other hand, administrators were concerned about the amount of time Web-based courses demand of faculty, as well as issues of academic dishonesty and students’ self-discipline.

Source: Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration

The current model of online instruction which features small sections and a learning management system is expensive. Colleges and universities are finding that, to their dismay, they are faced with staggering cost increases. The initial investment they made in infrastructure and computing capacity software / servers was just the beginning of their investment. Software, hardware, personnel, and outsourced support costs are just a few of those that increase every year. The “cascading software upgrades” effect also leads to unanticipated and earlier-than-budgeted programming costs.

Source: E-Learning Queen via The Online Universities Weblog

Academia has embraced RSS as a means to educate, but scrutinizing how educational institutions are using RSS feeds in their daily routines show RSS is utilized can vary across different industries.

Source: RSS Specifications

The success and endurance of good corporate distance education programs is dependent on the strategies and strengths of good leaders. Capable leaders are necessary to all organizations. What traits and skills must good corporate learning leaders have in order to establish and sustain flourishing distance learning programs? Certainly these leaders require the skill sets of all good leaders - vision, purpose, the drive to succeed, the ability to motivate others, solutions-orientation, and risk-taking. Learning leaders in these organizations require additional characteristics and skills, which can be categorized in terms of vision, relationship-building, and operational discipline.

Source: Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration

I have just created College 2.0. a Ning social network to discuss Online Learning, CMS, PLE, Web2.0 and Open Learrning for Highered. We welcome University students, faculty, alumni, and administrators to join the College 2.0 Network network.

Find and Stay in Touch with New Friends.
Features of the College 2.0 Network include:

1- Discussion Forum with RSS:
Start and tag a discussion.
Add discussion posts and reply to those posts.
Click through the personal profile pages of other members engaged in the discussion.
View all discussions across your social network.
2- Member “chatterwall” for others to leave chatters.
3- Member Profile Page with photo
4- Member Blog with RSS:
Create blog posts with photos, files, and moods.
Manage blog posts and moderate comments.
5- Access the Network’s Blog Posts (from all members) via RSS
6- Easy access to all your friends in the network
7- Networking. Its easy to make new friends
8- Photo Sharing
9- Video Sharing

The views of faculty, students, and administrators regarding the advantages and shortcomings of current L/CMSs fell into three key areas: compatibility and interoperability, usability, and smartness/dumbness.
In envisioning a future e-learning environment, the stakeholders—faculty, students, and administrators—talked about desired features in the areas of smart systems, environment, archives and storage, multi-modal/multimedia communication channels, collaboration tools, and mobile computing.

Source: Educause Review

I’d venture to say that 90 to 95 percent of school and school districts’ vision/mission statements probably have something in them about lifelong learning, lifelong learners, etc.

Now, let’s contrast this widespread phenomena with the fact that most students generally leave K-12 education with less enthusiasm for learning than when they entered. For example, most kindergarteners and first graders entering the system are excited, energized, engaged, and happy. Does this describe your district’s high school seniors? Do twelfth-graders exhibit the same love of learning - the same thrill of engagement with academic material - as when they entered the district 12 years previous? Probably not.

So what’s happening? An occasional inspiring teacher aside, why do students become more apathetic about formal learning the more time they spend in our schools? What is it about our educational system that (dare I say it?) beats the academic enthusiasm out of our children?

Source: Techlearning Blog