June 14, 2009 by dwicksspu
Six Lessons One Campus Learned About E-Textbooks
Is it time to switch to ebooks? Not quite yet, according to Chronicle writer Jeffrey R. Young after he visited with Northwest Missouri State University faculty and students about their venture into the world of e-textbooks. NWMSU has been a leader in student communication technologies since the days of OTPDR (That’s one-terminal-per-dorm-room for those of you who have trouble remembering the great acronyms of the past).
Young shares six lessons he learned about the current state of ebooks in the classroom. Here are my thoughts on each of his points.
- Judge ebooks by their covers – All ebooks reading software is not created equal. Sony’s ebook reader is different than Amazon’s Kindle. There are lots of ebook reader options for laptops. Publishers have even created proprietary readers that work within an LMS (Blackboard, Moodle, etc.) The point here is that with this many options, you will need to do your research, and try before buying where possible.
- Learning curves ahead – Students have had years of practice learning how to learn from paper-based textbooks. Institutions should offer training as part of any e-textbook initiative.
- Professors are eager students – This may be puzzling to some but I’ve always been able to find professors eager to experiment with a new technology IF (and this is an important “if”) they can envision how it might be meaningful to teaching/learning.
- Dead batteries – Hopefully this problem that will go away as better battery technologies are developed. For now, we need to make sure that there enough power outlets in classrooms and learning centers (and hopefully not just on the back wall.)
- Subjects are not equally e-friendly – Some disciplines may be better suited to e-textbooks than others. I’m not sure that I agree with this statement, especially if we leave out Amazon and Sony, and just talk about the use of a laptop or iPhone (both support color) as the ebook reading device. Both would allow students to zoom in and query images for more information. Think about the possibilities with a subject like Geography. Maps within a paper textbook are static while ebook maps can be dynamic, allowing students to ask how borders or populations have changed over time. The result may be customized maps that help students understand current political issues.
- Environmental impact matters – Saving trees is an important consideration but a move to e-textbooks could ultimately reduce the cost (and amount of fuel used) to provide textbooks to students in developing countries. Textbooks are already expensive. Add the cost of shipping overseas and the price may double. Instead, these students could be outfitted with multi-use resources (laptop or smartphone) to access up-to-date content. Easy access to electricity is a major issue but one that can be eased with longer battery life.
While I don’t believe it is time to make wholesale changes to e-textbooks, it is time to begin experimenting with ebooks in individual courses and programs. What do you think?
(delicious tags: Education technology textbook academic college kindle ebooks)
Tags: e-textbook, ebook, Educational Technology, higher, Kindle, laptop, LMS, OLPC, smartphone, Sony
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
June 4, 2009 by dwicksspu
Should universities ditch Blackboard in favor of WordPress (or other Web 2.0 tools)? In Part I, I argued against such a move. After watching the interview below I may have changed my mind. Well, not exactly, but I do believe faculty should consider a blended approach where they integrate real-world (still-living-after-the-term-is-over) tools with their university’s LMS.
In the video clip below, Jim Groom explains why he recommends the use of WordPress over Blackboard. From the interview, it is clear that he understands the important role an LMS plays. However, he doesn’t believe a vendor like Blackboard can keep up with constantly changing web. He definitely has a point. I often find myself reaching for tools like Wetpaint rather than using group features within Blackboard or even the LearningObjects wiki (a Bb Building Block). I do this because the tools are more robust and students can use the tools after the term ends.
LMS vendors would be wise to focus on better ways to integrate third party tools such as WordPress and Wetpaint.
Tags: Blackboard, LMS, Open, open courseware, Wetpaint, WordPress
Posted in LMS, Technology, Web 2.0 | Leave a Comment »
June 1, 2009 by dwicksspu
Colleges Consider Using Blogs Instead of Blackboard – Chronicle.com 
Please read the linked article above and then let me know what you see as the advantages and disadvantages of using a blog (WordPress) instead of a learning management system (Blackboard)?
I’ll tell you what I think. First here’s my disclosure statement. I’m a huge fan of WordPress and I’ve had a love/hate relationship with Blackboard during my ten years as a user. (Has it really been that long?) That being said, I don’t see why an institution would choose to use an application designed for reflections (WP) when an application designed to manage courses (Bb) fails. It would make more sense to investigate why Bb is failing or evaluate another LMS like Moodle.
I like the commenting feature in WordPress but it isn’t a threaded discussion board. I like the ability to review blog stats in WordPress but it isn’t a gradebook. I can see how some professors could teach their courses using a blog but it won’t meet the needs of the many.
There are non-LMS alternatives to Blackboard (such as Drupal) but I don’t see WordPress as being one of them. Now if we want to talk about using WordPress as an alternative to an ePortfolio management system I am ready to talk. For now, I’m sticking with Blackboard as my LMS.
Thoughts?
(delicious tags: Blackboard LMS higher_education K-12)
Tags: Blackboard, higher education, LMS, open courseware, WordPress
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May 24, 2009 by dwicksspu
It’s conference season. Is your presentation ready? Tom Davenport provides ten common-sense tips for designing quality presentations. He emphasizes simplicity. How many times have you seen someone start their presentation and find out that the special font they chose isn’t available on the presentation computer. While it is possible to include the font when saving the presentation, is a special font really necessary? Davenport encourages the use of images but cautions readers to consider copyright issues when using images from flicker or Google. The best way to do this is by using Creative Commons to access open-licensed images from these sites. Davenport concludes by encouraging presenters to practice. Presenters who are surprised by the contents of the “next slide” are really telling us that that their presentations aren’t worth attending.
Tags: PowerPoint
Posted in Technology | Leave a Comment »
May 19, 2009 by dwicksspu
I’ll be attending the MERLOT International Conference in San Jose, August 13-16, 2009. I’m giving a presentation on Lecture Capture technology. MERLOT always puts on great conferences. If you are interested in eLearning I would encourage you to attend. Here’s a message from the MERLOT project director with more information about the conference.
Dear MERLOT International Conference Presenter,
As MERLOT Project Director for the CSU system and corporate coordinator for the conference, I want to thank you for your participation in the 9th annual MERLOT International Conference, August 13-16 in San Jose. Rarely do we have the opportunity to attend an international conference focused on pedagogy, teaching and learning innovations, effective application of academic technology within the beautiful state of California.
As my friend and colleague Dr. Cris Guenter, Professor of Education at CSU-Chico and Editor of the MERLOT Teacher Education Editorial Board, reminded me recently, “The MERLOT International Conference provides a chance for me to share and exchange recent technology trends, teaching issues, and simmering ideas with friends and colleagues from around the world. The inclusive atmosphere, the range of perspectives and the variety of approaches to how MERLOT is used by instructors helps me keep my face-to-face, blended, and online courses current and engaging.”
Given your appreciation of the value of the MERLOT International Conference, I hope you will make a concerted effort to spread the word on your campus about this wonderful professional development opportunity. To help you spread the word please send to your colleagues and friends the attached MERLOT International Conference flyer or refer them to the conference website http://conference.merlot.org/2009/
I know budgets are tight for us all and yet as people committed to teaching and learning we still must find effective ways to innovate, collaborate and develop new skills and insights to meet our students effectively.
As always, on behalf of the MERLOT, thank you for all you do to make MERLOT an effective resource. Your efforts are appreciated. I’m looking forward to seeing you in San Jose, CA this summer for the 9th annual MERLOT International Conference.
With appreciation,
Regan Caruthers
MERLOT Project Director, CSU
MIC 2009 Corporate Coordinator
Tags: elearning, higher education, lecture capture, MERLOT, online learning
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
