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Coursera: Got a question on Specializations? We have answers!
Specializations are a new Coursera feature offering you the opportunity to demonstrate mastery in an area of interest. When you complete the courses in a Specialization, plus the Capstone Project, you’ll earn a Specialization Certificate. Have questions? We’ve got answers! How do I enroll in a Specialization? For now, you do not have to take any extra steps to enroll in Specializations. Simply enroll in Signature Track for the course you wish to begin within the Specialization. After you have completed all courses within that Specialization on Signature Track, you will be eligible to complete a Capstone Project. You will receive your Specialization Certificate after completing this project! Can I complete a Specialization in segments? In theory, yes. You can complete the courses in a Specialization at any time, along with the Capstone Project, and earn a Specialization Certificate. However, we can’t guarantee how often classes in each Specialization will ru…
Saylor.org: Open Course Option at Thomas Edison State College
I’m sure it seems that every time I step in for Sean to pen a blog post, I sling the idea of college credit for one of our free courses. For many of our students who are primarily interested in lifelong learning (and we love them!), credit opportunities may not feel relevant. But many within ... Read More ...
Learning Solutions Magazine: Effective Performance with A.G.I.L.E. Instructional Design by Jennifer Neibert
The final three steps in Conrad Gottfredson’s AGILE instructional design methodology (iterate and implement, leverage, and evaluate) provide context and prioritization for creating workable learning solutions; for integrating technology, people, and research in our performance-support efforts; and for designing the ways we measure the business impact of what we do.
Udacity: Introductory Data Science Online Course Is Open!
Class is in session! Learn what it takes to become a data scientist in Intro to Data Science.Data science, dubbed “the sexiest job of the 21st century” by the Harvard Business Review, is an evolving discipline that focuses on combining statistics and computer science to extract insights from data. Analyzing data from NYC's subway system! This self-paced introductory course surveys foundational topics in data science, including data manipulation, data analysis, data communication, and working with big data. We’ll focus on breadth and will present each topic briefly to let you sample and apply the basic techniques of data science.Intro to Data Science is project-based, which means you’ll use your skills to analyze and communicate your data analysis of ridership data from New York City’s subway system. http://blog.udacity.com/feeds/posts/default…
Coursera: Teaching Character
"Intelligence plus Character – That is the goal of true education." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On Sunday, February 9th, Relay GSE will launch, “Teaching Character & Creating Positive Classrooms.” Taught by Dave Levin (Co-Founder, KIPP; Co-Founder, Relay GSE), the course explains how educators and parents can bring psychology’s cutting-edge research on character into the lives of young people. This journey starts with word choice. Instead of using the term “character trait,” try “character strength.” “Trait” often makes us think about fixed characteristics like eye color or height. But “strength,” or even “skill” implies that character can increase over time. Most character strengths can be developed Chances are that your favorite teachers helped you build character strengths. They provided you with opportunities to try hard after experiencing failure, to adapt to different social situatio…
Learning Solutions Magazine: The Business of Instructional Design: Career Tips for Thinking Beyond the Storyboard by Tracy Bissette
What’s the difference between an instructional designer (ID) and a lead or senior instructional designer? It’s more than simply having more knowledge of design principles and learning theory! The critical factors are all about business. Here are some tips on developing these business skills, specifically as they pertain to instructional design.
Khan Academy: Nationwide MATHletes Challenge launches in Ireland
On January 27, Irish technology entrepreneur Sean O’Sullivan launched the 2014 MATHletes Challenge, a contest that will introduce students across Ireland to Khan Academy. They’ll compete for more than €20,000 in prizes as they learn math on our site. The competition began on February 1 and lasts just over three months. We’re thrilled to be part of this one-of-a-kind opportunity! As announced on Siliconrepublic.com, “MATHletes Challenge 2014, which O’Sullivan is launching today with the Minister for Training and Skills Ciaran Cannon, aims to help students develop the confidence and competence to excel in maths by introducing Irish students and teachers to the Khan Academy. … In the MATHletes challenge, students will compete in county and provincial finals, with top scorers advancing to the national finals, which are scheduled to take place in early May. Students will also be able to connect with other contestants by attending free Saturday Kh…
Saylor.org: Announcement: Space Systems Engineering Course Starts March 3rd
In collaboration with staff from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, we are thrilled to present a free, online, six-week course in Space Systems Engineering. Register now, then find out more (or vice versa). Course Features Lectures from NASA project manager Jeff Volosin, NASA mission systems engineer Mike Menzel, and Nobel Laureate Dr. John C. Mather ... Read More ...
Learning Solutions Magazine: Nuts and Bolts: Building Community by Jane Bozarth
The rise of social media and the accompanying interest in social learning is generating a lot of talk about community building. Many people voice similar concerns in these conversations, and at the same time there are many things that never come up as topics for discussion. Here are some suggestions for keeping the never-heard items from killing a community.
Udacity: Sebastian Thrun: Self-Driving Education
Sebastian shares his thoughts on the future of education in a Huffington Post piece from January 28, 2014, titled Self-Driving Education. Here's a short excerpt from the original post: The digital era makes it possible to acquire skills and knowledge on-demand, in small chunks, when we need it. Every free hour can now be used to advance one's skills, using our mobile device. Perhaps we can learn while we are passengers in our self-driving cars. This makes this new medium much more susceptible to lifelong learners, who wish to continue to educate themselves throughout their career. Young people love to flock to campuses. But once in a job with a family and a mortgage, taking time off and relocating to a residential campus can be challenging. I venture that digital education will be a game changer. In the US, adults stay in the same jobs for an average of 4.1 years. They assume seven different careers during their lifetime. Digital education will provide education to people throughout…
Learning Solutions Magazine: The Elusive ROI for Learning Through Technology by Jack Phillips and Patti Phillips
Few would dispute the convenience, low cost, and high efficiency of eLearning. However, dozens of ROI studies show the results, in terms of transfer to the job and impact on business results, are usually less than facilitator-led versions. It does not have to be this way. Here is an analysis of the reasons, and some recommendations that will make a difference in your real-world results.
Coursera: John Covach”s “The Music of the Beatles” Takes a Close Look at The Band’s Music, Exactly 50 Years After They Hit America!
On Sunday, February 9, 1964, the Beatles performed to a record television audience in America—a night that changed pop-music history in a dramatic way. Fifty years later (to the minute) Coursera will launch a six-week course devoted to the Fab Four, set to begin at 8 pm on Sunday, February 9, 2014. Taught by the University of Rochester’s John Covach, The Music of the Beatles will focus on the band’s music, tracing the stylistic development of the Beatles from the earliest days in Liverpool, through their success in the UK, to their US and world success in 1964 and after. From “Please Please Me” to “Abbey Road”, John will lead students through the career of the band many consider to be the most important in rock history. John’s History of Rock courses on Coursera have received rave reviews since the first one was launched in May 2013. Also an active gigging musician with 35 years experience, his college textbook, What’s That…
Udacity: Sebastian Thrun and Sal Khan Discuss Online Education
Source: TED Sebastian Thrun and Salman Khan talk about about online education and the future of education in TED’s Questions Worth Asking series. The excerpt below, originally posted on the TED blog on January 28, 2014, features the question of whether either man would hire someone whose education comes solely from online classes. As it turns out, both have hired based on demonstrated skill and without looking at degrees. What follows is a discussion of life-long learning, online education, and bridging the skills gap for employment. TED: Would either of you hire somebody whose education came solely from online classes or MOOCs? Salman Khan: If you’re talking about the skills that we’re hiring for, the stuff that’s typically learned in college or graduate school, then absolutely. In fact, we already have. We recently hired two people and we didn’t even know what their degrees were, if they even had degrees. We hired them because of the work they d…
Learning Solutions Magazine: Skillsoft and IBM Research: Harnessing Big Data in Enterprise Learning by News Editor
Big data will drive next-generation learning and integrated development for improved user engagement and learning outcomes. Skillsoft and IBM are collaborating to develop new methods of creating and assessing optimal learning experiences at an individual level. Here is a quick look at what is driving these developments.
Khan Academy: Khan Academy joins Bridge to find more amazing designers
Most folks I speak to know something about Khan Academy’s mission to provide a free world-class education to anyone anywhere, but many ask me what a designer does at Khan Academy. What I usually tell them is that the design team at Khan Academy is a crack team of problem solvers who imagine and create real solutions to real student problems. Sometimes that means helping craft a new interactive way learn a math concept, or creating a platform for cool multi-step computer science challenge, or giving students a more meaningful understanding of their progress toward learning an important concept in mathematics. What it always means is solving real, meaningful, and impactful problems for millions of students around the globe. Over the last few years, Khan Academy has built a great team of designers and engineers that together have built an amazing platform for learners and a showcase for content creators. We’re really excited to be working with Bridge and the Designer Fund to…
Learning Solutions Magazine: EMEA Reporter: Changing a Nation: When the Flipped Classroom Really Works by Nic Laycock
How do you start a learning revolution in a small nation with few natural resources, surrounded by unstable neighbors? Begin by deciding that the survival of the country depends on better education of the young. Adopt the Internet and technology. Innovate an approach to the flipped classroom. Read this amazing story here.
Learning Solutions Magazine: The eLearning Guild Academy: Introducing The Business of Instructional Design by Janet Clarey
A degree in instructional design provides the skills to create effective instruction and to manage projects. It covers tools and technologies, theories and models. But nearly all programs leave a gap in the graduate’s skill set: the real-world business side of the profession. The Guild Academy has a way to fill that void with the essentials that will support your success!
Coursera: Expanding Learning in Latin America with the Carlos Slim Foundation
Today, we’re delighted to announce a partnership with the Carlos Slim Foundation, one of Mexico’s top philanthropic organizations, to improve access to education among Spanish speaking students around the world, as well as support opportunities for career development and employment throughout Latin America. Our co-founder Daphne Koller joined Carlos Slim Helú in Mexico City today to welcome this partnership, which will focus on three shared goals: 1. Make available more educational content in Spanish We will do so with the creation of a new Spanish language user interface (which is now available, see below) and the translation of 50 courses by the end of 2014. 2. Create educational content We will create content together in the form of individual courses or as part of Coursera’s new Specializations program — focused on employability and job skills in high-priority subject areas such as computer science, teacher professional development, healthcare an…
Coursera: Coursera’s First Marine Science MOOC: Marine Megafauna | An Introduction to Marine Science and Conservation
Dave Johnston is a broadly skilled biological oceanographer and marine conservation biologist whose research focuses on the habitat needs of marine vertebrates in relation to pressing conservation issues. Johnston teaches courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels at Duke University - with experience in large and small classrooms, as well as in field-based learning situations. “It is a curious situation that the sea, from which life first arose, should now be threatened by the activities of one form of that life. But the sea, though changed in a sinister way, will continue to exist: the threat is rather to life itself.” In her preface to the second edition of “The Sea Around Us”, Rachel Carson succinctly captured the importance of the ocean when it comes to life on earth, including humans. Life started in the ocean, and we disrupt ocean processes at our peril. Despite the incredible importance of the ocean to all life on earth, most people know ver…
Learning Solutions Magazine: Consumer Electronics Show Report: New Video Hardware for eLearning by Stephen Haskin
The Consumer Electronics Show 2014 once again featured a lot of devices that eLearning producers can use to enhance and extend their capability. Here is a rundown of the video hardware that will probably be of most interest to our readers.