News from e-Learning companies
Channel:
Saylor.org: (re)Inventing the free online textbook
“First came free online courses. Now come…free online textbooks” (“Coursera to offer students free online textbooks, with conditions” | WaPo). Call us picky, but the implication that free textbooks are an xMOOC innovation is a bit frustrating, especially coming a couple days before we announced the release of a free-and-open, no-strings-attached college mathematics textbook. Even more [...]…
Udacity: New Course: Introduction to Programming
We’re very pleased to introduce a new course into the Udacity mix: Intro to Programming, where you can learn Java with Cay Horstmann of San Jose State University, as well as Udacious programmers Cheng-Han Lee and Sara Tansey. No prior experience is necessary to start learning with us! You’ll learn concepts such as classes, methods and argument passing, loops, and general problem solving skills to start coding up a storm. If Intro to Programming sounds cool, but you’re not 100% sure what programming allows you to do, tune in to hear Cay’s explanation. Hint: you can tell computers to do pretty much anything as long as you speak their language! What's the difference between a toaster and a computer? Now, there are a few languages to choose from, so why Java? Again, Cay has all the answers, and he’ll walk you through four good reasons to learn Java. Four good reasons to learn Java! Don’t forget, you can also e…
Saylor.org: We Love Resources: CK-12
Want to be able to remix and use free and open textbooks to your liking? Looking to learn concepts quickly with the help of “bite-sized” lessons? Then let’s get started! CK-12 can act as your trusty sidekick, or better yet your vehicle to help you to teach others and learn! CK-12 provides you with tools to [...]…
Saylor.org: Q&A with Dr. Wissam Raji, author of An Introductory Course in Elementary Number Theory
“[T]he subject is presented in a way where no mathematical background is required with the exception of the last three chapters.” “[B]elieve in [your] capabilities. It is not about the school you attend, it is all about the inner will to achieve and passion you have for the subject you are studying.” With our release [...]…
Saylor.org: Free Elementary Number Theory Open Textbook Released Under CC BY
We’re happy to announce the release of a free and open textbook, An Introductory Course in Elementary Number Theory, by Dr. Wissam Raji, Ph.D., of the American University in Beirut. Fuller details are here, and be sure to check out our Q&A with the author. Dr. Raji created this text in response to a need for [...]…
Coursera:
Editors note: We are happy to share this guest post from Sankalp, a student who recently completed Calculus: Single Variable and received a Verified Certificate and completed the College Credit Recommendation Exam. A new session of the course starts on May 24th - You can learn more and sign up here. Hi, I’m Sankalp. I am 17 and I live in Mumbai, India. I have been learning online, through videos for quite a few years, and have seen almost all the modern inflection points in online education. I have genuinely completed 2 MOOCs on Coursera (lurked through many, that’s the beauty of this platform!), Introduction to Mathematical Thinking (Stanford, Prof Keith Devlin) and Calculus: Single Variable (UPenn, Prof Robert Ghrist – incl. Signature Track and proctored exam for ACE CREDIT). Here is my journey and perspective: History – “Those good old days - learning begins” Giving some stress on my memory, I recall that my journey began when I was in 8th gr…
Saylor.org: PSYCH 101-EXC: Our Newest Credit Pathways Course!
Want to take a PSYCH course for credit? Interested in the general history of psychology and the nature vs. nurture debate? Then consider your needs and desires fulfilled (including your sub-conscious ones)! PSYCH 101-EXC is our newest course and it’s also a pathway to credit through Excelsior College. This course is complete with optional apps, readings, and video [...]…
: How I used WizIQ to Flip a Tour to NYC
Several weeks ago, I took a group of students to NYC(New York City). One theme, among many, that occurs regularly in my classroom, is the role that race and power play in the history that we learn. This theme comes up in my online classroom because it comes up in society.… Read the rest…
Learning Solutions Magazine: EMEA Reporter: Serious Gaming Solves Talent Management Issues by Nic Laycock
Talent shortages are becoming a feature of life for many companies and many industries. The need is great, but qualified replacements are hard to find and hard to keep. A company in Holland provides serious games to help develop talent and to help identify the best candidates. Read about it here!
Khan Academy: Thank you, teachers!
I recently passed by a sign that said “I teach. What’s your superpower?”, and was reminded of the teachers that have been superheroes in my life. There were a few precious teachers who encouraged a shy little girl to love learning, changing the course of her life forever. In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we take a moment to say a big THANK YOU to superhero teachers, including the 30,000 teachers across the world that are using Khan Academy in their classrooms, and changing the lives of students. We salute you as you endeavor to provide more personalized, mastery-based and interactive learning experiences for your students. Thank you for putting in the long hours, for giving it your heart and soul, and for being a role model and an inspiration to students to be lifelong learners and explorers. …
Udacity: Tickles and Psychology
This summer, Udacity and San Jose State University are offering online courses for college credit in a couple exciting subjects. Today, we want to take the time to tell you about one course in particular - Intro to Psychology.It involves snakes, babies, sea lions, jello brains, sense olympics, and it may help you answer the age-old question, “Why do I DO that?”Susan Snycerski and Greg Feist of San Jose State, and Udacity’s very own Lauren Castellano, are teaming up to bring you a (sometimes literally) breathtaking overview of psychology in its many facets. Take a journey with them through all the major psychological concepts and principles, learn to critically evaluate psychological research, and gain a more in-depth understanding of human thought and behavior. Basically, if you’ve ever been curious about the way your brain works, or the way other people’s brains work, this is the class for you! The deadline to enroll for college credit with San Jose…
Udemy: Course Promotion: How to Get More Students to Never Stop Learning
Did you see the Never Stop Learning campaign we launched Monday? Because of instructors like you, people on Udemy are landing better paying jobs, jumpstarting new careers, exploring their hobbies, and starting their own companies. What does this mean for you as an instructor? Now is a great time to invite your friends and followers to join you on Udemy. You can let followers know that you’re offering a discount on your course(s) to encourage them to #NeverStopLearning. STEP-BY-STEP... Continue reading »…
edX: What We've Learned from Teaching MOOCs
By Armando Fox and David Patterson MOOCs, or Massive Open Online Courses for the uninitiated, have taken the education world by storm. As with any disruptive technology, there are bound to be some pitfalls along the way. How can instructors new to MOOCs successfully navigate teaching a MOOC? We’ve recently finished teaching BerkeleyX CS169.1x and CS169.2x, Software as a Service Parts I & II, on edX. Here are some tips from our experience that will help you make the most out of your MOOC. HAVING A RERUN PLAN IS BETTER THAN BEING PERFECT Leonardo da Vinci said “Art is never finished, only abandoned.” You will always find ways to improve your material, but remember, you can always revise your lecture recordings later—this Fall we will revise our lectures for the third time. Balance your desire to perfect the material with the need to juggle all the other commitments most faculty must manage. Another perspective is that you need feedback from MOOC students befor…
Saylor.org: The new look!
Today we unveil a (slightly) new homepage. In brief, we’ve split up our courses into: “Saylor University” – our core courses “Saylor K-12″- our newly-unveiled, long-talked-about pre-college courses “Saylor Professional Development” – our PD Area of Study split up into its three constituent parts These changes also will be reflected in the forums, currently taking [...]…
Saylor.org: Listen in: What
There’s a legal phrase, cui bono, which means, roughly, “who benefits?” — it’s meant as a reminder to look at what people involved in a law case stand to gain. It’s a question, and a real question, that we can ask ourselves about pursuing a four-year college education. Diane Rehm (The Diane Rehm Show, WAMU American [...]…
Coursera: Collaborating with Publishers to Bring Courserians More Affordable, Accessible Educational Resources
Since Coursera launched, we’ve been determined to bring students affordable and accessible course materials. Today, we’re excited to announce that we’re taking the next big step toward that mission by working with many of the top higher education publishers. This collaboration will expand the availability of the publishers’ high-quality content and resources, facilitated by Chegg, a hub where students can access tools and materials. Starting today, publishers Cengage Learning, Macmillan Higher Education,Oxford University Press SAGE, and Wiley will experiment with offering versions of their e-textbooks, delivered via Chegg’s DRM-protected e-Reader, to Coursera students. We are also actively discussing pilot agreements and related alliances with Springer and other publishers. “We recognize the importance of forging partnerships with other stakeholders in the education space in order to help students overcome barriers and evolve the way they access e…
Learning Solutions Magazine: Our Three eSteps to Lasting Behavioral Change by Mukta Raut
Changing behavior is tough. Changing behavior through eLearning is even tougher. Effective corporate training programs must engage our objective understanding of the situation, and subjective response to it, as well as clearly seeing the work environment in which the situation occurs. A well-thought-out instructional strategy can achieve this through eLearning.
Udacity: Happy Teacher Appreciation Day, Udacity!
As an education technology company with a passion for getting people excited about learning STEM subjects, we’re celebrating Teacher Appreciation Day with extra gusto. We’ve all been inspired by exceptional teachers who have made subjects -- whether it’s programming, stats, algebra, psychology, web development, artificial intelligence, or game development -- approachable and relevant, and we tip our hats to these heros! We believe that a great teacher can make a difference, and that learning is about doing -- i.e., making mistakes and embracing experimentation. We try to live these values every day, and we LOVE hearing from students who have learned with us -- some students go from believing they’ll never succeed in math to rocking statistical inference. Others have tried programming for the first time and gone on to create websites, games, and even their own companies! A few Udacious teachers: Dave, Katie, Sean, Miriam, and Eric - thanks for all that you d…
Saylor.org: Human Resource Management Now Available on iTunes U!
Interested in ways to make the best use of the skills, abilities and knowledge of an organization’s human capital? Want to learn more ab0ut the nitty-gritty ins and outs of what occurs in that good ol’ HR dept.? Then let’s get crackin’! BUS301: Human Resource Development is now available on our iTunes U channel and [...]…
: Filling up the Course Feed
New Blogger on WizIQ My name is Dr. Nancy Zingrone. I am so excited as I’m going to be blogging on WizIQ. Here’s a little about me. I have a PhD in psychology from the University of Edinburgh and an MSEd in Higher Education from Northern Illinois University.… Read the rest…