Wednesday
Feb182004
273 - Universities Create Open Source LMS System; Results of Learning "DNA" Question
February 18, 2004
TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Feb. 18, 2004
#273 - Updates on Learning, eLearning and Training
46,993 Readers - The MASIE Center - www.masie.com
1. Universities Create Open Source LMS System
2. e-Learning Hispanica Announced
3. Results of Learning "DNA" Question
1. Universities Create Open Source LMS System: Four universities have
announced a $6.8 million collaborative venture to create open source
courseware tools and related software for higher education institutions. The Sakai Project is a collaboration of Indiana U, MIT, Stanford and U of Michigan at Ann Arbor. In addition, funding from the Mellon Foundation is supporting this effort. Here are their deliverable goals:
"Enterprise Services-based Portal, a complete Course Management System
with sophisticated assessment tools, a Research Support Collaboration
System, a Workflow Engine, and a Tool Portability Profile as a clear
standard for writing future tools that can extend this core set of
educational applications."
There is an active dialogue about how this will either compete or
complement the work of private courseware management providers like
Blackboard and WebCT. And, an open question is whether enough resources can be harnessed in the Open Source model to build reliable offerings.
TRENDS will be tracking the Sakai Project in the coming months.
Information is available at http://www.sakaiproject.org/
2. e-Learning Hispanica Announced: Advisors Wanted: The MASIE Center is proud to announce e-Learning HISPANICA, to be held in Miami, Florida on June 22 and 23, 2004.
e-Learning HISPANICA is the first event that will bring together the
e-Learning field from both Spanish speaking countries in the Americas and Europe as well as companies that are providing Spanish e-Learning as a second language option to their employees worldwide.
The event will be translated to both Spanish and English and we are
looking for Advisors for this event. If you are developing, delivering or selling e-Learning in Spanish, please send a note to emasie@masie.com
Also, mark the dates on your calendar and we will provide more information in the coming weeks.
3. Results of Learning "DNA" Question: Talking of international use of e-Learning, we had a strong response to my recent question about the "DNA" of learners around the world.
The vast majority of the respondents (which mostly reflected readers from Europe, Asia, North America, and Latin America ) attributed the
differences to numerous cultural and personal factors. The DNA "strains" that were consistently mentioned for how e-Learning differs globally included:
* Learner's Background: experience, skills, professional and personal
roles
* Learner's Preferences: learning styles, motivation...context
* Communication style
* Educational Experience: rote memory, clear-cut lesson plans vs. one
which encouraged questions, controversy and debate
* Social Needs: team oriented vs. more a individualist approach
Environment: formal, tight structure vs. informal, interactive
* Corporate Culture and Values: the DNA of the organization itself
A summary of comments can be found at http://www.masie.com/trends/dna/
Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
- Learning Management System Special Interest Group (SIG) - Las Vegas - March 8 and 9, 2004
- Virtual Classroom/Collaboration Special Interest Group (SIG) - Las Vegas - March 10 and 11, 2004
- e-Learning Skills LAB - Saratoga Springs, NY - Next Week
Info and registration: http://www.masie.com
#273 - Updates on Learning, eLearning and Training
46,993 Readers - The MASIE Center - www.masie.com
1. Universities Create Open Source LMS System
2. e-Learning Hispanica Announced
3. Results of Learning "DNA" Question
1. Universities Create Open Source LMS System: Four universities have
announced a $6.8 million collaborative venture to create open source
courseware tools and related software for higher education institutions. The Sakai Project is a collaboration of Indiana U, MIT, Stanford and U of Michigan at Ann Arbor. In addition, funding from the Mellon Foundation is supporting this effort. Here are their deliverable goals:
"Enterprise Services-based Portal, a complete Course Management System
with sophisticated assessment tools, a Research Support Collaboration
System, a Workflow Engine, and a Tool Portability Profile as a clear
standard for writing future tools that can extend this core set of
educational applications."
There is an active dialogue about how this will either compete or
complement the work of private courseware management providers like
Blackboard and WebCT. And, an open question is whether enough resources can be harnessed in the Open Source model to build reliable offerings.
TRENDS will be tracking the Sakai Project in the coming months.
Information is available at http://www.sakaiproject.org/
2. e-Learning Hispanica Announced: Advisors Wanted: The MASIE Center is proud to announce e-Learning HISPANICA, to be held in Miami, Florida on June 22 and 23, 2004.
e-Learning HISPANICA is the first event that will bring together the
e-Learning field from both Spanish speaking countries in the Americas and Europe as well as companies that are providing Spanish e-Learning as a second language option to their employees worldwide.
The event will be translated to both Spanish and English and we are
looking for Advisors for this event. If you are developing, delivering or selling e-Learning in Spanish, please send a note to emasie@masie.com
Also, mark the dates on your calendar and we will provide more information in the coming weeks.
3. Results of Learning "DNA" Question: Talking of international use of e-Learning, we had a strong response to my recent question about the "DNA" of learners around the world.
The vast majority of the respondents (which mostly reflected readers from Europe, Asia, North America, and Latin America ) attributed the
differences to numerous cultural and personal factors. The DNA "strains" that were consistently mentioned for how e-Learning differs globally included:
* Learner's Background: experience, skills, professional and personal
roles
* Learner's Preferences: learning styles, motivation...context
* Communication style
* Educational Experience: rote memory, clear-cut lesson plans vs. one
which encouraged questions, controversy and debate
* Social Needs: team oriented vs. more a individualist approach
Environment: formal, tight structure vs. informal, interactive
* Corporate Culture and Values: the DNA of the organization itself
A summary of comments can be found at http://www.masie.com/trends/dna/
Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
- Learning Management System Special Interest Group (SIG) - Las Vegas - March 8 and 9, 2004
- Virtual Classroom/Collaboration Special Interest Group (SIG) - Las Vegas - March 10 and 11, 2004
- e-Learning Skills LAB - Saratoga Springs, NY - Next Week
Info and registration: http://www.masie.com
Reader Comments