free webinar on Learning to Learn Online: A #MOOC with a difference for novice online learners

This CIDER webinar will outline the design and delivery of a MOOC with a difference where facilitators encourage MOOCers to participate in discussions, share knowledge and experiences, and to network beyond the duration of the course.. The LTLO course embraces a "learn by doing" philosophy providing participants a variety of fun and effective learning activities. The course is a mixture of directed, self-paced and community of inquiry (COI) learning environments. Components of typical online courses will be discussed and applied throughout. 
 
Participants will see first-hand the environment of this MOOC for novice online learners. They will also have the opportunity to discuss and critique the MOOC design and delivery process and outcomes. Finally, they will hear the results of this "facilitated" MOOC, involving 1525 participants. You can read more about this MOOC at http://www.ltlo.ca
 
When: Wednesday, October 7, 2015 - 11am to 12noon Mountain Time (Canada)
 
Where: Online through Adobe Connect at:
https://connect.athabascau.ca/cidersession/
 
Registration is not required; all are welcome. For more information on CIDER and our monthly Sessions, please visit our website:
http://cider.athabascau.ca
 
Pre-configuration:
Please note that it is important to set up your system prior to the event. Make sure your Mac or PC is equipped with a microphone and speakers, so that you can use the audio functionality built into the conferencing software. The Adobe Connect platform may require an update to your Flash Player; allow time for this update by joining the session 10 minutes prior to the scheduled presentation.

Free CIDER session on #Ubiquitous #MOOCs and learner interactions

Tomorrow, Wednesday 7th November, I will be presenting one of the free CIDER sessions organized by the Canadian Institute of Distance Education Research. The title of this 40 minute presentation (with interactions during or after) will be: Looking at Ubiquitous MOOC Learner Interactions. During this session, I will take a look at what MOOCs are and how ubiquity affects learner interactions. 

Starting from the history of MOOCs and their general design, the session will gradually focus on the different learner interactions, mapping preliminary results of a research I am conducting into the effect of mobile access on MOOC learner interactions. 

MOOCs are a contemporary course format that allows students from all parts of the world to connect and interact on specific topics. Traditionally MOOCs use a lot of social media to promote networking and collaboration between learners. These social media in combination with learner created content exchange leads to a specific learner dynamic. In order to analyze the learner interactions I am using the Community of Inquiry framework. This enables research to look at social or personal interactions vis-a-vis academic or intellectual interactions. The reason for looking into these categories of learner interactions is to look at ubiquity or mobile accessibility on open, online courses and whether this ubiquity has an impact on learner interactions of any kind. The research will bring mobile learning and MOOCs together, both of which are contemporary educational formats that have opened up new pedagogical and educational opportunities to increase the effectiveness of learning online.

Details to connect:
When: Wednesday, November 7, 2012 - 11am to 12noon Mountain Time (Canada)
*Local times for CIDER sessions are provided here.

Where to log in for the session: Online through Adobe Connect at:
https://connect.athabascau.ca/cidersession/

Pre-configuration:
Please note that it is extremely important to get your system set up prior to the event. Make sure your Mac or PC is equipped with a microphone and speakers, so that you can use the audio functionality built into the conferencing software. The Adobe Connect platform may require an update to your Flash Player; allow time for this update by joining the session 15 minutes prior to the scheduled presentation.

Registration is not required; so all of you are welcome!

CIDER free webinar: Facilitating quality learning in a Personal Learning Environment through Educational Research

Next Wednesday (4 May 2011) you can follow a free webinar featuring a presentation and discussion with Dr. Rita Kop and Dr. Helene Fournier of the National Research Council, Canada. After speculation in the literature about the nature of possible Personal Learning Environments, research in the design and development of a PLE is now in progress. The researchers speaking in this session will report on the educational research involved in the National Research Council of Canada, Institute for Information Technology’s Personal Learning Environment project. This presentation will highlight important components, applications and tools in a PLE as identified through surveys of potential end users. The learner experience and the minimum set of components required to facilitate quality learning will be placed at the forefront.

When: Wed., May 4th, 2011, 11am – 12pm Mountain Time (Canada)
*Local times for the CIDER sessions for those living in other areas around the world, look here for different timezones.

Where: Online via Elluminate at: https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.8B71B60F2931D029AC3837DC06B70D

Pre-Configuration:
Please make sure your Mac or PC is equipped with a microphone and speakers, so that you can use the audio functionality built into the web conferencing software.
Please note that it is extremely important that you get your system set up prior to the start of the event. Information on installing the necessary software and configuring your PC is available at http://www.elluminate.com/support/ in the “First Time Users” section.

CIDER session: supporting online Teachers: Moving Pedagogical Know-How into Virtual Classrooms

Technology does not necessarily result in better teaching. There are many instances where one can wonder why trainers and teachers even use technology. A virtual classroom for instance does not immediately translate to a more open, pedagogically sound teaching, on more then one occasion virtual classrooms have resulted in ex-cathedra lessons, where the only benefit for the learner is that you do not get caught sleeping.

In fact, I truly belief that a bad teacher does not become better with technology, in fact they make it worse, for bad teachers give eLearning a bad name ... in public! But can we, instructional designers and educationalists tamper with the autonomy of teachers by suggesting them how they can improve their overall pedagogical approach?

If this interests you, look at this presentation. It is an exploration of an action research project focusing on Master of Education professors working in conjunction with an instructional designer. Conversation analysis explored how participants with varied face-to-face teaching experiences - but limited or no online experience - transitioned to becoming effective teachers in virtual classrooms. Results indicate the need for professors to examine their own pedagogical constructs and concepts of learning communities and power relationships. This session will also include discussion on ways in which instructional designers can support professors' transition to online learning.

This session features a presentation and discussion with Wendy Kraglund-Gauthier, St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia.

When: Wednesday, January 5, 2011, 11am-12pm Mountain Time (Canada) *Local times for the CIDER sessions are provided on our website.

Where: Online via Elluminate at:
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.8B71B60F2931D029AC3837DC06B70D

Pre-Configuration:
Please make sure your Mac or PC is equipped with a microphone and speakers, so that we can use the Voice over IP functionality built into the web conferencing software. Please note that it is extremely important that you get your system set up prior to the start of the event. Information on installing the necessary software and configuring your PC is available at http://www.elluminate.com/support/ in the "First Time Users" section.

CIDER free online session: Mobile Learning: Solutions and Challenges

Interested in mLearning? Or do you have a question concerning mobile learning, and you do not know where to ask it? Join this CIDER session presented by Marguerite Koole and myself. We will share our mLearning experience and we will gladly answer any questions you might have on the subject.

(from the CIDER description):
In this session, Marguerite Koole and Inge de Waard will describe two mobile learning projects:

1. A project piloting a Java-based system called "MobiGlam". Through MobiGlam, students accessed Moodle course modules on their mobile devices. Evaluations from this 2008 project highlighted some interesting challenges in the Canadian context.

2. A mobile learning project of the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium and the Institute of Tropical Medicine Alexander von Humboldt, Lima, Peru. Twenty physicians, deployed in urban peripheral HIV/AIDS clinics in Peru, used Smartphones with portable solar chargers to access 3D simulations of interactive clinical cases, discussion forums, and quizzes. A short paper on the project can be found here, if you have any questions, feel free to put them forward.

When: Wednesday, October 6, 2010, 11am-12pm MDT (Edmonton), which is 19.00h CEST, or look here for the time clock conversion.

Where: Online via Elluminate at:
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.8B71B60F2931D029AC3837DC06B70D
The great thing about these CIDER sessions is, you can review them (for free) on a later date as well, for they record all their sessions. Interested in previous sessions? Look here.

Pre-Configuration:
Please make sure your Mac or PC is equipped with a microphone and speakers, so that we can use the Voice over IP functionality built into the web conferencing software. Please note that it is extremely important that you get your system set up prior to the start of the event. Information on installing the necessary software and configuring your PC is available at http://www.elluminate.com/support/ in the "First Time Users" section.

Online CIDER session: Learning Issues for Online Graduate Students by Kelly Edmonds

Interested in understanding your online students a bit better? Join this CIDER session presented by Kelly Edmonds where results are shared from a recent doctoral study that explored the leadership implications for delivering online learning in a mainstream Canadian higher education institution (University of Calgary) by examining the characteristics, attributes, motivations, and perceptions of 163 graduate students.

The data revealed online program issues, the need for faculty presence and development for online environments, and supportive online student services. As well, the data showed leaders must consider working effectively with faculty and ensuring students had quality online experiences. Other leadership considerations were effectively planning, implementing, and delivering online learning as well as marketing online programs.
In this presentation three particular learning issues are shared that were described by participants. These are contentious online learning activities and the offer of blended learning opportunities. As well, participants had difficulties defining specific pedagogical strategies that would aid them in learning online.

When: Wednesday, September 8, 2010, 11am-12pm MDT (Edmonton), which is 19.00h CEST, or look here for the time clock conversion.

Where: Online via Elluminate at:
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.8B71B60F2931D029AC3837DC06B70D
The great thing about these CIDER sessions is, you can review them (for free) on a later date as well, for they record all their sessions. Interested in previous sessions? Look here.

Pre-Configuration:
Please make sure your Mac or PC is equipped with a microphone and speakers, so that we can use the Voice over IP functionality built into the web conferencing software. Please note that it is extremely important that you get your system set up prior to the start of the event. Information on installing the necessary software and configuring your PC is available at http://www.elluminate.com/support/ in the "First Time Users" section.

Join the free CIDER session on Wednesday 6 May, entitled: Re-Thinking E-Learning Research

All of us eLearning researchers and teachers are invited to the next presentation of free CIDER sessions. The next session features a presentation and discussion with Dr. Norm Friesen, Canada Research Chair in E-Learning Practices at Thompson Rivers University.

Title: Re-Thinking E-Learning Research

In education, novel practices, applications, and forms - from bulletin boards to Webcasts, and from online educational games to open educational resources - have been proliferating rapidly. However, research of these changing forms and practices has gravitated towards the methods and philosophical frameworks used to investigate and design earlier instructional technologies and practices: Technical progress is seen as single-handedly "impacting" education, human action is understood as fundamentally rational and rule-bound, and phenomena like education and communication are understood according to strictly functional models.

In this talk, Dr. Friesen will describe how these understandings have been contradicted by unpredictable developments in technology and practice, and by changes in the theory underpinning research itself. Referring to his 2009 book, "Re-Thinking E-Learning Research: Foundations, Methods and Practices", he will outline ways in which research in distance education and e-learning can be re-thought, to catch up to new theoretical, technical and empirical developments.

When: Wednesday, May 6, 2009, 11am-12pm MDT (Edmonton)
to get your local time, look at the worldclock time converter here.

Where: Online via Elluminate at:
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.8B71B60F2931D029AC3837DC06B70D

Pre-Configuration:
Please make sure your Mac or PC is equipped with a microphone and speakers, so that we can use the Voice over IP functionality built into the web conferencing software. Please note that it is extremely important that you get your system set up prior to the start of the event. Information on installing the necessary software and configuring your PC is available at http://www.elluminate.com/support/ in the "First Time Users" section.

CIDER free online presentation on 'Emotion, Learning and the Online Learning Environment.'

Looks like a worthwhile and inspiring presentation coming up:

The Canadian Institute of Distance Education Research, University of Athabasca, presents the next presentation in their series of free CIDER sessions. Their next session features a presentation and discussion with Dr. Marti Cleveland-Innes from Athabasca University and Zehra Akyol from the University of Calgary.

Title: Emotion, Learning and the Online Learning Environment.

I did not find any digital information to enhance this presentation, so I will copy the CIDER information:
"In spite of evidence that more and more students are engaging in online learning experiences (Alan & Seaman, 2006), clarity about the transition to a new learning environment is still at arm's length (Cleveland-Innes, Garrison & Kinsel, 2006). In addition, the impact of the emotion created by dealing with this new environment on learning is virtually (pun intended) undiscovered. In this session, Dr. Marti Cleveland-Innes and Zehra Akyol will review theory and data regarding emotion in online environments, with opportunity for discussion of the effect of emotion on teaching, learning and instructional design.
In addition, this presentation corresponds with the launch of a web-site to support continued discussion and research on emotion and online learning. The web-site will be introduced at the end of the session."

Let's face it the bridge between emotion and online learning needs to be bridged, so this will surely give some great content to reflect upon.

When: Friday, June 20, 2008, 11am-12pm Mountain Daylight Time (= 19 PM London, UK)

Where: Online via Elluminate at:
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.8B71B60F2931D029AC3837DC06B70D


Pre-Configuration:
Please make sure your Mac or PC is equipped with a microphone and speakers, so that we can use the Voice over IP functionality built into the web conferencing software. Please note that it is extremely important that you get your system set up prior to the start of the event. Please don't wait until the day of the session to do this. Information on installing the necessary software and configuring your PC is available at http://www.elluminate.com/support/ in the "First Time Users" section.

The session will be recorded and available for future playback from http://cider.athabascau.ca/CIDERSessions/

CIDER online events: an ICT4D expert from Catalonia

The Canadian Institute of Distance Education Research, University of Athabasca, presents the next presentation in their series of free CIDER sessions. Their next session features a presentation and discussion with Ismael Peña-López, Lecturer and Researcher, Open University of Catalonia.

Title: The Personal Research Portal: The Virtual Faculty or the Net behind the Classroom.

He has an abstract of his presentation posted on his blog. If you are interested in ICT4D, you better check out his blog, he calls it a personal research portal and by Jove that is so true.

In this presentation, Ismael Pena-Lopez expands on his previous research into personal research portals to propose ways in which educators may use web 2.0 tools to build themselves a place on the net - a personal research portal where they may weave their own network of colleagues, share resources, and exchange experiences. The presentation will look at how these personal research portals may impact on the tasks in which educators engage in outside of the classroom, be it of bricks and mortar or virtual. In addition, the presentation will examine the possibility of a virtual faculty based on personal portals built with web 2.0 tools.

When: Friday, April 11, 2008, 11am-12pm Mountain Standard Time (= 19 PM London, UK)

Where: Online via Elluminate at:
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.8B71B60F2931D029AC3837DC06B70D

Pre-Configuration:
Please make sure your Mac or PC is equipped with a microphone and speakers, so that we can use the Voice over IP functionality built into the web conferencing software. Please note that it is extremely important that you get your system set up prior to the start of the event. Please don't wait until the day of the session to do this. Information on installing the necessary software and configuring your PC is available at http://www.elluminate.com/support/ in the "First Time Users" section.

The session will be recorded and available for future playback from http://cider.athabascau.ca/CIDERSessions/
(which I will look at because I cannot make it to the live session - a real pity, because it will be inspiring).