Monday sessions at e-Learning 2008

Just a note that I am continuing on annual leave after the conference. I appreciate the comments that have already been made. I'll plan to respond to these and any others that are made next week. Hope your week goes well!

Okay, get ready to overwhelmed. I don't recommend trying this at work because you may end up spending the rest of your day checking out this site. On my first post from the conference I mentioned Web 2.0 tools. Take a look at the possibilities on this site: http://www.go2web20.net/. Keep in mind this is a wide open list so be prepared for anything when you click.



I attended sessions Monday on:

• Predicting and Ensuring Student Success in the Online Classroom


• The Idea of Quality and Intentional Improvement


• Tackling Diversity and Culture in Distance Learning


• Instructional Challenges in the Mobile Education World

Some points made by presenters and subsequent areas for discussion rolling around in my head

... distance learning has a paradox in that the reason students enroll in our courses (my job is too time-consuming for me to attend classes) becomes the very reason they don't complete said course (my job is too time-consuming)

... how warm and welcoming is your first Blackboard announcement?

... how important for student success is the textbook you choose? do you need to look at something different?

... a couple of presenters have challenged faculty to have an anonymous discussion forum addressing what should I (the instructor) keep doing, stop doing, and start doing -- anyone daring enough to invite that feedback?

... from a diversity perspective (though it really applies to all students), we need to increase the student's self-confidence with the technology so success can be achieved and connect students to what they already know and value from their own culture (one attendee described it as helping students "find themselves in the course")

The most moving part of the day was the award of the Distance Learning Student of the Year. This is annually given to a nominated student from the host school for the conference (St. Petersburg College this year). I can't really do justice to this student's story so I'm hoping that they taped it and will put it online. I'll keep an eye out for that and share it with you when available.