Global Snapshot: Online Learning

Institutions around the world have embraced the concept of online learning as a methodology to serving the educational needs of their learners. Great variations has evolved in the strategies, approaches, technologies and pedagogies employed by different regions of the world. Gathering insights into the state of online learning at a global level is difficult, time consuming and costly. A one-day "snapshot" of various regions of the world and their responses to the opportunities presented by online learning offers the chance to compare notes, share ideas and broaden our understanding of the challenges and innovations in the field. Small study teams will be organized in the spring of 2010 to explore a set of common questions regarding the challenges and advances in global online learning. The study teams were self-identified and self selected a geographic region of the world. Developing a set of common questions, each study team will be encouraged to seek representative answers for their region. Very few parameters will be provided to the study teams short of the common set of questions. Each team may elect to do as much or as little as desired. The team leader will be responsible for organizing the research load and each team member must contribute something to the findings. Common Questions 1. Briefly describe the status of online learning (fairly broadly defined as technology-enhanced learning, not restricted to "web-based systems) in a geographic area. 2. What are the major challenges or issues faced by this online learning initiative? 3. What new approaches (technology/pedagogy, audience etc…) are being considered by the initiative to address these challenges? On July 12, 2010, a one-day Global Snapshot conference will be convened at the University Park of Penn State University. All team members will be welcomed to attend however attendance is not mandatory. Accommodations will be made for "virtual" conference participation. An information management system will be crafted in Ning to gather, refine and present the team's findings. This presentation will provide a report out of the process, and research structure as well as the findings of the teams.