Scale

SCALE is the principle that enables institutions to offer their best educational value to learners and to achieve capacity enrollment. Institutional commitment to quality and finite resources require continuous improvement policies for developing and assessing cost-effectiveness measures and practices. The goal is to control costs so that tuition is affordable yet sufficient to meet development and maintenance costs -- and to provide a return on investment in startup and infrastructure. Metrics may compare the costs and benefits of delivery modes by discipline and educational level; faculty salary and workload; capital, physical plant and maintenance investments; equipment and communications technology costs; scalability options; and/or various learning processes and outcomes, such as satisfaction levels and retention rates. These types of comparison enable institutions to: develop better strategic plans for market demand and capture; achieve capacity enrollment; develop brand recognition; and secure long-term loyalty among current and prospective constituents. Practices for scale help to leverage key educational resources while offering new online learning opportunities to students and faculty.

Effective Practice Awards Submissions Due June 30

Submitted by janetmoore on May 27, 2010 - 2:06pm
New effective practices  submitted by June 30 are eligible for awards to be presented at the July 21, 2010 Emerging Technologies for Online Learning Symposium Awards Presentation Luncheon.
Thousands visit effective practices for innovative practices supported by eviden

 

Our Sloan-C Featured Certificate Program Graduate for March 2013 is Katherine Bankole-Medina.

Katherine Olukemi Bankole-Medina is a professor of history at Coppin State University specializing in African American History and African American Studies.

 

Our Sloan-C Featured Participant for February 2013 is Lori Townsend.

Volume, Issue - Date: 
Volume 17, Issue 1- January
Author(s): 
Jay Alden
Oganization: 
National Defense University
Full article - Free: Click on the file to download.: 
Keywords: 
mobile learning, online learning, distance education, distributed education
Abstract: 

Mobile devices and applications are expected to have a significant impact on teaching and learning in the near future. Yet colleges and universities are currently facing severe budget constraints and discretionary funding is restricted for new initiatives. The question addressed in this paper is: “What strategy should an institution of higher learning with limited resources use in adapting the capabilities of mobile devices to benefit its academic programs?” To help answer this question, students were surveyed to identify their perceptions on the importance of a selected set of mobile learning functions, their experience with using those functions, their recommendation for a mobile learning adoption strategy, and information on the particular mobile devices they possess. The recommended strategy was “pick and choose special capabilities to develop” with the selected functions being (1) Receive alerts and reminders about assignments and appointments concerning the course being taken; (2) Communicate individually with faculty, an advisor, or other students using voice, email, or text messaging; (3) Post or reply to items in a poll, discussion board, or other application; and (4) Download and review lesson materials from a course being taken. Other recommendations included techniques for faculty and student support services as well as institutional policies for limiting models of mobile devices for use in courses, making online courseware for laptops and desktops the same as mobile learning courseware, and making the opportunity for mobile learning optional.

Volume, Issue - Date: 
Volume 17, Issue 1- January
Author(s): 
Jeffrey S. Kissinger
Oganization: 
Florida State College
Full article - Free: Click on the file to download.: 
Keywords: 
mobile learning, social learning, social networking, Facebook, e-books, social cognitive theory, expectancy x value theory, situated cognition, situated learning, metacognition, self-determination theory, textbooks, faculty views on mobile learning, student views on mobile learning
Abstract: 
This research was designed to explore the learning experiences of state college students using mobile electronic textbook (e-book) readers. The purpose of the study was to build a rich description of how students used e-books delivered on mobile computing devices for college-level, introductory sociology courses at a public state college in the southeastern United States. This research employed a multiple case study design that investigated and documented student experiences with this instructional technology.
The bounding frame was comprised of the literature on mobile technology, mobile learning theories, and e-books. A theoretical lens of learning theories commonly found in the literature on mobile learning (constructivism, social cognitive theory, self-efficacy theory, expectancy x value theory, self-determination theory, and situated cognition) was situated within the mobile learning framework. The theoretical lens was used to provide insight to the student’s learning experiences.
Six conclusions were drawn from the study: (1) students expressed competence in their use of the mobile e-books, (2) students expressed feelings of high self-efficacy when using the mobile e-books, (3) students valued the use of the mobile e-books for their learning, (4) students were individualized and metacognitive in their learning with the mobile e-books, (5) students enhanced their learning socially and within situated learning opportunities, and (6) the students and the instructor had divergent views on the value and utility of social, interactive textbooks.

February 2013 Facilitator of the Month - Chris Thompson

Submitted by hollyrae on January 30, 2013 - 11:42am

 

Our Facilitator of the Month is Chris Thompson. This month he is facilitating Learning Environments: Mobile Apps. In 2012, Chris developed and facilitated Mobile App and Game Development for Sloan-C Institute, one of our first offerings featuring mobile learning.

 

 

Our Sloan-C Featured Certificate Program Graduate for February 2013 is Heidi Stevenson.


January 2013 Sloan-C Featured Certificate Program Graduate - Paul Dexter

 

Our Sloan-C Featured Certificate Program Graduate for January 2013 is Paul Dexter.

 

January 2013 Facilitator of the Month - Burks Oakley II

Submitted by hollyrae on January 8, 2013 - 4:08pm

 

January 2013 Facilitator of the Month - Burks Oakley II

 

 

January 2013 Sloan-C Institute Features Accessibility Webinar Series

 

Online educators and administrators who aim to achieve best practices in accessibility are taking note of Sloan-C's offerings in 2013, including a four part webinar series.