Online learning through cell phones

On 10/30 I blogged about Liz Kolb's book available through ISTE and Amazon, Toys to Tools: Connecting Student Cell Phones to Education. You can now register for her webinar scheduled for Tuesday, December 16, 2008 (1 pm Pac/2 pm Mtn/3 pm Cen/4 pm Eastern).

On November 12, 2008, Jordan Blum published an article, Classes to be offered via cell phone in 2theAdvocate.com. As an advocate for dL, not as a mandate but an option, I applaud Louisiana Community and Technical College System, or LCTCS for offering 21 general education and business courses for students using iPhones or Blackberries. Tuition for courses offered by LCTCS Online is $63 per credit hour, and financial aid is available for eligible students. There are no additional fees, and the tuition is the same for both in-state and out-of-state students.

I understand this is not the first choice for everyone, just as distance learning is not for everyone, but for those who wish to continue their education without sitting in a lecture hall, this is a great opportunity. I posted the link and article snippets in the high school newsgroup...I am trying to imagine myself as a teenager in an education system where cell phones are banned and then discovering an opportunity to earn college credit using the banned device. My daughter said she might try one course but she likes the social aspect of attending school even though she hates lectures.

But for my peers who are always doing something, from being deployed as a service member to trying to do 48 hours of activities in a 16 hour day, the smart phone courses would be the perfect fit. Again...I am somewhat biased...I love the online learning environment, I love facilitating in the online environment and I despise having someone read a presentation to me. Time is a valuable resource to me...I am still busy trying to make the most of the dash that will rest between my date of birth and death.

So Louisiana Community and Technical College System...you get a hat tip and a round of applause. I know many institutions will be watching as you employ the adage by John Burroughs, "Leap and the net will appear." Check out the courses here. Once there click on the Mobile Content to see the 21 courses offered from English Comp I and II, US History, Macro and Microeconomics.

Tuition for courses offered by LCTCS Online is $63 per credit hour, and financial aid is available for eligible students. There are no additional fees, and the tuition is the same for both in-state and out-of-state students. Registration for online courses begins 1/5/09 and classes begin 1/26/09.

This opportunity offered by LCTCS also demonstrates collaboration between the LA Board of Regents, AT&T, Pearson, and LCTCS.

Trust but verify

Three words that exist in my world for many reasons. Reagan used this phrase often and it is a quote from a Russian proverb. During some of my school assignments I check out technology plans, primarily from the schools that we attend (or have attended), on and off line. What do you do to encourage students to question the school’s technology plan while encouraging critical thinking and decision making skills?

Parents, students, teachers, media specialists, administrators, educational and instructional specialists…is your school’s technology plan up to date? Realistic? Was it created as a copy and paste job? Was the plan created by the administrators that report information, but have no idea about your boots on the ground experience with technology in a classroom, media center, or the school? Is the public information in the plan acceptable to all users? Believable? Accessible?

When is the last time you checked the technology plan for your school, school district, and state department of education? If you have questions about conflicting information, how do you resolve the issue? Do the links provided on the site work? What does one do when the link to report an issue does not work and the POC (point of contact) email is returned? Keep an audit trail.

Are the students aware of the Technology Plan? Do they have an opportunity to provide suggestions, make recommendations? Does your school district have a suggestion improvement plan that works?
Just because the plan is in writing…trust but verify. If your child is growing up with technology and takes issue with what works and does not work at school, it is OK to follow through. Don’t buy the media hype, get connected, get engaged…instead of enraged.

Back in class

The breaks in between classes seem to pass so quickly...but I am looking forward to this class titled, "The Connected Classroom - Curriculum Development and Technology." As I reflect on the past classes and ponder whether I am going to make it through this doctoral process...I can pick up the discussion with three of my co-workers who are also pursuing doctorate degrees.

I am working on my reading, researching, and writing assignments as I recover from phase one of my first dental implant surgery and I am humbled by the pain killing medication. I still prefer eBooks, reading online, and toying with various text readers over the assigned textbook. The online courses I am taking still require me to purchase printed textbooks and I would prefer to have the book read to me during the recovery phase or after a long day on the computer. As I am coming out of the haziness brought on the pain medication, it is challenging to read the assigned books. I look for the supplemental electronic documents, presentations, blogs, and discussion groups but for this class it looks like we will be creating our own. So I am off to read another three chapters and remind my college bound daughter that she will up her reading and writing game very soon.

Northcentral University: http://www.ncu.edu/academics/graduate/graduate.aspx
Augusta State University: http://www.aug.edu/