Teach Naked?

27 Jul 2009 1:05 PM with no comments

With a tagline like that you would think Jose Bowen taught marketing, not the arts. But the attention grabbing headline aside, he presents an intriguing premise about utilizing course technology  to manage logisitics and deliver basic instruction to students--allowing the lecture to become more interactive and engaging, filled with the best 'aha' moments. He makes the point that the 'live' interaction with faculty and other students is a key competitive advantage for on-ground schools and needs to be nurtured. Here's the original article in the Chronicle of Higher Education. 

Or watch the video:

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Posted by Rob Bloom

Fastest Growing Careers

21 Jul 2009 12:11 PM with no comments

Newsday has created a quick slide show running through the fastest growing careers, according to the he U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections through 2016. Included are careers in healthcare, network administration, criminal justice, and cosmetology. Click here to view the slide show.

Posted by Rob Bloom

Transitioning from $12 Billion Vision to Practical Application

20 Jul 2009 1:35 PM with no comments

The Chronicle of Higher Education analysis of the possible impact of the proposed $12 billion investment in our community college system. Article provides a little more clarity on the grant component of the proposal--saying the government will award grants to innovative programs focusing on retention and remediation

Aside from seeding better connections with the business community, the bulk of the money Mr. Obama proposed is for a pair of new grant programs for states and two-year institutions to test promising programs and practices, including those meant to improve student learning and training, increase completion rates, and better track student progress.

Read the full article here.

Also if you missed the announcement, here is President Obama's speech at MaComb Community College.

Posted by Rob Bloom

Obama to Push $12 Billion into Community Colleges

14 Jul 2009 1:38 PM with no comments

Today President Obama announced his plan to infuse $12 billion into the nation's community college system. Money is to be used in construction, online course development, and grants intended to promote innovation. Most interesting to those working in online education, the new courses developed are to be free and available in the public domain. Read the full Washington Post article here. 

Posted by Rob Bloom

Is Blended Education Best?

4 Jul 2009 9:59 AM with no comments

Interesting report from a meta-analysis (the 'study of studies') conducted by the U.S Department of Education showing that 'blended education' might be more effective than classroom and online experiences by themselves. The study evaluated research conducted from 1996 through 2008 and included 1,100 studies from higher education and K-12 (only including controlled studies and those with empirical findings). Read the full report: Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning,

Posted by Rob Bloom