EDUCATION NEWS
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WHAT KEEPS UNIVERSITIES FROM EMBRACING E-LEARNING?
Much of the focus in e-learning today--from analysts, industry observers, consultants, and technologists--is on e-learning in the corporate world. But the biggest impact and opportunity for e-learning may ultimately be in education. Most governments want to raise the skills and education level of its population, but to date e-learning has had little impact in this area.
http://www.ltimagazine.com/ltimagazine/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=74867
 
WHAT CAN EDUCATION LEARN FROM THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY?
Imagine a school assignment so intriguing that students make it a top conversation topic and organize parties around it. In other words, imagine school grabbing the kind of attention and time that video games do. "Games create a level of motivation for an extended engagement that is truly amazing," writes panelist Dr. James Paul Gee. "I believe that the sine qua non of deep learning in any complex domain is the creation of such motivation for extended engagement."
http://www.iaete.org/soapbox/summary.cfm
 
BBC TURNS ON MICROSOFT FOR EDUCATION
Redmond [is] to develop infrastructure for free online education programme. The BBC has chosen Microsoft to develop the infrastructure for the corporation's free online education programme. Microsoft will build the core software platform based on its .Net platform, with Windows Server 2003, SQL Server and SharePoint portal server at its heart. The BBC Digital Curriculum, scheduled to launch in 2006, will provide video, audio and interactive content over the web aimed at schools, home learners and universities. A spokesman for the corporation said: "We have a huge heritage in education and want to work with the government's own initiative for online learning."
http://www.vnunet.com/News/1147057
 
PERSPECTIVES IN QUALITY ONLINE EDUCATION
The November issue of the Sloan-C View, Perspectives in Quality Online Education, is now available either in PFD or HTML format.
http://www.sloan-c.org/publications/view/index.asp
 
TEACHING WITH A COMPUTER GAME
"Technology is very Buddhist, you know." The statement might seem incongruous. But for John Dunne, an assistant professor in the Department of Languages and Cultures of Asia, describing the core of today's electronic culture in terms of an ancient religion is apt. Indeed, he is employing a staple of modern technology and recreation - the computer game - to teach the central theoretical principles of Buddhism to 300 students in his "Introduction to Buddhism" course.
http://www.doit.wisc.edu/news/story.asp?filename=232
 
A RECIPE FOR WHIPPING UP ONLINE FACILITATION PAR EXCELLENCE
Even with several well-deserved gray hairs from years in the classroom, it is hard to be prepared for the time when the first postings start trickling in to your online course. In the 24x7 environment of online learning, facilitating online is a far cry from the neat and tidy world of the comfortably familiar classroom! Managing diverse personalities and learning styles without face-to-face communication further complicates the situation.
http://online.bcit.ca/sidebars/03november/inside-out-1.htm
 
TECH TRENDS IMPACTING E-LEARNING
Do you remember what you paid for a computer in 1985? If you bought a screamer with 512K of RAM and a 20-MB hard drive, you paid about $4,000. Today a PC with 256 megabytes of RAM and a 30-gigabyte hard drive costs a mere $600. This is proof of the technology paradox where each year brings exponentially greater power at dramatically lower cost. I’m the first to say that we need to focus more on the “learning” and less on the “e-,” but if you can grasp the shifts and flows of technology, you will be better able to plan learning and support solutions for your employees.
http://www.clomedia.com/content/templates/clo_col_elearning.asp?articleid=287&zoneid=44
 
TODAY'S STUDENTS MORE WIRED THAN EVER
If kids today seem more wired than ever, it's because they are. About 90 percent of people ages 5 to 17 use computers and 59 percent of them use the Internet -- rates that are, in both cases, higher than those of adults.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/EDUCATION/10/29/students.computers.ap/index.html
 
WANTED: COURSE REVISION WITHOUT PAIN
Online teaching and learning have been part of my classroom since 1994. My course design has evolved with the technology market. I began with Internet-enhanced courses that made use of UNIX-based e-mail, and then progressed to Web-enhanced courses that incorporated online syllabi, readings, and discussion. It took me 15 minutes to learn the basics of HTML on my own and not much longer to master simple tasks such as resizing images in Adobe Photoshop.
http://ts.mivu.org/default.asp?show=article&id=1034
 

TECHNOLOGY NEWS
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NEW LONGHORN GRAPHICS TOOL CALLED "FLASHKILLER"
Top developers at Microsoft are working on a new graphics and animation toolset for Longhorn (the next generation of Windows) that could spell trouble for Macromedia's popular Flash MX and Director MX animation tools, sources familiar with the situation told internetnews.com. Code-named "Sparkle," the tools under development would be integrated with Microsoft's .NET (define) runtime environment. That would ultimately mean developers could have Flash- and Director-like animation and graphics tools ready-built for them soon after Longhorn hits the marketplace.
http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news/article.php/3104381
 
THE PC INNOVATIONS JUST DON'T STOP
Listen to conventional wisdom, and you'll think the PC's best years are behind it. But a quick glance at the machines in this issue's cover story shows that PCs just keep getting better. And the innovations don't stop at faster processors, more memory, and larger hard drives. Just take a look at some of the advances we've seen this year.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1369165,00.asp
 
THE THIN-AIR DISPLAY
Thin, flat-panel displays are the status symbols du jour. But the displays of tomorrow may be thinner still—so slim, in fact, that they'll literally be made out of thin air. One such display already being tested is the Heliodisplay, invented by MIT researcher Chad Dyner and being developed by IO2 Technology. It projects a video image—or any standard computer image—that appears to float in midair. No special goggles are required.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1367840,00.asp
 
GARTNER SETS TECHNOLOGY PRIORITIES FOR CIOS
Chief information officers (CIOs) shouldn't worry about bringing IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6), 3G (third generation), or 64-bit computing to the desktop until as late as 2007 or 2008, Gartner Inc. analysts advised at the company's Symposium/ITxpo conference. On the other hand, IP virtual private networks (IP VPNs), Wi-Fi, and replacement desktop machines should all be the subject of careful reflection today, the analysts counselled.
http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/11/06/HNgartnerpriorities_1.html
 
MACROMEDIA PREPARES FOR BATTLE 'ROYALE'
Time was that Macromedia exclusively built tools to make the Web really cool to look at--but this is not your father's Internet anymore. The San Francisco-based firm says it is looking to the future where its popular Flash platform dominates a user's experience, whether they are on the desktop or on the go. One of those elements is "Royale," a cross-platform development and deployment technology that helps build rich Internet applications. During a briefing, Macromedia said it is currently working on the technology but did not specify when the technology would debut.
http://siliconvalley.internet.com/news/article.php/3103571
 
A CLASSROOM COMEBACK FOR APPLE?
While K-12 sales numbers are weak, reviving strength in laptops for students and in the college market could signal a broader recovery. Yet, a closer look at the situation shows that Apple may be on the verge of a revival in a sector that accounted for 11 million PC sales worldwide in 2002, according to tech tracker IDC. While its overall education sales were down in the quarter, Apple reported that sales to colleges and universities were the best in seven years.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/nov2003/tc2003114_2699_tc134.htm
 
NOVELL TO ACQUIRE SUSE LINUX
The lay of the Linux landscape is poised for dramatic change. Longtime Microsoft foe Novell has signed an agreement to acquire SuSE Linux for $210 million in cash, while IBM, the most powerful backer of the Linux OS, will make a $50 million investment in Novell. The moves could boost the fortunes of SuSE, the No. 2 seller of Linux, increase the competitive pressure on No. 1 Red Hat, and provide a new direction for Novell’s rivalry with Microsoft.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/988967.asp
 
REPORT: MICROSOFT COURTING GOOGLE FOR POSSIBLE TAKEOVER
Microsoft Corp. has reportedly approached Google Inc. about a potential buyout of the search technology company. Mountain View, California-based Google, one of Silicon Valley's few business success stories in the post-dot-com era, has been meeting with investment bankers over the last several months and exploring its options for a public offering. During that process, Microsoft approached Google to discuss alliance options, including a takeover, according to an article in the New York Times.
http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/10/31/HNmsgoogle_1.html
 
OUTSOURCING'S BENEFITS TOO MUCH TO IGNORE
Another market researcher is weighing in with predictions that IT outsourcing is poised to grow substantially. AMR Research says the number of IT companies that outsource will jump from 20% to 50% in three years. "The reason for the dramatic growth is quite simple," says Lance Travis, lead researcher on the study. "Cost savings from outsourcing are too compelling to ignore. The more aggressive a company's outsourcing strategy, the more money it can save. Unfortunately, risk increases along with savings."
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=L3DTWK5S2O4PCQSNDBCCKHY?articleID=15800363
 
MICROSOFT OFFICE FACES BRITISH INVASION
A small British software maker plans to challenge one of Microsoft's most profitable markets by selling its low-cost package of productivity applications in North America. Ability Plus Software has been selling word processors and other office applications in Europe since the 1980s. The company now hopes to expand by selling Ability Office--a package that combines a word processor, a spreadsheet program and other applications similar to Microsoft's dominant Office --in North America. A retail version of Ability Office that runs on Windows will sell for about $50 and should appear in stores starting in November.
http://news.com.com/2100-1012_3-5100706.html
 
APPLE PLANS TO REMEDY JAGUAR SECURITY ISSUES
Apple Computer said that it plans to issue an update to older versions of Mac OS X to fix security flaws that were patched as part of the new Panther OS. While some in the security community fretted that Apple would only make the patches available as part of the $129 Panther upgrade, Apple said it will also offer the security patches for older versions of Mac OS X.
http://news.com.com/2100-7355-5098688.html
 
AS SCHOOL BUDGETS TIGHTEN, LAPTOPS ARE OFTEN FIRST TO GO
Budget shortfalls are calling into question the future of school laptop programs in some forward-looking states--one of which now appears poised to scale back its ambitious plans to equip all sixth-graders
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/ssunreg.cfm?ArticleID=4727&ul=%2Fnews%2FshowStory%2Ecfm%3FArticleID%3D4727
 
MICROSOFT LOOKS IN THE CRYSTAL BALL
Tablet applications that quickly transform math formulas into graphics, and classrooms where professors can field instant-message queries from remote students: Both are leaping from the drawing board to reality in Microsoft Research projects.
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,113188,00.asp
 
STORED DATA DOUBLES IN THREE YEARS
If you're feeling overwhelmed by information overload lately, you may not be alone. The amount of new information stored on various media such as hard drives has doubled in the past three years, to five exabytes of new information produced in 2002, according to a recent study by the University of California at Berkeley.
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,113170,00.asp
 
 
INTERNET/WIRELESS RELATED
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GOOGLE STARTS SEARCHING FROM THE DESKTOP
Internet search giant Google Inc. is looking to make inroads into the desktop with the rollout of its free Google Deskbar software, which allows Windows users to search the Web and applications without opening a browser. The Deskbar appears as a small inset window on the Windows toolbar and lets users perform searches without leaving desktop tasks as long as the computer is connected to the Internet.
http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/11/07/HNgooglesearch_1.html
 
PENN STATE STUDENTS BLAST NAPSTER DEAL
Angry at what they see as a misuse of their funds, some Pennsylvania State University students are protesting their college's new deal with the Napster music service. The new service was announced with considerable fanfare, touted by university officials and the company as a way to provide students with a legal alternative to downloading music illegally from Kazaa or other file-swapping networks.
http://news.com.com/2100-1027_3-5103918.html
 
AS SECURITY CONCERNS EASE, BUSINESSES WARM TO WI-FI
Security fears have kept many large companies on the wireless-networking sidelines for the past two years, but new intrusion defenses are beginning to put the worst concerns to rest, opening the door to renewed corporate Wi-Fi spending. Wi-Fi gained its reputation as an insecure protocol years ago, when hundreds of network access points were set up without basic security settings turned on.
http://news.com.com/2100-7351_3-5103911.html
 
VIRUS TURNS PCS INTO SPAM MACHINES
A new e-mail virus capable of turning infected personal computers into "spamming" machines emerged, targeting corporate and home users in Europe and the United States, a computer security expert said. Anti-virus software makers Trend Micro reported that tens of thousands of its corporate computer users in France and Germany were hit Friday afternoon by the virus, dubbed "Mimail.C."
http://money.cnn.com/2003/10/31/technology/internet_virus.reut/index.htm
 
CAMPAIGNING IN CYBERSPACE
Next week, Americans will have an opportunity to question the Democratic presidential hopefuls online on issues ranging from Iraq rebuilding to the environment--or anything else on their minds. For four days beginning November 4, the online forum "Conversation with the Candidates" will offer a series of live Web discussions with one candidate at a time. Netizens can submit their questions for up to 60 minutes. A moderator from the Washington Post will choose the questions to submit to the candidates.
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,113147,00.asp
 
 
 
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[NOTE: The selections above are from the Academic ADL Co-Lab News Report, a limited-distribution, weekly executive summary of trends, strategies, and innovations influencing the future of learning and technology in higher education. It is prepared by the University of Wisconsin System Office of Learning and Information Technology (OLIT) in coordination with the Co-Lab. Collegebuys.org/schoolbuys.org is using these selections with permission. The selections from the weekly summaries were selected and edited by David Stuart of collegebuys.org/schoolbuys.org.]
 
[NOTE: This information is provided for information purposes only. Mention or discussion of a product, company, or person does not represent any official endorsement or criticism of the same. All authors and organizations retain complete copyright.]
 
[SOURCE MATERIAL: The reference as specific as possible is provided to a source for each summary. When using an online link, ensure the URL has not been broken with a carriage return.]
 
[ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Judy Brown is the Emerging Technology Analyst for the University of Wisconsin System, OLIT. Brown conducts research and consults for the 15-institution UW System. She is Director of the Academic ADL Co-Laboratory at The Pyle Center in Madison, WI. Until recently she coordinated the WTCS Hardware and Software Purchasing Consortium and other statewide technology initiatives for 16 technical college districts comprised of 47 campuses. Brown was named one of the Top 100 women in computing by McGraw Hill's Open Computing magazine (December 1994). She writes a business technology column for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and is the coordinator of eWEEK's Corporate Partner Program.]
 
[COMMENTS & CONTRIBUTIONS: If you want to offer material, or if you want to comment on the contents, contact Judy Brown at judy@academiccolab.org