EDUCAUSE | lifelong learning

E07 Podcast: An Interview with Mark Notess, Development Manager & Usability Specialist at Indiana University

gbayne — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:47:36 -0600

In this 12 minute podcast, we feature an interview with Mark Notess, Development Manager & Usability Specialist at Indiana University. He is involved in several online learning and research tool development projects including the Variations 3 Digital Music Library Project, and Integrating Licensed Library Resources with Sakai. He also co-authored an article with Lisa Lorenzen-Huber entitled, "Online Learning for Seniors: Barriers and Opportunities". He spoke with Carie Windham at the EDUCAUSE 2007 Annual Conference in Seattle, Washington.

E07 Podcast: An interview with Robert Mendenhall

mpasiewicz — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 13:50:58 -0500

In this 16 minute recording, we'll hear from the President and CEO of Western Governors University, Robert Mendenhall. Listen in as he shares some thoughts on his particpation in a panel discussion about accesss, affordability and accountability in the information age and about online learning more broadly.

European research finds that degrees do not guarantee jobs

catherine — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 10:21:51 -0600

Researchers at Finland's University of Helsinki have found that higher education does not guarantee employment.

This finding may not surprise, but it is very interesting given Finland's position within the European context for education and career progression / workforce mobility. As a small country with a strong social infrastructure, Finns place great emphasis on education (I've included a link to a detailed site for Finnish higher ed policy). However, like other small European nations, they too are increasingly suffering from the social effects of unemployment. Yet a recent World Economic Forum report identified Finland as the world's most competitive economy, citing its "culture of innovation." Education, evidently, has a large role to play in maintaining this position. But is it enough?

Researchers on the Academy of Finland Life as Learning (LEARN) research programme found that changing social conditions and labor market patterns mean that students are studying for longer, and earning more degrees. But even this extended "apprenticeship" period is no guarantee of a secure career path.

While each generation since the 1960s has enjoyed successively better access to education, there has been a corresponding raising of the bar in relation to the qualifications and even personal qualities that employers expect from potential employees.

One factor with important social consequences is that when older employees, for whatever reason, are compelled to re-enter the labor market later in life, they find it much harder to obtain employment since they will be competing with better-qualified (albeit less experienced) candidates. The implication is that patterns of social exclusion will become further entrenched unless ways are found to bring candidates back within the circuit of workers with "current" skills.

An Interview with Matthew Stafford, Vice Dean of Distance Learning at Air University, USAF

mpasiewicz — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 11:53:00 -0600

In this 17 minute interview with the Vice Dean of Distance Learning at Air University, we'll listen in as Matthew Stafford shares thoughts on a range of topics including distance learning, gaming and simulation, cybersecurity, communities of practice, and learning styles.

KT Tay on Singapore's Republic Polytechnic

mpasiewicz — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 12:15:00 -0500

In this podcast, we'll listen in on an interview with KT Tay of Singapore's Republic Polytechnic, a new school with paperless offices, paperless classrooms, and a unique learning environment. The running time for this recording is approximately 15 minutes.

Xplora: Using ICT to improve motivation for science pupils

catherine — Thu, 08 Sep 2005 06:54:24 -0500

European Schoolnet -- a network of 28 Ministries of Education across Europe -- has just launched the Xplora science gateway.

This is a fantastic online learning resource. It’s chock-full of ideas, teaching and learning materials, information, ‘hands-on science’ case studies, and opportunities to collaborate. The content is of outstanding quality and breadth. It’s also Creative Commons-licensed.

Xplora is one of the first sites I’ve come across that seems truly designed for lifelong learning. In many ways it exemplifies the European approach, emphasising education across the lifespan and using ICT to motivate and “catch” pupils at an early stage. The site is broad in scope: aimed not just at science teachers or students, but at scientists and science communicators as well. They’ve thought about longevity and helping users with ICT: apart from their enlightened approach to content licensing, they offer support and guidance on using Open Source tools for science education.

The design is inventive and visually engaging. The written expression is clear and unfussy, but not patronising (a difficult balance to hit, and I think they got it right – in three European languages). Moreover, the site is not a static resource: it will grow and develop, with guidance from a teachers’ steering group (coordinated by Karl Sarnow; Alan Pagden from the University of East Anglia is the contact).

Xplora has already attracted two science luminaries as patrons: Benoit B. Mandelbrot (remember fractals?) and Ray Kurzweil (AI guru).

Xplora is supported by the PENCIL project, a project funded by the European Commission's Directorate General for Research. The PENCIL project is in turn part of the Nucleus framework, a cluster of science education projects including Europe's major research laboratories. All worth checking out.