March 2, 2009

Good Morning Developers,

Now that March has arrived we have almost reached the season of spring, yipee! It makes those summer developments you are working on seem like their roll out date isn't that far away. Please remember that your 25% completion deadline is Monday, March 9th (one week from today). If you have concerns about meeting this deadline please let me know ASAP.

In the past week there have been two very interesting news updates that pertain to online learning. The first one is from the Department of Psychology, SUNY, Fredonia, NY. They studied how iTunes University can assist students in the classroom. Their findings revealed that
students who listened to a podcast while going through power point lecture notes scored significantly higher on a test than students who sat through the same the lecture in the traditional lecture format. So those of you who are posting lecture notes in your courses (which should be all of you) now have proof that if you also record a podcast to go with your power point presentations your students will learn much better! http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VCJ-4V5GCPP-2&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=e37f858b8a49dca5d5cd6a8c85494e7a

If you have questions about how to create a podcast just let me know!

The second update is from Microsoft and how they are exploring educational link to video games. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jDQ-SWd6OPxfVg2xMiYzMvPxF5UgD96FCQL82

Could playing video games draw students into learning and get them more interested in Scientific Thinking? Here at Globe University we think playing games, or doing learning objects, can really get students interested in the material! See these websites to find learning objects that are related to your subject matter:

http://www.lolaexchange.org/
http://www.mrelot.org/
http://www.wisc-online.com/

Have a great week!

Amy

P.S. Don't forget to set your clocks for day light savings on Sunday!