International Reports: The area above contains a short selection of country reports on e-learning or distance education. Click on the image to see the post. The selected country reports will be changed from time to time
Welcome
Welcome to my personal site for resources in online learning and distance education. It is personal because it contains the resources I have found useful and interesting. I focus mainly on resources associated with or relevant to post-secondary education. This site is meant as a resource for students, faculty and academic administrators interested in online learning. Although I have overall responsibility for this site, I am helped by other experts in distance education and online learning, who provide additional resources and links, and manage some of the discussions. The priority for all … [Read More...]
This Month’s Featured Post
A report on e-learning from the University of Ottawa
At the beginning of May I was in Ottawa, first to present to the University of Ottawa’s Board of Governors about the current state of online learning in Canada, in support of their excellent plan for e-learning that was before the Board of Governors. A steady move to increased hybrid learning U of Ottawa already has five [...]
Most Recent Posts
The beginning of the end of the lecture hall?
The conference in Orlando University Business is a magazine that focuses on equipment and facilities, including IT and AV systems. UB thus has its pulse on key technology trends and developments in universities, many of which have important implications also for teaching and learning. Every year it runs an annual national conference and I attended this year's conference in Orlando, … [Read More...]
CNIE conference on Leadership and Innovation in Learning
I was in Ottawa in early May also to give a keynote at the Canadian Network for Innovation in Education conference. I am ashamed to admit that this is the first time I've been to a CNIE conference since it was formed about 10 years ago by the amalgamation of CADE (the Canadian Association of Distance Education) and AMTEC, who represented campus-based instructional designers and technology support … [Read More...]
A report on e-learning from the University of Ottawa
At the beginning of May I was in Ottawa, first to present to the University of Ottawa's Board of Governors about the current state of online learning in Canada, in support of their excellent plan for e-learning that was before the Board of Governors. A steady move to increased hybrid learning U of Ottawa already has five programs and 76 courses that are available online, and is planning to … [Read More...]
A busy spring
Go to Rome or sit at home and write blog posts? I've had harder questions to answer in my life. Of course, I could have gone to Rome and blogged, but c'mon, guys. No blog posts? Been too busy. But I will post individual reports on the following over the next day or two (which will explain why I've been busy this last month): University of Ottawa's report on e-learning the CNIE … [Read More...]
Discussing design models for hybrid/blended learning and the impact on the campus
A couple of weeks ago I had an interesting meeting with about 25 instructional designers from UBC, where we discussed design models for hybrid learning, defined as a deliberate attempt to combine the best of both face-to-face and online learning. Hybrid learning: the next big change in online learning? Despite all the hype about MOOCs, hybrid learning is probably the most significant … [Read More...]
Can you teach lab science via remote labs?
Contact North (2013) The Colorado Community College System Sudbury ON: Contact North Contact North has been developing a series of posts on institutions that are 'game-changers' in online learning. The latest describes the Colorado Community College System's use of remote labs for teaching experimental science in first year college physics, chemistry and biology courses. Remote labs are … [Read More...]
Queen’s University’s report on online learning
Senate Academic Planning Task Force (2013) Draft Report March 2013 Kingston ON: Queens University Queen's University in Ontario, Canada, was one of the first universities worldwide to offer distance education courses, in 1888. It has recently released an 84 page report on online learning, developed by its Senate Academic Planning Task Force. The SAPTF was mandated to study virtualization … [Read More...]
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Dr. Tony Bates is the author of eleven books in the field of online learning and distance education. He has provided consulting services specializing in training in the planning and management of online learning and distance education, working with over 40 organizations in 25 countries. Tony is a Research Associate with Contact North | Contact Nord, Ontario’s Distance Education & Training Network.
Recent Comments
Tony Bates on The beginning of the end of the lecture hall?
Hi, Alex Great quote. My worry is that while the lecture hall may eventually be replaced, we are still perpetuating the lecture...Alex Kuskis on The beginning of the end of the lecture hall?
It's amazing to me that some "experts" are only now announcing "the beginning of the end of the lecture hall."...Nsubuga Jonah on Thin client cloud computing for South African schools
I want to get the thin client for my school. the school is in Uganda but i,m travelling to pretoria...Stephen Downes on CNIE conference on Leadership and Innovation in Learning
> very few of the presentations had been carefully evaluated to see what students had actually learned. Innovation without evaluation...Tony Bates on Update on investments in online learning: Desire2Learn gets $80 million
In 2010 it was approximately 12 with Desire2Learn, but I think that figure has increased slightly since then. Moodle was...Tony Bates on Can you teach ‘real’ engineering at a distance?
Thanks, Bradley. There is also moves to create remote labs (see http://www.tonybates.ca/2013/04/22/can-you-teach-lab-science-via-remote-labs/). However, I've seen nothing yet developed for engineering....Tony Bates on Can you teach ‘real’ engineering at a distance?
Many thanks for this, Jim - there's nothing like a testimonial from an actual student.Jim on Can you teach ‘real’ engineering at a distance?
Hello all. Regarding the Distance Engineering Degree Program at University of North Dakota, I am currently in the program (civil engineering)...