Online learning and students with disabilities

Kolowich, S. (2010) Blinding technology of online learning Inside Higher Education, August 23

In this excellent article, Steve Kolowich examines some of the issues around access to online learning for blind or visually impaired learners. In the USA, this is threatening to become a big issue if Federal legislators decide to apply to online [...]

Should Africa continue to invest in ICT?

Student computer access, Soshangave, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa Photo: © Tony Bates, 2009

This was the topic of a debate at the e-Learning Africa 2010 conference in Lusaka in May.

A report on the debate can found at: http://www.elearning-africa.com/newsportal/english/news255.php

I suggest that this be read in conjunction with:

Reisberg, L. (2010) [...]

Local or global markets for online learning?

Kolowich, S. (2010) Buying local, online Inside Higher Education, July 23

This article looks at whether institutions should focus primarily on local markets for online students, or should seek to recruit from outside their normal catchment area.

Note that unlike the Columbia University study cited below, the Kolowich article assumes (correctly in my view) [...]

Comparing apples with oranges: online vs face-to-face learning in community colleges

Smith Jaggars, S. and Bailey, T. (2010) Effectiveness of Fully Online Courses for College Students: Response to a Department of Education Meta-Analysis New York: Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University.

From the abstract:

Proponents of postsecondary online education were recently buoyed by a meta-analysis sponsored by the U.S. Department of [...]

Wikis and academic scholarship

Kolowich, S. (2010) Whither wikis? Inside Higher Education, July 14

This article takes a broad look at the use of wikis, particularly for academic scholarship/research, compared with student applications, and asks why greater use has not been made of wikis by faculty for this purpose. One reason seems to be the relative anonymity of [...]