Learning Together

One of the great aspects of working with the online course development team is that I’m always learning something new. April, Natalie, and Pam all share their expertise and experiences, and I am more effective as an instructional designer because of working with this team.
In reviewing the posts for this month, it occurred to me [...]

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Dylan was right

Interactivity, mobile learning, games and simulations, what does all this have to do with Online Course Development and PLS? The times they are a changin’. Additionally, the business of educating teachers and students needs to change in order to make learning real, worthwhile, and authentic to students’ lives. Teachers face classrooms with issues different from [...]

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Gaming in the Classroom

There has been some controversy about using video games in the classroom. Can children actually learn from a video game? This is a valid question. To understand the true value of using games in the classroom, we need to understand how children learn today.
Outside the classroom, most children use technology in one form or [...]

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What Is Information Literacy?

Information Literacy Helps Us Fight Data Smog
In my previous post on Mobile Learning, I mentioned the importance of teaching information literacy to students. I thought you might enjoy this video/slide show that describes the elements of Information Literacy in more detail. To me Information Literacy equals the skills and ability to filter through and [...]

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The Power of Mobile Learning

Mobile Learning can be defined as any learning experience which employs some type of hand-held or mobile electronic device. If you listen to audio books or presentations on an iPod or other mp3 playing device, you’re actually using Mobile Learning. It’s not an interactive form of Mobile Learning, but it’s Mobile Learning nonetheless. Recently [...]

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Interactivity in Online Education

Online courses which include interactivity are more engaging and effective for learners. Interactivity gives students the opportunity to practice new skills and receive feedback while working at their own pace. It’s one of the features of learner-centered instructional design, rather than content-centered design.
William Horton, author of Designing Web-Based Training, says “Interactivity boosts learning. People learn [...]

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Introducing Online Course Development

Welcome to the new blog for the PLS Online Course Development team. When you want to get the scoop on what’s happening with the online courses, this is the place to come. Because technology is integral to what we do, we’re also going to share what we’re seeing in the field for trends and research [...]

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