Weekly E-Newsletters
Learn about vital trends,
news and updates
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lead News
Electronic Readers Gaining Ground?
Houston Community College Southwest recently launched a pilot program introducing an electronic reader device in place of traditional college textbooks. The project, financed through HCC Chancellor Mary Spangler’s Innovative Fund Program, features an Amazon Kindle, and its goal is to determine if these devices are the future of classrooms across America. The pilot will involve a Philosophy and English course this fall and is tied to the College’s plan to find innovative ways to enhance student learning.
“We are very excited about having this cutting edge technology at the hands of our students,” says Dr. Doug Rowlett, HCC-SW English professor and head of the project. “We anticipate great results from the pilot and will closely monitor and research the outcome.”
The concept is easy and it holds several key components. One factor is mobility; the thought of having hundreds of textbook titles and research materials at your fingertips is astounding. Students will no longer have to carry around books in backpacks. Another factor is expense, with the rising cost of college textbooks; students now have another, inexpensive option. Its accessibility is also an advantage. Students will no longer have to wait in long lines at bookstores or search for online bargains. Everything is purchased online with the touch of a mouse, and books are downloaded in a matter of minutes. E-book readers also boast a cost-effective and environmental-friendly format. Publishers would spend less publishing books, and students would no longer need to purchase those 800-page biology texts, thus saving paper along the way.
The notion of a paperless classroom is still years away and there are barriers to overcome in order to get there. There is an initial investment to be made considering the Amazon Kindle and similar devices on the market retail for $149.99 and up.
The question is will the device deter or enhance student’s learning abilities and will it encourage or discourage traditional reading methods? That is all part of what HCC SW expects the pilot program to answer.
After the semester concludes this month, an intense assessment of the program will be conducted. Three key factors will be assessed. First is to measure student learning and retention to determine if there is any clear benefit to paperless classes as opposed to traditional classes. Secondly, to gauge whether e-books and e-book readers function well in the modern classroom and recognize if they offer a cost-effective friendly substitute for traditional textbooks. Thirdly, to work with HCC and other institutions’ efforts to create the beginnings of digital teaching and learning materials in an e-book format accessible to all students and faculty.
Collaborative Learning Assessment Electronic collaboration has become the standard when it comes to e-learning and training, product... »
Learning! 100 Awards Launched to Honor Best in Class Learning Organizations Elearning! Media Group and Aberdeen Group Partner to Create Learning! 100 Award Program
»
E-learning Goes Everywhere Enterprise Learning's New Frontiers: Mobile Learning, Virtual Worlds, 3-D Simulations, Serious Games »
Collaboration and Social Networking in Today’s Enterprises A Research Study Of The Enterprise Learning Audience »
Learning Pros Looking to Update Their Current Learning & Talent Systems Despite Sluggish Economy, 'It's Time,' Say Respondents to Our Annual Survey
»
Latest News
Learning! 100 Awards Launched to Honor Best in Class Learning Organizations Elearning! Media Group and Aberdeen Group Partner to Create Learning! 100 Award Program
»
Elearning! Opens Nominations for Best of Elearning! 2010 Awards Exclusive Reader’s Choice Awards Program Now Features Separate Government and Enterprise... »
Deals
Taleo to Acquire Learn.com Taleo, a leading provider of on-demand talent management solutions, announced it has signed a... »
Promethean Acquires Assessment Company Promethean World PLC has agreed to acquire SynapticMash Inc., a start-up U.S. education formative... »
Leveraging Interactive Games Duke University School of Medicine and Virtual Heroes have signed a framework agreement on a... »
People on the Move
Changes Occur at the Top After more than eight years at Blackboard, Mike Beach has retired as CFO. John Kinzer has succeeded... »
Saba Software Appoints Jeff Carr SABA SOFTWARE has appointed Jeff Carr as its new president of Global Field Operations. Reporting to... »
Geometrix Data Systems Adds Talent Management Specialist GEOMETRIX DATA SYSTEMS has added talent management specialist Colin Houghton to its TrainingPartner... »
Resources
What Return on Investment Does E-learning Provide? Organizations make investments in e-learning solutions with the expectation that the solutions will... »
Training's Role in Talent Full article text and slides for article featured in February '09 edition of Elearning!... »
Case Studies
Creating a Corporate University for Employees and Customers The Numbers Are Staggering: 30,000 Man-Hours of Instruction, 9,000 Course Completions.
»
Coping with a ‘Perfect Storm’ In any large, well-established organization, making changes can be as challenging as reversing the... »
Soaring to New Heights A ‘Mad Dash’ To New E-Learning Objectives Proves Successful For Air University's Top... »
New Products
TOOLS: Mobile Apps Made for All the Major Platforms Blackboard has released native applications for Android, BlackBerry and iPhone OS-powered devices... »
CONTENT: Many Enhancements to New Virtual Classroom WiZiQ’s new Virtual Classroom -- designed specially for teachers and students -- offers... »
LMS: LMS Software with Training Managers in Mind Meridian Knowledge Solutions’ updated learning management system (LMS) software, Meridian Global... »
Voices
Enlisting the Unconscious Mind Four Ways To Make Sure A Learner's Whole Brain Fully Embraces The Learning Process
»
Training for Conviction, Not Just Compliance For Learning to Work, Simulations Must Match Real-Life Situations In Many Respects
»
Trendlines
ROI Important to College Students Now, more than ever people investing in college want to know that return they can expect for their... »
Training Is Key to Cybersecurity Laws If new federal cybersecurity legislation is passed in September or October, here’s what you can... »
U.S. Students Have Room to Improve Technology may be a key in advancing the education of U.S. students compared with that of other... »
Tips
Rapid E-learning: The Skies Are (Not) the Limit Budget cuts have put the squeeze on training, with employee travel for learning being one of the... »
Resources for green-minded companies and organizations Elearning! Summits, Sustainable Communications, Global Reporting and more... »
Philanthropic Searches More than 60,000 non-profits have partnered with a new Yahoo-powered search engine (GoodSearch.com)... »
channel guide
GOVERNMENT MARKETS
Federal Military State & Local EducationSOLUTIONS
Learning & Talent Systems Virtual Classroom Content Tools Collaboration/Web 2.0 Tools Services
Get the latest edition of Elearning Magazine!
Don't miss out, Subscribe Now!
Learn about vital trends, news and updates
