Virtual College News Feed

E-learning tool 'should help GPs understand dementia'

Thu, 17 May 2012 02:51:57 +0100

The Alzheimer's Society and the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Group's medical education division BMJ Learning have set up a virtual learning environment for general practitioners (GPs), following a survey revealing only 37 per cent of these professionals believe they have been given sufficient basic training on dementia.

The poll of 382 GPs, which was financed by the Alzheimer's Society's partner Lilly, found 71 per cent would like to be able to use online learning to understand more about the condition.

Furthermore, 75 per cent specifically wish to know how to manage the behavioural symptoms caused by the cognitive decline.

While 88 per cent of respondents said diagnosing dementia at an early stage can bring benefits to the patient, 65 per cent of the professionals reported a significant number of individuals with the neurological condition do not go to a general practice, which impacts the number of people who are told they have the ailment.

Furthermore, 66 per cent argued the stigma associated with the illness can provide a barrier to diagnosis.

"We need to support GPs as much as possible as they have a vital role to play in diagnosing and supporting people with the condition, which is why we are very excited to launch this online learning tool," Alzheimer's Society chief executive Jeremy Hughes said.

The e-learning course includes sections on non-drug treatments for behavioural aspects of dementia, such as music, social interaction and hobbies, as well as information about early diagnosis.

Wigan GP Dr Alex Turnbull noted informing people they have dementia as quickly as possible enables them to access potential treatments and support, as well as prepare for the future.

He claimed it is "vital" that GPs have the information and support they need to help patients.

"This online learning tool is a great new resource, which should help empower GPs to achieve that," Dr Turnbull added.

According to the Alzheimer's Society, approximately 800,000 people in the UK have dementia, with women representing two-thirds of this number.

Indian e-learning courses attracting wide range of learners

Wed, 16 May 2012 02:11:43 +0100

The online training courses offered by the Centre for Environment, Planning and Technology (CEPT) University in Ahmadabad, India, are attracting students from all over the world.

People who are more than 50 years old, architects, government employees, self-employed workers, private sector personnel and even learners from foreign countries are all enrolling on the e-learning programme, the Indian Express reports.

Course director at CEPT Professor Sejal Patel claimed around one-fifth of all participants come from nations such as Bhutan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Belgium and Sri Lanka.

Furthermore, other people are in senior positions within the state, including members of the Ministry of Urban Development, the Ahmadabad Urban Development Authority and groups such as Poverty Alleviation, he revealed.

Professor Saswat Bandopadhyay, chair of CEPT's Centre for Continuing Education, told the publication that virtual learning environments used to be generally accessed by men.

However, at present, 46 per cent of the participants are female, he stated, pointing out "the enrolment is almost in an equal ratio".

Some of the popular course titles the academic facility provides include Urban Infrastructure Planning, Urban Planning, Environment and Sustainable Development and Environmental Impact Assessment.

Around 25 per cent of the people involved in these programmes are engineers, while a further 15 per cent come from a scientific background, Professor Bandopadhyay added.

"The e-learning course has helped me to understand the nuances of recent demand and practices in the sector," Harpreet Singh Brar, who took the Urban Infrastructure Planning course, told the news source.

He claimed online learning gave him a professional edge and helped him to stay knowledgeable in his industry.

People taking a course through this method will not have to travel to the university to attend lectures or take exams.

Everything is accessible over the internet, meaning students will never have to come to the campus, with registration even taking place on the web.

Online learning 'has benefits over traditional settings'

Tue, 15 May 2012 02:06:43 +0100

E-learning has a number of advantages when compared with traditional classroom education.

This is according to Stock Market Digital editor Artika Shah, who wrote in Business Review India that online learning courses help teachers to develop students' knowledge of the internet.

Furthermore, it can help youngsters build self-confidence by enabling them to successfully take responsibility for their own education, she continued.

A well-designed virtual learning environment has been shown to result in higher levels of retention than instructor-led academia, while it is also more cost-effective than classrooms, she remarked.

Online training enables people to study the course from their own home, minimising the amount of time spent travelling. This provides flexibility, Ms Shah declared, noting it allows students to take a class at any time and in any location.

She called this aspect "the greatest advantage of e-learning".

Personalisation can be enacted throughout academia with online learning, as it allows students to choose materials that meet their level of knowledge, as well as their specific interests.

"E-learning offers solutions that are cost-effective, totally customisable and easy to manage and access," the specialist said.

However, Ms Shah noted it can involve significant amounts of time management and self-discipline to succeed when studying through this platform.

Motivation is essential if a person is to benefit from online courses as the academic experience "can be impersonal", she continued.

While it is "definitely helpful in teaching background and technical information", some subjects such as sports or public speaking will need to be bolstered through further assistance and are not good candidates for e-learning by itself, the expert noted.

Online learning is an emerging sector in India, creating opportunities for students and jobseekers.

"It is a field where the instructional designers, developers and graphic designers brainstorm together to develop effective and creative learning content for the instructor-led and web based courses." Ms Shah said.

The Express News Service recently reported that e-learning is also becoming popular among students in Bangalore, with young people in the Indian city commonly using digital technologies to communicate and study.

Online learning takes off in Phoenix

Sat, 12 May 2012 02:50:51 +0100

E-learning is making a significant impact in the US city of Phoenix, Arizona.

According to the East Valley Tribute, people are seeking out education in the Mesa Unified School District's traditional establishments because of the region's strong online learning platforms.

Its Mesa Distance Learning Programme (MDLP) was one of the first online training schemes the state approved in the 1990s.

Around two years ago, there were 9,000 students taking classes in the district, but this has risen to 14,000, MDLP coordinator Doug Barnard told the publication.

Furthermore, the unified school districts of Chandler and Gilbert have enabled people to engage in online education full-time.

Last year, around 2,200 e-learning modules being taken through this platform, but this has doubled to around 4,400 of these so-called 'open courses'.

The region has offered distance learning online for approximately nine years and the scheme is coordinated by Scott Lymer.

He estimates around 150 students are taking these classes full-time, with 3,500 individuals using them to bolster their studies.

Some of the participants could have struggled in traditional classroom settings but have been able to realise success through these innovative educational tools.

Other people have taken advantage of this opportunity because health problems have made it difficult for them to attend school or have resulted in them missing days of education.

For example, 16-year-old Melody Kirshberg was normally a good student but began finding it hard to keep up after suffering from stomach issues.

She utilised e-learning for help and managed to take her final exam in Geometry last week.

Ms Kirshberg is also studying English, trigonometry and biology through this platform and is finding it easier to stay on top of her subjects.

"I love it. You can go at your own pace. You don't have to wait if someone else doesn't get it. I find it so much fun," she told the news source.

"All children, regardless of race, ethnicity, socio-economic status and gender, deserve access to an excellent education," Arizona Department of Education's superintendent of public instruction John Huppenthal recently said.

Architectural technology e-learning course praised in awards ceremony

Fri, 11 May 2012 02:57:44 +0100

An online learning course from the University of Ulster has been commended in a major national competition.

Construct Online allows people studying architectural technology to perform site visits through distance learning, meaning they do not have to leave the classroom.

The online training course, which was developed by Dr Kenny McCartan and David Comiskey, was praised at the Joint Information Systems Committee's Regional Support Centre for Northern Ireland, where it received an E-Learning Award for Teaching and Learning.

President of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists Colin Orr said the course provides an "innovative way of bringing theory into practice".

Participants in the subject can visualise the complexity of a building project from its initial design phase to its eventual completion, he said.

Furthermore, the quizzes enable students and teachers to evaluate their success, the specialist pointed out.

The project consists of a number of tests to examine progress and knowledge, as well as six videos for distance learning online.

These films demonstrate several theoretical processes linked to the construction of a new property, allowing individuals to study and follow the building site without leaving the classroom.

Developer Mr Comiskey, who is a lecturer in architectural technology, said work began on the e-learning course around 18 months ago, following financial assistance from the Centre for Higher Education Practice.

It was set up for first-year university students, he noted, explaining many arrive at the institution "without having any experience of construction related modules".

"We wanted to introduce them to a world of construction which is easily accessible," the expert continued.

Currently, the e-learning platform is only accessible to attendants of the University of Ulster.

The awards ceremony was attended by Northern Ireland's minister for employment and learning Dr Stephen Farry, who called the e-learning industry "an area of immense and rapid growth and change".

He had previously noted the government's strategy is for training facilities and colleges in the nation to be "key deliverers of skills at all levels, to meet the needs of employers, individual learners and the communities in which they live and work".

Malaysian youths 'should embrace e-learning'

Wed, 09 May 2012 15:10:36 +0100

Young people in Malaysia will have to embrace online learning in the immediate future, an expert has said.

The Star Online reports that Datuk Wee Hong Seng, chairman of the Clifford Beers Foundation, argued youngsters should be taught how to elaborate and expound on the topics they learn, understand information they read on the internet and dissect this data.

If this occurs, they will be able to demonstrate a "complete understanding of the topic at hand", the representative declared.

He was speaking at Merdeka Place at the Target Achievers Team's best student awards presentation and educational discussion.

During the event, 60 students were rewarded with gifts and trophies by the organisation in recognition of outstanding academic performances.

All of the recipients had received top results in a series of major Malaysian qualifications.

Mr Hong Seng noted the Target Achievers Team itself has set up an e-learning system, which has enabled students to be tested over the internet and has kept teaching materials for the courses readily available for all participants.

Recently, there has been a notable advancement in the power of information technology and this has allowed lecturers and teachers to be innovative in their methods and meet the rising demands of young people, he added.

However, he pointed out that it is becoming "more of a common sight" to see young people playing with smartphones and other digital gadgets instead of "interacting with each others face to face".

"While IT does a lot of good, it should be used in moderation," he declared, arguing individuals should not always be "glued to the screens" of computing devices.

His comments complement statements recently made by PhD student at Canada's University of Prince Edward Island Bonnie Stewart, who argued that e-learning will support traditional models of education in the future, rather than totally supplant them.

E-learning 'could change the world'

Wed, 09 May 2012 03:00:29 +0100

Online learning has the potential to change the world.

This is according to David Brooks, op-ed columnist for the New York Times, who wrote in the publication that virtual learning environments give students "access to the world's best teachers".

He pointed to the recent edX e-learning platforms launched by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, claiming other prestigious establishments - such as Carnagie Mellon and Yale - are similarly "moving aggressively online".

EdX enables millions of men and women from across the globe to be able to access online courses for free.

Furthermore, the universities will utilise the system to discover how people learn and what innovations can assist in academia.

"EdX is designed to improve, not replace, the campus experience," MIT president Susan Hockfield said.

In the future, this development could enable "star professors" to deliver lectures to millions of individuals and might extend the influence of American universities throughout the globe, Mr Brooks stated.

"Online learning seems especially useful in language and remedial education," the specialist declared.

He suggested using a virtual platform to assist in academia makes it simple to tailor a course to the preferences and pace of a specific student.

In the future of e-learning, a local educator could select a certain reading material from a range of different lecturers, who would be able to provide a wide array of perspectives about a particular matter from countries across the globe.

Mr Brooks predicted this would result in the district's professor conversing and tutoring students regularly but lecturing them less.

Furthermore, he pointed to Harvard Business School's Clayton Christensen, who has argued online training would make it "easier to break academic silos", allowing teachers to combine literature and history or chemistry and calculus within a single e-learning course.

The internet will make it possible for "the most committed schools and students to be better than ever", the columnist remarked.

Youngster stays on top of courses with e-learning solutions

Sat, 05 May 2012 03:01:08 +0100

A student has succeeded in education through distance learning online, despite moving home and leaving the traditional classroom setting behind.

Wauwatosa Now reports Anna Anhalt used virtual learning environments full-time, while working part-time at a confectionary in Waukesha and travelling between her divorced parents' houses.

She has now completed e-learning courses in Honours US Government, Advance Placement Literature and Environmental Science, but is currently working on the final part of Environmental Sciences and Life Skills.

After completing her high school education with these online training tools, the pupil is considering going to college to study business.

She left the classroom in January and began using online learning solutions because this academic practice fit in with her busy lifestyle and both her mother and father believe the decision was a good one.

Mum Laurie Jewell, who is the curriculum coordinator and dean of students for a charter school in Milwaukee, told the publication she was initially a "little concerned about her taking all online courses".

"Having seen her achieve, I don't have any concerns now," she added.

Father David Anhalt praised the winter vacation period embedded in the online training tools, noting the virtual learning environment "gives us flexibility to spend time together".

Ms Anhalt explained she had not missed going to her old educational facility.

"I never dreamed I could do this, but when I asked about it for my senior year, I was excited to find out that I could do it now," she told the news source.

Ms Anhalt has even used e-learning to study from overseas territories, travelling to London in February with her father and staying on top of her academia during this timeframe.

According to the US' National Education Association, computers and emerging information technology innovations are sparking fundamental alterations to the ways people learn and teach.

The previously impenetrable barriers of space and time are falling down, with modern advances enabling educators and students to engage in new opportunities and choices for education, it declared.

Now, virtually every academic institution can use the internet and individual facilities are increasingly using online learning to boost their provisions, the public body noted.

MIT and Harvard reveal online learning details

Fri, 04 May 2012 03:00:49 +0100

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University have revealed details of their online learning partnership.

Called edX, the initiative will enable people around the world to access online educational content provided by the two US universities.

MIT's recently launched MITx will act as the foundation platform for the new service and the two establishments are to release edX as open source software, so it can be utilised by other organisations. In addition, it is hoped more universities will join the edX service and make content available online.

In addition, MIT and Harvard will use edX to ascertain the popularity of learning tools and methods and adjust their on-campus and online teaching methods accordingly.

Both have committed to investing $30 million (£18.5 million) each in the upkeep of the initiative, which will be based in Cambridge, Massachusetts and managed by a not-for-profit organisation.

The first courses will get underway through the project by the autumn and the two universities said they aim to offer as diverse a range of topics as possible.

Harvard president Drew Faust said edX "gives Harvard and MIT an unprecedented opportunity to dramatically extend our collective reach by conducting groundbreaking research into effective education and by extending online access to quality higher education".

Susan Hockfield, president at MIT, added the initiative creates "a bold new educational path for millions of learners worldwide" and also gives the university the opportunity to raise on-campus standards through the use of web-based learning.

However, she added online learning will not replace the campus experience, noting the latter "offers opportunities and experiences that cannot be replicated online".

The two universities, which cater to approximately 32,000 students combined, "can't wait to collaborate" on the project, concluded director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at MIT Anant Agarwal, who headed up development of the MITx platform.

Harvard and MIT partner over online learning

Wed, 02 May 2012 03:04:58 +0100

Two of the US's most prestigious universities are to collaborate and offer special online learning classes.

The presidents of Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will announce details of the arrangement at a news conference tomorrow (May 3rd), the Associated Press (AP) reports.

Susan Hockfield and her Harvard counterpart Drew Faust are to host the event in Cambridge, Massachusetts and although full information is not yet available, it is likely the offering will build on existing online programmes that are offered by both universities.

The AP notes MIT has been offering free material from over 2,000 classes over the internet through its OpenCourseWare programme for ten years, with the information accessed by over 100 million people. It has also introduced MITx - a special certificate for those who carry out certain courses online.

Launched in December 2011, MITx is designed to "offer exciting, challenging and enriching courses to anyone, anywhere, who has the motivation and ability to engage MIT's educational content" and uses interactive courses that students can use to learn at their own pace.

MITx also allows learners to interact with each other in online discussion groups and access collaborative learning wikis.

The university said at the launch of MITx that it hopes other educational institutions around the world "will adapt and use the platform to publish their own educational content online for the benefit of learners".

Harvard also offers online extension courses to the wider community and the partnership between the two universities could build on the existing offerings of the two, which are not the only organisations to embrace online learning.

In the US, Yale and Stanford have also looked into providing learning materials on the web, while distance learning specialist the Open University offers an array of online courses in the UK.