October 27th, 2011 by Robin Green

At Coggno, we’re always looking for exciting ways to spread the word about new concepts in education and training. After all, learning is a lifelong process and it should be fun, right?

One of the most tedious things we have to endure in the workplace is training. Think about it - how many times have you been stuck in meetings and seminars that are about as exciting as watching paint dry? Not only is the content boring, the planning is no picnic, either. On the whole, that equals a pretty unpleasant experience for all involved.

Old vs. New: It’s Time for a Change

Putting together a training seminar means hours of work; if you do it the old-fashioned way. You have to ascertain the compliance level of each employee, figure out who needs what to maintain regulatory standards, divide them up into groups and then hunt down the trainer or trainers you need to get everyone up to speed. There isn’t enough caffeine in the world to keep you awake through all that. Plus, we’re forgetting the laundry list of other tasks you have to accomplish in addition to finding those elusive trainers to get the job done. There has to be a better way.

The Better Way Has Arrived

We all know people who refuse to embrace technology. They’ve been dragged kicking and screaming into the information age, and are still not comfortable with the Internet and all the associated gadgetry assaulting their senses. Well, the time to stop kicking and screaming has arrived; all this technology can actually make your life easier.

Take a look at our snappy Information Graphic, or “infographic” for short. We have given you a way to obtain training for your employees in 4 simple steps - as opposed to 11. You really can eliminate 7 time consuming steps by creating a learning management system with help from the pros at Coggno. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s a lot more fun than the old way. And let’s not forget the best part: it’s not only efficient, it’s cost effective. You’re saving time and money. What could be better than that?

Take a few moments to look over our infographic. Go ahead, stare at it for a while. We think the longer you look at it, the more you’ll see that our way - the new way - is the best way. And your employees will thank you for not making them sit through boring seminars with monotone speakers droning on until everyone’s heads hit the tables. They can accomplish their training anywhere, on almost any device they choose.

Technology is a good thing. If you don’t believe us, feel free to ask us why.

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Coggno.com is a premier Learning Management System platform

October 20th, 2011 by Robin Green

Facebook and the U.S. Department of Labor have announced a collaboration, the Social Jobs Partnership, geared towards helping America’s job-seekers via social networking. Also included in the mix is the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), DirectEmployers Association (DE), and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA). By joining forces with these agencies, Facebook hopes to make job searches more productive by providing resources via a social media platform.

Partnership Provides Access to Employment Programs as Well as Education and Training

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis said in a statement, “By leveraging the power of the social Web, this initiative will provide immediate, meaningful and ready-to-use information for job seekers and employers, and a modern platform to better connect them.”

Also in the press briefing held earlier today, Facebook’s Vice President of Global Policy, Marne Levine, commented that 92 percent of employment recruiters have either already used social networks or are planning to use social networks to engage individuals who are attempting to find work.

Although jobless claims declined slightly in September, the total unemployment rate in the U.S. is holding steady at 9.1 percent.

One Partner Provides Access to Online Learning

One of Facebook’s Social Jobs partners is the Web site Careeronestop.org, which provides users access to information about education and training options. There are many useful links in the “Career Training and Education” section that will lead users to information about e-learning courses, financial aid, skills training and even scholarships.

The information on Facebook’s Social Jobs Partnership page will provide a helping hand to anyone looking for work, plus the networking capabilities of social media at their fingertips. Users can take advantage of all types of resources located in one convenient place, plus the added benefit of sharing information and experiences with other users.

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Coggno.com is a premier LMS software platform for both publishers of educational content and learners

October 13th, 2011 by Robin Green

According to the Web site, GetEducated.com, two American schools have recently launched online doctoral programs in education.

If you want to obtain a Doctor of Education (Ed.D) in Instructional Systems Technology (IST) entirely online, Indiana University is the place to go. If you love Idaho, Boise State University is also offering an online doctoral program in Educational Technology. Since we all know technology is becoming an educational staple, I say, hurrah! I would have loved to have attended grad school online.

Indiana U. Sets the Tone for Its First Online Doctorate

Gerardo Gonzales, the Dean of the School of Education, said in a press release, “The IST program has an outstanding international reputation for quality and innovation. Our graduates are employed in leadership positions in a variety of settings throughout the world. The new online degree will make available a program with a proven track record to people we could not have reached otherwise. It is in itself an application of the innovative teaching for which our faculty is known.”

While all coursework will take place online, students in this program will be required to visit the school’s Bloomington, IN campus three times over the course of their studies. The qualifying exam and the oral dissertation defense will occur in person, on campus.

The traditional campus-based IST doctorate Indiana University offers is a Ph.D. The online version is an Ed.D, which focuses on applying theory to practice.

According to university officials, the online doctoral program was launched due to student demand; many students who participated in the school’s online masters programs who wanted to conduct further research and obtain doctorates at the same institution.

Boise State Also Expanding from Online Masters Programs

Boise State University’s online masters program for Educational Technology has been in existence for about a decade. The online masters program has been so successful that the school decided to seek accreditation for the online doctoral program. The first students will be accepted into the program beginning in 2012.

Students taking part in the online doctoral program will explore emerging technologies for effective and efficient teaching. Their areas of focus will include online teaching, technology integration, educational software development and more. The Educational Technology Department at Boise State is responsible for some of the most groundbreaking research in K-12 classroom technology systems, and the new doctoral program will give students the opportunity to research new technologies as part of their coursework.

Boise State has a long history of embracing distance learning to deliver higher education to remote areas of its own state as well as neighboring communities. The new doctoral program is expected to draw educators from all across the U.S. who are interested in combining research with practical experience they’ve already acquired in their own local school systems.

These advancements may have many traditional educators quaking in their boots, but isn’t technology what it’s all about now?

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Coggno.com is an LMS that allows the online publisher of educational content connect with learners worldwide.

October 6th, 2011 by Robin Green

An opinion piece appearing today on the Web site, Inside Higher Ed has two former U.S. governors, Jeb Bush (R-FL) and Jim Hunt (D-NC) agreeing that public universities need to embrace technology. Both are concerned about the fact that the struggling economy may prevent millions of students from obtaining the post-secondary education they need in order to keep the U.S. in place as the world’s global economic leader. Both agree that funding is not likely to return to pre-recession levels, and students are going to have to look for alternatives to the traditional university education experience.

Addressing the Issues Will Take Time

Both Bush and Hunt feel it is imperative for schools to give their students what they want; they must make peace with the fact that today’s tech-savvy student body wants more from its educational experience than professors droning on in cavernous lecture halls. Degree-seeking students are no longer willing to conform to a set academic schedule; they want a flexible schedule that allows them to accomplish other tasks besides taking classes.

Both men admit it will take time to convince long-serving traditional institutions to adopt a more modern approach to education. A study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education in 2010 showed that students who took all or part of a course online perform better, on average, than those taking the same course at a traditional academic institution. Another study conducted in the same year by two internationally respected scholars, which analyzed 20 years of research, showed that students who participated in distance-learning courses outperformed students who took part in courses in a traditional learning environment. These are statistics that cannot be ignored; they must be addressed sooner rather than later in order to avoid the fate of diminishing student bodies due to lack of educational choices.

Most Students Considered “Non-traditional”

In another study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education in 2008, statistics showed that up to 70 percent of the undergraduate student population was comprised of so-called “non-traditional” students - those who were earning degrees on their own timetable as opposed to during a full-time academic calendar. Online degree programs would offer even more convenience, while allowing these students to accrue the same credentials as those who are able to commit to an on-campus curriculum.

The Technology is Available Now

Both Bush and Hunt agree that in order to ensure the survival of public universities and colleges, they need to adopt the necessary technology sooner rather than later. It is in their best interest in the short-term to increase access to education in order to give students the tools they need to thrive in the workforce.

Governor Bush and Governor Hunt are hosting a conference,”The Future of State Universities”, in Dallas.

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Coggno.com is a LMS that provides the online educator with a world class set of features and benefits.