November 20th, 2008 by Robin Green

The obstacles schools face in integrating Web 2.0 technologies into their existing LMSs or courseware systems are often tough to overcome. However, if your school does have the means and you’ve got some ideas you want to explore, using blogs, discussion boards, wikis, podcasts, etc, the vast terrain of Web 2.0 is your playground. And although intrusive ads may bother some educators and courseware system students, it’s comforting to know that some Web 2.0 companies are making efforts to choose advertising that doesn’t dazzle and distract.

When incorporating your courseware system with Web 2.0 technologies, choose technologies that respect their users. Of course, most social networking companies still fill their pages with enormous ads. On MySpace’s login page, for instance, it’s difficult to even find the login box amidst a sea of hypnotically dancing images. But companies like Facebook and Google–whose choices often inspire smaller companies–are sticking with tiny ads.

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November 19th, 2008 by Robin Green

One fallback of pairing Web 2.0 technologies with a courseware system is the bombardment of ads that students will experience. Using LMSs and courseware systems, the information students are exposed to can be limited to the relevant course content.

It’s true that the advertisement industry is beginning to have a difficult time of it online. An increasing number of consumers are adopting multipurpose tools to help them manage and customize online data. This new mindset of personalization is making it harder for advertisers to lure viewers to other websites. In fact, according to BusinessWeek, many users are starting to ignore online ads altogether, a phenomenon known as “banner-ad blindness.”

Still, the advertisement industry is among the heftiest in existence. Ads will invariably find new and more intrusive ways to appeal to consumers. Prohibiting access to the internet and Web 2.0 technologies isn’t the solution. But educating courseware system students to recognize ads with misleading or harmful messages is crucial.

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Coggno.com is a leading provider of high-quality online training.

November 19th, 2008 by Robin Green

Not only does integrating Web 2.0 technologies into the classroom require expensive training, but technical and policy-related obstacles can also create problems for a school. While a learning management system is relatively easy to maintain, technologies like blogs and wikis require a secure network for students. Ideally, a school maintains its own server in its own network, on which it runs the necessary software–but not all schools have one.

Additionally, while a learning management system is easy to monitor, Web 2.0 technologies open the door to a host of potentially inappropriate content. Many schools actually limit or prohibit Web 2.0 on the school network, preventing audio and video streaming. Others don’t allow students to use iPods or other USB devices, rendering useless the integration of Web 2.0 technologies like podcasts. Still other schools using a learning management system may not allow students to visit any external sites.

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Coggno.com offers high-quality LMS platforms.

November 19th, 2008 by Robin Green

Now that higher education teachers have mastered the learning management system, they are now under pressure to take on a whole new ball game: Web 2.0 technologies. Of course, there are some interesting ways to integrate social software into course material, and Web 2.0 applications offer some features that the learning management system lacks.

However, not all schools are ready to begin the shift. Sending educators to seminars and workshops to learn how to use Web 2.0 technologies is expensive. Additionally, the technology required to provide students with social software is often absent in schools. While a learning management system requires only a computer and an internet connection, videoconferencing, for example, requires a microphone, camera, speakers and a large amount of bandwidth.

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November 14th, 2008 by Robin Green

Why should teachers start integrating Web 2.0 technologies into their courses? Many educators have ruffled feathers and legitimate concerns about “E-learning 2.0.” Why integrate Web 2.0 when your learning management system is working just fine?

First of all, the web is full of distractions. Although many want to believe that students are naturally eager, self-motivated learners, young people do need to be motivated, pushed, pulled, and sometimes even forced to put forth the effort that will help them learn and build self-confidence. Though social software offers some special benefits, the prospect of Web 2.0 technologies outdoing learning management systems is dubious. And while Web 2.0 integration into learning systems presupposes young people’s willingness to learn and collaborate, learning management systems encourage self-motivation while providing the structure and support that young students need.

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Coggno.com offers premier online training.

November 4th, 2008 by Robin Green

Luckily, we’re in the web 2.0 era when e-learning doesn’t have to mean solitary learning. Using online courseware coupled with discussion forums, students can “utter” and “argue freely according to conscience” as Milton believed is so necessary. Discussion forums are a revolutionary pedagogical tool, and a space for students to voice their opinions amongst their peers while using online courseware.

Forums allow for more democratic and sophisticated debates. For example, online courseware students who might normally feel self-conscious in front of groups are given an opportunity to discuss learning content without feeling shy. Another type of student who is often left behind in face-to-face discussions are more pragmatic students, who take a little more time to develop counterpoints. In discussion forums, all students are given a platform to contribute to a group conversation in a thoughtful, well-developed way.
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Coggno.com offers world-class online training.

October 30th, 2008 by Robin Green

In the future–perhaps sooner than you think–you’ll probably be able to satisfy every computing need without a single application on your own hard drive. All of your data, from LMS and CMS data to family records–will be stored online in enormous data centers.

Cloud computing, which includes technology trends like Web 2.0 and SaaS, is drawing in more and more companies, including its pioneers like Amazon, Google, Yahoo! and Salesforce but also now Microsoft, Adobe, and IBM. Being able to access your LMS or online courseware on an application-free smartphone is a cloud concept. So is the idea that you don’t need any particular program or application to use your LMS or access your online courseware. But is the cloud a safe place for your data? Time will tell.

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Coggno.com provides high-quality LMS platforms.

September 17th, 2008 by Robin Green

I love Wikipedia. I love gathering learning content from many sources, but Wikipedia is my favorite: it’s got many aspects and features that I (as well as many other people) look for in an online learning tool: the learning content is well organized, categorized, user-generated, collaborative, and so on.

But wouldn’t videos make Wikipedia even more engaging? What if readers and editors could leave comments on the learning content, and those comments were categorized and organized so readers wouldn’t have to trudge through heaps of misspelled rants? What about a chat feature? Imagine being able to exchange opinions (and questions, why not?) with someone who is on the same page you are, right that minute?

Wikipedia is a fascinating foundation for learning content—receiving it, generating it, and perhaps even actively exchanging it. What else is missing?