tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79354976549459225362024-03-19T02:51:08.938-07:00Blended LearningMichael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-6807642212197752162012-12-31T23:58:00.002-08:002012-12-31T23:58:53.506-08:00BBC Radio 4 Today Show - Is technology 'transforming schools'?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today's guest editor this morning, Melinda Gates, is a passionate advocate of investment in technical innovation for school pupils, and asked the Today programme to report on how it can help in schools with a high proportion of disadvantaged pupils. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The BBC's technology correspondent, Rory Cellan Jones, examines the role of technology in enhancing the quality of teaching in schools. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"If technology is not simple and reliable we will not use it," one head teacher explained. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An academy principal explained that the use of technology starts with good teaching: "Great teachers use technology to do even greater things... they use the technology as a bridge." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For Audio please visit</span> </span>(<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9781000/9781006.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9781000/9781006.stm</a>)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and more information on the school</span> (<a href="http://www.essaacademy.org/">http://www.essaacademy.org/</a>)</div>
</div>
Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-47772439875763688342012-07-10T02:39:00.000-07:002012-07-10T02:44:19.411-07:00"There has never been a better time to be a student in the UAE" Ali Al Saloom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Taken from The National News paper by Ali Al Saloom
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<strong>There has never been a better time to be a student in the UAE</strong>
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<br />
Now is the best time to be a student in the UAE. The country is growing and opportunities are plentiful. But with these opportunities come great expectations. The young generation represents hope to the older generation, but the elderly will also hold it responsible for the choices it makes.
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<br />
If you are an Emirati, you can attend the finest post-secondary institutions in our history. Our beloved father Sheikh Zayed would have been proud, since education was one of his strongest commitments. If you are visiting us from another country, marhaba, welcome. <br />
<br />
The UAE is one of the best places to study because, while you will experience a different culture, you will probably find many things are not that different from your homeland. Our country has expanded rapidly, and modernism has forced us to change the way we view our home.
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<br />
The British philosopher Francis Bacon's statement from 1597 that "for knowledge itself is power" is today perhaps more relevant than ever.
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<br />
In the past, a student would need to have a certain book physically in his hands to read or he would have to be present in an auditorium where a lecture was being given. How different it is today. Nowadays, the knowledge of the whole world is just a click away and it does not cost more than the time it takes to read the online article, to study the e-book, to watch the tutorial video or to participate in a web conference.
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<br />
Learning to learn is the call of the day. Looking at economic developments over the last few years, only a complete fool would fail to see how education and technological awareness are crucial to survive. But the tricky issue is that learning is not just about the amount of information one takes in, it's about the source, reliability and significance of the input.
<br />
<br />
For instance, celebrity gossip and fashion news won't help most of us to advance in life, unless we are working in yellow journalism or the fashion business.
<br />
<br />
The UAE is making every effort to encourage the best universities from all over the world to open up campuses here and to develop its own educational institutions. And it works - one can study at the American University, the Sorbonne or the University of Wollongong without leaving the UAE.
<br />
<br />
Yes, it's the best time ever to be a student in the UAE. But don't forget, you don't study just to study - you study for life. And a degree is not meant to be framed and hung on the wall. It is there to be used.
</div>Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-23387777938262785792012-06-22T01:40:00.000-07:002012-11-29T03:26:27.156-08:00iPad Apps for Education - Education Anywhere Any Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="text-align: center; width: 553px;"><tbody>
<tr><td rowspan="10" width="225"></td><td width="216"><a class="style11" href="http://michael-bolton-learning-technology.blogspot.com/2012/06/ipad-apps-for-education-education.html#Organisational"><span style="color: #66ccff; font-size: large;">Organisational Apps</span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><a class="style11" href="http://michael-bolton-learning-technology.blogspot.com/2012/06/ipad-apps-for-education-education.html#Business"><span style="color: #66ccff; font-size: large;">Business Apps</span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><a class="style11" href="http://michael-bolton-learning-technology.blogspot.com/2012/06/ipad-apps-for-education-education.html#English"><span style="color: #66ccff; font-size: large;">English Apps</span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><a class="style11" href="http://michael-bolton-learning-technology.blogspot.com/2012/06/ipad-apps-for-education-education.html#Maths"><span style="color: #66ccff; font-size: large;">Maths Apps</span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><a class="style11" href="http://michael-bolton-learning-technology.blogspot.com/2012/06/ipad-apps-for-education-education.html#Science"><span style="color: #66ccff; font-size: large;">Science Apps</span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><a class="style11" href="http://michael-bolton-learning-technology.blogspot.com/2012/06/ipad-apps-for-education-education.html#Technology"><span style="color: #66ccff; font-size: large;">TechnologyApps</span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><a class="style11" href="http://michael-bolton-learning-technology.blogspot.com/2012/06/ipad-apps-for-education-education.html#MFL"><span style="color: #66ccff; font-size: large;">MFL Apps </span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><a class="style11" href="http://michael-bolton-learning-technology.blogspot.com/2012/06/ipad-apps-for-education-education.html#General"><span style="color: #66ccff; font-size: large;">General Apps </span></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" border="0" bordercolor="#cccccc" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;"><tbody>
<tr><td bgcolor="#66ccff" class="style5" colspan="2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" id="Organisational" name="Organisational"></a><span style="color: white;">Organisational Apps:</span><a href="http://michael-bolton-learning-technology.blogspot.com/2012/06/ipad-apps-for-education-education.html"><img align="right" alt="Page Top Button" border="0" height="17" src="http://www.admc.hct.ac.ae/edtech/mlearning/images/top.jpg" width="26" /></a></td></tr>
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<td><br /></td>
<td class="style6"><strong>DRAGON DICTATION (free):</strong><br />
Dragon Dictation
is an easy-to-use voice recognition application powered by <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dragon-dictation/id341446764?mt=8">Dragon®
NaturallySpeaking®</a> that allows you to easily speak and instantly see your
text or email messages. In fact, it’s up to five (5) times faster than typing on
the keyboard.</td></tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div class="style6">
<strong>DROPBOX
(free):</strong><br />
Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring all your
photos, docs, and videos anywhere. After you install Dropbox on your computer,
any file you save to your Dropbox will automatically save to all your computers,
your iPhone and iPad and even the Dropbox website! With the <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dropbox/id327630330?mt=8">Dropbox app</a>,
you can take everything that matters to you on the go.</div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><br /></td>
<td class="style6"><strong>ARTICLES ($4.99):</strong><br />
Articles lets you easily
read and discover Wikipedia Articles on your iPad.<br />
Just enter a search term
and let Articles find the <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/articles-for-ipad/id364881979?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo=4">Wikipedia</a>
entry you are looking for. Use the integrated maps feature to learn about
interesting places and historic events around your current location, or anywhere
else in the world. Or simply shake your device and let Articles find an entry
for you. </td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="style6" colspan="2"><strong>THINGS
($19.99):</strong><br />
Things is a beautifully focused and amazingly intuitive <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/app/things-for-ipad/id364365411?mt=8">task
manager</a>. Other todo applications either oversimplify or are too difficult to
use. Things instead offers the perfect balance between ease of use and powerful
features.<br />
Effortlessly manage to-dos, notes, due dates, and projects. A smart
today list and the scheduling feature allow you to work as effectively as
possible - every day.</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><br /></td>
<td class="style6"><strong>PDF EXPERT ($9.99):</strong><br />
PDF Expert lets you
read and <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/app/pdf-expert-professional-pdf/id323133888?mt=8">annotate</a>
PDF documents, highlight text, make notes and save these changes being
compatible with Preview and Adobe Acrobat. Moreover, PDF Expert is the only iPad
application that can fill PDF forms!</td></tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div class="style6">
<strong>DOCUMENTS TO GO PREMIUM ($16.99):</strong><br />
Looking to
access your Microsoft Office ® files at any time? All you need is your favorite
iOS device and Documents To Go in order to be <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id317107309?mt=8">constantly
connected</a>!</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" border="0" bordercolor="#cccccc" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#66ccff" class="style5" colspan="2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" id="Business" name="Business"></a><span style="color: white;">Business Apps:</span><a href="http://michael-bolton-learning-technology.blogspot.com/2012/06/ipad-apps-for-education-education.html"><img align="right" alt="Page Top Button" border="0" height="17" src="http://www.admc.hct.ac.ae/edtech/mlearning/images/top.jpg" width="26" /></a></td></tr>
<tr>
<td width="98"><br /></td>
<td class="style6" width="586"><strong>iCARD (free):</strong><br />
This program will
help to design and print a professional business card. iCard Maker uses
templates which you can prepare on your own, or you can use ready models ,
templates of <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/icard-maker/id477971263?mt=8">business
cards</a> accessible in it. iCard Maker is very easy to use business cards maker
software. </td></tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div class="style6">
<strong>2SCREENS ($4.99):</strong>2Screens - Presentation
Expert is a feature rich document manager and viewer, complete with integrated
web browser and <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/2screens-presentation-expert/id370913954?mt=8">whiteboard</a>.
It works seamlessly with TV-out, AirPlay, cloud storage, whiteboard and far
more.</div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><br /></td>
<td class="style6"><strong>CASH FLOW HD (free):</strong><br />
Top 1 iPad overall
(US) finance app developer offers: Cash Flow HD. Track Expenses and <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cash-flow-hd-2-0/id398448830?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo=4">Income</a>
by Categories, control your spending with CashFlow monthly report.</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="style6" colspan="2"><strong>eLOCKER 2 FOR STUDYWIZ (frree):</strong><br />
Studywiz
Mobile eLocker® gives you access to your Studywiz eLocker content anytime,
anywhere on your iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. With Studywiz Mobile eLocker you
can view your documents, images and movies directly within the app and send <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/elocker-2-for-studywiz/id437446722?mt=8">supported
files</a> to third party apps for viewing and editing. You can then send a new
version back to your Mobile eLocker and save it back in Studywiz.
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</span><br />
<table align="center" border="0" bordercolor="#cccccc" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;"><tbody>
<tr><td bgcolor="#66ccff" class="style5" colspan="2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" id="Business2" name="English"></a><span style="color: white;">English Apps:</span><a href="http://michael-bolton-learning-technology.blogspot.com/2012/06/ipad-apps-for-education-education.html"><img align="right" alt="Page Top Button" border="0" height="17" src="http://www.admc.hct.ac.ae/edtech/mlearning/images/top.jpg" width="26" /></a></td></tr>
<tr>
<td width="92"><br /></td>
<td class="style6" width="592"><strong>ENGLISH IDIOMS ILLUSTRATED
(free):</strong><br />
English Idioms Illustrated will be enjoyed by English
students, teachers and enthusiasts alike. The origin and meaning of each idiom
is masterfully <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/english-idioms-illustrated/id413057971">illustrated</a>
by Professor Potts. Download now to see for yourself! </td></tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div class="style6">
<strong>GRAMMAR UP
($4.99):</strong><br />
Grammar Up is a multiple choice quiz system for English
which provides over 1800 questions across 20 grammar <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-up/id313112265?mt=8">categories</a>.
It was designed to replicate questions with a business focus commonly found in
the popular TOEIC (TM) English proficiency test. </div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><br /></td>
<td class="style6"><strong>IQUOTE 2.0 - WORLD OF QUOTES (free):</strong><br />
IQuote
is one of AppStores bestselling educational App for your iDevice - with over
10.000 interesting famous quotes!<br />
The Wisdom of the <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iquote-2.0-world-of-quotes/id288346628?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo=4">Wise
and the Experienc</a>e of the Ages may be preserved by quotations. (Benjamin
Disraeli) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" border="0" bordercolor="#cccccc" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#66ccff" class="style5" colspan="2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" id="Business3" name="Maths"></a><span style="color: white;">Maths
Apps:</span><a href="http://michael-bolton-learning-technology.blogspot.com/2012/06/ipad-apps-for-education-education.html"><img align="right" alt="Page Top Button" border="0" height="17" src="http://www.admc.hct.ac.ae/edtech/mlearning/images/top.jpg" width="26" /></a></td></tr>
<tr>
<td width="98"><br /></td>
<td class="style6" width="586"><strong>MATH TERMS (free):</strong><br />
MathTerms is
an illustrated glossary of mathematics terms in English and Spanish. The app
includes almost <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/mathterms/id430508413?mt=8">1,000
entries</a> for middle- and high-school mathematical concepts. Millions of
students have had access to this glossary, and its colorful, annotated
illustrations, for over the past five years. </td></tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div class="style6">
<strong>ELEVATED MATH
(free):</strong><br />
Elevated Math provides initial instruction or intervention
on math topics that cover place value, estimation, large digit <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/elevated-math/id435995971?mt=8">addition</a>
all the way through Algebra I (two years of math instruction!). </div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><br /></td>
<td class="style6"><strong>MATH EVOLVE ($0.99)</strong>:<br />
This revolutionary app
provides a fun and engaging way to practice math facts, number sense, and mental
<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/math-evolve/id482475948?mt=8">math
skills</a>. Math Evolve is for ages 6 and up, but is challenging and fun even
for adults. </td></tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><strong><span class="style6"><span style="font-family: Arial;">MATH GRAPH PRO FOR iPAD ($3.99):</span></span></strong><span class="style6"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">Math Grap
Pro for iPad is simply the best Graphing Application on the App Store. This easy
to use sketching app can graph functions and numerically solve standard
algebraic equation as well as </span><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/math-graph-pro-for-ipad/id432790618?mt=8"><span style="font-family: Arial;">differential
equations</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">. </span></span></td></tr>
<tr>
<td><br /></td>
<td class="style6"><strong>MATH GEOMETRY ($0.99):</strong><br />
Geometry, the study
of space and spatial relationships, is an important and essential branch of the
mathematics curriculum at all <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/math-geometry/id521039010?mt=8">grade
levels</a>. The ability to apply geometric concepts is a life skill used in many
occupations. The study of geometry provides the student with a vehicle for
enhancing logical reasoning and deductive thinking for modeling abstract
problems and for helping us expand both mentally and mathematically.
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" border="0" bordercolor="#cccccc" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#66ccff" class="style5" colspan="2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" id="Organisational2" name="Science"></a><span style="color: white;">Science Apps:</span><a href="http://michael-bolton-learning-technology.blogspot.com/2012/06/ipad-apps-for-education-education.html"><img align="right" alt="Page Top Button" border="0" height="17" src="http://www.admc.hct.ac.ae/edtech/mlearning/images/top.jpg" width="26" /></a></td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="style6" width="95"><br /></td>
<td class="style6" width="589"><strong>SCIENCE360 FOR iPAD (free):</strong><br />
The
National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Science360 for iPad provides easy access to
engaging science and <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/science360-for-ipad/id439928181?mt=8">engineering</a>
images and video from around the globe and a news feed featuring breaking news
from NSF-funded institutions. Content is either produced by NSF or gathered from
scientists, colleges and universities, and NSF science and engineering centers.
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="style6" colspan="2"><div class="style6">
<strong>SCIENCE
DICTIONARY+ ($1.99):</strong><br />
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, edited
by James Trefil, Joseph F. Kett, and E. D. Hirsch, published by Houghton Mifflin
Company, "Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology," "Physical Sciences and
Mathematics," "Earth Sciences," "Life Sciences". Scientific terms and concepts
from The <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/science-dictionary+/id482369357?mt=8">New
Dictionary of Cultural Literacy</a>, which contains definitive and comprehensive
information on all the fields of essential human knowledge from ancient to
cutting-edge. </div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="style6"><br /></td>
<td class="style6"><strong>ATLAS OF TEETH($4.99):</strong><br />
This app will help
you to show conditions and treatments to patients, you can tap and drag to
easily images to show <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/atlas-of-teeth/id516901145?mt=8">periodontal
disease</a>, cracks, how to brush your teeth, numerous other conditions...
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="style6" colspan="2"><strong>EKG TRAINER
($0.99):</strong><br />
EKG Trainer allows you and, optionally, a friend to learn
changing EKG rhythm strips in real time. Real EKG tracings from actual patients
have been used to create life-like simulations. The full 12-lead EKG is provided
along with the animated rhythm strip for further study. Connect two iOS <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/ekg-trainer/id523515107?mt=8">devices via
Bluetooth </a>and use one as a remote control (portrait mode) and the other as
an EKG monitor simulator (landscape mode). Great for medical students, nursing
students, PAs, paramedic trainees - anyone who needs practice with ACLS-type
simulation. </td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="style6"><br /></td>
<td class="style6"><strong>iREFLEXOMETER ($1.99):</strong><br />
The iReflexometer is a scientific
tool used to measure people's sensorimotor alertness and abilities. The wide
range of potential applications for this tool includes:<br />
<br />
* Accurate and
quantitative diagnosis of diseases that affect the nervous system<br />
* Effective
screening<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/ireflexometer/id523793826?mt=8"> for
intoxication</a><br />
* Determination of certain people's fitness to perform their
job, e.g. pilots, heavy truck drivers, etc.<br />
* Alertness testing for military
operations </td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="style6" colspan="2"><strong>ANIMATED QUICK
REFERENCE GUIDE- BACKPAIN (free):</strong> <br />
The Focus<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/animated-quick-reference-guide/id516247783?mt=8">
Animated Quick Reference</a> series provides an organized reference source full
of information and facts that describe various diseases and disorders that
affect the human body. </td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="style6"><br /></td>
<td class="style6"><strong>IS IT CONTAGIOUS? FOR iPAD (free):</strong><br />
Instant,
reliable information and images on 85+ infections and other conditions seen in
childhood. This app, from the <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/is-it-contagious-for-ipad/id517376491?mt=8">pediatricians</a>
of KidsHealth.org and the Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, gives
parents the answers they need – starting with: "Is It Contagious?" </td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="style6" colspan="2"><strong>HEARING-CHECK (free):</strong><br />
Action on Hearing Loss's
Hearing Check is a quick, simple and completely confidential way to check your
hearing, without the trek to the doctor's waiting room. Check your ears today!
<br />
The Hearing Check is designed to be the best method of checking for <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/hearing-check/id485312957?mt=8">sensorineural</a>
hearing loss (due to age or noise exposure for instance) without seeing a
medical professional.</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="style6"><br /></td>
<td class="style6"><strong>GRAYS ANATOMY STUDENT EDITION FOR iPAD
(free):</strong><br />
'Gray's Anatomy', the renowned classic anatomical book by <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/grays-anatomy-student-edition/id478707588?mt=8">Henry
Gray</a> was first published in 1858 and is considered by many to be one of the
most iconic and significant medical books of all time. Gray's Anatomy is now
available on the iPad using the highest resolution images possible. (This
version of Gray's Anatomy has been enhanced and specifically built for the
iPad.) </td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="style6" colspan="2"><strong>KTYPE
($149.99):</strong><br />
KType is an assistive communication app for individuals
who cannot verbally communicate with ease or speed. KType is built to assist
users who find it difficult to control or see keyboard, mouse, or LCD. <br />
The KType app accepts user input via the touchscreen or bluetooth keyboard,
speaks in realistic male and female voices, and instantly guesses what the user
is trying to type, minimizing the need to spell out each word. It can be easily
configured to assist individuals with <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/ktype/id483754962?mt=8">muscle spasms</a>,
motor tics, and partial paralysis, as well as those who have trouble reading,
writing, and spelling. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" border="0" bordercolor="#cccccc" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#66ccff" class="style5" colspan="2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" id="Business4" name="Technology"></a><span style="color: white;">Technology Apps:</span><a href="http://michael-bolton-learning-technology.blogspot.com/2012/06/ipad-apps-for-education-education.html"><img align="right" alt="Page Top Button" border="0" height="17" src="http://www.admc.hct.ac.ae/edtech/mlearning/images/top.jpg" width="26" /></a></td></tr>
<tr>
<td width="92"><br /></td>
<td class="style6" width="592"><strong>PHONE DRIVE ($0.99):</strong><br />
Phone Drive
allows you to store, view and manage files on your iPhone or iPad. You can
connect to Phone Drive from any Mac or PC over the Wi-Fi network and transfer
files by drag & drop files straight from the Finder or Windows
Explorer.<br />
<br />
Phone Drive features <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/phone-drive-file-sharing-wifi/id431033044?mt=8">document
viewer, PDF reader, music player</a>, image viewer, voice recorder, text editor,
file manager and support most of the file operations: like delete, move, copy,
email, share, zip, unzip and more. </td></tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div class="style6">
<strong>TECH TV
(free):</strong><br />
Switch on to the latest world technology news with Tech TV,
a unique video app that's updated daily with the hottest news videos, <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/tech-tv/id479502873?mt=8">product
launches</a>, industry reports and on-location technology event coverage.
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><br /></td>
<td class="style6"><strong>iBRAINSTORM (free):</strong><br />
Capturing and sharing
your inner most creative genius has never been easier. Introducing the first
multi-device collaboration tool from Universal Mind. From iPhone to iPad with
just a flick <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/ibrainstorm/id382252825?mt=8">of the
finger</a>, iBrainstorm has set the bar and has redefined the very nature of
collaboration. </td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="style6" colspan="2"><strong>SOUNDCLOUD
(free):</strong><br />
Capture and share your sounds on-the-go with the official
SoundCloud app for iPhone and iPad.<br />
Record a voice, moment or original music
in seconds and share it privately or publicly on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and
Foursquare. Easily access, browse and listen to the sounds people share with
you, wherever you are.The latest app is more social then ever, making it even
easier to explore, like and <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/soundcloud/id336353151?mt=8">comment on
sounds</a> right from your mobile. Share your sounds with the new SoundCloud
iPhone and iPad app </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" border="0" bordercolor="#cccccc" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#66ccff" class="style5" colspan="2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" id="Business6" name="MFL"></a><span style="color: white;">MFL
Apps:</span><a href="http://michael-bolton-learning-technology.blogspot.com/2012/06/ipad-apps-for-education-education.html"><img align="right" alt="Page Top Button" border="0" height="17" src="http://www.admc.hct.ac.ae/edtech/mlearning/images/top.jpg" width="26" /></a></td></tr>
<tr>
<td width="92"><br /></td>
<td class="style6" width="592"><strong>GOOGLE TRANSLATE(free):</strong><br />
Translate
words and phrases between more than 50 languages using Google Translate for iOS.
For <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-translate/id414706506?mt=8">most
languages</a>, you can speak your phrases and hear the corresponding
translations </td></tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div class="style6">
<strong>ABSOLUTE BEGINNER
JAPANESE FOR iPAD ($9.99):</strong><br />
You are about to experience the evolution
of language learning! Never before has learning to speak Japanese been so fun,
fast or easy. You'll be speaking Japanese within just minutes of the very first
lesson, and our interactive language experience will keep you engaged and locked
in! The progress you make with "Absolute Beginner Japanese for iPad" will
utterly <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/absolute-beginner-japanese/id377616011?mt=8">shock
and amaze</a> your friends, family, colleagues, and teachers. </div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><br /></td>
<td class="style6"><strong>UNIVISION (free):</strong><br />
The Univision App extends
the power of Univision’s unparalleled news, entertainment and sports coverage to
mobile users. It brings the best Univision Spanish-language content in one
place, with articles, photos and video clips of the latest immigration news,
Univision talent and other <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/univision/id425226754?mt=8">Latin celebrity
gossip</a>, and the latest updates from favorite Hispanic sports including
soccer, boxing and NBA. The app allows users to follow their favorite stories
and get personalized and local updates - engaging them with the content that
matters to them most, wherever they go.</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="style6" colspan="2"><strong>WRITTEN EXPRESSION TOEFL QUIZ ($1.99):</strong><br />
If
you are taking the TOEFL (The Test of English as a Foreign Language) examination
or just interested in what it entails, this <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/written-expression-toefl-quiz/id469609852?mt=8">quiz
app</a> will help you. 100 TOEFL questions (and answers) are included here. The
questions covers the following topics: Written
Express.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" border="0" bordercolor="#cccccc" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#66ccff" class="style5" colspan="2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" id="Organisational3" name="General"></a><span style="color: white;">General Apps:</span><a href="http://michael-bolton-learning-technology.blogspot.com/2012/06/ipad-apps-for-education-education.html"><img align="right" alt="Page Top Button" border="0" height="17" src="http://www.admc.hct.ac.ae/edtech/mlearning/images/top.jpg" width="26" /></a></td></tr>
<tr>
<td><br /></td>
<td class="style6"><strong>The ELEMENTS ($13.99):</strong>If you think you've
seen the periodic table, think again.<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-elements-a-visual-exploration/id364147847?mt=8" target="_blank"> The Elements</a>: A Visual Exploration lets you experience the
beauty and fascination of the building blocks of our universe in a way you've
never seen before. And as the first really new ebook developed from the ground
up for iPad, The Elements beautifully shows off the capabilities of this lovely
device.</td></tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><span class="style6"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">KINDLE (free):
</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Kindle app is optimized for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch,
giving users the ability to read Kindle </span><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/kindle/id302584613?mt=8"><span style="font-family: Arial;">books, newspapers,
magazines and PDFs </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">on a beautiful, easy-to-use interface. You’ll have access
to over 900,000* books in the Kindle Store. Amazon Whispersync automatically
syncs your last page read, bookmarks, notes, and highlights across devices
(including Kindle), so you can pick up your book where you left off on another
device. </span></span></td></tr>
<tr>
<td><br /></td>
<td class="style6"><strong>GEMS AND JEWELS ($13.99):</strong><br />
Get closer than
ever before to an exquisite collection of the most valuable and highly coveted
gems, gemstones, and jewels that have captivated human beings for millennia.
Learn about the rocks, minerals, and <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/gems-and-jewels/id415445861?mt=8">organic
materials</a> that are transformed by the jeweller's art into things of great
beauty. </td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="style6" colspan="2"><strong>KEYNOTE
($9.99):</strong><br />
Keynote is the most powerful presentation app ever designed
for a mobile device. Built from the ground up for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch,
it makes creating a world-class presentation — complete with animated <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/keynote/id361285480?mt=8">charts and
transitions</a> — as simple as touching and tapping. Highlight your data with
stunning 3D bar, line, area, and pie charts, animated with new 3D chart builds
such as Crane, Grow, Radial, and Rotate.</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><br /></td>
<td class="style6"><strong>iPHOTO ($4.99):</strong><br />
iPhoto is a universal app
that runs on iPad 2 or later and iPhone 4 or later.<br />
With iPhoto for iOS,
Apple brings Multi-Touch to photography in a breakthrough way. Browse, edit and
<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/iphoto/id497786065?mt=8">share your
photos</a> from your iPad or iPhone like never before — all the powerful tools
you need are at your fingertips. And with iCloud, you can share your experiences
as stunning photo journals.</td></tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div class="style6">
<strong>AUDIO MEMOS - THE
VOICE RECORDER ($0.99):</strong><br />
Audio Memos is a professionally made audio
recorder. It has an amazingly intuitive interface, which is easy to use and <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/audio-memos-voice-recorder/id338550388?mt=8">full
of powerful features</a>. Use it in interviews, lectures, music session,
briefings, ... and simplify your recording tasks. </div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-25632730685580629922012-05-23T23:41:00.000-07:002012-05-23T23:49:23.105-07:00iPads and Secure Online Testing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After a week of investigation and deliberation I came to
the conclusion that an app and a case was the only viable solution. Other people
where coming up with some frankly odd solutions including purchasing 200
laptops that faculty could book and having them moved from room to room as
needed. Changing an Independent Learning Centre that we have at the college into
a testing centre and so on. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The general problem with doing any testing on an iPad is
the lock down functionality will not work with the iPad. Every app has to be
approved by Apple before it’s added to the app store I've been reading up on
this process and it's a very complicated problem. From what I have been reading
Apple will not allow any app to disable the home button or have it interact
with an app as we require. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So this leaves a very big gap in the security. The
solution I have found is to use a Kiosk App </span><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/app/avd-browse/id372757110?mt=8"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">AVD Browse</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
or something similar that locks the software side and then with a
special/bespoke case you can block the home button. Something like this </span><a href="http://www.ipadenclosures.com/ipad_kiosk_enclosure/ipad_enclosures/evolve"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">iPad
enclosures</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> “With the Evolve iPad case, one can decide to have access to the
iPad buttons or not by simply adding the custom inserts upon assembly.” It
would be a little expensive the App is 7.99 US$ then we would need to have the
cases or even have them made but it is possible. There will be other ideas and
developments but unless Apple change their minds about the home button a case
that blocks the home button is the only solution I can see. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The ideas that I have thought off and that are mentioned above
or that other people have suggested to me are all a; unfeasible b; logistically
impossible c; technically impossible d; more expensive or e; all of the reasons
mentioned. So that leaves two other alternatives the first to use paper based
exams or just do the tests in a none locked-down iPad. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what are people’s thoughts? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-79769066808881010832012-03-14T21:35:00.000-07:002012-03-14T21:35:00.363-07:00Home schooling: Why more black US families are trying it<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Intresting artical by <span class="byline-name">Brian Wheeler</span> <span class="byline-title">BBC News, Washington</span><br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17224662">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17224662</a><br />
<div id="_em_stage__em" style="display: none;"></div></div>Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-40378387853554605162012-03-12T01:47:00.000-07:002012-03-12T01:47:15.446-07:00Blended Learning: Teaching Languages to Young Learners<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Overview<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border: 1pt outset black; mso-border-insideh-themecolor: text1; mso-border-insideh: 1.0pt outset black; mso-border-insidev-themecolor: text1; mso-border-insidev: 1.0pt outset black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-cellspacing: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;"><tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 1pt inset black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0cm; width: 164.25pt;" valign="top" width="219"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I created the following sections:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 1pt inset black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0cm; width: 309pt;" valign="top" width="412"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">For the following purposes:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 1pt inset black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0cm; width: 164.25pt;" valign="top" width="219"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Announcements</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 1pt inset black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0cm; width: 309pt;" valign="top" width="412"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">-To introduce the module and welcome the students<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">- To announce time and place of extra activities relevant to module<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 1pt inset black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0cm; width: 164.25pt;" valign="top" width="219"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Module Information</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 1pt inset black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0cm; width: 309pt;" valign="top" width="412"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">To store information such as:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Module flyer<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Schedule of sessions<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bibliography<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Assignment rubric<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 1pt inset black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0cm; width: 164.25pt;" valign="top" width="219"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Learning resources</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Divided into subsubsections - </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">A section for each session<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Video<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 1pt inset black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0cm; width: 309pt;" valign="top" width="412"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">To store materials, resources relevant to each session.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">A video clip which was introduced in a session but which requires observation many times in order to do the required analysis was also stored in this area.<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 1pt inset black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0cm; width: 164.25pt;" valign="top" width="219"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Module wiki</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Divided into subsubsections - </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">One for each session I taught<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 1pt inset black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0cm; width: 309pt;" valign="top" width="412"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">4 students were chosen (by register order) at the end of each session to summarise the session collaboratively on the wiki and then to invite comment from all other students. They were given 36 hours to do this. Thereafter other students responded with their comments.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">At the beginning of each session the comments were projected and used to recap the previous session and re-engage the students in the topic. <o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 1pt inset black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0cm; width: 164.25pt;" valign="top" width="219"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Assignment</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 1pt inset black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0cm; width: 309pt;" valign="top" width="412"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">This area on the VLE was used to display answers I gave to queries on the assignment which I received by email from individual students.<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Objectives</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The storage of materials provides easy access for all involved in the module. Putting the video on the VLE space enabled students to view it as much as they needed to in order to carry out the observations that were needed for the depth of analysis required at this level.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br />
The use of the Wiki had several aims:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">1. To make explicit student’s responsibility in their learning / to give students autonomy in their learning / to evaluate how much they had understood / to evaluate my own teaching;<br />
2. To prolong students’ engagement with the theme of the session and to encourage further thought and discussion;<br />
3. To enable all students to participate to the discussion and debate in some way;<br />
4. To provide an efficient way of recapping previous work at the beginning of new sessions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Implementation</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The wiki was far more successful than I had anticipated. All students read and followed the discussion and most contributed. Reading their entries myself gave me a better idea of the depth of students’ understanding than I usually get from classroom sessions and this allowed me to identify things which needed to be clarified.<br />
Setting up a site to display answers to assignment queries meant that I did not receive the same question from many students.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Reflections</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Yes; what I did worked. It was accessed by students and they appreciated this type of support.<br />
I will certainly do it again. The management of the wiki needs some further thought as I am not sure the ‘collaboration’ facility was really exploited by the students (I think that they divided the task up and wrote separate sections, rather than collaborating on the text through the editing and re-editing facilities). I plan also to extend the activity from merely summarising to discussing a particular issue. <br />
<br />
Next time I will also use the module space on the VLE to make links to journals.<br />
<br />
And, I hope to learn about other things that i can usefully do to enhance the experience of taking my module.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-12875836629691306712012-02-12T23:34:00.000-08:002012-02-12T23:34:38.894-08:00Case study - Electronic plagiarism detection in the Law School<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><strong>Overview</strong><br />
Part of my role within the <a href="http://www.law.leeds.ac.uk/" target="_blank">School of Law</a> is to deal with all aspects of plagiarism. I put electronic copies of all assignments on the <a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/vle/" target="_blank">VLE</a> and a <a href="http://turnitin.com/en_us/home" target="_blank">Turnitin</a> link for the students to submit their work to. All of our students are asked to submit their assignments via Turnitin otherwise they don't get back a copy of their assignments with feedback. We do this because we can't penalise them under the current practice for not using Turnitin and we don't wish to go down that route (at least, not yet). We try to explain to all the students why we are using Turnitin and we try not to scare them. We don't systematically go through each Turnitin instance looking for plagiarism; if we happen to see an assignment with a high percentage of copied material or if an academic asks me to look at a particular assignment further we will then investigate. <br />
<br />
<strong>Objectives</strong><br />
<br />
We really wanted to use Turnitin to provide the academics with a bit more support with regards to plagiarism. We also wanted to be more proactive with regards to eliminating plagiarism. There have been cases where Turnitin has pointed out to the academic that an assignment has been plagiarised. Academics can't be expected to know the content of every website on their topic. Using Turnitin we can also guard against students submitting assignments that were written by someone else during a previous year or prepared collaboratively. This year we've also tried to keep a closer eye on the first year assignments where Turnitin can highlight incorrect referencing as opposed to deliberate attempts to cheat. Previously, students had been asked to submit an electronic copy of their assignment as well as the paper copy and my understanding was that we were running out of storage space for all the CDs and floppy disks; so Turnitin has helped with that too. <br />
<br />
<strong>Implementation</strong><br />
<br />
I actually just started in the summer after the School handbooks had been produced and the procedures had been decided; but as this is the first year we have had to be flexible. The School did use Turnitin last year for Masters modules and the students had to go to the Turnitin website to submit their work. Setting up Turnitin was a lot more time consuming using the Turnitin website. Students need to be registered and the class size limit meant things could become confusing. Using Turnitin via the VLE has simplified the process and we've implemented Turnitin across all modules. We did get people from the VLE team and the Library to come and demonstrate Turnitin to the staff and have needed the support of the VLE team on a couple of occasions. It's nothing we haven't been able to sort out. As we don't hand back assignments with the feedback support staff have to check that the students have submitted their assignment, which is extra work for them. Students have emailed me with problems e.g., submitting the wrong assignment, or confusion over the preview box now showing footnotes and the word count Turnitin produces. It's not been a massive problem and this is something new for all undergraduates so next year things will be better as it's only new to the first years. <br />
<br />
<strong>Reflections</strong><br />
<br />
It's definitely been a valuable tool to use. Next year I want to do some student workshops on plagiarism where I'll show the students a Turnitin report. Showing them how it looks and what we do with it. We may also do an optional test submission for first years where students will be able to see the report for the assignment they submit. This will have to be looked at closely so that students don't use something they're going to submit in the future. I would certainly look at online marking (Grademark) and some of my colleagues are very keen on the idea. </div>Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-77254722037144843622012-01-30T21:20:00.000-08:002012-01-30T21:21:19.311-08:00Case study - Student video for communication, community and reflection<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><strong>Overview</strong><br />
<br />
Using video for student communication within a distance learning Masters program in deaf education. Students are encouraged to use British Sign Language (first language for some on the module) to communicate with other members of the group. This has been successful in creating a sense of community amongst learners and promises to lead to enriched opportunities for learning networking and scaffolding within the cohort.<br />
<br />
<strong>Objectives</strong><br />
<br />
To facilitate accessible opportunities for student communication. <br />
To use video to introduce group members, create community, provide opportunities for reflection and increase opportunities for support and information exchange within the group.<br />
<br />
<strong>Implementation</strong><br />
<br />
Basic training and information provided to students on how to create video using their own equipment (webcams, digital cameras, etc.). Videos are uploaded to LUTube for conversion to formats appropriate for online delivery and then embedded by students in areas that they can edit within the VLE (e.g. wikis, blogs etc.). <br />
Following the initial introduction and socialisation stage, students will be encouraged to engage with tasks more oriented towards learning, such as information exchanges and collaborative problem solving.<br />
<br />
<strong>Reflections</strong><br />
<br />
Students were able to start using equipment and online delivery fairly easily although support was provided where required. This approach has made communication within this group more accessible and has provided a viable and in many way superior alternative to written forms of communication. Video also allows students to refelct in more informal and, at the same time, deeper ways.</div>Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-91609733108853939562012-01-23T22:32:00.000-08:002012-01-23T22:40:48.831-08:00Case study - Audio Feedback<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Worked with Dr Nick Robinson, </span><a href="http://www.polis.leeds.ac.uk/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">School of Polities and International Studies</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, </span><a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">University of Leeds</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> looking the best way for him to provide his student feedback with audio recordings. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">Overview</span></strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Provided digital audio recordings as feedback on students' essay drafts. This was made available through the </span><a href="https://vlebb.leeds.ac.uk/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">VLE</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">Objectives</span></strong><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">To be able to produce detailed feedback for lots of students in a short space of time (save me time) </span></li>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">To improve the experience of giving feedback </span></li>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">To improve the quality of feedback for students and increase student engagement with the feedback. </span></li>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVACsKWY6CjBAZN2kmz4LIQjMa71t1_XcWm2iIDVItKCfogwkw14NNx4puqbqquy4loGdq7aV4p1T4bOgm8y4EndZKw1Ox_swDzWJhrhoXY_lbvxG8ajvQHvr0gKmJ4Pxh7orngHtEzMB/s1600/screen_shot_audioFeedback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVACsKWY6CjBAZN2kmz4LIQjMa71t1_XcWm2iIDVItKCfogwkw14NNx4puqbqquy4loGdq7aV4p1T4bOgm8y4EndZKw1Ox_swDzWJhrhoXY_lbvxG8ajvQHvr0gKmJ4Pxh7orngHtEzMB/s1600/screen_shot_audioFeedback.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">Implementation</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Notes were made on student work which formed the basis of the feedback to be recorded. Feedback was recorded on available personal equipment (iPhone). Audio files were transferred to a computer via iTunes which integrates seamlessly with the iPhone, renamed to the name of the students and then uploaded to a folder within the VLE labelled student feedbcak. The need did not arrise to access control the feedback and no students raised an issue with their feedback being available to others. Students accessed their feedback from the VLE and either listened to feedback online or downloaded the files for offline use. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">Reflections</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Student feedback was universally positive with a great deal of enthusiasm being shown for the process to continue. The process saved Nick a great deal of time and made the task of giving feedback more stimulating and less stressful. Students commented that they appreciated the more personal nature of the feedback and the depth of meaning that is conveyed by a spoken voice. Nick will definately be continuing with this approach to giving feedback and am looking to expand it to providing summative feedback on assignments this summer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">Other info. / Links / Comments</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">JISC funded project on providing audio feedback: </span><a href="http://www.soundsgood.org.uk/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.soundsgood.org.uk</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Learning technologies @ Leeds podcast By Simon Davis </span><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/learning-technologies-leeds/id343800114" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cast 01</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (</span><a href="itms://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/lt-l-cast01-audio-feedback/id343800114?i=64325127&affC=QQABAAAAHgAQcFwiQ09UMXNWdHRjSnMtcm9sVklIbkVrZlB4NWNLenpfY2VaUQ%253D%253D&ign-msr=http%253A%252F%252Fmichael-bolton-learning-technology.blogspot.com%252F2012%252F01%252Fcase-study-audio-feedback.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">View in iTunes</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">)</span></div>Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-21468136377310519292012-01-15T20:58:00.000-08:002012-01-16T04:39:39.315-08:00Case study - E-learning in deaf education<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I have been working with Dr Ruth Swanwick at the School of Education, University of Leeds <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>helping her using Virtual Learning Environments to enhance her students experience. <o:p></o:p> <br />
<br />
<strong>Overview</strong><br />
<br />
This is the range of things I have tried out: <br />
<ul><li>Use of personal blogs for reflection on module material</li>
<li>Use of tutor blog to give feedback to the whole group</li>
<li>Use of discussion board for sharing responses to module reading amongst the group as well as general networking</li>
<li>Use of wiki for shared comments on assignments and also for some admin purposes (signing up for tutorials)</li>
<li>Use of Module Folders for providing module materials and also for setting up links to other resources (e.g. library, Deaf Ed. websites)</li>
<li>Use of chat room for tutorial but changed to pilot <a href="http://www.wimba.com/products/wimba_classroom" target="_blank">WIMBA</a> for this to allow for visual contact with deaf students</li>
<li>Use of links to <a href="http://lutube.leeds.ac.uk/" target="_blank">LUTube</a> to give some information in BSL and to allow students to give and share feedback in BSL.</li>
<li>Using the WIMBA classroom to organise group and 1:1 tutorials with deaf students using BSL and an interpreter (this is being separately evaluated)</li>
</ul><h3>Objectives</h3>The overall aim of using the blogs, the wiki and the discussion board was to was to: <br />
<ul><li>enhance the interaction, networking and support opportunities for all students</li>
<li>enable <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ruth</span> to provide more support through input to discussions and blog comments</li>
<li>provide a mechanism for <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ruth</span> to gain more feedback on students' responses to the learning activities week by week.</li>
<li>Increase opportunities for deaf students to contribute to discussions in BSL and to have feedback and information from <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ruth</span> in BSL</li>
</ul><h3>Implementation</h3><ul><li>Using the <a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/vle/" target="_blank">VLE</a> and setting up modules with different tools has not been difficult but we have had plenty of support from VLE Support team. Learning how to use the tools is not really difficult but working out how to use them well to actually enhance what you already do requires some thought and opportunities to share ideas with other colleague (across school or faculty). You don't need extra resources for this, just some time and support.</li>
<li>Linking between the VLE and LUTube can just be done (in theory) with a camera with some video facility. Working with short clips like this or using the webcam is not complicated.</li>
</ul><h3>Reflections</h3><ul><li>Being able to easily post resources and links; use the announcements and email easily has been liberating as I do not see my students week by week to remind them of things or give them handouts etc.</li>
<li>Using the blog and the discussion board as part of the module activities has helped <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ruth</span> to be much more in touch with all my students week by week and to gain a better understanding of their responses to the module activities. The students, however, feel slightly anxious about these tools and also more accountable. I could set them up better by managing the students' expectations more effectively.</li>
<li>Starting to experiment with the use of visual messages and comments in BSL is really exciting and the response from the deaf students has been very positive. I have used a Flip Camera for this and made links to short video clips in LUTube. The students have tried to do the same. LUTube is easy to use. You can make links quite easily in the VLE but sometimes it comes apart at the making of the video stage. I would like a smoother way to get from filming to uploading. We could then more confidently encourage students to do this themselves across all aspects the programme and it is entirely appropriate for a programme relating to deafness and communication.</li>
</ul><h3>Other info. / Links / Comments</h3>Using video and visual tools has the most exciting potential for my programme but it has been the most challenging area and so these examples and links are all relating to this: <br />
This link to LUTube in the VLE which is <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ruth</span> feedback about the blogging in BSL rather than in writing. <br />
<br />
<object height="260" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://lutube.leeds.ac.uk/video/1475545d10e7a3af9249885ed703149f" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="260" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://lutube.leeds.ac.uk/video/1475545d10e7a3af9249885ed703149f"></embed></object><br />
This is a student giving some feedback about using the virtual classroom. By putting this link in the VLE other deaf students can get an idea of how this pilot is going. <a href="http://lutube.leeds.ac.uk/eduras/videos/684" target="_blank">http://lutube.leeds.ac.uk/eduras/videos/684</a><br />
<br />
<object height="260" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://lutube.leeds.ac.uk/video/ae28d6ba3797c75e60969129736e2e12" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="260" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://lutube.leeds.ac.uk/video/ae28d6ba3797c75e60969129736e2e12"></embed></object><br />
This was just a video of regional tutorials so that students can see what other groups do.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sddu.leeds.ac.uk/casestudies/casestudy.php?ID=17&faculty=4&search=yes" target="_blank">http://www.sddu.leeds.ac.uk/casestudies/casestudy.php?ID=17&faculty=4&search=yes</a><br />
<br />
</div>Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-8730358848270206942012-01-11T21:53:00.000-08:002012-01-15T21:30:49.110-08:00HCT goes hi-tech with brand new media lab (gulfnews.com)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Abu Dhab:i A hi-tech media lab will open new career channels to <a href="http://www.hct.ac.ae/" target="_blank">Higher Colleges of Technology</a> (HCT) students and help them develop real practical experience in the field of media.<br />
<br />
HCT and Abu Dhabi media and entertainment hub, <a href="http://twofour54.com/en" target="_blank">twofour54</a>, signed an agreement to provide HCT students with opportunities to develop skills and careers in the burgeoning local media industry.<br />
<br />
"We want to connect with the youth, ignite their passion for media and develop world-class Arabic media and entertainment," twofour54 CEO <a href="http://twofour54.com/en/people/about-twofour54/people/twofour54/tony-orsten.html" target="_blank">Tony Orsten</a> said.<br />
<br />
The project is part of a broader relationship with the education sector to nurture indigenous expertise.<br />
<br />
<strong>Stimulating talent </strong><br />
<br />
"We want to stimulate local talents so they consider professional careers in media, and to increase awareness among the student population about new industries that are developing in the UAE, like gaming and animation," Wayne Borg, deputy CEO and COO at twofour54, told Gulf News.<br />
<br />
"One of our goals is to ensure that courses provided are aligned with market needs. There are over 140 media companies based in the UAE, and we offer the students training and internships in these companies. We help guide expectations and create awareness of incubation challenges for students who want to start their own projects."<br />
<br />
HCT will be holding regular classes with its media students in the lab, as well as hosting monthly workshops there in partnership with twofour54.<br />
<br />
"This lab is unique because HCT faculty will be able to facilitate 360-degree learning by use of multi-layered white boards, a 60 inch LCD screen and an HD projection system, meaning that our media and applied communications students get to use the latest technologies and the best possible facilities," Alan Jones, chair of Applied Media Studies, Abu Dhabi Men's College, told Gulf News.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/education/hct-goes-hi-tech-with-brand-new-media-lab-1.948347">http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/education/hct-goes-hi-tech-with-brand-new-media-lab-1.948347</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://media.twofour54.com/en/news/news/hct-collaborates-with-twofour54-to-create-hi-tech-campus-media-lab.html">http://media.twofour54.com/en/news/news/hct-collaborates-with-twofour54-to-create-hi-tech-campus-media-lab.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.live-production.tv/news/products/htc-collaborates-twofour54-create-hi-tech-campus-media-lab.html">http://www.live-production.tv/news/products/htc-collaborates-twofour54-create-hi-tech-campus-media-lab.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://thenational.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx">http://thenational.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx</a></div>Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-3064935319112756412012-01-10T23:31:00.000-08:002012-01-15T21:25:11.983-08:00CNN's Inside the Middle East<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">CNN's Inside the Middle East talks to Sheikh Nahayan bin Mubarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education.<br />
<br />
<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="374" id="ep" width="416"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="movie" value="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=international/2012/01/05/exp-inside-middle-east-abu-dhabi-40-growth.cnn" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><embed src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=international/2012/01/05/exp-inside-middle-east-abu-dhabi-40-growth.cnn" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="416" wmode="transparent" height="374"></embed></object></div>Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-44860089456953218252011-09-27T00:10:00.000-07:002011-09-27T00:30:17.986-07:00Festival of Thinkers 2011<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgykz6a4TNyOJPcb_LWt956vjb2RQcfIQ7x_71dVAwbuX_GY3ugqP4aud6-UejMClO5iBdoTeXcy4oK3VqKdW-MiLZHor7GGnnCxupaMD1OEsN743lr_reCjJGj_SROepuaUb38Y_FbK8/s1600/featured1.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 220px; height: 160px; float: left; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656937750149806706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgykz6a4TNyOJPcb_LWt956vjb2RQcfIQ7x_71dVAwbuX_GY3ugqP4aud6-UejMClO5iBdoTeXcy4oK3VqKdW-MiLZHor7GGnnCxupaMD1OEsN743lr_reCjJGj_SROepuaUb38Y_FbK8/s320/featured1.png" /></a><div>The fourth <a href="http://fot.hct.ac.ae/">Festival of Thinkers</a> conference is organized by the <a href="http://www.hct.ac.ae/">Higher Colleges of Technology</a>, providing a platform to foster and celebrate thinking, inspiring the youth of the region, and allowing thinkers from around the world to come together and share their ideas and thoughts.<br /><br />Thoughts from the Festival of Thinkers courtesy of <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/">The National newspaper </a>avalable <a href="http://youtu.be/T5qrKA5Xk2E">here</a>.</div></div>Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-31902960481712064662011-06-12T01:14:00.000-07:002011-06-12T01:16:03.541-07:00HCT TV Commercial on BBC 2010<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QMBNgZUKMTM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-69172392912314897602011-04-04T03:56:00.000-07:002012-01-15T21:26:27.524-08:00More Education without Borders In The News<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div><a href="http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-31/patna/29365227_1_education-teachers-mega-conference"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-31/patna/29365227_1_education-teachers-mega-conference</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div><a href="http://gulftoday.ae/portal/4fe9e36f-aca1-444a-af7c-dd5ee96db9d1.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://gulftoday.ae/portal/4fe9e36f-aca1-444a-af7c-dd5ee96db9d1.aspx</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div><a href="http://print.dailymirror.lk/news/news/39685.html"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://print.dailymirror.lk/news/news/39685.html</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div><a href="http://www.uaetoday.com/news_dtls.asp?newsid=33105"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://www.uaetoday.com/news_dtls.asp?newsid=33105</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div><a href="http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/government/mohammad-attends-education-without-borders-2011-opening-ceremony-1.784424"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/government/mohammad-attends-education-without-borders-2011-opening-ceremony-1.784424</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div><a href="http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2011/March/theuae_March841.xml&section=theuae"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2011/March/theuae_March841.xml&section=theuae</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #101010; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Alain Robert, 48, scaled the 828m-high Burj Khalifa building for the opening Ceremony</span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #101010; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #101010; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3497836/Le-Spiderman-strikes-again-French-Daredevil-Alain-Robert-scales-worlds-tallest-tower.html?OTC-RSS&ATTR=News"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3497836/Le-Spiderman-strikes-again-French-Daredevil-Alain-Robert-scales-worlds-tallest-tower.html?OTC-RSS&ATTR=News</span></a></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></b></div><div><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/climbing-dangerously/2011/03/29/AFtopQuB_gallery.html"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/climbing-angerously/2011/03/29/AFtopQuB_gallery.html</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/03/29/watch-french-spider-man-climbs-worlds-tallest-building/"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/03/29/watch-french-spider-man-climbs-worlds-tallest-building/</span></a></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/29/spiderman-scales-worlds-tallest-tower/">http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/29/spiderman-scales-worlds-tallest-tower/</a></span></div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12892200">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12892200</a></div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span></b></div></div>Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-89920294915752819142011-03-29T05:23:00.000-07:002012-01-15T21:28:10.693-08:00Education key focus of World Forum in UAE (gulfnews.com)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dubai: Broadening the concept of education around the world to foster greater global understanding amongst nations and civilisation was the underlying message at the opening of Tuesday's educational World Forum.<br />
<br />
The World Forum was held as part of the 10th annual <a href="http://ewb.hct.ac.ae/" target="_blank">Education Without Borders</a> (EWB) conference in Dubai hosted by the <a href="http://www.hct.ac.ae/" target="_blank">Higher Colleges of Technology</a> (HCT).<br />
<br />
Dignitaries and global education leaders came together to discuss education in a global world and the necessity to adapt to the pace of change facing humanity in the 21st Century.<br />
<br />
"We must concentrate on broadening the content of education around the world to nurture tolerance and peaceful co-existence between citizens of the world," said Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor of the HCTs.<br />
<br />
"I believe the current state of disruption and misunderstanding in the world has a great deal to do with ignorance on all sides," he said.<br />
<br />
Shaikh Nahyan added that education is an effective way to develop global understanding and build positive relationships to dispel stereotypical attitudes to nurture new attitudes.<br />
<br />
"To resolve regional and global conflicts, the highest priority must be given to investing in human minds in order to modify human behaviour and attitudes," said Shaikh Nahyan.<br />
<br />
In his keynote address, former British prime minister, <a href="http://ewb.hct.ac.ae/2011/mentors/tony-blair/" target="_blank">Tony Blair</a> added that for countries, companies and individuals to cope with the rapid process of global change underway; people must be prepared to adapt. Preparedness taught to them through education.<br />
<br />
"There is now a premium on innovation and a willingness to change the way you work, the way you look at and do things," said Blair.<br />
<br />
"In a real sense the foundations of success today are the abilities to develop innate human potential and capital….because at a basic level you have to learn to earn."<br />
<br />
He added that increased technological advancements in the 21st Century pose opportunities for new ways of educating across cultures and geographical borders.<br />
<br />
"The purpose of education has got to be broader in idea and concept than simply getting people through exams," said Blair. "In some profound way we've got to teach young people how to be global citizens."<br />
<br />
He added that in order for this to be achieved academic institutions must be given the freedom through government policies to innovate and enhance students' creative thinking.<br />
<br />
"We need to change the way we look at, do and think about education because then it changes the impact it has on teachers, students and individual people," said Blair.<br />
<br />
"If schools or colleges want to do well in today's world they must think about partnerships they can create across borders; and with different types of people within their own borders<br />
<br />
<a href="http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/education/education-key-focus-of-world-forum-in-uae-1.784555" target="_blank">http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/education/education-key-focus-of-world-forum-in-uae-1.784555</a></div>Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-51976091624415038562011-01-04T03:31:00.000-08:002012-11-29T03:27:07.100-08:00Visitors at Abu Dhabi Men's College<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
I have been thinking about all the visitors we get here at <a href="http://www.admc.hct.ac.ae/">Abu Dhabi Men’s College</a> who come have meetings with the <a href="http://www.hct.ac.ae/messages/aspx/chancellor_message.aspx">HE Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan</a>, Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology, our Vice Chancellor <a href="http://www.hct.ac.ae/messages/aspx/vice_chancellor_message.aspx">Dr Tayeb Kamali</a> or any of the College management. Visitors who give talks to our students and staff these visitors reads like a who’s who of world famous scholars underlining the importance of the HCT within the UAE and its Education system. Everyone who comes to visit the college is shown our college Library and various Education Technology and without fail are impressed with what we have achieved at the college.</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Professor Philip Kotler one of the world’s leading marketing gurus and professor of International Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University was very impressed with the college. Describing it as leading edge and that, other parts of the world could learn from us he had never see such a concept for a Library and research centre as he has seen at the college.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558620755540533346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GGUAsKMQ1a407nwGCKdfYl4VTZPyltp5oQeiv8y28uBcW4CWUyufOIE5_HNbyqRSireHBNSKzIu-fk9tptyELZeqA3ZVI-j997Ck4AvMhCt9aXDZs_MXMYDBTE1WYX_VZMh5-gRY7sS1/s320/ADM_2732.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 213px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span">Myself and Professor Philip Kotler</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">2009 12 14 - <a href="http://www.kth.se/en">Royal Institute Of Technology</a>, Delegation<br />
2010 02 17 - <a href="http://www.sk.sachsen.de/219.htm">Dr. Johannes Beermann</a>, Sächsische Staatskanzlei<br />
2010 02 18 - <a href="http://www.hcl.in/shiv-nadar.asp">Shiv Nadar</a>, Chairman of HCL Technologies<br />
2010 03 21 - Mr Orhan Hikmet Azizoğlu, The Founder and President of the International Universities Council (IUC)<br />
2010 03 21 - <a href="http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulo_Skaf">Paulo Antônio Skaf</a>, President of the Federação das Indústrias do Estado de São Paulo (Fiesp)<br />
2010 04 08 - <a href="http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/research/people/Pages/NeilSelby.aspx">Neil Selby</a>, International Director of the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford<br />
2010 04 22 - <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/craig/">Craig Mundie</a>, Microsoft Chief Research and Strategy Officer<br />
2010 04 26 - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azim_Premji">Asim Premji</a>, Chairman of Wipro<br />
2010 05 02 - <a href="http://www.cshl.edu/Research-Administration/stillman-bruce-president-professor.html">Dr.Bruce W. Stillman</a>, </span>President and Professor Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory<br />
2010 05 02 - Pavlos Yeroulanos, Minister of Culture & Tourism for Greece<br />
2010 05 03 - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Thorpe">Ian Thorpe</a><br />
2010 05 11 - <a href="http://www1.aston.ac.uk/abs/">Aston Business School</a> Delegation</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span">2010 05 13 - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiran_Bedi">Dr. Kiren Bedi</a><br />
2010 05 24 - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapil_Sibal">H.E. Kapil Sibal</a>, Human Resources Minister<br />
2010 05 25 - <a href="http://system.usf.edu/president/about-president-genshaft.asp">Prof Judy Genshaft</a>, President University of South Florida<br />
2010 06 27 - Egyptian Higher Education Delegation<br />
2010 06 27 - Kingdom of Tonga Higher Education Delegation<br />
2010 06 28 - <a href="http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/faculty/directory/balachandran_bala.aspx">Dr. Bala V. Balachandran</a>, Kellogg School of Management<br />
2010 06 30 - Wipro Delegation<br />
2010 07 10 - <a href="http://www.kotlermarketing.com/">Prof. Philip Kotler</a>, Kellogg School of Management<br />
2010 09 20 - Macro Media University<br />
2010 10 11 - <a href="http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/vc/person/">Prof<span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> </span>Andrew Hamilton</a>, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford<br />
2010 10 19 - <a href="http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1985/brown-bio.html">Prof Michel S.Brown</a>, University of Pennsylvania<br />
2010 10 31 - <a href="http://www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/ca/About_Us/Our_People">Dr Mike Milanovic</a>, CEO Cambridge ESOL<br />
2010 10 31 - <a href="http://www.bangor.ac.uk/about/senior_management/professor_john_hughes.php.en">Professor John Hughes</a>, Vice Chancellor of Bangor University<br />
2010 11 03 - CISCO Group Delegation<br />
2010 11 22 - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Parthasarathy">Swami Parthasarathy</a>, Governing Business & Relationships Parthasarathy.<br />
2010 11 23 - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Foster,_Baron_Foster_of_Thames_Bank">Lord Norman Foster</a><br />
2010 11 29 - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Blair">Right Honourable Tony Blair</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">2010 05 03 -<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcPHoObLZeO8ZiBywHZ776YPZ-wz10UmbKFB1Sym_gWfLGZiiUCqzhiWTNAu7rtTKISzRTV6ueWfFSvjq47vlgU7-5mNKRPI4LqA53WrW8WVdWEA9TjTfIwbQJftlNqOGdoMQRbQsfmTJ/s1600/DSC_0097.JPG"> </a></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Thorpe">Ian Thorpe</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span">2010 05 13 -</span> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiran_Bedi">Dr. Kiren Bedi</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span">2010 10 19 - <a href="http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1985/brown-bio.html">Prof Michel S.Brown</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">2010 11 23 - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Foster,_Baron_Foster_of_Thames_Bank">Lord Norman Foster</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">2010 11 29 - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Blair">Right Honourable Tony Blair</a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="phototagname"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span">HE Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research, </span></span></span><span class="phototagname"><span class="Apple-style-span">Tony Blair,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span"> <span id="tag_name_1"></span></span><span class="phototagname">Dr Tayeb Kamali</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span"> <span id="tag_name_0"></span></span><span class="phototagname">Michael Bolton</span></span></span></span></div>
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Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-12833759246245142302010-12-26T20:30:00.000-08:002010-12-27T01:48:50.231-08:00IT Week 2010<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span">I recently gave a presentation at Madinat Zayed and Ruwais Colleges on Podcasting</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "></span></span><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoewE9HcJrovoIKgc8pldR62JFiebt4FNc2i8spSFMIhE0lVRkvSwvJaLUwuuBDR36tcM0Hp2kkvOE-NyUQhNXRUH0moMOoR2lDuDSwDvG-Tf3oDKziVe99nkwOTySWg6PXQDySB_Ocps-/s320/DSC_5101.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555231324038508674" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlt4jawsmE2s24-p_VllBuQHDunyvmpqdn6xP-6vmU3xqTBQbombire8v379-eyH-VBlcmzPi2gtIPDBS-BKNA57yw1sSzhZ4PSh2jC0-ygg5TE0UyF2HTnIIlB4i_c3-7TItqbtNMvzR/s1600/your+talk.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlt4jawsmE2s24-p_VllBuQHDunyvmpqdn6xP-6vmU3xqTBQbombire8v379-eyH-VBlcmzPi2gtIPDBS-BKNA57yw1sSzhZ4PSh2jC0-ygg5TE0UyF2HTnIIlB4i_c3-7TItqbtNMvzR/s320/your+talk.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555231321100556658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 187px; " /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYkEFjpPoPoJNzYr9AbGl_BQJfbZxOpw7mviclBfkGrb8W8tQqV3CgLMH4G-cZPZk2BECrt7lj4oRlqKVZ3BIOtkKNSlUsY4-QZHL7ArBPPJ3mTpQZeHpxKWY4_A-Nshe5IztEWu0gWrK/s1600/DSC_5133.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYkEFjpPoPoJNzYr9AbGl_BQJfbZxOpw7mviclBfkGrb8W8tQqV3CgLMH4G-cZPZk2BECrt7lj4oRlqKVZ3BIOtkKNSlUsY4-QZHL7ArBPPJ3mTpQZeHpxKWY4_A-Nshe5IztEWu0gWrK/s320/DSC_5133.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555231330971885282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><br /><div></div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mSOYGW-XgpUDsrc5145bn0wbLwFogIoC6CMeAHSndPjegx4CKhGrRwxrXAB52DGKo_d8zv7AknFLKlLFRFxuMieMGF-qIBAzxqKN_1sj3606Qw9M1BW2DfUMXdK5NdZ04Rl8B3GR14ee/s1600/with+Phil.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mSOYGW-XgpUDsrc5145bn0wbLwFogIoC6CMeAHSndPjegx4CKhGrRwxrXAB52DGKo_d8zv7AknFLKlLFRFxuMieMGF-qIBAzxqKN_1sj3606Qw9M1BW2DfUMXdK5NdZ04Rl8B3GR14ee/s320/with+Phil.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555231330182957634" /></a><br /><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">It was a really good day and everyone really seemed interested in the the talk I'll you can find my slides here: <a href="http://bit.ly/hfn4Dh">http://</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;"><a href="http://bit.ly/hfn4Dh">bit.ly/hfn4Dh</a></span> </span>I hav</span>e included links to the websites and video I showed and talked about at the end of the presentation but the whole talk really was an<span class="Apple-style-span"> ode to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 18px; ">JISC Digital Media</span> <a href="http://www.jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://www.jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk/</span></a> its such a good resource it really is worth looking at. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-19858910112522034802010-09-27T01:52:00.000-07:002012-01-15T21:31:21.789-08:00Chairs of Learning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">In Abu Dhabi Men’s College Library there are two things which look like the front of jet engines, except that they are green and orange. And you can sit inside them. In the middle of the busy library, with students and faculty walking backwards and forwards, the occupants of these two strange devices of cutting-edge technology sit in a world of their own, listening to their own programs, interacting with the internet or watching a podcast.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">The Sonic chairs (<a href="http://www.sonicchair.de/english/index_engl.htm">http://www.sonicchair.de/english/index_engl.htm</a> ) are individual sound pods, where the listener can relax in his or her own privacy and allow the lecture or commentary to surround them. As well as individual speakers at ear level, the whole seat acts as a sound membrane, allowing the lower frequencies to vibrate into the listener’s body, giving the feeling of a live performance.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">The Sonic Chairs have their own individual iMac touch screens and volume controls, so that the listener can create his or her own learning environment, with no background noise to disturb their concentration. Students are free to immerse themselves in their own media at a volume that suite them, knowing that they are not disturbing anyone else in the Library. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">As well as multi-media, volume controls and USB connections, you can pull up a little table which the listener can use to make notes, or rest their coffee cup. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMENmpQwWoDsSCMCIdxI-zOFP6BwdKjb2YPZOyaaQlwddHYfCzdCYRjUP9gVemjOWZNMAr3cn1RzhVKT-rlQy2N5570qWQ13NGfFh_f9FZ14PFfWLoRTaEij8Tnu2fnYq_-atPd_S1qeZ/s1600/DSC_4368.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521530864316086130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMENmpQwWoDsSCMCIdxI-zOFP6BwdKjb2YPZOyaaQlwddHYfCzdCYRjUP9gVemjOWZNMAr3cn1RzhVKT-rlQy2N5570qWQ13NGfFh_f9FZ14PFfWLoRTaEij8Tnu2fnYq_-atPd_S1qeZ/s320/DSC_4368.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 213px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px;" /></a></span></div></div><div><br />
</div></div>Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-63473917604688114922010-09-20T04:07:00.000-07:002010-09-20T04:08:22.556-07:00HCT Shines on International Stage<span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Working for the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) and in particular Abu Dhabi men’s college is completely different to anything else I’ve experienced before. We get visitors from world-leading educationalists, sporting stars, politicians, members of worldwide organizations such as WHO and UNESCO, and celebrities.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Al Rawi is the corporate news letter from the HCT and contains under the heading of HCT Successes contains an article about one of the main parts of my job visitors. Some of the people I have had the pleasure of meeting include a delegation from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, MIT senior entrepreneurship lecturer John Preston, Microsoft’s Craig Mundie, Australian Olympic swimmer Ian Thorp, University of Chicago President Robert J Zimmer and UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokovaust to name a few. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This is what the article said:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">“Hugely impressed with the standards of education and facilities on offer at the campuses, the guests have all been eager to see how the HCT model operates so successfully in eLearning, education technologies, research and training; and to hopefully to work collaboratively with the HCT to develop, produce and deliver cutting-edge programs in the UAE and their home institutions and countries.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Moreover, during their tours the guests gain knowledge and a clear insight into how advanced HCT’s philosophy is in delivery best practices education in a technologically advanced mode with emphasis on eLearning in a wireless environment. Many of these visits have resulted in partnerships, joint ventures and memoranda of understanding being entered into for the future benefit of HCT students and the advancement of facilities at the College campuses.” <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p></span></span>Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-38858189753455096732010-06-13T04:35:00.000-07:002010-11-09T03:40:06.141-08:00Capturing great teaching<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">An Arabic newspaper based in Dubai has asked the college for an article based on the Classroom capture pilot project we have been running at the College. I’m not sure if it’s going to get published or not but thought it was informative enough to put on here. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height:115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Capturing great teaching<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Abu Dhabi Men’s College is always striving to improve teaching and learning at the College using the latest technology and academic research to enhance to student experiences. Creating a way for staff to capture the high quality teaching that they do was a high priority to the College. Looking at how other Universities and College around the world where doing this and assessing their strengths and weaknesses the College came up with cutting edge concept that makes the controls as simple as possible yet has multiple cameras capturing the whole classroom environment in the most natural way possible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The College setup a classroom installed with six high definition cameras around the room, three on the walls front, back and one side wall. The others are in the ceiling above the front desk, one document camera and the final one capturing the screen all in high definition. Other equipment includes six directional microphones; pressure sensitive mats; a control system and video recorder complete the setup. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is all controlled through an automatic intuitive control system that uses the pressure sensitive mats on the floor and the directional microphones to work out where the center of attention is and records that. The system is all controlled through a very simple wireless control panel. With the simple press of two buttons the system will start recording the teacher. Two more buttons and any students talking will be filmed. Any recordings can be professionally edited or just left as they are and then uploaded to the Colleges media streaming server for students to access. There is also the option to broadcast the live feed over the internet for people to watch from anywhere in the world. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All this technology combines to make the highest quality recordings with the simplest setup and controls possible today. Giving students access to watch revision and reminder video’s of key topics in their subjects. </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-71121608735742426362010-06-09T21:34:00.000-07:002010-06-13T04:27:48.080-07:00UK Universities<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">UK Universities need to find cheaper and more flexible ways to teach</span>. </span></span><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23BBCNews" title="#BBCNews" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(34, 118, 187); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">#BBCNews</span></span></a></span></b></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><b><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/10278662.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/10278662.stm</a> </b></span></span></div>Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-33758843237375306572010-06-02T22:40:00.000-07:002012-01-15T21:32:53.523-08:00Library and Independent Learning Centre's eBook<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">I think this is a nice way to promote our wonderful Library and Independent Learning Centre, and also as a way to demonstrate the value of online technology, Abu Dhabi Men' s College has created a coffee table-styled book that has many wonderful photos of our students using the Library & Independent Learning Centre facilities. It also highlight some of the important visitors that we get in the centre.</span></span><br />
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<div><object height="300" width="450"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.blurb.com/assets/embed.swf?book_id=1198813" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" height="300" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div></div>Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-72148755741434809602010-05-31T03:32:00.000-07:002010-05-31T03:41:06.779-07:00Diigo - Research and collaborative research with knowledge - sharing community and social contentI’ve had a look at Diigo before and thought it look really good but never actually used it myself but it may be about to change. I don’t know how new this is but looking again at the Diigo site they are now offering Educator Accounts – a free premium account especially designed for educators. These are special premium accounts provided specifically to K-12 & higher-ed educators. Once your Diigo Educator application is approved, your account will be upgraded to have these additional features:<br /><br /><ul><li>You can create student accounts for an entire class with just a few clicks (and student email addresses are optional for account creation) </li><li>Students of the same class are automatically set up as a Diigo group so they can start using all the benefits that a Diigo group provides, such as group bookmarks and annotations, and group forums. </li><li>Privacy settings of student accounts are pre-set so that only teachers and classmates can communicate with them.</li><li>Ads presented to student account users are limited to education-related sponsors. </li></ul><br />If you’ve never heard of Diigo before have a look a following video for an explanation of some of the features.</li> <ul></ul><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0RvAkTuL02A&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0RvAkTuL02A&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935497654945922536.post-24489653335397799942010-05-26T22:45:00.000-07:002010-05-26T22:48:12.147-07:00ISTE 2010 Blog RollI've just added myself to the ISTE 2010 Blog Roll "is a great way to share your blog and see what other ed tech enthusiasts are writing about in theirs. It's just another way you can get familiar with the upcoming conference, check-in onsite, and stay connected with your new colleagues when you return home. Last year we had more than 100 bloggers submit their info to our list!"<br /><br />I have to agree I've just had a look at about 10 of the Blogs on there and there is some good stuff.Michael Boltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14607084303836087914noreply@blogger.com0