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In Brief
News and Items of Interest for November
Nonprofit E-learning Survey Results
In August and September, Isoph and N-TEN co-sponsored the first-ever broad survey of nonprofits’ and associations’ use of e-learning. The results were published November 16, 2004, and are explored in part in this issue of The Sophist. The full report, including key findings as well as statistics, is available for download.
View the survey report as a PDF from Isoph >>
Technology in Education
Innovate, a peer-reviewed e-journal, promised to live up to its name in both content and design. It features cutting-edge research and practice in using information technology to enhance education.
Read Innovate online >>
With responses from over 1,100 colleges and universities, the second annual survey by of higher education in the United States shows online enrollments continue to grow at rates faster than for the broader student population, and institutes of higher education expect the rate of growth to continue increasing. The expected average growth rate for online students for 2004 is 24.8 percent, up from 19.8 percent in 2003.
Find out more, and download the full report as a PDF >>
Excellence in E-learning
Announced in October, Brandon-hall.com’s 2004 Excellence in Learning Awards honored a nonprofit program with a bronze in the Outstanding Learning Programs and Initiatives category, Congratulations to National Wildlife Federation’s Wildlife University. According to e-learning guru Brandon Hall himself, “More importantly than the 254 entries was the quality of the programs. It was truly inspiring to view these programs, to visit the demo tables, and to speak directly to the people who worked so long and hard on these entries. Excellence does exist, and it was deep and wide throughout the awards program!"
See all the 2004 Excellence in Learning Awards winners >>
Digital Divide
For those of you who worry e-learning may not be accessible or useful for low-income users, a New Jersey Labor Department program suggests otherwise. The program provides low-income workers with free computers for online education. “The computer removed several hurdles that once got in the way of workers trying to make it to classes, the experts said: They didn't have to worry about finding transportation since they were taking the classes online at home. They didn't have to pay for child care since they could do the class work after their children went to bed. They didn't have to deal with conflicts between classes and their current jobs because of the flexibility of the online classes.The program's result? Some 92 percent completed the courses and their wages rose on average 14 percent....”
Read the full article, “Scaling the Ladder” >>
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