Online 'Driver's Ed' Course Preps Kids for the Social Web

As any parent knows, kids aren't naturally inclined to consider the consequences of their impulsive online actions, which can have real repercussions down the line. And in an age where our kids are ever-more connected via the social web, but arguably remain unprepared for the responsibility that come with these connections, one Kickstarter project is looking to help.
"Like driver's ed for the social web," the project website says, "this course will prep tweens for their first Facebook account. With a twist. Parents study, too." It's called HomePage, and it seeks to educate children and parents through an online curriculum that aims to provide both parties with the tools to tackle the social web's most prevalent problems; the snares mentioned, above, as well as academic dishonesty, abusive language and general best practices.

Read more at: http://mashable.com/2013/05/11/social-web-drivers-ed/

Ken Robinson: How to escape education's death valley

Sir Ken Robinson outlines 3 principles crucial for the human mind to flourish -- and how current education culture works against them. In a funny, stirring talk he tells us how to get out of the educational "death valley" we now face, and how to nurture our youngest generations with a climate of possibility.

See video at: http://youtu.be/wX78iKhInsc

Take a leadership role with a PhD in Early Childhood Education

This page provides information on PhD early childhood education programs, what is studied in them, where you can study them, the prospects, and more ...

Read more at: http://onlineanddistancelearning.com/phd-early-childhood-education

Open Educational Resources: Innovation, Research and Practice

NOW AVAILABLE:

Perspectives on Open and Distance Learning:
Open Educational Resources: Innovation, Research and Practice

Rory McGreal, Wanjira Kinuthia and Stewart Marshall, Eds. May 2013

Published jointly by the Commonwealth of Learning and Athabasca University, Canada (UNESCO/COL Chair in OER) as CC-BY-SA and freely available to all: www.col.org/psOERIRP. Available in PDF and epub formats.

This book is one in a series of OER resources published by COL. It describes the OER movement in detail, providing readers with insight into OER's significant benefits, its theory and practice, and its achievements and challenges. The 16 chapters, written by some of the leading international experts on the subject, are organised into four parts by theme:
OER in AcademiaOER in Practice:Diffusion of OERProducing, Sharing and Using OER
Instructional designers, curriculum developers, educational technologists, teachers, researchers, students, others involved in creating, studying or using OER: all will find this timely resource informative and inspiring.

10+ Apps for Turning the iPad Into a Collaborative Device -- THE Journal

Check out these apps--from popular to obscure--that are helping the iPad realize its potential as a collaborative device in the classroom.

Read more at: http://thejournal.com/articles/2013/05/08/10-apps-for-turning-the-ipad-into-a-collaborative-device.aspx?=THEMOB

A framework for mobile learning

In order to move from theory to practice in mobile learning, one needs a framework. The JISC Mobile InfoKit introduces its frameworks discussion by listing six ‘course aspects’ (my term) which may be behind the drivers for mobile learning. The first four are pedagogical approaches. In sum, they are a pretty good, though not comprehensive, list of the ‘ideas behind the drivers’ toward mobile learning.

Read more at: http://placesmobile.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/a-framework-for-mobile-learning/

New lethal coconut disease threatens Papua New Guinea smallholders' livelihoods

In Papua New Guinea, a new lethal plant disease called Bogia syndrome is spreading and killing more and more coconut palms, other palm species like Betel nut and some banana varieties. 10 million farmers and their families cultivate coconut palms worldwide on about 12 million hectares, and many more people own a few coconut palms which contribute to their livelihoods.

Read more at: http://www.bioversityinternational.org/index.php?id=7614

Be a leader in nursing with an Online MSN Program

A master of science in nursing (MSN) program prepares you to be a nurse leader - someone who can demonstrate the advanced critical thinking, communication, and decision making skills required for a position as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN).
Find out about these programs, why they are important for nurses, what's in them, where they can be taken, what the career prospects are, and more ....

Read more at: http://onlineanddistancelearning.com/online-msn-programs

Get a rewarding career with an Online Early Childhood Degree

Early childhood education is usually taken to be the education of children from birth to age 8. This page provides information about online early childhood degrees, what is studied in the programs, where you can study them, and more ...

Read more at: http://onlineanddistancelearning.com/online-early-childhood-degrees

May 7, 2013: Online And Distance Learning Weekly is out

"Online And Distance Learning Weekly", by Natalie Stewart: a free, online newspaper with a curated selection of articles, blog posts, videos and photos about online and distance learning - for teachers, researchers and students.

Read and subscribe free at: http://paper.li/NattyStewart24/1325359513