Sep
18
2008
chrisp11
The elearning ‘industry’ appears to be set for continued growth as the methods and techniques gain popularity and prove there effectiveness. The following news article bares witness to this reality.
“E-learning giant creates 450 Dublin jobs – €350m investment in R&D
10.09.2008
E-learning global player Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) – formerly known as Riverdeep – is to create 450 jobs at a new R&D headquarters in Dublin, it emerged today.
Riverdeep had its origins in Dublin in 1995 and under the leadership of businessman Barry O’Callaghan became a global brandname in the e-learning business.
In November 2006, Riverdeep merged with Houghton Mifflin bringing together expertise in education textbooks and interactive digital curriculum.
Houghton Mifflin was founded in 1832 and has a long tradition of excellence in publishing including such authors as Mark Twain, JRR Tolkien, and Philip Roth. In July 2007, the company acquired Reed Elsevier’s US education arm, Harcourt Education Publishing.
Through a series of mergers and alliances over the past decade, Riverdeep grew rapidly and now has over 50 companies in the new corporate family known as Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
The company is effectively the world’s largest and oldest educational publisher with over 100,000 customers, generating approximately US$2.5bn in annual revenues, profits in the region of US$1bn, 50pc market share of the US preK-12 market, the world’s largest education market and approximately 6,000 employees.” <http://siliconrepublic.com/news/article/11403/business/e-learning-giant-creates-450-dublin-jobs-350m-investment-in-randd>
As seen, the strong growth in certain markets indicates that e-learning is here to stay and is a force to be reckoned with.
Tags: http://siliconrepublic.com/news/article/11403/business/
Sep
18
2008
chrisp11
Seems there are a smorgasbord of different e-learning providers offering varied services online.
Choosing a good course could be challenging.
Following is a passage from one provider that may be of some value.
“ABOUT THE COURSE
The technical competencies essential or desirable for virtual reference librarians to acquire or to improve on are the foundation of virtual reference service provision. Virtual reference service is built on a technical infrastructure. The Internet, the World Wide Web, e-mail, Web chat, Instant Messaging, and all the associated supportive technology and software are the environment in which virtual reference librarians work. In “Virtual Reference Competencies: Acquire and Improve Technical Skills and Knowledge,” participants will engage in learning activities, supported by readings as well as lecture and discussion to acquire and improve the technical competencies required by effective virtual reference librarians.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
· assess and improve your ability to type on a computer keyboard and make use of other related input devices (mouse, trackball, touchpad, etc.)
· assess and improve your work with multiple software applications on a computer with multiple windows, to move appropriately between windows/applications, and to move quickly and mindfully between multiple activities chatting, searching print or electronic sources, etc. (minimal multi-tasking)
· evaluate and add to your detailed functional knowledge of how to access the Internet, use Internet e-mail, connect to Web sites
· increase your detailed functional knowledge of at least one Web browser
· cultivate your awareness of the basic technologies that any given virtual reference service user may or may not be using, have access to, or be limited by
· develop awareness of the chat software specifics for a given system you are going to be using then develop detailed functional knowledge of the specific chat software used by your library or other organization for chat reference
· cultivate awareness of how to connect to and chat through Web-based chat software, Internet messaging, etc.
· add to your awareness of the options for document or information delivery”
Sep
18
2008
chrisp11
The following posting is directly from the ‘gynesis’ Web confernece site. It is a little feedback from the Siemans organisation in realtio to their exprience with the webinar format. Although not exactly a case study it is intersting in light of my webinar enquiries.
‘At a time when we have to control travel costs generally under the Move 25 initiative, Siemens Meeting Centre, provided by Genesys Conferencing, is an immediate fix. There is still much to be said for face to face meetings, but we use Siemens Meeting Centre as a strategic tool, for example as we try to ensure that businesses are involved in policy development. The use of Siemens Meeting Centre is exactly in accordance with the SSS Vision and Values and will help us achieve our short and medium term objectives. From a team perspective, I hope that my colleagues would agree with my assessment that in an increasingly complex business arena Siemens Meeting Centre has improved the spread of knowledge and support available.’ <http://www.genesys.com/sg/Company/customers.html>
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Sep
18
2008
chrisp11
Well i continue my research into e-learing i extend my knowledge through the process. I suppose you could say that just ’surfing the net’ is a form of e-learning. I have much to say about my exprience of e-learning through the engagment of the method by my own employing orgaisation. We use elearning and have for some time. In the form of online static content; webinar style presentation sessions; LMS or Learning Management database systems and through the provision of video feed of new information. These methods, as far as i can ascertain have, over time proven effective in imparting learning. With in the next few weeks, on this weblog i intend to elloborate on my expriences within my organisation and relate them to the expriences of others within other organisations. Although as mentioned i have had quite exprience with the method my excitment about understanding its potential continues to grow with research.
