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MicroSCoPE: A Close Look at What's Happening in the SCoPE Community
January, 2006
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In This Issue
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1. Mark Your Calendars
2. Activity Recap
3. SCoPE SIGs
4. PeriSCoPE
5. KnowTIPS 2006 Conference
6. Learning Partnership Call for Nominations
7. About SCoPE
8. About MicroSCoPE
1. Mark Your Calendars
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* Seminar "Panda Walks Into a Bar" begins January 17th
Facilitator: Sandra McKenzie
Ah
humour! Where would we be without it? Everybody loves a slapstick
pratfall, a clever joke, an apt pun, or a witty rejoinder. We all
remember the teacher who finally got through to us by making us laugh.
Humour is a global trait of human beings. But how do we use humour in
the online environment? What do we need to consider? How do we judge if
an audience is going to be accepting of our use of humour?
Join us for
this 3-week discussion to explore the effective use of humour in online
courses.
...more <http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca/mod/forum/view.php?id=105>
* Communal Book Project Question and Answer Session, January 18th, 11:30 a.m.
Facilitator: Sandy Hirtz
Are
you interested in contributing to a "how to book" for instructors
learning to design online courses? Attend this Question and Answer
session to learn more about the communal book project.
Click on the link below on January 18th before 11:30 a.m. (Pacific) to enter the Elluminate live online meeting room:
<https://www.elluminate.com/mtg.jnlp?password=347803081>
*
Check the SCoPE calendar for a full list of events that will be of
interest to members.
<http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca/calendar/view.php?view=upcoming>
2. Activity Recap
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* WebCT and Blackboard Merger: Implications and Moving Forward: November 21-December 4, 2005
Facilitator: Liz Wallace
What
will happen when the two superpowers of proprietory learning management
systems join forces? This 2-week seminar allowed us to scratch the
surface on this complex topic! The discussions reinforced that the
breaking news has directed the attention of educators and
administrators toward open source solutions. As a follow up, SCoPE
members may wish to consider submitting a manuscript to the Innovate
Journal of Online Education special issue on open-source software
(OSS). Topics include: (1) developments in open-source programs around
the world, (2) challenges related to the development, deployment, and
adoption of open source programs, including how specific software is
being used, (3) the advantages and disadvantages of open source and
proprietary systems, and (5) the future of the OSS movement.
...submission guidelines <http://www.innovateonline.info/index.php?view=submit>
...archive of SCoPE seminar <http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca/mod/forum/view.php?id=147>
3. SCoPE SIGs
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* Communal Book Project
Sandy
Hirtz and David Harper invite you to participate in their book project
coordinated through the BCcampus eLearning Marketplace and Expo Online
Community. This book will be a practical guide for faculty with an
emphasis on demonstrating exciting opportunities offered by new
technologies and outlining step-by-step how you can use the Internet to
improve the educational quality of your teaching.
...more <http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca/course/view.php?id=16>
SCoPE
Special Interest Groups provide venues for ongoing communication and
sharing of resources based on common interests. Would your group like
to request a SIG related to education research and practice? Contact
Sylvia Currie <scurrie@sfu.ca>.
4. PeriSCoPE
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SCoPE members are busy elsewhere:
Curtis
Bonk's book, Handbook of Blended Learning: Global Perspectives, Local
Designs, co-authored with Charles R. Graham, is now available through
Pfieffer Publishers. It offers practical advice and examples for
implementing blended learning practices in a variety of settings.
John
Smith, Nancy White, Susanne Nyrop, and Alice McGillivray are busy up
front and behind the scenes at the Web 2.0 and Communities of Practice
conference, ongoing throughout the month of January. Congratulations to
Cyprien Lomas who received a free pass to the conference by responding
first to the offer through SCoPE!
...more <http://www.cpsquare.org/News/archives/000060.html>
Kate
Britt (aka Pink Flamingo) maintains a resource site for Educators. It
leads to many practical articles and tutorials, as well and showcases
exciting new tools and possibilities.
...more <http://www.ibritt.com/resources/>
5. KnowTIPS 2006 Conference
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SCoPE
is an organizing partner for the 2nd annual KnowTIPS conference. The
conference is designed to engage participants in discussions about the
practical aspects of working online in any setting. The response to our
call for proposals has been terrific! Here is a preview:
- Technologies for Communities, with Etienne Wenger, Nancy White, and John Smith
- Collaborative eLearning: Feedback and Assessment, with Janet Salmons
- Open Networked Learning, with Leigh Blackall
- Games and Sims, with Rod Corbett
- Social Software: Going Beyond LMS Systems for eLearning, with Terry Anderson
- Facilitating Deepened Online Learning, with Sarah Haavind and Marsha West
- Web Annotation to Enhance Online Discussions, with Cindy Xin
- Memorization, with Bruno Vernier
- Training Practitioners Online to be Online Practitioners, with Kate Anthony
- The Attic, with Shula Klinger
- Using Moodle, with Robera Neault and Deirdre Pickerell
- Game of Games: A Tool for Transformation, with Angelo John Lewis
Please spread the word and consider volunteering to help plan or assist during the conference. It's great experience!
...more <http://knowtips.ca>
6. Learning Partnership Call for Nominations
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The
Learning Partnership is accepting nominations for the 2006 National
Technology Innovation Awards. Nominated projects should focus on the
innovative and creative use of technology and include areas such as
blended learning environments, knowledge transfer, organizational
learning, professional development and/or the needs of special
education students. Nominees may include teachers, professors, media
specialists, technology specialists, technology directors or other
innovative educators. Projects must have been in progress during the
last 12 months and have made a measurable impact on student learning
and achievement. Nominations must include a multimedia component and be
submitted by February 17, 2006. Guidelines and nomination forms are
available at <http://tlp.td01.com/innovation_2006/>
7. About SCoPE
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SCoPE,
supported by the Learning and Instructional Development Centre at Simon
Fraser University, brings together individuals who share an interest in
education research and practice, and offers opportunities for dialogue
across disciplines, geographical borders, professions, levels of
expertise, and education sectors. We organize seminars, events, and
ways for practitioners to connect. Membership is free and open to the
public.
Self-register at <http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca>
8. About MicroSCoPE
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SCoPE
members receive MicroSCoPE issues automatically. If you prefer to read
MicroSCoPE on the website or via RSS, manage your subscription here
<http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca/mod/forum/view.php?f=5>.
MicroSCoPE is prepared by Sylvia Currie, Community Coordinator <scurrie@sfu.ca>.
Please spread the word about SCoPE. Distribute this newsletter!