Archive for April, 2008

Review of Drupal Guide

Published by Susan Smith Nash on April 30, 2008 in In the News. 0 Comments

Drupal is an open-source content management system.  It helps one create, manage, modify, delete information such as objects (images / documents / files).  A new guide, published by Packt Publishing, is very helpful for newbies as well as veterans of Drupal.

Building Powerful and Robust Websites with Drupal 6, is authored by David Mercer and published by Packt Publishing (http://www.packtpub.com/drupal-6-create-powerful-websites/book)

 

 

The code is available for free at http://www.drupal.org.  According to many programmers, Drupal code is excellent.  It’s easy to set up, intuitive, flexible and scalable.

 

This book guides users and helps them create

1.  Community portal sithes

2.  Intranet sites

3.  Directories

4.  Share/discuss pages

5.  Social networking

6.  Educational learning communities

 

The book leads the reader through a step-by-step process of setting oneself to be the administrator of the content management system. The process is perhaps a bit daunting for the novice, but an experienced network or server administrator will probably not have any problems in installing server-side software (Apache2Triad).

 

The book goes through Drupal’s functionality:  modules, blocks, links:  how to manage modules and workflow.

 

It also discusses site configuration, with directory structure, in order to maximize the unique attributes of Drupal and its power to effectively manage, manipulate, and deploy content.  Drupal can accommodate a wide range of content types, including blog entry, book page, forum topic, page, poll, and story (which could be short-lived announcements or other kinds of ephemera).

 

In addition to delving into how best to manage basic content as well as advanced content, Building Powerful and Robust Websites with Drupal 6 explores image and aesthetics.  It also works with the management of backups.

 

This book is indispensable for anyone who needs an open-source content management system and is willing to invest in creating one from the ground up.  Nevertheless, not everyone will have the time to devote, and would benefit from a small library of pre-prepared solutions.  If the book came bundled with a few templates, or an access code for downloads on the web, many of the barriers and obstacles that face programmers as they weigh open-source vs. commercial solutions would be overcome.

posted by susan  

Online Education in the News (April 21-27, 2008)

Published by Erica Nielsen on April 27, 2008 in In the News. 0 Comments

Online Degrees Increasing In Popularity According to the American Educational Guidance Center
The demand for online learning opportunities is growing by leaps and bounds as thousands of degree-seeking students flock to Internet-based classrooms and lecture halls. As evidence of this growing trend, the American Educational Guidance Center, a leading provider of information about online degrees, reports seeing remarkable growth in the number of visitors its Web site receives on a monthly basis. — PR Web

Adult workers have a lot to learn online
Societies that are serious about raising their standard of living should focus on enhancing the productivity of parents rather than boosting teenage test scores. Ageing populations of Europe, China and North America increasingly enjoy long and healthy lives. Yet as they grow older, wealth creation depends on the ability to acquire and convert information, skills and technologies into new value. — Ninemsn, Australia

Radio, ‘older’ tech remain relevant in ICT for education
Unless universal broadband Internet access becomes available to all Filipinos, traditional technologies such as radio will remain a relevant tool in the delivery of education in remote areas in the country. This was the finding of a foundation helping local communities harness information and communications technology for education and learning. — Inquirer.net, Philippines

IT News (April 21-27, 2008)

Published by Erica Nielsen on April 27, 2008 in In the News. 0 Comments

Quark Announces Quark Publishing System 7.4
Quark announced Quark Publishing System 7.4, the second maintenance release of its industry leading collaborative workflow system. Released in October 2007, QPS 7 is based on Java technology, true Service Oriented Architecture, and Spring Framework Java/J2EE, setting the new standard in advanced publishing systems. — Designer Today

EF Education First Selects Omniture to Optimise Their International Business Operations
Omniture, Inc., a leading provider of online business optimization software, announced it has been chosen by EF Education First, the world’s largest education company, to help optimize their international business operations, better convert Web site visits into enquiries and improve online sales. — Market Wire

Open-source students get mentoring help
Junior programmers are to get mentoring help, following the granting of nearly $600,000 in funding to set up an Open Source Learning Laboratory. The learning centre will use an online mentoring model, where senior programmers mentor juniors in a structured way, within a pedagogical framework, says Richard Wyles, director of the Open Source Learning Laboratory project. — Computerworld New Zealand

Games in the News (April 21-27, 2008)

Published by Erica Nielsen on April 27, 2008 in In the News. 0 Comments

ESRB, PTA Launch New Education Initiative
The Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) and the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) have launched a nationwide initiative to educate parents about game ratings, parental control technology on consoles and online gaming. — Next Generation

NASA Offers Educational Online Gaming Opportunity to Developers
NASA Learning Technologies sponsored a workshop to present its concept of delivering NASA content through a Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) educational game to interested development partners. Designed to enhance learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), such an online educational game would draw players into a synthetic environment that can serve as a powerful “hands-on” tool for teaching a range of complex subjects. — NASA

Oberon Media Unifies Publishing Division under New I-play Brand
Oberon Media, a leading multi-platform casual games company, unveiled a new brand identity that communicates the scope of the company’s newly integrated publishing division. The consolidation around the new I-play brand affords developers, licensors, and content partners looking to introduce or expand their intellectual property, access to a single, multi-platform publishing powerhouse. — Ad-Hoc-News

Research in the News (April 21-27, 2008)

Published by Erica Nielsen on April 27, 2008 in In the News. 0 Comments

Increasing Number of Students Take Advantage of Opportunities for University Degrees Online Says Sloan Consortium
A report released by The Sloan Consortium, a consortium of institutions committed to quality online education, has documented the tremendous growth in the field of university degrees online over the past five years. The report finds that in the fall of 2006, nearly 3.5 million students were taking online college courses. This number reflects a 9.7% increase over the previous year, marking a growth that significantly exceeds the 1.5% growth of the overall higher education student population. This growth trend in online learning is expected to continue. — PRWeb

Saudi Arabia’s eLearning industry to touch US$125 million in 2008
The Saudi Arabian eLearning industry is projected to reach USD 125 million in 2008 and is set to grow at a compound annual rate of 33 per cent over the next five years, according to a recent study conducted by Madar Research. — Al-Bawaba

Programs in the News (April 21-27, 2008)

Published by Erica Nielsen on April 27, 2008 in In the News. 0 Comments

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings Announces Proposed Regulations to Strengthen No Child Left Behind
U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today announced proposed new regulations to strengthen and clarify No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The proposed regulations focus on improved accountability and transparency, uniform and disaggregated graduation rates and improved parental notification for Supplemental Education Services and public school choice. — U.S. Department of Education

Online gallery helps teachers broach taboos
A picture gallery that lets teachers and their students discuss subjects with a taboo has been put online. Bridgeman Education deals with a range of themes depicted through fine art and historical pictures. — Personal Computer World

Schools in the News (April 21-27, 2008)

Published by Erica Nielsen on April 27, 2008 in In the News. 0 Comments

Uniontown considers online partnership
The Uniontown Area School District in Pennsylvania is considering a partnership with Virtual Learning Network Partners to create online education options for its students. Alex Stone, president and CEO of VLN Partners, told directors Monday that his company is not a cyber charter school but produces “a holistic model for blended learning. We partner with school districts. We put your lessons online. We cater to your students.” — Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Minnesota Virtual High School Students Earn College Credit Tuition-Free Through DeVry University
Minnesota Virtual High School students are now eligible to participate in the Passport2College program offered through DeVry University, one of the largest degree-granting higher education systems in North America. This unique program allows full-time juniors and seniors who meet residency and GPA requirements to take up to two college credit classes tuition-free through DeVry University, which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. — Earthtimes

Online learning is growing by the gigabyte
Online enrollment in Minnesota shot up 50 percent last year to more than 4,500 students. Online education can reach kids that traditional schools haven’t, according to assistant Minnesota Education Commissioner Morgan Brown. — Minnesota Public Radio

Edutech builds eLearning Centre for Hashemite University
Edutech Middle East, a leading provider of technology-enabled learning solutions, has recently announced that it has successfully established the first eLearning Centre in Jordan for the Hashemite University (HU). — Al-Bawaba

Conferences in the News (April 21-27, 2008)

Published by Erica Nielsen on April 27, 2008 in In the News. 0 Comments

Conference Focuses on “The Mobile Future’”
Carnegie Mellon University’s West Coast Campus and UC Berkeley’s Fisher IT Center at the Haas School of Business partnered to hold a conference Tuesday of this week in Santa Clara, CA, on “The Mobile Future: Technology Revolutionizing Our Lives.” — Campus Technology

Face-to-Face and Online Tutoring Equally Effective, TutorVista.com’s President Says
Dr. John Stuppy, President of TutorVista.com, the world’s leading online tutoring company, presented at the USDLA 2008 National Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, where he discussed comparisons between face-to-face and online tutoring. In particular, Dr. Stuppy spoke about a solution that uses global education resources to provide tutoring help wherever and whenever needed. — Business Wire

TEM 2008 Educational and Networking Event for Telecom and IT End Users Begins Next Week
TEM 2008, AOTMP’s educational and networking event for telecom and IT end users, kicks off next week in Orlando, Florida and will feature educational sessions and networking events for those holding responsibility for selecting, reviewing, recommending, and managing telecom services and technology. — Business Wire

Virtual schooling a hit in real world
Teachers from across the province met in Vancouver this week for a conference devoted to online learning as the growth continues. Enrolment province-wide climbed from 17,000 students in 2006 to 33,000 students in 2007, according to Ministry of Education statistics. — Vancouver Courier

Ghana to host third e-Learning Africa Conference
Ghana would host this year’s International Conference on ICT for Development, Education and Training dubbed; “e-Learning Africa 2008” from May 28 to 30. The conference scheduled for Accra is an annual event for developing e-Learning capacities in Africa. — Joy Online, Ghana

Publishers in the News (April 21-27, 2008)

Published by Erica Nielsen on April 27, 2008 in In the News. 0 Comments

Publishers Sue Georgia State over Digital Distribution
A group of publishers has filed suit in federal court to stop what it calls “widespread copyright infringement” at Georgia State University (GSU). The complaint, filed by Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, and SAGE Publications and supported by the Association of American Publishers (AAP), charges that GSU administrators are violating the law by systematically enabling professors to provide students with digital copies of copyrighted course readings without publisher authorization. — Campus Technology

Cengage Learning to Acquire Houghton Mifflin College Assets for $750 Million
Cengage Learning announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with Houghton Mifflin Company, under which Cengage Learning will acquire the assets of the Houghton Mifflin College Division (HM College) for $750 million in cash. The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2008 upon satisfaction of regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. — Cengage

The Pearson Foundation and Nokia Announce the Mobile Learning Institute Earth Day Challenge
The Pearson Foundation and Nokia today announced a global, environmental filmmaking competition that gives young people the chance to share their views on the earth’s future and the importance of combating climate change. The Mobile Learning Institute Earth Day Challenge was announced at the opening of Jane Goodall’s Global Youth Summit on Earth Day 2008 in Orlando, Florida. — Earthtimes

Lawmaker seeks ban of ‘textbook scam’ publishers
The Philippines — Representative Monico Puentevella is set to pass a resolution that would ban at least five publishing companies involved in the alleged multimillion-peso textbooks scam. The five publishing companies are JTW Corporation, SD Publications Inc., Vibal Publishing House Inc. and Lamco Paper Products Co. Inc. and Watana Phanit Printing Company. — Sun.Star

Awards in the News (April 21-27, 2008)

Published by Erica Nielsen on April 27, 2008 in In the News. 0 Comments

The 2008 SIIA CODiE Awards will celebrate outstanding developments in software, digital information and education technology
At a time when computer security risks abound, which company has the best data security solution?  Which online educational site will do the most to help your kids learn?  And which online health site can really provide details about the cure for what ails you? On May 20, 2008, The Software & Information Industry Association’s (SIIA) CODiE Awards will answer these and 72 other questions about who has the best software, content and educational technology solutions. — eSchool News

Agilix Selected as One of Three Winners in Microsoft’s Ingenuity Point Competition
Agilix Labs Inc. announced that its GoCourse Learning System solution has been selected as a winner in round two of Microsoft Corp.’s Ingenuity Point contest, a worldwide competition for independent software vendors (ISVs) that recognizes solutions built on Microsoft technology with the potential to drive positive change in the areas of education, healthcare and environmental sustainability. GoCourse Learning System, a personalized distributed learning platform for delivering online courses, is the winner in the education category. — PR Newswire

Sessions Online Wins Best Practice Award from United States Distance Learning Association
Advancing its reputation as the quality leader in online education for creative professionals around the world, Sessions Online Schools of Art and Design announced it has received the 2008 Best Practices Award for Distance Learning Programming from the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA). Sessions’ Graphic Design Master’s Certificate Program won on the strength of its extensive creative and technical graphic design curriculum, one-to-one student mentoring and dedicated faculty comprised of renowned graphic designers. — Business Wire

USDLA Awards Marilyn Mosley Gordanier and Laurel Springs School with “Outstanding Leadership by an Individual in the Field of Distance Learning” For Excellence in Distance Learning in 2008
The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) presented its 2008 International Distance Learning Award to Laurel Springs School in conjunction with the 2008 National Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. Since 1987, USDLA has been the world’s premier distance learning association. The USDLA International Awards program honored outstanding individuals and organizations for excellence in the field distance learning, education and training. — PR Web

Quantum Receives Platinum Award for ‘Best Practices for Online Distance Learning Programming’ from the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
Quantum Simulations, Inc., a developer of artificial intelligence (AI) tutoring, assessment and professional development software for science, mathematics and accounting, received a Platinum Award for its exceptional achievements in software development at the USDLA International 21st Century Best Practice Awards Ceremony held in St. Louis, Missouri last. — PR Web