Edustruct.com: Beta Testers Needed

OPEN CALL FOR TEACHER BETA TESTERS

I've offered feedback to Mark at mbavisotto@gmail.com. I found many areas in need of improvement. Frankly I hit him hard on issues I think are absolutely necessary for any CMS.

Mark's response to my very blunt feedback showed his passion and dedication to making his product competitive.

 If you're willing to take a deeper look at the Edustruct CMS in development and offer specific feedback you'll be part of an interesting learning loop. I suggest you approach this test with an open mind. Create a list of features you want. Explore the Course and Discussion elements. Let Mark know what it would take to temp you into investing the time and effort needed to create and teach online classes using this CMS.

My guess? Everyone will learn something by going through the process. Dennis

On 12/11/12 10:23 AM, Mark Bavisotto wrote:
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Dennis Hello,

Thanks for connecting,

We're looking for some teachers and students to be beta testers for our software release. Please send this to your teachers. Go to social.edustruct.com and click on signup. Sign up as a teacher (don't worry about school code) and use the software. I have to start collecting data and feedback to see if we're on the right track. The software includes:

1. Public and Private Learning Communities
2. Group walls
3. Drop Box
4. Event Planning
5. Messaging service
6. connecting with outside resources to share with your classes
7. super admin panel- ( Admin has total control and view over the whole system)
8. Share ideas and documents with other schools- School to School Collaboration
9. Assignment Creation
10. Assessment Creation
11. Google Docs Integration
12. Google Hangout Integration
13. Safe-T-Net (Bully prevention)
14. Blogging
15. Video and Content embedding
16. Digital collaboration on documents
17. Online Class Creation
18. much much more. (After beta release)- whiteboard functionality, Professional development communities, webinar creation, SIS Features etc....

Pass this on to as many teachers as possible.. Let me know if this is something you can do or you know of other teachers who can benefit from this.

Have them go to edustruct.com and sign up using the teacher signup link. It takes no more than a minute to sign up and activate their account. Again, there's Green Question Marks where users can view help videos to make their experience that much easier. Anything you can do for us will be greatly appreciated and I hope you share it with scoop it and your facebook page.

I really appreciate your help on this and we're striving to change education one classroom at a time.

Thanks
Mark
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Bulletin for our UW-Stout Certificate Holders

Happy Holidays to everyone!

I'd like to call your attention to a few new courses that graduates of our E-Learning and Instructional Design Certificate programs might want to consider.

Adding additional units to your Certificate areas will help you establish your subject matter expertise. When it comes to college and university employment.  Most schools want to see 18+ graduate units beyond your masters degree on your transcripts.  With this in mind...

If you have the E-Learning Certificate, consider earning the Instructional Design Certificate.

If you have the Instructional  Design Certificate, consider earning the E-Learning Certificate.

For new classes that would enhance either certificate consider:

Susan Manning: 
EDUC 646 Using Games for Learning and Assessment
1 graduate credit
Integration of interactive games and simulations with the curriculum, implications for effective assessment. Use of games to support collaboration, problem-solving, decision-making and to increase motivation and engagement in the classroom including benefits and drawbacks.
February 4 - March 1, 2013 or  April 1 - 26, 2013

Kay Lehmann:
EDUC 696B Integrating Social Media Instructional Strategies
1 graduate credit
Explore inspiring and effective ways to use social media for professional development, training or in the classroom. Connect  professionally and/or connect students with learning opportunities via social networks and cloud-based tools. Learn how to use Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and other personal learning networks for instantaneous and targeted professional development.
February 4 - March 1, 2013

Ann Bell:
EDUC 641 Mobile Learning Instructional Design (for cell phones, tablets and iPads)
3 graduate credits
Explore how to integrate mobile learning in your classroom using handheld technology such as the iPad, iPad2, iPod Touch, iPhone, and smartphones. In-depth analysis of mobile learning research, trends, instructional strategies, curriculum integration, professional development, and on-the-job training, and use in the flipped classroom.
January 28 - March 22, 2013  or March 25 - May 17, 2013

Jim Erbe:
EDUC 744 929 Web Design for Educators
3 graduate credits
Explore the essential elements of Web design and utilize practical activities and step-by-step procedures to design, build, and post a website using Google Sites. Learn what makes an effective educational website and what features are critical to motivate learning.
January 14 - March 8, 2013

(Pass the word to your colleagues as well? )

Dennis O'Connor
Program Advisor
UW-Stout E-Learning and Online Teaching

David Wiley on Openness (TEDx)

David Wiley is an open education pioneer.  He describes the essential attributes of open education as sharing expertise and being open to:

• Reuse
• Redistribute
• Revise
• Remix

Just a few years ago most educators were so snarled in the Gordian Knot of copyright and fair-use fears they were afraid to teach with online content.  Now open education is an international movement.

The basic values of open education: sharing and generosity promote world wide learning in a dramatic and empowering way.

To promote this way of learning we must overcome the "inner two year old" and stop screaming mine!

Wiley argues that "openness is really the only means of doing education". In deed he makes the point that without sharing there is no education.

If you're reading this blog you've already built some expertise in the area of online education. Working online makes it very easy to share.  Wiley makes a point that should encourage you to share your knowledge:" Expertise is Nonrivalrous. It can be given without being given away."

He also makes some insightful comments about how Course Management Systems restrict the flow of information is outdated thinking.

As always, Wiley is thought provoking and forward thinking.  Take 15 minutes to 'Open' your thinking!