CIASTD October Monthly Meeting
Friday, October 23, 2009

The Flat World Has Swung Open: How Web Technology is Revolutionizing Training and Education

Building on Thomas Friedman's book, The World is Flat, Curt Bonk offers an intriguing look at ten technology trends which he called educational openers. As detailed in his new book, “The World Is Open: How Web Technology Is Revolutionizing Education,” when combined, the first letter of each opener spells the acronym: "WE-ALL-LEARN." E-learning and blended learning are key components that make up the second opener of this framework. Dr. Bonk will detail different blended learning approaches used in training settings as well as several blended learning problems and solutions. The WE-ALL-LEARN model also helps make sense of the role of various technologies in open education, including open courseware, open source software, open access journals, open educational resources, and open information communities. As part of this, he will discuss e-books, podcasts, streamed videos, online learning portals social networking tools like Facebook and Ning, YouTube videos, wikis, and virtual worlds. With such technologies, thousands of organizations, trainers, and scholars are sharing their course materials, expertise, and teaching ideas globally, thereby expanding learning opportunities and resources even further. As this occurs, members of the media, politicians, training departments, educators, students, parents, and others are asking important questions about the quality of such contents. Bonk also addresses questions related to the digital divide and how those without Internet access still benefit immensely from these open learning tools and resources. The economic world of Friedman may be flatter, but the educational world is definitely more open than is was a decade or even a few years ago. Open up and enjoy it!

After participating in this talk, participants will be able to …

1. Become aware of many recent technology trends impacting learning around the world.
2. Acquire a framework to make sense of parallel trends in learning technologies.
3. Have a wealth of Web resources for next steps and strategic planning (see http://worldisopen.com/).
4. Understand the ways in which to make learning environments more blended, virtual, collaborative, personal, and mobile.
5. Grasp new directions in open education and open educational resources.
6. Reflect on how to employ emerging technologies from a pedagogical standpoint.
7. Gain ideas for strategically planning new teaching and learning directions, including empowering learners and creating learner-centered instruction.
   

About Curt Bonk:

Curt Bonk is Professor of Instructional Systems Technology at Indiana University and President and Founder of both SurveyShare and CourseShare. Drawing on his background as a corporate controller, CPA, educational psychologist, and instructional technologist, Bonk offers unique insights into the intersection of business, education, psychology, and technology. He received the CyberStar Award from the Indiana Information Technology Association, the Most Outstanding Achievement Award from the U.S. Distance Learning Association, and the Most Innovative Teaching in a Distance Education Program Award from the State of Indiana. A well-known authority on emerging technologies for learning, Bonk reflects on his speaking experiences around the world in his popular blog, TravelinEdMan. He has coauthored several widely used technology books, including The World is Open: How Web Technology is Revolutionizing Education (2009), Empowering Online Learning: 100+ Activities for Reading, Reflecting, Displaying, and Doing (2008), The Handbook of Blended Learning (2006), and Electronic Collaborators (1998).

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