AU Press Book Wins Distance Education Book Award
AU Press Book Wins Distance Education Book Award
Emergence and Innovation in Digital Learning: Foundations and Applications edited by George Veletsianos, was recently awarded first place in the competition for best book in distance education. Hosted by the Association for Educational Communications and Technology, the award was won at the Division of Distance Learning Awards. This edited collection contains contributions from a number of AU faculty members. These faculty made important contributions to the volume and we wanted to feature the work they included in the book. Below are a few excerpts from their chapters.
From “Theories for Learning with Emerging Technologies” by Terry Anderson
“Good theories stand the test of time and continue to be of use because they help individuals understand education and act appropriately. These theories are useful today because emerging technologies and practices are often applied to the same challenges and problems that inspired educators and researchers working with older technologies, technologies that, while now established, were once emerging.” (chapter 1)
As stated by Larreamendy-Joerns and Leinhardt (2006, p. 568), “the visionary promises and concerns that many current educators claim as novel actually have a past, one whose themes signal both continuities and ruptures.”
References
Larreamendy-Joerns, J., & Leinhardt, G. (2006). Going the distance with online education. Review of Educational Research, 76(4), 567–605.
Author biography
Terry Anderson is a professor emeritus and researcher in the Technology-Enhanced Knowledge Research Centre at Athabasca University. His research interests focus on interaction and social media in educational contexts. Terry is the series editor for Issues in Distance Education at AU Press.
From “Arts-Based Technologies Create Community in Online Courses” by Beth Perry and Margaret Edwards
“How can educators and learning designers enhance a sense of community in online courses? Exemplary online educators employ emerging technologies and practices that optimize meaningful interaction, facilitating an ongoing social experience to help create community (Perry, Janzen, & Edwards, 2012). In our experience many pedagogical strategies that facilitate this culture of community share one aspect: they are arts-based. Arts-based approaches include literary, visual, musical, or dramatic elements. We have labelled these artistic pedagogical technologies (APTs). APTs are distinguished from traditional online technologies in part by their emphasis on aesthetics and their link to creativity. How do APTs encourage interaction, create social presence, and facilitate a culture of community in the online educational milieu?”
References
Perry, B., Janzen, K., & Edwards, M. (2012). Creating invitational online learning environments using learning interventions founded in the arts. Opening Learning Horizons. http://elearningpapers.eu/en/elearning_papers
Author biography
Beth Perry has published two books with AU Press, More Moments in Time and Teaching Health Professionals Online with Sherri Melrose and Caroline Park. Perry is a professor in the Centre for Nursing and Health Studies, Faculty of Health Disciplines, Athabasca University. Margaret Edwards is dean and professor in the Centre for Nursing and Health Studies, Faculty of Health Disciplines, Athabasca University. Margaret and Beth have worked together on research related to online teaching strategies since 2005.
You can download the full book from the AU Press website.