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July 23, 2007
Employers Overwhelmingly Pleased With American InterContinental University Online Graduates
American InterContinental University’s Career Services team recently released the results of a survey measuring the level of satisfaction that AIU’s online graduates, and the organizations that employ them, have with the quality of an online degree from AIU. The survey questions were focused on how well-prepared AIU’s online students are for their careers, and the results include responses from 550 alumni and 275 of their employers. Among the survey findings, several indicators stand out as exceptionally notable. By an overwhelmingly wide margin, employers who have American InterContinental University Online alumni on their payrolls agreed that those AIU graduates have the skills needed for success in today’s ultra-competitive, knowledge-based workplace. By the following numbers, responding employers indicated that they either “strongly agree” or “agree” with the following statements.
• 98% AIU Online alumni have appropriate problem-solving and reasoning skills
• 95% AIU Online alumni have the required oral communication skills
• 97% AIU Online alumni have the required written communication skills
• 96% AIU Online alumni have the needed Information Technology skills
• 95% AIU Online alumni have a practical understanding of group dynamics and teamwork
• 95% AIU Online alumni demonstrate an awareness of cultural diversity and are able to efficiently and effectively work in a diverse environment
As increasing numbers of students discover the accessibility and the flexibility of online education programs, employers have taken notice. By most any measure, this research demonstrates that employers truly value real-world education as delivered by American InterContinental University through its online campus. Eduventures, a leading research and consulting firm for the education industry, reports that by next year, fully one in 10 college students will be enrolled in an online university. The trend will, no doubt, lead a large percentage of tomorrow’s workforce to acquire their education credentials through an online university.
Source: American InterContinental University, Illinois

July, 23, 2007
American InterContinental University Online: More College-Bound Students Looking to Earn a Degree Exclusively Through Online Channels
Half of prospective college students who say they’re interested in taking online courses in the next 12 months would like to enroll in a completely online degree program, finds a new survey recently conducted by American InterContinental University Online. Another 32 percent favor a program that is primarily online but includes some campus-based courses and activities, while 10 percent want to pursue primarily an education on campus and 8 percent prefer a program that is half online. The survey spotlights the growing popularity of acquiring a post-secondary education entirely through the convenience of online delivery channels. By 2006, nearly 3.2 million college students were enrolled in at least one online course, up from 1.6 million in 2003, according to the Sloan Consortium, the nation’s largest association committed to quality online education. Eduventures, a leading research and consulting firm for the education industry, reports that by next year, fully one in 10 college students will be enrolled in an online university. “As more and more students enroll in online courses and learn first-hand the flexibility and convenience of pursuing an education online, the interest in, and the demand for, completely online degree programs will rise,” said Dr. Alan Drimmer, president of the online campus of American InterContinental University. “Greater accessibility is key to the popularity of online courses and degrees, as online universities offer educational opportunities to those individuals whose location or daily schedule does not permit the on-campus experience.”
Source: American InterContinental University Online, Illinois

July 19, 2007
Kansas State to Offer Online Courses Fulfilling University General Education Requirements
Kansas State University will offer nine online courses for the fall 2007 semester that are approved for university general education requirements. Healthful and Safe College Life -- EDCEP 103, reference No. 91501 -- is a new online course designed for college freshman and students preparing to enter college. It will address pertinent health topics that affect college students and give them the knowledge to make informed decisions when faced with difficult situations.
Source: Kansas State University, Manhattan

July 19, 2007
Thompson Rivers University Online Tutor and Associate Professor Co-recipient of Prestigious CIHR Grant
Thompson Rivers University instructor and Open Learning tutor Diane Purvey has just received notice that she and 14 co-applicants from other universities in Canada, the US and the UK have garnered a grant of $24, 972 per year for a five-year period from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for a study entitled "Open Doors / Closed Ranks: Locating Mental Health after the Asylum." A collaborative research project which will explore a broad set of questions central to improving understanding of the deinstitutionalization of mental health care in Canada, the study will involve a multi-regional, multi-disciplinary research team of scholars drawn from history, sociology, community psychology, criminology, human geography and nursing. It builds on a previous project funded by a $39,990 Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Research Development Initiatives Grant which enabled the group to generate website infrastructure, and to digitize and design preliminary content. The study will afford insights into contemporary challenges faced by patients, social workers, nurses, psychiatrists, local residents and policy makers and will contribute to current debates about mental health service provision, providing an essential historical context for those currently working in the field. "We plan to undertake three inter-related community studies which will focus on the experiences of deinstitutionalization in rural Saskatchewan, small-town Nova Scotia, and urban Vancouver," said Purvey, a faculty member in TRU's School of Education and a history tutor with the university's Open Learning division who is involved in the Vancouver study. Her university's BC Interior locale may soon be involved as well, however, as Purvey recently submitted an application for funding to research a Kamloops focus. BC, slower to implement deinstitutionalization than other Canadian provinces, introduced a new deinstitutionalization policy directive in the 1990s, and the 1998 BC Mental Health Plan called for the devolution of resources from the Riverview asylum to regional health authorities. Since 2000, approximately 600 of Riverview's remaining occupants were relocated to cities and towns throughout BC, with continuing community effects.
Source: Thompson Rivers University, British Columbia

July 19, 2007
Thompson Rivers University: Tech It Up! Two
Teachers at all levels interested in finding new or better ways of teaching with technology have until July 31st to take advantage of the discount for early bird registration for this year's Tech It Up! summer institute. Aimed at giving teachers at all levels the opportunity to find out how they can enhance instruction with technology using curriculum tools and emerging technologies, the 2nd annual Tech It Up! summer institute will be held August 23 and 24 this year. Hosted by TRU's Instructional Development and Research Group (IDRG) and @KOOL, the virtual school operated by School District 73 (SD 73), the institute features experienced educators and guest speakers from schools and universities across the province with tips on practical ways to use technology in courses, whether face-to-face, online or blended. "The workshops are different from last year's, so there won't be any repetition for people who came to the first TechItUp! institute," explained Melissa Jakubec, one of the organizers. Although advanced techies will have a chance to build their skills and knowledge further, no prior experience with technology is necessary, said Jakubec. "Beginners, or those who want to be beginners but don't know how to get started, will find it easy to get the basics. Presenters will share practices they use in everyday teaching situations in a hands-on format without a lot of theory," she added. New this year is 'Do you want a Second Life?' presented by techno-whiz and CURA researcher Dan O'Reilly. The workshop on Second Life, a 3-D world that extends the concept of immersive environments beyond gaming, will be held over two days, and Jakubec warns that registration is limited for this double session, which is co-sponsored by TRU's Small Cities CURA. Also new this year is Blogging for Beginners, Web 2.0 Tools, Flash Media Server, and a special presentation by the TRU Library on AskAway and Facebook. Cost of the two-day summer institute, to be held at TRU, is $75 before July 31st and $90 after that date. The cost is $40 for those wishing to register for only one day. Fees include lunch and refreshments throughout the day. Participants may view a detailed program and register online at www.tru.ca/techitup or by phone to 250-852-6817.
Source: Thompson Rivers University, British Columbia

July 2007
Memorial University of Newfoundland Recognized for Excellence in Education Media
Memorial University scored a hat trick at the 2007 CADE/AMTEC Conference held in Winnipeg, Man., May 15. Dr. Brent Snook, assistant professor, Psychology, and Albert Johnson, instructional designer, Distance Education and Learning Technologies (DELT), were recognized with the award for Excellence and Innovation in Instructional Design for Psychology 2150: Introduction to Forensic Psychology, awarded as part of the Canadian Association for Distance Education (CADE) annual Awards of Excellence. The unique course incorporates an incredible 25 video clips, produced by DELT's Brian Cahill, that simulate various roles within the criminal justice system, allowing students to place themselves within context and gain valuable experience. Mr. Johnson said the course is a good example of the work from DELT, adding "the enthusiasm for this project was contagious." DELT was also recognized by the Association for Media and Technology in Education in Canada (AMTEC) for the documentary Building Community Capacity for the Health and Well-Being of Children: A Framework for Action, submitted by producer Debbie McGee. The video described Memorial Social Work Professor Ken Barter's three-year Community Capacity Building research project in Chalker Place, a low-income neighbourhood of St. John's, NL. "It was about making a safer community for children by supporting parents and putting long-term community programs in place," Ms. McGee explained. "Because of the help I received from Karen Gray, the community facilitator, the video does an excellent job of showcasing the accomplishments of the project, and captures a real sense of optimism about where the community will go from here." Dr. Kay Matthews of Memorial's School of Nursing and Dr. Junaiti Sahar of the University of Indonesia were also recognized as part of the AMTEC Media Festival Awards for Reaching Out, produced by independent filmmaker John Doyle. The video documented a new model of community health nursing to improve the health of women and children in rural Indonesia. "It was absolutely inspirational to see these professionals at work in the field - dedicated, confident and caring," Mr. Doyle recalled about filming the research team in action in Indonesia. "It's great to see all of the effort put into instructional design and the development of quality educational media at Memorial recognized in this way," said Ann Marie Vaughan, director, DELT. "It is this dedication to developing and delivering a quality end result that makes education all that more engaging for our learners."
Source: Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland & Labrador