Information and digital literacy in education via the digital path

Thousands of universities all over the world use open-source software to support learning, teaching, and research. There are plenty of advantages that this specific type of software delivers – for example, it costs less to use and provides educational institutions with more flexibility. 

This article will discuss precisely what open-source software is and how universities can use it. We will also mention how it reduces institutional costs and improves flexibility. 

E-learning encompasses not only technology but also pedagogical and instructional strategies to configure a complete learning environment based on the Internet. E-learning is nowadays widely used in higher education as a mean for supporting learning on academic programs. Concurrently, the Open Educational Resources (OER) are becoming a valuable alternative to improve access to high-quality educational content released under open licenses by outstanding universities worldwide. The conjunction of both concepts can configure a strategy to improve the quality of the curricula in the higher education institutions, particularly in development countries, in order to equalize the learning outcomes of international academic programs and to reduce the cost associated with educational content development. This work aims to achieve a preliminary understanding of the potential of the OER availability to be used in E-learning environments. As a case study, we have conducted an exploration of the feasibility of using OER to supplement E-learning environments for Higher Education in Computer Science at Ecuador. The search of the OER suitable to be used for this purpose has been performed on all categories of OER websites, including Open Courseware projects of prestigious universities. Moreover, this paper highlights the main barriers as well as the opportunities derived from adopting OER in E-learning environments.

"The Internet of Things (IoT) has changed everything in almost every sector of industry and community, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the educational sector. From small improvements to school creature comforts to massive technological rethinks which have changed the way certain schools operate, the Internet of Things is leaving an indelible imprint on education as a whole."

"A couple of years ago I started up Virtual Reality Working Out Loud Week to promote real-world applications of virtual reality.

The inaugural #VRwolweek unearthed 20 real-world examples of the emerging technology, and the enduring popularity of that blog post tells me that we are hungry for more.

Loath to disappoint, I hereby present 25 more real-world examples of virtual reality, drawn from this year’s and last year’s events. I thank everyone who contributed to the following list."

Today’s episode explores Design thinking. It’s everywhere in education right now, or at least we think it should be. It’s the topic of many of our blogs and we often use design thinking to help our partners reach their goals — whether it be designing a new school, helping to turn around an existing school, or working on resources for educators. But, how does it play into the work of school design and leadership?’, and ‘Where do I get started?’

Emily and Adam recently got together to discuss all aspects of design thinking. A lot of educators are just now getting familiar with design thinking, so they dive into the topic to explain what it is, how it can improve their practice, and to rethink how they facilitate learning. Adam has been using the design thinking approach for years and has lots to share, so tune in to this week’s episode to learn more.

A DLN Smart Series paper with recommendations for developing and implementing an effective plan to adopt a blended learning model.