Resources

Virtual learning environments offer a novel environment through which teachers can engage students in active learning. Whether through virtual worlds such as Second Life or a custom-designed personal learning environment, together students and teachers can explore new boundaries in education. Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of Virtual Learning Environments highlights invaluable research covering the design, development, and evaluation of online learning environments. An essential resource for academics, professionals, corporate trainers and policy makers, this book examines the role of technology enhanced learning in this emerging area. (From the Publisher)

Technology-enriched online settings provide new ways to support lifelong learning. Learners can interact with other learners, gain from their experiences, and then construct their own knowledge, be it through Google Docs, online collaborative communities, YouTube, wikis, or blogs. Cases on Online Learning Communities and Beyond: Investigations and Applications provides a variety of essential case studies which explore the benefits and pedagogical successes of distance learning, blended learning, collaborative learning environments, computer-supported group-based learning, and professional learning communities. This casebook is an essential resource for educators, instructional designers, trainers, administrators, and researchers working in the areas of online learning and distance learning. (From the Publisher)

Expectations – of life, work, education, and so forth – are rooted in cultural values. As a result, access to an engagement with online learning is a culture-bound experience. Cases on Cultural Implications and Considerations in Online Learning illustrates ways in which to reach and engage learners across cultures by using online learning that accommodates cultural differences and preferences. This casebook helps online educators understand what cultural expectations their students have before they create online programs and tailor their instructional designs for multicultural and international learners. (From the Publisher)

Farley points to a series of developments in theological education which have led to the loss of a defining theological vision. Theology used to be, and still ought to be "not just objective science, but a personal knowledge of God and the things of God." (From the Publisher)

It started with a simple observation: Students need their teachers present to answer questions or to provide help if they get stuck on an assignment; they don’t need their teachers present to listen to a lecture or review content.From there, Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams began the flipped classroom: Students watched recorded lectures for homework and completed their assignments, labs, and tests in class with their teacher available. What Bergmann and Sams found was that their students demonstrated a deeper understanding of the material than ever before.This is the authors’ story, and they’re confident it can be yours too. Learn what a flipped classroom is and why it works, and get the information you need to flip a classroom. You’ll also learn the flipped mastery model, where students learn at their own pace, furthering opportunities for personalized education. This simple concept is easily replicable in any classroom, doesn’t cost much to implement, and helps foster self-directed learning. Once you flip, you won’t want to go back! Features - An argument for and overview of the flipped and flipped mastery classrooms; the logistics of conducting a flipped classroom, from the equipment needed to create videos to what to do during class to student assessment; a FAQ section that addresses important topics, including computer access, administrator buy in, and making sure your students are reliably accessing content on their own time (From the Publisher)

Religious and Ethical Perspectives explores complex questions associated with health care, food, technology, peacemaking, and other twenty-first-century ethical issues. It provokes critical thought and a renewed awareness of the need to uncover unexamined assumptions that can impact decision making, while holding in tension the fact that there are no perfect answers to these issues. The essays offer substance for study and stimulate religious and ethical analysis. A valuable resource, this text lays a foundation for inquiry and enables students to bring new insights to the many religious and ethical choices they face. (From the Publisher)

University Teaching in Focus provides a foundational springboard for early career academics preparing to teach in universities. Focusing on four critical areas - teaching, curriculum, students, and quality/leadership - this succinct resource offers university teachers a straightforward approach to facilitating effective student learning. The book empowers university teachers and contributes to their career success by developing teaching skills, strategies, and knowledge, as well as linking theory to practice. Written in a clear and accessible style by internationally acclaimed experts, topics include: learning theories, assessment, discipline-based teaching, curriculum design, problem-based and work-integrated learning, effective classroom teaching, and flexible modes of delivery. The needs of diverse student groups are explored and the scholarship of teaching and learning is addressed within a quality and leadership framework. The book also makes reference to seminal works and current resources. Real-world cases illuminate the theoretical content and 'Your Thoughts' sections encourage reflection and adaptation to local contexts. University Teaching in Focus explores ways that teachers can effectively engage students in life-long learning, extending their capacity to solve problems, to enter the workforce, to understand their discipline, and to interact positively with others in a global community throughout their professional lives. (From the Publisher)

With its cost efficiency, enabling of collaboration and sharing of resources, and its ability to improve access, cloud computing is likely to play a big role in the classrooms of tomorrow. Cloud Computing for Teaching and Learning: Strategies for Design and Implementation provides the latest information about cloud development and cloud applications in teaching and learning. The book alsos include empirical research findings in these areas for professionals and researchers working in the field of e-learning who want to implement teaching and learning with cloud computing, as well as provide insights and support to executives concerned with cloud development and cloud applications in e-learning communities and environments. (From the Publisher)

From the Publisher Design for Learning in Virtual Worlds, the first book focused specifically on how to design virtual worlds for educational purposes, explores: • the history and evolution of virtual worlds • the theories behind the use of virtual worlds for learning • the design of curricula in virtual worlds • design guidelines for elements experienced in virtual worlds that support learning • design guidelines for learning quests and activities in virtual worlds. The authors also examine the theories and associated design principles used to create embedded assessments in virtual worlds. Finally, a framework and methodology is provided to assist professionals in evaluating "off-the-shelf" virtual worlds for use in educational and training settings. Design for Learning in Virtual Worlds will be invaluable both as a professional resource and as a textbook for courses within Educational Technology, Learning Sciences, and Library Media programs that focus on gaming or online learning environments.

As social media and Web 2.0 technologies continue to transform the learning trends and preferences of students, educators need to understand the applicability of these new tools in all types of learning environments. Best Practices for Teaching with Emerging Technologies will provide both new and experienced online, hybrid, and face-to-face instructors with: • practical examples of how low-cost and free technologies can be used to support student learning • best practices for integrating web-based tools into a course management system and managing student privacy in a Web 2.0 environment • "Showcase" spotlights woven throughout the book, providing examples of how the tools described in the book are already being used effectively in educational settings • an easy-to-reference format, organized with visual icons used to delineate each tool's visual, video, voice, and mobile features • ideas for integrating mobile learning into your students' learning experiences. This practical, easy-to-use guide will serve the needs of both two- and four-year college educators seeking to refresh or transform their instruction. Readers will be rewarded with an ample yet manageable collection of proven emerging technologies that can be leveraged for generating content, enhancing communications with and between students, and cultivating participatory, student-centered learning activities. (From the Publisher)