Six ed-tech trends to watch in 2007.

We are going to finish our posts for this year with another article from eSchoolnews. Accroding to them, "Educational technology at last has progressed to the point where differentiated, individualized instruction clearly is possible for students anywhere on the planet. It can be delivered at any time, in just the right form, with whatever frequency might be required. This has long been the dream of educational technologists. And today the dream has come true--at least in terms of the technology. The barriers to universal access are no longer technical; they're political and financial.

So while governments and society grapple with the challenges of making what's already technically feasible universally available, let's take a look at what's next on the ed-tech horizon. Here are six emerging ed-tech trends that could have a significant impact on schools and colleges in 2007. " Click here to read the remainder of this article.

The top 10 ed-tech stories of 2006: Part 2

In this two-part special retrospective, the editors of eSchool News highlight the ten most significant educational technology stories of the past year. Click here to read part two of this series.

eSchool News presents the top ten tech ed stories of the year, part 1.

One of our favorite sources for information about eLearning trends has been eSchoolnews. They just posted part 1 of the top tech ed stories for the year and you can read it by clicking here.

We will be posting almost daily in 2007, so please bookmark our blog and tell your friends and co-workers about it!

Happy Holidays!

Gatlin Education Services: online career training courses

Ruling: Schools must archive eMail.

eSchool News online recently reported that, "according to new federal rules that went into effect Dec. 1, schools, businesses, and other organizations are required to keep tabs on all eMail, instant messages (IM), and other digital communications produced by their employees. " To read the entire story click here.

Training Experts to Convene at Online Educa Berlin

More than 2,000 participants from 86 countries are expected at the 12th Online Educa Berlin, the world's largest international conference for ICT-supported learning and training. The event is taking place at Berlin's Hotel InterContinental from November 28 - December 1, 2006. Gatlin Education Services is one of the U.S. based participants. To learn more about this international conference click here.

Number of students taking online courses rises!

According to a recent AP article posted by CNN.com roughly one in six students enrolled in higher education -- about 3.2 million people -- took at least one online course last fall, a sharp increase defying predictions that online learning growth is leveling off. A new report scheduled for released Thursday by The Sloan Consortium, a group of colleges pursuing online programs, estimates that 850,000 more students took online courses in the fall of 2005 than the year before, an increase of nearly 40 percent. Last year, the group had reported slowing growth, prompting speculation the trend had hit a ceiling. To read the entire article click here.

Virtual-school enrollment explodes!

From eSchool News, "Enrollment in K-12 online courses in the United states has exploded in the past year, increasing by as much as 50 percent in some states, according to a new report from the North American Council for Online Learning (NACOL). " To read the entire article click here.

Gatlin course author to be honored by the Queen of England!

Tom Whittaker, the first person with a disability to reach the summit of Mount Everest, will be awarded the Most Excellent Order Member of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II. Tom is the instructor for our, "Seven Steps to Leading High Achieving Teams" program. Click here to read the full story.

How to pay for distance learning!

Education and training can give your career a tremendous boost. Chances are pretty good that your employer will help pay for classes that enhance your career.

In many cases your employer may be willing to help pay for a distance-learning class that improves your skills. And even if your company can't help, the government often can. Professor Michael R. Simonson, distance learning expert, explains why funding a distance-learning program might be easier than you thought.

Q: How can I convince my employer to pay for my distance training?

A: Many companies and organizations provide qualified employees with support for education. First, it is important to know your company's existing policies. Start by asking your HR representative about any subsidies available for work-related training. If an employer is reluctant to accept distance education, try providing them with as much information about your proposed course of study as possible. With a little extra work, it is often possible to convince a skeptical employer that distance education not only provides quality learning that makes employees more qualified, it also permits the employee to stay in the workplace and not have to take days, weeks, or even years away from the job. You might also point out to your employer that many distance education programs stress the applicability of the course material to the workplace.

Q: Are there any government grants that would help me pay for a distance-learning program?

A: That depends on the program you choose. Start your search for financial assistance at the school, college, or university where you plan to enroll. Scholarships and student loans are available, but most can only be applied toward courses at accredited institutions. Most such institutions will have an office dedicated to finding financial assistance for students who need it.

Branding Options For Distance Learning Programs: Managing The Effect On University Image.

This is a very interesting article on branding by Nita Paden and Roxanne Stell of Northern Arizona University.

Abstract:

Although university goals for adding distance learning programs vary, decisions about development and marketing of the programs can have an impact on traditional on campus programs and influence overall perceptions of the university. As universities develop distance programs, it is important that (a) there is a clear understanding of the university’s brand image and the elements contributing to that image; (b) the university ensures that the distance program maintains/improves the image of the university; or (c) the university makes a decision to develop a separate identity/brand for the distance program that will stand on its own merit and not harm the university’s image if it malfunctions or fails. This paper explores issues relating to the application of branding strategies to distance learning programs.

To read this entire article click here.

Online catalogs bring in more enrollments.

At Gatlin Education Services we have been surveying where the students of our partners come from each year. This year we have noticed a significant increase in the amount of students who find their desired Gatlin course via their school's online catalog instead of the school's traditional paper catalog. This trend is consistent with what others have shared at national conferences like the UCEA and the ACHE.

If you work at an educational institution, it is important to make sure you take these things into consideration to maximize your potential to convert these potential students into enrollments.

1. Make sure students can find your contact information and how to register on your main landing page.

2. Provide compelling copy that concisely describes each course.

3. Make sure you have someone who is knowledgeable about your courses answering the phones and return calls the same day.

4. Make sure your department’s home page can be accessed in less than three clicks from your institution's home page.

5. Search engine optimize your HTML page titles with course related keywords, if your website design allows you to.

Following these simple steps will help students and you to get the most out or your online catalog.

Online Courses Fuel Growth in Continuing-Education Programs,

Online Courses Fuel Growth in Colleges' Continuing-Education Programs, Survey Finds.

Online-course enrollments now account for about a fifth of all continuing- and professional-education enrollments at the typical college or university, and online courses continue to attract more students to continuing education, according to a new report. The report, which is based on a survey of 43 nonprofit institutions, predicts that online continuing-education enrollments will grow by about 20 percent each year for the next few years.

"What gets a lot of attention in this area is the for-profits, but just in our sample, we have about 175,000 enrollments, so that's a big chunk of the market," said Sean R. Gallagher, a senior analyst at Eduventures Inc., the research and consulting firm that conducted the survey and produced the report.

A 2005 report issued by the Sloan Consortium, a collaborative of colleges that offer instruction online, estimated that online enrollments reached 2.35 million nationwide in 2004, the most recent year for which survey data is available.

The 43 institutions that participated in the Eduventures survey are part of the company's Continuing and Professional Education Program. About three-quarters of the participating institutions are public, and the rest are private.

The typical continuing- and professional-education division offers 150 for-credit courses, eight degree programs, and 24 noncredit courses online. Fully online courses and programs dominate the online continuing-education market, but about two-thirds of the colleges surveyed also offer hybrid courses, which combine online and classroom instruction.

About half of the institutions surveyed said they outsourced at least some aspects of their online continuing-education operations. About a quarter of the colleges had licensed noncredit courses from a third-party provider, and some had completely outsourced their noncredit online operations.

The report is available only to members of Eduventures' Continuing and Professional Education Program, and those interested in more information should contact Eduventures.

Colleges eye LMS patent fight.

eLearning patent awarded to Blackboard Inc. draws ire of competitors, schools From eSchool News!

Learning management systems (LMS) provider Blackboard Inc. has sued a smaller business rival over a patent it was issued in January covering its LMS technology. The patent, and subsequent lawsuit, have significant implications for the future of eLearning at colleges and universities nationwide. Critics say Blackboard's patent is overly broad and could stifle innovation in the eLearning industry.

To read this entire article click here.

New freight broker training course to be released this fall!

Gatlin Education Services announced today it has reached an agreement with Brooke Transportation Training Solutions (BTTS) to begin offering a freight broker / freight agent online career training course beginning this fall. The course will be offered exclusively through Gatlin’s partnership with major colleges and universities.

The program will provide students with the necessary skills to succeed in the freight brokerage and logistics business. Freight Brokering is currently one of the top home-based businesses as well as the largest growing sector of the transportation industry, according Entrepreneur Magazine and The Wall Street Journal.

“BTTS reminds us of ourselves in that they are forward thinking and respected in their industry,” said Stephen Gatlin, founder of Fort Worth-based Gatlin Education Services. “It’s really a classic win-win situation. We did our homework and believe BTTS is the best in the business. We are looking forward to a strong partnership and providing students with the most comprehensive education possible.”

Designed by successful freight brokers, the course prepares students to be the dealmaker between manufacturers who need goods moved and truckers who can move those goods. The instruction includes licensing, operations, job requirements, transportation industry trends and prospects(?), legal issues, benefits, ensuring cash flow, finding shippers, and more. Upon completion of the course, participants will be ready to join the $400 billion-plus shipping industry.

Freight brokerage is an ideal business for truck drivers who want to advance in the industry, entrepreneurs in search of a profitable home business and military veterans, who are provided government subsidies to take the training.

“The fact that Gatlin chose us to work with is an honor,” said BTTS President Jeff Roach. “Freight broker professionals are in high demand, because regardless of the economy, goods will always need to be shipped. A motivated and disciplined freight broker or freight agent with proper training can build up a very lucrative business. If you’re a self-starter who enjoys fast-paced work, you’re perfect for freight brokering. You’ll just need a little guidance, which is where we come in.”

Established in 1989 by Stephen Gatlin, Gatlin Education Services is the largest provider of Web-based, instructor-supported training to community colleges and universities. Gatlin’s courses are open enrollment, allowing interested students to start their desired training immediately. Gatlin’s online career training courses are designed to provide the skills necessary to acquire professional caliber positions for many in-demand occupations.

Brooke Transportation Training Solutions (BTTS) prides itself in delivering the nation’s premier freight broker training. BTTS prepares students to succeed in the freight brokerage industry, as well as in life, by arming them with intense training, motivation and invaluable freight broker and transportation industry contacts.

$1.3 Billion Dollars slated for vocational education.

excellence reported, "lawmakers have approved a bill that guarantees federal support for vocational education through 2012, stymieing White House efforts to funnel the $1.3 billion that goes toward voc-ed programs each year into other areas. That's good news for the roughly 15 million students who take voc-ed classes, many of which increasingly rely on technology to prepare students for 21st-century careers".

Each year hundreds of students eligible for this type of assistance take Gatlin Education Services courses. If you are a Gatlin partner educational education institution and you seeking new avenues for reaching students in your community, contacting your local vocational rehabilitation office is a great way to serve these students in your community.

Gatlin Education Services partners with Walgreens!

Gatlin Education Services announced today it has reached an agreement with Walgreens that will give students an important leg up in the job market. Walgreens will offer its externship program to students in several Walgreens districts who are taking Gatlin’s pharmacy technician online career training program provided basic qualifications are met.

Gatlin’s nationally recognized pharmacy technician program is available at hundreds of continuing education departments at community colleges and universities across the United States. This blended learning online program teaches the necessary skills to gain employment as a pharmacy technician in a hospital or retail setting. The course aims to provide high school graduates and individuals seeking new careers the skills and knowledge that will enable them to qualify for entry-level positions in pharmacies as well as prepare for the mandated national certification.

Walgreens supplies interns with 80 to 160 hours of hands-on experience that includes assisting pharmacists with prescriptions, answering patient questions about medications and a bevy of administrative duties.

Gatlin and Walgreens initially expect to enroll about a dozen students in the internship program every month, with that number doubling in a year’s time. More than 8,600 individuals have expressed an interested in Gatlin’s pharmacy technician course this year.

“The pharmacy technician program is one of our most popular offerings,” said Stephen Gatlin, founder of Fort Worth-based Gatlin Education Services. “The added benefit of having a valuable internship will continue to put Gatlin students a step ahead in an ultra-competitive job market. The partnership with Walgreens will not only open doors for students, but will also pave the way for similar advantages with our other programs.”

Gatlin Education, YMCA & TCU (part 2)

A previous post noted our excitement in working with the YMCA and Texas Christian University to provide free online training for those most in need of improved job skills. We are pleased at the response we have received and note with pleasure this recent media report about our efforts. The video report showcases our VP of Service & Operations, Candice Claxton, and a big thank you goes to all the Gatlin employees who are helping to keep this effort ongoing. Thanks to CBS 11 TV for their coverage.

To view the report please click here.

Computer delivered education may be a key stroke.

Here is a great article by By Jon Boone of the Financial Mail.

Like so many other technologies that rode high during the dotcom mania before crashing ignominiously back to earth, e-learning is enjoying a revival. Those who were burned first time round will feel a queasy sense of deja vu at hearing the advantages of computer delivered education: it is easier to tailor around the diaries of busy people and it can be used to train very large numbers of people all at once.

Paul Palmarozza, president of Intellexis, speaks for many in the industry who have less misty-eyed view of its potential. "About 25-30 per cent of training is now done through e-learning. At the time of dotcom people thought it would completely take over but I think we now know it will get to about 20-40 per cent and stay there."

The learning interfaces are improving too with companies making them more interactive and making better use of video and graphics. All of which can add to the cost of e-learning, making it substantially higher than the old classroom model. Estimates vary but developing just one hour's of e-learning can cost up to Pounds 20,000.

In the world of financial training e-learning's second coming has been helped by the belief of US regulators that better trained employees will be less likely to bring the company to its knees in a mire of scandal. The multiple-choice, box-ticking nature of computer learning and assessment at its simplest lends itself perfectly to companies trying to find cost-effective ways to ensure very large numbers of their staff are Sarbanes-Oxley compliant. The same is true in the US for anti-money laundering regulations brought in with the Patriot Act.

At the the higher end of the market technology has become part of financial institutions' basic expectation. Jonathan Shaw of 7city says his company now routinely records classes that can be watched online for those who were not able to make the session.

E-learning also makes it easier for students to take their work wherever they chose. 7city says it has seen a 300 per cent increase in the number of downloads of recorded lectures via podcast and webcast over the past six months. Companies looking to raise the general level of financial competence of their workforce are not, Mr Palmarozza says, interested in squandering large amounts of their employees' time with three-day training courses.

"They want short, sharp courses that are tailored to the specific needs of their company and where the learning process can continue in their own time." But financial trainers are not just disinterring the old thinking and technology of the late 1990s. The best providers have realised that computers do not replace teaching, they merely improve it when it is done with a bit of careful thought. "Blended learning" is thus the buzzword for combining teaching and technology. Experts continue to hold forth in front of classrooms of executives, but some of their traditional functions have been hived off to computers. So, students will be expected to prepare for relatively straightforward subjects by learning from the computer rather than a trainer charging by the hour.

It also allows for continuous assessment of how students are progressing. Mr Palmarozza: "It is now pretty standard for us to run a computer pre-test before the course to see what areas need to be the focus. Another test afterwards can show both the students and their company that they have achieved value for the time spent."

Gatlin Education, YMCA and TCU partner to provide free on-line training.

Gatlin Education Services announced yesterday a partnership with the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth and Texas Christian University that will offer the economically disadvantaged an opportunity to improve their job-related skills. The program began on June 19, 2006. Gatlin provides free access to its series of online career training courses to qualifying participants at the YMCA’s AMAKA Early Childhood Learning Center in the Butler Housing Community, 1501 Stephenson Street in Fort Worth.

The material will be available to students from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and Wednesday evenings until they complete their coursework. The computers utilized for the program were recently donated by TCU’s Office of Extended Education. Ranging in value from $1,295 to $1,595, Gatlin’s online courses cover a wide array of subjects including healthcare, business, Internet training and design.

“What we’re providing is a golden opportunity for people to better themselves at no cost, and that’s a chance you can’t get every day,” said YMCA Program Director Ronda Broxton. “You can learn how to be a webmaster, graphic designer, pharmacy technician or veterinary assistant with out having to pay the high cost of college tuition. All we ask is that you show a commitment to follow through with the program.”

The YMCA will supervise and administer the program, and TCU will issue completion certificates to participants. The class size is limited to eight students at a time, with spots opening as participants finish the training. The courses are self-paced, and take an average of 90 days to complete, though students are not given a deadline to finish the training.

“We’re very excited to contribute our part to such a worthwhile community endeavor,” said Stephen Gatlin, founder of Gatlin Education Services. “YMCA and TCU are known for giving back to the community, and it’s something we value as well. When this program becomes a success, we intend to utilize our relationships with colleges and universities to offer similar opportunities in neighborhoods all over the country.”

Mt. Everest mountaineer is instructor for Gatlin's new leadership training course.

Gatlin Education Services is pleased to announce the creation and release of “Seven Steps To Leading High Achieving Teams.” This course is our most technologically advanced course to date.

Tom Whittaker, the author of the course, is the first disabled person to reach the summit Mt. Everest. The course features Mt. Everest video presentations from Tom in Flash 8.0. To experience how great and unique this course is click here. You must have Flash 8.0 to view the demonstration. To download Flash 8.0 click here.

You can now receive a Certificate in Leadship and Team Building from a Community College or University near you! To find the education institution nearest you offering this cutting edge course click here.