University debates e-learning

The frontier of the Internet is currently being explored by the University of South Alabama for potential new uses in education, but some have reservations, reports The Vanguard.

During an interview in August, the university's president, Gordon Moulton, expressed a great deal of enthusiasm about the university adopting more electronic learning technology to supplement or replace traditional classroom learning methods.

Dr David Johnson, vice-president of academic affairs, expanded on the aims of the university: “We're just getting started on this project, but we're very excited about its possibilities.”

High school and college students could be big beneficiaries of mobile technology by using e-readers and smartphones to access electronic textbooks and other course materials, states Computerworld.

At Francis Tuttle Technology Centre in Oklahoma City, pilot projects using iPhones and Kindle e-readers are in their early stages, as administrators weigh technical and financial considerations, said chief technology officer, Russ Hester.

"Computer mobility is key and critical to our future," says Hester. "We spend time here looking at ways to get people [access] to learning content, no matter where they are".

Technology companies Cisco, Intel, and Microsoft are cooperating with the Ministry of Education of Kenya and the US Agency for International Development on a project to improve education in Kenya, says EE Times India.

The project is called 'Accelerating 21st-century education' (ACE). It focuses on upgrading primary and secondary education using ICT. The parties are working together to develop a best-in-class model for deploying ICT in education.

Reflecting a combined commitment valued at more than $9 million, ACE will create "one-to-one e-learning" classrooms in 60 focus schools across Kenya. One-to-one e-learning, a model in which every student has access to a computer, helps foster an environment where young people can develop skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking.