ION News and Announcements

MVCR registration is now open

Mon, 5 May 2008 00:00:00 CST

Registration is now open for the Summer MVCR session. After you register, an MVCR staff member will review your registration, and depending on your status, approve your registration, ask you for additional information, or place your name on a waiting list. When your registration is approved, you will receive an e-mail notification. If you need to withdraw from a course or have additional questions, please contact mvcr-registration@uillinois.edu.

Announcing new ION Program Coordinator

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 CST

Greetings everyone! I'm Scott Johnson and I come to ION from John Wood Community College with over 9 years of experience in Distance Education having been an ION Steering Committee member for several years as well. I am learning the ropes of the ION system and will be doing most of the ION/MVCR tasks that Michael and Kevin have been doing recently. Please be patient with me during this transition. To this end, please use the ion-mail@uillinois.edu address to communicate with the ION/Global Campus team. I'm really looking forward to working with you!

MVCR Fall 1 Courses Open for Enrollment

Fri, 3 Aug 2007 00:00:00 CST

There is still room in some of the MVCR courses for the fall.

May Webinar

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CST

Teaching a language, online or in a traditional classroom, has come a long way from cassette tapes and workbooks. This webinar will feature some innovative uses of technology tools for language instruction. The program will be presented by Susan Manning, Ed.D., an ESL instructor at Waubonsee Community College and her students! They will share how they used digital audio, digital video, podcasts, and Skype to enhance speaking and listening skills. Susan will also discuss blogs, wikis, and other text-based tools for reading, writing and vocabulary acquisition.

June Webinar

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CST

As we pass from the early adopter phase into acceptance by the masses, the number of instructors taking part in online education grows. Although qualified in their field, many instructors have no education in the methods of instruction or facilitation. Those that have such training often do not have any additional training or experience specifically in the field of distance or online education. But what should such training consist of, and what additional faculties of an individual help one to be a proficient online educator?

July Webinar

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CST

This month we continue our Course Improvement series using the new QOCI Rubric (http://www.ion.uillinois.edu/initiatives/qoci/rubric.asp) as our guide. Each month we focus on one of the Rubric's categories and participate in a discussion of how we can improve our online courses specifically to that category. Third in the series is Student Evaluation & Assessment. It's recommended that you download the checklist version of the Rubric from the link above before attending the workshop. Come join us for an active discussion in course improvement specific to the areas of feedback, assement strategies, and management. Much of the discussion will be driven by the needs of the participants and examples will be given.

U of I Global Campus Interview

Mon, 9 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CST

In this month's Frontiers Podcast, Virgil Varvel interviews Dr. Charles Evans of the U of I Global Campus

ION Launches Frontiers of Distance Education Podcast

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 00:00:00 CST

ION's first episode in Frontiers of Distance Education was introduced. The first episode includes commentary and interviews from eLearning 2007 in Albequerque, New Mexico.

March Monthly Webinar

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 00:00:00 CST

Over the next few months we will be conducting a Course Improvement series using the new QOCI Rubric as our guide. Each month we will focus on one of the Rubric's categories and participate in a discussion of how we can improve our online courses specifically to that category. First in the series is Instructional Design.

April Monthly Webinar

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 00:00:00 CST

This month we continue our Course Improvement series using the new QOCI Rubric as our guide. Each month we focus on one of the Rubric's categories and participate in a discussion of how we can improve our online courses specifically to that category. Second in the series is Communication, Interaction, & Collaboration.

MVCR Spring 2 Courses Open for Enrollment

Thu, 1 Feb 2007 00:00:00 CST

MVCR courses beginning in March open for enrollment today.

Webinar: Synchronous Classrooms

Mon, 1 Jan 2007 00:00:00 CST

This Webinar will provide participants with strategies for using synchronous environments to enhance their communication with students as individuals, small groups, and as an entire class. We will focus on the types of synchronous tools, purposes for synchronous communication, preparing for synchronous sessions, and strategies for delivering them.

Webinar: Online Teaching and Learning Best Practices

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 00:00:00 CST

As we near the end of another fun filled year of distance education, we once again call upon all interested to come share best practices with the community. In this Webinar, participants will have the opportunity to share their own best practices with the group. The presenter will take the time to share some of his own as well.

Webinar: Instructional Design: Where To Begin

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 00:00:00 CST

Come join us for a workshop on the beginning steps to Instructional Design. In this workshop, we will discuss strategies for designing a new course using outlining and mind mapping skills. We will also provide a few example outlines and an overview of technology tools that may help in the brainstorming process. Finally, we will hold a raffle at the end for a great prize, but you must be present to win!

Illinois Online Conference

Wed, 8 Nov 2006 00:00:00 CST

Presentation proposals are now being accepted for the 5th Annual Illinois Online Conference for Teaching and Learning. Although not sponsored by ION, we wish to support their wonderful efforts. For more information, go to their website at www.ilonlineconf.org.

Submissions will be accepted through December 6, 2006. The conference will be held February 14-16, 2007. Please submit your proposal here: http://www.ilonlineconf.org/index.cfm?page=callForProposals

This conference is held entirely on the Internet using: live virtual classrooms, recorded presentations, email, web poster sessions, synchronous chats, discussion areas, and other Internet technologies. IOC was created to focus on issues and concerns of K-20 classroom faculty and related technology support, learning resources, student services, and workforce development professionals.

For more information, please contact:
Steve Garren
IOC Coordinator
Lake Land College
5001 Lake Land Blvd.
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 234-5459
sgarren@lakeland.cc.il.us

Faculty Trainer's Institute

Wed, 13 Sep 2006 00:00:00 CST

The Illinois Online Network (ION) will be hosting two full-day institutes for faculty and staff who are responsible for providing faculty training and support at higher education institutions.

September Webinar

Wed, 13 Sep 2006 00:00:00 CST

September's Webinar will be Introduction to HTML for Online Instructors. This workshop will focus on basic syntax and a few basic tags every online instructor should know.

October Webinar

Wed, 13 Sep 2006 00:00:00 CST

Designing/Redesigning & Evaluating Online Courses
Want to measure the quality of your online courses? At this workshop, we will distribute the QOCI (Quality Online Course Initiative) rubric and attendees will participate in a discussion on how to use this tool to design, redesign, and/or evaluate online courses.

New Pointer & Clicker Article

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 00:00:00 CST

Volume 7 Issue 5 - Increasing Online Interactivity through the Use of a Database-Driven Lesson , By Leaunda Hemphill & Jing Yu

Call for Proposals: Webinars

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 00:00:00 CST

ION is continually looking for quality speakers in our Webinar series. We currently have openings in September through December.

Registration open for fall MVCR courses

Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:00:00 CST

Registration is currently open for the Fall term 1 MVCR courses

Registration open for fall MVCR courses

Wed, 14 Jun 2006 00:00:00 CST

Registration opens July 10th for the Fall 1 term of MVCR courses.

Course Management System Days for Illinois Higher Education

Fri, 14 Apr 2006 00:00:00 CST

April 18 - Desire2Learn April 19 - Sakai Project A number of Illinois higher education institutions are examining cost and implementation issues related to course management systems and are evaluating available systems. Illinois Community Colleges Online and the Illinois Online Network are partnering to bring Illinois an opportunity to review course management systems and see how institutions have implemented or migrated to various systems. Please join us in this opportunity.

Using WebCT Presentation

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 00:00:00 CST

Virgil will present at Morton College on advanced uses of WebCT including pedagogical effectiveness, academic honesty, visual appeal, etc.

Course Management System Days

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 00:00:00 CST

Illinois Community Colleges Online (ILCCO) and the Illinois Online Network (ION) are partnering to bring a series of Course Management System Days for Illinois Higher Education. This will be an opportunity to explore a number of platforms and become more informed about implementation of new systems, migrating between systems and handling course development and conversions.

FSI 2006 Call For Proposals Now Open

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 00:00:00 CST

CITES Educational Technologies and the Illinois Online Network at University of Illinois would like to invite you to present a forum session, hands-on workshop, or showcase presentation at our next annual conference. At FSI 2006, you can share your knowledge and expertise with colleagues from across the state, this summer in Champaign, Illinois.

Webinar: Creating a Successful Online Tutoring Center

Tue, 21 Mar 2006 00:00:00 CST

Dr. Iris Stovall will discuss methods of online tutoring, the challenges of tutoring online, tutor training, and how the for-profit tutoring companies impacted services for the online student.

Webinar on ION Pricing Matrix for Elluminate

Mon, 13 Mar 2006 00:00:00 CST

On Wednesday March 22 at 2 p.m. CST, ION and Elluminate invite ION Members to participate in a Webinar to discuss the current ION Member Pricing Matrix for Elluminate. Elluminate is a live web conferencing tool that creates a collaborative environment for remote teaching and learning. For more information, contact Michael Lindeman at 217 333-3746, mlindema@uillinois.edu

Webinar: Marketing Your Online Courses and Programs

Tue, 31 Jan 2006 00:00:00 CST

Marketing is one way to help you achieve success in enrollment. This workshop will demonstrate some winning strategies

Webinar: Simplifying Really Simple Syndication (RSS)

Tue, 31 Jan 2006 00:00:00 CST

Michael Lindeman, Director of Illinois Online Network, will introduce participants to RSS, what it is, how to syndicate, and its purpose in online education.

ION Resource Chosen as Best Practice

Sun, 15 Jan 2006 00:00:00 CST

The Center for Transforming Student Services awarded the CENTSS Best Practice Seal to the ION WebCT tutorials.

Spring 2006 MVCR Courses Open for Enrollment

Tue, 8 Nov 2005 00:00:00 CST

The following MVCR courses will open for enrollment on December 12, 2005: Practicum, Online Learning: An Overview, Technology Tools for Online Learning, Student Assessment in Online Courses, and Instructional Design for Online Course Development.

ION Blogs

Sat, 1 Oct 2005 00:00:00 CST

ION has begun blogging the world of ALN and Education. Current Blogs include Lindeman on Online Teaching, Virgil Varvel's Education Exploration, Kevin Johnson Online Ed & Instructional Tech, and Iris Stovall's Blog. More blogs may be added in the future. A wide variety of valuable information is available that we hope everyone finds helpful, interesting, and useful.

MVCR's "Copyright and Intellectual Property Issues in Education" wins WebCT Exemplary Course Project award

Tue, 12 Jul 2005 00:00:00 CST

The University of Illinois� copyright/intellectual property issues course is the first Exemplary Course Project winner developed for a faculty audience. Judges hailed the course�s graphics, organization and sophisticated use of the discussion tool, saying the instructor made a concerted effort to build a strong sense of community among the students. �WebCT gives instructors more control over the look, feel and behavior of their courses than other course management systems,� said instructor Virgil E. Varvel. �The discussion tool has all the features I need to get students to break the ice, challenge one another�s preconceived notions, and walk away with a deeper understanding of the subject matter. The tool is great, but it�s all about what you do with it. And WebCT offers many possibilities.�

Two New Advanced Online Seminars added to MVCR Catalog

Sun, 1 May 2005 00:00:00 CST

ION is proud to announce that we have added two new Advanced Online Seminars to the MVCR Catalog. To learn more about these new seminars, please click on the following links: Synchronous Classrooms http://www.mvcr.org/courses/C-CourseDetail.asp?course=20 Supporting Online Students http://www.mvcr.org/courses/C-CourseDetail.asp?course=21 Both courses will be offered for the first time this summer and are currently open for registration. Please note that the registration fee for all Advanced Online Seminars is $50 for ION Members. The registration fee for Non ION-members is $100. For more information about registering for theses course, please see http://www.mvcr.org/courses/

FSI 2005 Keynote Presenters announced

Fri, 15 Apr 2005 00:00:00 CST

Dr. Susan Ko and Dr. Burks Oakley will deliver keynote addresses at FSI 2005. The annual conference will also feature two keynote panels. One with the ION Staff, the other with Dan Balzer, Jonathon Finkelstein, Janice Kinsinger, and Susan Manning.

Quality Online Course Initiative (QOCI) committee reconvened.

Wed, 13 Apr 2005 00:00:00 CST

The Quality Online Course Initiative (QOCI) committee has been reconvened to continue its work towards improving accountability of their online courses. The main objectives of this project are 1) to create a useful evaluation tool (rubric) that can help faculty develop quality online courses; 2) to identify "best practices" in online courses; 3) to be able to recognize faculty, programs, and institutions that are creating quality online courses.