Press Release: USDLA 2019 International Awards Presented For Excellence In Distance Learning for Individuals, Organizations And Companies Honoring Their Outstanding Achievements

Note the K-12 winners below.

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Press Release USDLA 2019 International Awards Presented for Excellence in Distance Learning for Individuals, Organizations and Companies Honoring their Outstanding Achievements. World’s most prestigious distance learning awards were presented yesterday in Nashville, Tennessee for excellence in distance learning to individuals, organizations, and companies. Nashville, TN (PRWEB) May 23, 2019 — The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) presented its 2019 International Distance Learning Awards in conjunction with the 2019 National Conference in Nashville, TN. USDLA is a 501(c) 3 non-profit association, founded in 1987, as the nation’s leading distance learning organization. These prestigious International Awards are presented annually to organizations and individuals engaged in the development and delivery of distance learning programs. Included in the recognition ceremony were awards for 21st Century Distance Learning, Outstanding Leadership, Innovation, Excellence in Teaching/Training, Global Impact, Quality Research Paper, and Hall of Fame. The USDLA International Awards are closely followed by the distance learning community. “As the premier organization for the entire distance learning profession, USDLA enjoys honoring leaders within the industry,” said Dr. Reggie Smith III, Executive Director of USDLA. “Each year these recognized leaders raise the bar and exceed best practice expectations for the industry as a whole and we are truly honored by their contributions within all distance learning constituencies.” The USDLA Awards were created to acknowledge major accomplishments in distance learning and to highlight those distance learning instructors, programs, and professionals who have achieved and demonstrated extraordinary results through the use of online, videoconferencing, satellite and blended learning delivery technologies. “This year’s USDLA Award recipients represent the finest examples of online courses, best practices, and leadership in our field.  The depth and breadth of the USDLA membership allows us to engage with leaders from higher education, K-12, industry, military, and government who daily demonstrate the power of distance learning.  We are so proud and excited to be able to recognize this level of excellence,” said Mrs. Janet Major, President of USDLA. For the 2019 International Awards program, USDLA focused upon several major areas that exemplify the dynamic nature of distance learning. Please join us in honoring the following 2019 USDLA Award Winners, which include the following: ============================================== USDLA Quality Research Paper Award Dr. Keyonda Smith and Dr. Sandra Abrams ============================================== USDLA Impact Award Michael Mathews Oral Roberts University ============================================== USDLA Excellence in Teaching/Training Award Dineen Picerno Baker College Lisa Fabulich Florida Virtual School Institute of Pedagogy and Technology for Online Courses Columbia University School of Social Work ============================================== USDLA Innovation Award VISN – Equitable Access to Quality Online Learning Catholic Education Western Australia Virtually Inspired Drexel University Online Take A Break Western Governors University ============================================== USDLA 21st Century Distance Learning Award Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide Arizona Telemedicine Program and Southwest Telehealth Resources Center Western Governors University ============================================== USDLA 2019 Hall of Fame  Robbie K. Melton, Ph.D. Michael Goldstein, Esq. Mr. Pat Cassella, Chair of USDLA Board of Directors noted that, “This year’s award winners represent many of the most innovative leaders in the field of distance learning.” He continued, “I also look forward to seeing these leaders again during National Distance Learning Week, November 4 – 8, 2019.” About United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) is a 501(c) 3 non-profit association formed in 1987 and is located in Boston, Massachusetts. The association reaches 20,000 people globally with sponsors and members operating in and influencing 46% of the $913 billion dollar U.S. education and training market.  USDLA promotes the development and application of distance learning for education and training and serves the needs of the distance learning community by providing advocacy, information, networking and opportunity. Distance learning and training constituencies served include pre-k-12 education, higher and continuing education, home schooling as well as business, corporate, military, government and telehealth markets. The USDLA trademarked logo is the recognized worldwide symbol of dedicated professionals committed to the distance learning industry. http://www.usdla.org # # # Contact: USDLA HQ United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) E-mail: info@usdla.org http://www.usdla.org 1-202-248-5023

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USDLA Newsletter 2019 (05-20-2019)

A newsletter from earlier in the week.

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Dr. Farhad Saba Founder, Editor USDLA Hall of Fame Inductee Dr. Reggie Smith III CEO / Executive Director Associate Editor OFFICIAL USDLA SPECIAL EDITION FEATURED ARTICLE OF THE WEEK Download Report Making education accessible throughout the learning environment Worldwide, an estimated one billion people experience some sort of physical, visual, hearing or cognitive disability. Blackboard considers making education accessible to these individuals both a moral and legal imperative. For an in-depth discussion on this topic, please see our recent white paper, Why Accessibility: the accessibility imperative […] Keep Reading Share this article: RESEARCH-BASED ARTICLES OF THE WEEK Calculating the Economic Viability of Corporate Trainings (Traditional & eLearning) using Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) and Return On Investment (ROI)The intent of this paper is fourfold: (a) to document chronologically the history of corporate training; (b) to discuss the importance of corporate training highlighting the reasons why eLearning is gaining traction; (c) to report the results of a research study conducted with 85 sales employees in a U.S.-based organization; and (d) to calculate the […] Keep Reading Share this article: The Offline Nature of Online CommunityDespite the importance of interpersonal contact to students’ sense of community, little is known about how online students form relationships outside of class. Drawing on interviews with 20 students from one online doctoral program, I explore the ways in which distance learners create community outside of class. In the case study I explore how students […] Keep Reading Share this article: Diversity in Video LecturesMedia diversity within video lectures has been shown to have an effect on students who participate in both flipped classes as well as online courses. While some research claims that content delivered through multiple sources leads to more learning, contrasting research makes the claim that too much media hinders cognitive processing. The present study investigated […] Keep Reading Share this article: Revisiting cognitive tools from a social and motivational perspectiveThe concept of computers as cognitive tools has been revisited to provide insight into the motivational and social dimension in light of the emerging technologies. Central to this concept are the two opposing philosophical views: learning from technology (amplification view of technology) versus learning with technology (constructivist view of technology). A literature review is provided […] Keep Reading Share this article: Learning with computers: Generating insights into the development of cognitive tools using cultural historical activity theoryUsing computers as cognitive tools or mindtools has created impact in education since their introduction in the 1990s. One main characteristic is the notion of learning with computers as intellectual partners: engaging learners in higher level thinking while taking away the lower level cognitive load such as computing and digital storage. In recent years, the […] Keep Reading Share this article: Educational Network Projects as Form of E-LearningIn the transition to digital technologies, the pedagogical community needs a fundamentally different methodological basis of education, it is necessary to radically update the goals, content, forms, methods and means of education, taking into account the flow of information and communication processes in which modern youth grows. The article notes a number of positive and […] Keep Reading Share this article: IN THE NEWS Big Data Science: Establishing Data-Driven Institutions through Advanced AnalyticsData analytics can drive decision-making, but to optimize those decisions, stakeholders must couple effective methods with a shared understanding of both the domain and the institutional goals. EDUCAUSE Review Keep Reading Share this article: The Role of Librarians in Supporting ICT LiteracyAcademic librarians increasingly provide guidance to faculty and students for the integration of digital information into the learning experience. EDUCAUSE Review Keep Reading Share this article: Doing It Yourself: The ‘Internal OPM’ ModelRecent months have seen an uptick in hand-wringing about the relationship between colleges and online program management companies, which provide services to help institutions build, market and manage academic programs in exchange for a share of revenue or a fee. A recent article in The Huffington Post further inflamed tensions, as the author, Kevin Carey, […] Keep Reading Share this article: First Wave of Carnegie Mellon Learning Tools Now AvailableCarnegie Mellon University has moved forward in its efforts to release education tools into the world. Last week, the institution officially introduced OpenSimon, a community and collection of tools dedicated to “[catalyzing] a revolution in learning and teaching” for higher education and K-12. According to the university, the software that will eventually be made available […] Keep Reading Share this article: Stanford’s ‘QuizBot’ – a chatbot that teaches – beats flashcards for learning factual informationResearchers at Stanford have shown that a relatively new technology – a chatbot they dubbed “QuizBot” – can be significantly more effective than flashcards in helping students learn and retain information. Stanford University Keep Reading Share this article: New program targets college readiness gapA new competency-based series of courses aims to tackle the growing college readiness gap and prepare students for success in and after college. WGU Academy, a new independent operating unit from Western Governors University, is intended to help solve the widening college readiness gap. Courses and programs in WGU Academy will give aspiring students an […] Keep Reading Share this article: Benefits of a Pro Supporter 2x More Newsletters Monthly Abstracts Archived Content Support & Subscribe

United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), 840 First Street, NE,3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20002

Watch “Live” The USDLA 2019 Distance Learning Awards Program (May 22, 2019)

Note this event later today.  K-12 individuals, courses, and programs have been regular winners in this competition.

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Please forward this USDLA Newsletter to anyone you feel will find it of interest. Subscriptions are available by clicking on the link below or visiting USDLA.org at no cost. You’re receiving this email because of your relationship with USDLA. Please confirm your continued interest in receiving email from us. You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails.

WATCH “LIVE” THE USDLA 2019 DISTANCE  LEARNING AWARDS PROGRAM   TODAY  MAY 22, 2019 @ 7 PM (Central)  (Showtime @ 7:30 PM (Central) The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) will present the 2019 International Distance Learning Awards “LIVE” in conjunction with the 2019 National Conference in Nashville, TN. Since 1987, USDLA has been the world’s premier distance learning association. The USDLA International Awards program honors outstanding individuals and organizations for excellence in the field distance learning, education and training. These prestigious International Awards are presented annually to organizations and individuals engaged in the development and delivery of distance learning programs.   Webcast Sponsored by DISCOVER VIDEO (http://www.discovervideo.com ) URL to Access the 2019 Awards Webcast:  https://usdla.org/usdla-live-webcasts/ NOTE: This link will become active before the program. This will launch a pop-up window for you to accept / open the stream. About United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) is a non-profit association formed in 1987 and is located in Boston, Massachusetts. The association reaches 20,000 people globally with sponsors and members operating in and influencing 46% of the $913 billion dollar U.S. education and training market. USDLA promotes the development and application of distance learning for education and training and serves the needs of the distance learning community by providing advocacy, information, networking and opportunity. Distance learning and training constituencies served include pre-k-12 education, higher and continuing education, home schooling as well as business, corporate, military, government and telehealth markets. The USDLA trademarked logo is the recognized worldwide symbol of dedicated professionals committed to the distance learning industry. http://www.usdla.org

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USDLA Newsletter 2019 (05-13-2019)

A newsletter from earlier in the week.

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Dr. Farhad Saba Founder, Editor USDLA Hall of Fame Inductee Dr. Reggie Smith III CEO / Executive Director Associate Editor OFFICIAL USDLA SPECIAL EDITION CONFERENCE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! FEATURED ARTICLE OF THE WEEK Download Report Work is constantly reshaped by technological progress. Firms adopt new ways of production, markets expand, and societies evolve. But some changes provoke more attention than others, in part due to the vast uncertainty involved in making predictions about the future. The 2019 World Development Report analyzes these changes and what governments can do about them. […] Keep Reading Share this article: RESEARCH-BASED ARTICLES OF THE WEEK Gamifying Online Tests to Promote Retrieval-Based Learning Recent findings have provided strong evidence that retrieval-based learning is an effective strategy for enhancing knowledge retention and long-term meaningful learning, but it is not a preferred learning strategy for the majority of students. The present research analyzes the application of learning gamification principles in online, open-book, multiple-choice tests in order to motivate students to […] Keep Reading Share this article: Blending Crowdvoting in Modern e-Learning Environments Given that the most students spend considerable time on social networks, many educational institutions use this habit as a basis for educational purposes. Increasing students’ active participation in learning activities is one of the main goals of education. The purpose of this research was to investigate to what extent crowdvoting techniques can increase students’ participation […] Keep Reading Share this article: An investigation into the attraction and completion rates of MOOCs Many studies are dedicated to MOOCs, however there was no clear answer to what makes a particular MOOC popular. This study was an attempt to answer this question. Data about MOOC distribution was collected for this research, including category data, university types and MOOC platforms, data regarding MOOC popularity in different time periods, and regarding […] Keep Reading Share this article: Effect of a metacognitive scaffolding on self-efficacy, metacognition, and achievement in e-learning environments The object of the present research is to study the effects of a metacognitive scaffolding on metacognition, academic self-efficacy, and learning achievement in students with different cognitive styles in the Field Dependence-Independence (FDI) dimension when learning math content in an e-learning environment. Sixty-seven (67) students of higher education from a public university of Bogotá, Colombia […] Keep Reading Share this article: Animating student engagement: The impacts of cartoon instructional videos on learning experience In the modern age of education, students increasingly demand engaging, customized multimedia content. Animation constitutes a powerful pedagogical tool by combining audio messages with tailored visual cues and graphics, to serve the dual functions of explaining complex concepts and engaging student interest in the learning process. This study explores the use of a series of […] Keep Reading Share this article: Beacons: A tool for 21st Century teaching and learning? Beacon technology was developed by Apple in 2013, and its initial use in secondary education has generated much enthusiastic descriptive and web-based claims of its potential. However, not only is there a paucity of academic study on its use in the classroom, but none of these claims have been critiqued. Additionally, if teachers are to […] Keep Reading Share this article: IN THE NEWS Penn State World Campus forms first student government UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State World Campus will soon have for the first time in its 21-year existence a student-elected government to represent the voices of its thousands of online learners. A president, vice president and other executive board members and committee chair members will take office as part of the World Campus Student Government Association in Penn State’s fall 2019 semester. They were the […] Keep Reading Share this article: The 28th ICDE World Conference on Online Learning The 28th ICDE World Conference on Online Learning taking place in Dublin is one of the largest and most prestigious international conferences in the area. The conference theme of “Transforming Lives and Societies” anchors the growth of new models of open, online and digital learning in a number of big questions and the wider context […] Keep Reading Share this article: State K-12 Broadband Leadership: Driving Connectivity, Access and Student Success SETDA’s report, State K-12 Broadband Leadership: Driving Connectivity, Access and Student Success highlights the importance of state leadership and the various ways states strive to support districts and schools to achieve equitable digital learning opportunities for all students both on campus and outside of school. States demonstrate leadership through legislation, initiatives, partnerships, statewide broadband networks, regional networks, and/or statewide purchasing consortia […] Keep Reading Share this article: End of the Line for Much-Hyped Tech Company If any company epitomizes the danger that excessive hype can do to its brand, it is Knewton. The educational technology company, which famously boasted about the power of its adaptive learning platform to “semi-read” students’ minds, has been acquired by publisher Wiley Education. Inside Higher Ed Keep Reading Share this article: 5 key strategies to support online learning programs With online learning programs in demand and growing fast, higher-ed leaders have to ensure that their programs meet student needs and set students up for success. A new report offers takeaways and best practices around four major topics impacting online learning programs: data analytics, curriculum, standards and measurement, and mentoring and coaching. The report comes […] Keep Reading Share this article: Coursera Turns 7 Back in April 2012, Daphne Koller and Andrew Ng launched Coursera to enable anyone, anywhere to transform their life through learning. Seven years ago, we couldn’t have imagined where we’d be today: connecting 40 million learners around the globe with the world’s greatest thinkers, educators, and institutions. Coursera Keep Reading Share this article: Benefits of a Pro Supporter 2x More Newsletters Monthly Abstracts Archived Content Support & Subscribe

United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), 840 First Street, NE,3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20002

Final Countdown – 10 Days Left!

This was received on Friday, so there are only 8 days left now.

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Learn More It’s not to late to attend the 2019 USDLA Conference ! IT’S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!!    Just 10 days left until the 2019 USDLA Conference!     Here are some things you should know……   It’s not to late to participate in this years conference  Top Ten Reasons to Attend   Sign-up for a Pre-Conference Workshop     AND  If you can’t join us in Nashville?  Register for our virtual conference being held Tuesday May 21 – Thursday May 23, 2019.                          Thanks to our sponsors, i2i Technologies &  Lifesize                           About United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) is a non-profit association formed in 1987 and is located in Washington, DC. The association reaches 20,000 people globally with sponsors and members operating in and influencing 46% of the $913 billion dollar U.S. education and training market. USDLA promotes the development and application of distance learning for education and training and serves the needs of the distance learning community by providing advocacy, information, networking and opportunity. Distance learning and training constituencies served include pre-k-12 education, higher and continuing education, home schooling as well as business, corporate, military, government and telehealth markets. The USDLA trademarked logo is the recognized worldwide symbol of dedicated professionals committed to the distance learning industry. http://www.usdla.org  Please forward this USDLA information to anyone interested. Subscriptions are available by clicking on the link below or visiting USDLA.org at no cost. You’re receiving this email because of your relationship with USDLA. Please continued your interest in receiving email from us.

United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), 840 First Street, NE,3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20002