EDUCAUSE AND MERLOT FORM ALLIANCE ON eLEARNING - The National
Learning Infrastructure Initiative (NLII), a program of Educause, and the Multimedia
Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching (MERLOT) formed an
alliance to share information and to develop joint programs that advance online
learning. The alliance will support national and campus-based initiatives in faculty
development, technology use in teaching and learning, shared learning tools, and online
community facilitation. Educause Vice President Carole Barone, who leads the NLII,
said, "This alliance will result in an extension of expertise and focused action plans
between two programs singularly dedicated to the transformative role that technology
plays in education." (Syllabus News, Resources, Trends, 24 Jan 03) For more
information visit: http://www.educause.edu/

MICHIGAN STATE U ADOPTS ANGEL - Angel, an open enterprise course
management system has been adopted by Michigan State U as its online course
management solution. Angel is a Web-based, enterprise course management system
that can manage course material for distance learners. The platform was developed
by CyberLearning Labs Inc., which grew out of Indiana University's Advanced
Research and Technology Institute after Angel was developed by faculty at
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. (Syllabus News, Resources,
Trends, 24 Jan 03)

SURVEY ON INTERNET/LIBRARY IMPORTANCE - A survey by McGraw-Hill
Ryerson found that Web technology is considered by higher-ed faculty to be the most
effective resource in encouraging student success, outweighing traditional resources
such as the library and tutoring. The survey, which followed three years of data
collection at US and Canadian universities, found that:
- 83% of higher-ed faculty believe Web technology is a key contributor to student
success
- 62% of faculty now use Web content for course preparation
- 56% use the Internet to supplement textbooks
- 51% use the Web to ensure up-to-date course content
Use of the Internet in course preparation jumped to first place in terms of importance,
with 91% of faculty ranking it extremely important. McGraw-Hill said this reflects the
increasing amount of current Web-based information available and students'
expectations about it being used in their courses. ( E-News from UCEA - Jan 03)
For a summary go to: "Research" at:
http://www.mcgrawhill.ca/highereducation/administrators/index.php

VIRTUAL PHYSICS LAB FOR SIMULATIONS - a virtual physics laboratory is
being built by the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In the lab, simulations
will take the place of lab equipment, the professor, and other students as online students
test principles of physics. The lab, called Learn Anytime Anywhere Physics, is designed
to help distance-education students meet an introductory science lab requirement.
According to project director Gerald Meisner, a physics professor at Greensboro, the
lab will recreate as much of the lab experience as possible in a virtual environment.
(Chronicle of Higher Education, 16 Dec 02.) For full information go to: http://chronicle.com/free/2002/12/2002121601t.htm