From jkp@cs.HUT.FI Wed Jul 29 12:57:48 1992 From: jkp@cs.HUT.FI (Jyrki Kuoppala) Newsgroups: alt.uu.future,alt.education.distance,alt.config,alt.uu.announce Subject: New groups for Usenet University Date: 22 Jul 92 14:44:02 GMT Reply-To: jkp@cs.HUT.FI (Jyrki Kuoppala) Followup-To: alt.uu.future,alt.education.distance Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, Finland Nntp-Posting-Host: cardhu.cs.hut.fi These new groups (created 22 July 1992) are part of the Usenet University. For futher information on UU, see directory pub/doc/uu on the machine nic.funet.fi. A "material" group means that the group exists for postings of course material, announcements, pointers to material and resources, essays, etc. relevant to the "department" of the group and/or the topic. This group is for one-time articles / posts - discussions are _not_ suitable for this newsgroup but should instead be held in a corresponding .misc group. Followups should be directed and posted there. On some UU groups (where there is a volunteer teacher / teachers) the material will be mostly for course-like work, on others for self-study, on others the main info will be something else. The conventions will form as time passes and while there are none, a wide range of relevant postings will appear. Later, different styles of learning will perhaps spin off different newsgroups. A "misc" group exists for discussions on learning, followups on the "material" group articles, and other discussion relevant to the department or topic. For all departments / topics, there are as of yet no "material" groups but instead only .misc groups - in that case, articles fitting in the material group should be posted with "MATERIAL" as the first word in the Subject: field of the article. The following groups have been created 1992, July 22nd: alt.uu.lang.misc This is a group for the "language department" of UU. This is the "main group" for learning languages, linguistics etc. - later there will be more specific groups for different topic in the field. alt.uu.math.misc This is a group for the "math department" of UU. This is the "main group" for learning mathematics - later there will be more specific groups for different topic in the field. alt.uu.comp.misc This is a group for the "computer department" of UU. This is the "main group" for learning things to do with computers - later there will be more specific groups for different topic in the field. Both "computing science" and "using computers as tools" topics are suitable under this department, at first at least. Some of the computing science topics perhaps will fit better under math - the choice is left to each participant. alt.uu.lang.esperanto.misc This is a group for learning Esperanto. This is the "main group" for learning Esperanto - later there will be more specific groups for different topics in the field. alt.uu.misc.misc This is a group for learning about topics not suitable for other groups of UU. This is the "catch-all" group, "misc department" of UU. alt.uu.virtual-worlds.misc This is a group for learning about virtual worlds or virtual reality. alt.uu.tools This is a group for discussing tools useful in UU and self-education / distance education, what tools are recommended to be used with UU, what tools are helpful, where to get such tools, etc. Examples of the tools include machinery for viewing languages other than English on computers, possible UU "courseware" (for studying UU course pacakges) etc. alt.uu.announce This is a group for announcements of UU. Some groups _not_ created yet, but which have been discussed and perhaps could soon be created: alt.uu.med.misc alt.uu.media.misc alt.uu.geography.misc alt.uu.philosophy.misc alt.uu.lang.russian.misc alt.uu.comp.gnu.elisp.misc some new proposals / ones which might be useful soon: - UU pub: misc. unofficial discussions. alt.uu.coffeeroom? alt.uu.admin For discussions on administrating UU, perhaps/instead also a motion/email-vote run adminstration. I'm not sure if this is needed quite yet, uu.future might be enough for now. A split on the subject should be thought out between admin/future. Some other name could be more appropriate. alt.uu.comp.gnu.misc Material groups, how soon are they needed if at all? alt.uu.misc.material alt.uu.virtual-worlds.material alt.uu.lang.esperanto.material etc. I suggest the discussions on creating new alt.uu.math.* groups etc. should be carried out in alt.uu.math.misc, etc. - perhaps also crossposted to alt.uu.future. I'm again off-line for a week or so and won't be able to post, but will be able to read all the posts and my mail when I get back on-line. //Jyrki From emv@msen.com Wed Jul 29 12:58:13 1992 From: emv@msen.com (Edward Vielmetti) Newsgroups: alt.uu.announce,alt.education.distance Subject: Computer mediated communication / open.ac.uk / Jan-May 1993 Followup-To: alt.uu.future,alt.education.distance Date: 27 Jul 1992 22:54:41 -0400 Organization: Msen, Inc. -- Ann Arbor, Michigan Reply-To: d.a.o.barry@open.ac.uk NNTP-Posting-Host: nigel.msen.com X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3 [ Author was D.A.O.Barry@open.ac.uk ] A Collaboration between The Open University, (Institute of Educational Technology), The Institute of Education, University of London. With sponsorship from the COSTEL programme of the Commission of the European Community. Early application is strongly advised. O N L I N E E D U C A T I O N A N D T R A I N I N G How to Design and Present Courses Using Computer Networks This part-time course will start on January 16th 1993, and will last for 16 weeks, ie until 9th May 1993. It will be taught at a distance through electronic mail and computer conferencing, combined with 2 workshops in London. The Open University's computer conferencing system (CoSy) will be used as the main communication mode; this system can be accessed from overseas and at local rates from anywhere in the U.K. Participants can expect to gain the Certificate if they can spend about 100 hours on the course over the period. Entry Requirements The course is planned on the assumption that students will have a first degree or equivalent qualification and will normally have experience in education or training. Competence in written English and in basic keyboard skills is important, as most interactions between participants and teaching staff will be through textual communication (electronic mail and computer conferencing) in English. Participants will require access to a microcomputer with a hard disk, and a modem with communications software, or terminal access to JANET. (see note for applicants resident outside the UK) Course description The course will treat three broad themes: - the role of computer mediated communication in education and training - the effectiveness of online education and collaborative learning - different conferencing systems It will give participants access to a learning community of peers who have a wide range of expertise, database resources, readings in the field, and the actual experience of being online students. It should be of interest to people running courses in either an educational or business context. Fees Standard course fee: #450 Reduced fee for educational institutions: #350 Closing date for applications 1 November 1992 For application forms contact The Registrar London University Institute of Education 20 Bedford Way Tel: +4471 580-1122 London WC1H 0AL Fax: +4471 612 6126 Note for overseas applicants. The first version of this course attracted greater international interest than anticipated. There were participants from Moscow Australia, Iceland, Spain, Israel and the United States. The majority of these did NOT attend the workshops, although it was agreed that attendence would have been best if it could be arranged. International access was usually through the experimental JANET-INTERNET gateway, although international pss was also used. However applicants should note that by January 1993 The OU Vaxcluster is expected to be a full INTERNET site. If this paragraph means little to you show it to your IT support. The practical point is that some international participants had low cost access through the INTERNET. This should be easier for the second course. Earlier rather than later application is recommended. Applicants from outside the UK are recommended to FAX their name and address to London, marking the fax :- Online Education and Training. Request for application form. Please hand to the Registrar, Institute of Education. [forwarded by] Edward Vielmetti, vice president for research, Msen Inc. emv@Msen.com Msen Inc., 628 Brooks, Ann Arbor MI 48103 +1 313 741 1120 "We believe in: rough concensus and working code." Dave Clark on the IETF