Research Log ============= Preliminary Research --------------------- Conducted September 16, 2012. Citations are in APA format. If you find a citation error, I welcome your feedback. Requirements ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * 3 Journal Articles with Proper Citations * 4 Web Sites (.gov, .org, .edu, .com) * Evaluate 4 Web Sites in Paragraph Form for: * Content * Design * Ease of Use * Credibility References ~~~~~~~~~~~ :: President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. (2012). Engage to Excel: Producing One Million Additional College Graduates With Degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics. OSTP: President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Means, B., Yukie Toyama, B. A., Murphy, Robert, Bakia, M., & Jones, K. (2010). Evaluation of Evidence-based Practices in Online Learning. Evaluation. Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/tech/evidence-based-practices/finalreport.pdf Journals ~~~~~~~~~ Journal Searches are listed below in the following format:: Database :: [Search Terms] :: # Journals **UNOmaha Criss Library Journal Search :: [online learning] :: 4 journals** :: Journal of Interactive Online Learning Journal of Online Learning and Teaching Mobile, Hybrid, and On-line Learning (ELML), International Conference on Online journal of distance learning administration .. raw:: pdf PageBreak **UNOmaha Criss Library Journal Search :: [educational technology] :: 15 journals** :: Australasian journal of educational technology British journal of educational technology Cabell's directory of publishing opportunities in educational technology and library science Contemporary educational technology Educational and Information Technology (ICEIT), International Conference on Educational media and technology yearbook Educational technology Educational technology & society Educational technology research and development Information and Communication Technology in Educational Sciences International Journal of Educational Research and Technology Journal of educational technology systems Journal of the Research Center for Educational Technology TOJET the Turkish online journal of educational technology World Journal on Educational Technology Journal Articles ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Journal Articles are listed below in the following format:: Database :: [Search Terms] :: # Articles **Academic Search Premier (EBSCO) :: [SU: online learning] :: 1 result**:: Not Relevant **Academic Search Premier (EBSCO) :: [AB: online learning] :: 4543 results** :: Shaw, R.-S. (2012). A study of the relationships among learning styles, participation types, and performance in programming language learning supported by online forums. Computers & Education, 58(1), 111–120. doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2011.08.013 Shum, S. B., & Ferguson, R. (2012). Social Learning Analytics. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 15(3), 3–26. **Business Source Premier (EBSCO) :: [online training] :: 4708 results** :: Wan, Z., Compeau, D., & Haggerty, N. (2012). The Effects of Self-Regulated Learning Processes on E-Learning Outcomes in Organizational Settings. Journal of Management Information Systems, 29(1), 307–340. Chio, K. S. (2012). Effective practices in providing online, in-service training to health professionals in low-resource settings. International Journal of Training & Development, 16(3), 228–234. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2419.2012.00406.x Kamenetz, A. (2012). The Coursera Effect. Fast Company, (168), 98–118. .. note:: All of the preceding journal articles are available either in hardcopy, web-based fulltext, or web-based PDF form through the UNO Criss Library. Web Sites ~~~~~~~~~ Web Searches are listed below in the following format:: Search Engine :: [Search Terms] :: Result Count **Google :: [Online Learning] :: 861,000,000 results** :: Means, B., Yukie Toyama, B. A., Murphy, Robert, Bakia, M., & Jones, K. (2010). Evaluation of Evidence-based Practices in Online Learning. Evaluation. Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/tech/evidence-based-practices/finalreport.pdf I must assume content from the Department of Education (**ed.gov**) to be credibly trustworthy. I found this report PDF in the first page of search results and had hoped that trimming the filename from the URL would redirect to a web page describing the resource. I would guess that accessibility policy determines the site resolution and font sizes required of agency web sites. Site search for the PDF title returned the PDF report as the first result. I like that the search field is placed at the top of the page, though it could be wider. **Google :: ["Against School"] :: 715,000 results** :: Gatto, J. T. (2003, September). Against School - John Taylor Gatto. Harper’s Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.wesjones.com/gatto1.htm **Harpers Magazine Search :: [against school gatto] :: 8 results** :: Gatto, J. T. (2003, September). Against school: How public education cripples our kids, and why. Harpers Magazine, 32–38. **Google :: [inurl:.edu online learning analytics] :: 63,900 results** :: Stein, Z. (2012, August 13). Learning Analytics and the Learning Sciences. Retrieved September 16, 2012, from http://www.educause.edu/node/267647 The content hosted by **educause.edu** is of superb helpfulness in regards to my proposed research subject. While it is unfair to judge design from a netbook, the expansive site header requires scrolling below the fold to rearch the content of interest. In regards to ease of use, the site could benefit from more descriptive URLs. Given the .edu URL and institute listed by the speaker of this particular URL, I would consider the site trustworthy. .. raw:: pdf PageBreak **Bing :: [coursera] :: 506,000 results** :: Pedagogy. (n.d.).Coursera. Retrieved September 16, 2012, from http://www.coursera.org/ The content hosted by **coursera.org** is of extreme quality. Instructors at top-tier universities are truly delivering credible content. The site design is very effective in presenting the courses and course descriptions without extra noise. The use of Twitter bootstrap for buttons gives the design a familiar look and feel, as well as a simply usable interface. **Google :: [edx.org] :: 2,600,000 results** :: About edX. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2012, from https://www.edx.org/about The content hosted by **edx.org** is of extreme quality. Instructors at MIT, Harvard, and UC Berkeley are truly delivering credbile content. The course descriptions present the most relevant information at first glance, with a well-designed, easy to use set of graphical icons as well as video up front. **Yahoo :: [opencourseware] :: 54,700,000 results** :: About OCW. (n.d.).MIT OpenCourseWare. Retrieved September 16, 2012, from http://ocw.mit.edu/about/ The content hosted by **ocw.mit.edu** is of extreme quality. Instructors at MIT have been delivering credible, quality course content and materials for a number of years. While I do appreciate the site design, the fonts could be a little larger for my tastes. The tree of links on the sidebar makes the breadth of content very approachable. **Wikipedia :: [self directed learning] :: 1 result** :: Wikipedia contributors. (2012, September 16). Autodidacticism. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autodidacticism **Wikipedia :: [wikipedia accuracy] :: 1 result** :: Wikipedia contributors. (2012, September 13). Reliability of Wikipedia. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliability_of_Wikipedia **ASk.com :: [openbadges] :: unknown # results** :: About OpenBadges. (n.d.).Open Badges. Retrieved September 16, 2012, from http://openbadges.org/en-US/about.html