Online learning systems have long held the promise of providing better data about student learning experiences and outcomes. Yet today serious assessment is largely separate from the online learning experience. Will technology play a larger role in educational assurance any time soon? The primary question posed to the panel and audience participants is: How do you see online and web-supported learning becoming better connected to assessment and educational assurance in the next several years?
Panelists:
Dr. John Harwood, Senior Director, Teaching and Learning with Technology, Penn State
Dr. William Graves, Sr. V.P. for Academic Strategy, SunGard Higher Education, Professor Emeritus, UNC-Chapel Hill
Gary Driscoll, Executive Director of Assessment Technologies, Educational Testing Service (ETS)

Technology, globalization, and new knowledge about how people learn are having dramatic effects on diverse approaches to teaching and learning. Most of the literature about these changes refers to physical technology, however, such as computers, iPods, iPhones, MP3 players, and the overall proliferation of gadgets and gizmos. Let’s explore theories in psychology applied to technology to examine the “why,” that is both cause and effect resulting from the “how” of online learning.

Learning Impact 2010 is featuring three panels on this  important topic, each looking at different aspects: learning platforms, supporting learning applications, and content. 

Panel: From Course Management to Digital Support for Learning - Learning Applications

Are ready to enter a new phase of enterprise support for learning tools and applications that improve teaching and learning substantially beyond course organization and digital distribution of traditional materials? Why has the U.S. K-12 market not yet fully adopted learning management platforms? The primary question posed to the panel and audience participants is: What is your strategy to improve the lives of students, teachers, and professors to enable greater innovation in teaching and learning?
Panelists:
Sue Polyson Evans, Founding Partner and CEO, SoftChalk

• Enabling digital content: Succeeding with the next wave of digital content 
  
• Digital resources: Impacting K-12 student success
  
• The State of Student and Institutional Analytics: Metrics, systems, and actions that can make a difference
  
• Using Web 2.0 and Learning Tools to close the gap between technology and pedagogy

Much like healthcare, education systems are perceived as requiring significant improvement to meet national goals around the world. But, there are two powerful forces: limited resources & high demand – that all nations and localities are grappling with. Much like healthcare, new models for cooperation are required to get to the next level of performance. The primary question posed to the panel and audience participants is: What functions should schools, colleges and universities be developing greater levels of cooperation in and why in the next several years and what is the role of technology?

Workshop:
Implementing and Achieving Conformance with Digital Learning Services Standards

This technical workshop will focus on three standards: Learning Tools Interoperability, Learning Information Services and Common Cartridge. Information on how to effectively implement the standards along with details on how to achieve conformance to them will be provided.