Be sure to include (in the topic description or as the first message) specific instructions on how to use the topic. These discussion topics can be used as a method of formative evaluation to get feedback from your students about how the course is going.

Here are few suggestions for topics:

Topic 1: Questions about the Course: Use this area for specific or general questions about assignments, the course schedule, and due dates

Topic 2: Technical Issues: Use this area to addresses those annoying technical problems that inevitably arise. Even if you cannot answer a question, you can at least tell students that you have passed on the question to Instructional Technology or an individual who can help. Later, you can return to the topic area and post the response or solution.

Topic 3: Frustrations or I¹m Frustrated: This can be a place for students to really express themselves. Of course, you need to set limits ­ no profanities or flaming (attacking other students). Many course management systems, such as WebCT, allow anonymous postings, a wise option for this topic. Sometimes students may be hesitant about really saying what frustrates them. Be sure to point out the anonymity here, as students may feel that they may be punished for negative remarks.

If you have questions on any instructional design topic, contact Christine Salmon at: extsalmn@ruby.indstate.edu or 812.237.2526.

Funding will be used to develop online, asynchronous courses/modules for statewide delivery.

This year, a total 15 IPSE grants were awarded. In addition to the two grants awarded to ISU, the following projects were funded:

Ball State University

• Creating Instruction with Online Reusable Learning Objects ($14,737)
• Habitat as Building Material ($14,445)
• Healthy Aging: Health Promotion for Lifespan Wellness ($15,000)
• Preventing Diabetic Foot Complications ($15,000)

Indiana University

• Disabilities and School Discipline ($15,000)

Purdue University

• Internet-Based Diabetes Certificate Program ($15,000)
• Developing Modules for Secondary English Education ($14,403)
• Undergraduate Modules on Critical Theory ($16,812)
• Integrated Pest Management in Schools ($20,000)
• Designing Child and Family Programs ($14,751)
• Development of Web-Based Asynchronous Learning Modules in Biomedical Engineering ($19,000)

University of Southern Indiana

• CEU Modules: School Social Work and Clinical Practice ($19,841)
• Educational Psychology Modules: Education 201 ($20,000)

For more information, visit www.ihets.org/learntech/grants

New Agreements
Since August 2001, 18 new agreements have been signed, including:

• Administrative Justice to Criminology
  (with Olney Central College)
• Chemistry to Chemistry
  (with Vincennes University)
• Corrections to Criminology
  (with Vincennes University)
• Criminal Justice to Criminology
  (with Ivy Tech State College)
• Criminal Justice to Criminology
  (with Lake Land College)
• Early Childhood Education to Kindergarten-Primary
  (with Ivy Tech State College)
• Electronics Technology to Electronics Technology
  (with Lake Land College)
• Electronics Technology to Computer Hardware Technology
  (with Lake Land College)
• English A.A. to English B.A.
  (with the Community College of Indiana)
• English A.S. to English B.S.
  (with the Community College of Indiana)
• Information Technology to Information Technology
  (with Ivy Tech State College)
• Information Technology to Information Technology
  (with Vincennes University)
• Interior Design to Interior Design
  (with Ivy Tech State College)
• Interior Design to Interior Design
  (with Vincennes University)
• Law Enforcement to Criminology
  (with Vincennes University)
• Philosophy A.A. to Philosophy B.A.
  (with the Community College of Indiana)
• Psychology A.A. to Psychology B.A.
  (with the Community College of Indiana)
• Psychology A.S. to Psychology B.S.
  (with the Community College of Indiana)
• Social Work to Social Work
  (with Vincennes University)
• Sociology A.A. to Sociology B.A.
  (with the Community College of Indiana)
• Sociology A.S. to Sociology B.S.
  (with the Community College of Indiana)

Contact Information:

Thomas H. Sawyer, Director
Program Articulation and Course Transfer
Indiana State University
812-237-8456
pmsawyr@aol.com

Awards will be in the amount of $1,000 each for recipients to further their professional development or technology base.

Nominations may be submitted online and are due by 3:00 p.m. EST on Friday, March 8, 2002. Nominations will be reviewed by the IPSE Faculty Services Team, with awards presented at the April 3 All Partners Conference at Indiana University Bloomington.

Criteria for each award and nomination form are at:

http://web.bsu.edu/gpavlech/ipse_awards_02/ipse_award_info.html

For more information, contact:

Melissa Hughes
Interim Director of Distance Education
Indiana State University
M-Hughes@indstate.edu
812.237.2027

* Call for Articles: The New York Journal of Adult Learning is a peer-reviewed publication of the New York Association of Continuing Community Education and Fordham University's Graduate School of Education. The editors invite submissions that are "... practical, substantial, and scholarly." Submissions may submitted for consideration in the following areas: refereed articles, book reviews, issues and trends, invited research summaries, and best practice." For details, e-mail the journal at Perspectives@fordham.edu
Source: Virtual University Gazette (Feb 02)

* Washington DC is becoming a hub for e-learning companies, with approximately 65 firms selling either e-learning technology or content. The location is ideal because of the proximity to the Department of Education, the teachers' union, and many educational nonprofit companies. The e-learning market is anticipated to grow faster in the corporate sector, "...reaching $15 billion in two years, while higher education will also increase its e-learning spending by about $2 billion per year." By 2007, the prediction is that the e-learning market will reach $40 billion.
Source: EDUPAGE (Feb 02); Washington Times (18 Feb 2002)

* The Australian National University is promoting a distance learning program in which offshore students can participate in lectures at Australian universities via satellite-based videoconferencing with online tutoring. The initiative is part of the World Bank's Virtual Colombo Plan to provide e-learning to developing nations.
Source: EDUPAGE (Feb 02); Australian IT (20 Feb 02)

* North Dakota's Northern State University will offer a variety of new distance degrees and certificates through its Center for Statewide E-Learning. Included are 16 certification courses, an undergraduate minor in e-learning, and two graduate programs designed to teach students how to build and administer e-learning. NSU President John Hilpert says, "...the new emphasis on e-learning is meant to give graduating students a sense of how to use technology in the real world." One of the new online graduate degrees will teach how to train technology support personnel in schools and businesses, while the other teaches how to design online coursework. In addition to offering higher education, the Center for Statewide E-Learning will enable over 500 high school students from all over North Dakota to take online courses in the fall. The center has taught almost 300 high school students so far this year in subjects such as French, Spanish, calculus, writing, and British literature.
Source: EDUPAGE (Feb 02); Associated Press (15 Feb 02)

* The Department of Education redesigned the financial aid web site at fafsa.ed.gov The new site offers features such as "how-to" worksheets and the ability to save an unfinished application and to complete it later. 60% of financial aid applicants (approximately six million students) are expected to use the site this year.
Source: EDUPAGE (27 Feb 02); Federal Computer Week Online (22 Feb 02)