NEWS ROUNDUP!

What’s happening in e-learning? (hint: 2024 looks like it’s the year of headsets and even more AI)

Metaverse learning on the rise

Several universities and companies in the US are experimenting with using the metaverse for immersive learning experiences. Stanford University launched a virtual campus in the metaverse, and companies like Meta and NVIDIA are developing tools for virtual classrooms and training simulations. 14 other US Universities are also using meta to conduct experimental classroom sessions in VR.

Articulate AI is coming to Storyline

Articulate has released details of the upcoming roadmap for their entire suite of products. And as expected, AI is the headline act. The roadmap states: “Accelerate course creation with an insightful AI assistant that recommends and converts block layouts, generates quizzes and imagery, and helps you compose effective copy. You can even convert source documents like PDFs into interactive training in minutes”.

Moodle 4.4 is almost ready to drop

The release of Moodle LMS 4.4 is scheduled for the 22nd of April. We don’t know yet what new features are coming to 4.4, but let’s hope we see more UX improvements, improvements to user notifications as well as the Moodle API.

Moodle Partner expands into Bulgaria

Efaktor, a Moodle Certified Premium Partner with more than 10 years of experience, is expanding its operations to Bulgaria. Efaktor brings a proven track record of success from their operations in Norway to the Bulgarian market.

XR Lab opens in London

City University of London has opened a XR design skills lab. The lab, which opened in January 2024, allows designers to create resources for AR and VR resources, including motion capture.

Google announces new AI tools for education

Google’s Classroom AI already allows teachers to create AIdriven question sets, but will soon introduce a new feature called “Practice sets”, which will leverage AI to create answers and general hints at different times within course videos.

Qatar launches “Distance Learning Day” for schools

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Qatar released a list of 60 public middle and high schools slated to participate in a special «Distance Learning Day» on Tuesday, 20th February 2024. This innovative initiative aims to bolster the adeptness of both students and educators in leveraging modern e-learning technologies.

The decision came as a proactive response to the changing dynamics of education, with an increasing emphasis on enhancing e-learning capabilities nationwide. Qatar has been proactive in implementing various reforms within its education sector. Notably, a recent stride was the roll-out of a revamped evaluation policy aimed at curbing student failures in government schools.

Are you ready for Learning Technologies 2024?

Europe’s leading workplace learning conference is back in London on May 13-14. And yes, the Dirtyword team will be there. Come see us at our stand. We’d love to meet our readers.

NRLA introduces eLearning platform

If you’re lucky enough to own a few properties and are part of the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) crew, you’re in for a treat! They’ve just rolled out a shiny new eLearning platform, and they’re giving members a chance to dive into one course for free.

The NRLA has been listening to user feedback, and they’ve jazzed up their training dashboard to make it more user-friendly.

Their Training Academy offers over 21 e-learning courses tailored for landlords and letting agents. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned pro, there’s something for everyone. And with thousands of learners already on board, you’ll be in good company.

RNIB’s new Jobseeker eLearning course

The RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) has launched a cool eLearning course tailor-made for jobseekers. And guess what? It’s totally free!

This online course is like having your own personal jobseeking guru at your fingertips. RNIB has teamed up with professional employment advisors to share their top-notch tips for landing that dream job.

This course contains practical advice, from prepping before applying button to acing the interview and beyond.

Learners can cherry-pick the sections that speak to them or go all-in and tackle the whole course. It’s designed to fit into the learner’s schedule, taking around fifty minutes in total. Plus, you’re the boss of your own learning journey— pause, skip, rewind, whatever floats your boat.

Just hop on over to the eNetLearn site and sign up, and as you would expect, the course has been tried and tested by those with visual impairments to make sure it’s easy to navigate.

Dive into the NHS’ Aquatic Activity and Swimming for Health eLearning

If you’re all about making a splash and boosting your wellbeing, then The Aquatic Activity and Swimming for Health eLearning resource, hailed as ‘exceptionally helpful and practical,’ is now up for grabs for everyone in the UK.

Back in 2023, NHS England teamed up with Swim England to launch this awesome resource. Initially, only people with specific accounts could take the plunge. But guess what? Now, thanks to some nifty upgrades, the eLearning is open to all!

This collaboration between Swim England, the Aquatic Therapy Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (ATACP), University of Nottingham, and NHS England is a treasure trove of aquatic wisdom. It’s all about spreading the word on how swimming and aquatic activities can work wonders for your health and happiness.

Over 500 learners have already dipped their toes into this eLearning pool (OK, we’ll stop with the swimming puns) , and that number’s only set to rise now that it’s open to everyone. So, what are you waiting for? Jump in and start paddling towards a healthier you (Ok, now we will stop).

Police get tech-savvy with new learning modules on College Learn

The College of Policing have released new eLearning modules on tackling cryptocurrency mysteries and navigating the world of connected vehicles.

In today’s digital age, more than 90% of reported crimes have some sort of digital twist. With technology evolving faster than ever, it’s crucial for police officers to stay in the loop.

The 2 new modules are listed as:

1) Cryptocurrency: Explore the world of digital currencies and learn how they’re used in the world of crime.

2) Connected Vehicles: Explore how vehicles connect to Wi-Fi, mobile data and other devices and how they provide vital information about the location of vehicles, who has travelled in them, what devices they connected to and the physical movements of drivers.

Another module was listed as coming soon: Deepfake videos and the dark web.