Good Bacterium

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MicroSCoPE: A Close Look at What's Happening in the SCoPE Community
November, 2005
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In This Issue
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1. Mark Your Calendars
2. Activity Recap
3. SCoPE SIGs
4. Communal Book Project
5. PeriSCoPE
6. Vote for SCoPE as a Cool Moodle Site
7. SCoPE Logo Update
8. KnowTIPS Conference
9. Learning Partnership Call for Nominations
10. About SCoPE
11. About MicroSCoPE

1. Mark Your Calendars
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* WebCT and Blackboard Merger: Implications and Moving Forward: November 21-December 4, 2005
Facilitator: Liz Wallace
What will happen when the two superpowers of proprietory learning management systems join forces? Whether it's a merge or a buyout or a hostile takeover, the implications are huge for educators who are developing and delivering online courses. Many decisions have to be made by educational administrators, and we can help by surfacing issues and gathering ideas for moving forward. Whether you are a fan of WebCT, a Blackboard expert, an advocate for open source systems such as Moodle, or an educator who prefers to teach in a classroom rather than online, your views are welcome.
...more <http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca/mod/forum/view.php?id=147>

* Check the SCoPE calendar for a full list of events that will be of interest to members. <http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca/calendar/view.php?view=upcoming>

2. Activity Recap
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* Enhancing Online Communication: October 17-30, 2005
Facilitator: Cindy Xin
How can we improve the way we communicate online and organize our collective ideas? What is lacking in the discussion tools we use? During this 2-week seminar we explored these and other questions while trying out Web Annotation, a tool that is currently under development and integrated into the Moodle forum. We also had some interesting tangents, such as a lively chat session facilitated by Susanne Nyrop. Some great ideas for future discussions emerged through this seminar, and we also plan to integrate Web Annotation into the SCoPE community environment.
...archive <http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca/mod/resource/view.php?id=149>

* The Role of the Instructional Designer: October 31-November 20, 2005
Facilitator: Vivian Neal
What models and strategies guide instructional design processes? What is an ideal work environment for an instructional designer? As this lively and thought-provoking seminar draws to a close we are left with many ideas and resources to revisit and ponder. We are busy gathering up our greatest insights into a wiki. Even if you were too busy to actively participate during the scheduled time you are welcome to contribute to the wiki <http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca/mod/wiki/view.php?id=169>.
...archive <http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca/mod/forum/view.php?id=146>

* Vancouver Rendezvous: October 28, 2005
20 community enthusiasts representing many types of learning communities and communities of practice attended the Vancouver Rendezvous organized by CPSquare and SCoPE. As predicted, the afternoon of conversation did turn into a visit to the pub...then dinner...then plans to continue the Rendezvous trend. This was a perfect example of how we can accomplish so much more by working together to share experiences and offer solutions. A special thanks is owing to John Smith of CPSquare.org for facilitating our afternoon session, and to Salvor Gissurardottir of University of Education in Iceland for her excellent photography. The dialogue continues in our Community Enthusiasts SIG. Please join us!
... more <http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca/course/view.php?id=12>

3. SCoPE SIGs
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* SFU SIG
This Special Interest Group provides the opportunity for SFU faculty and staff to explore topics of particular interest to our university. We invite members of the international community to join in our discussions.
... access the SFU SIG  <http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca/course/view.php?id=13>

SCoPE Special Interest Groups provide venues for ongoing communication and sharing of resources based on common interests. Would your group like to request a SIG related to education research and practice? Contact Sylvia Currie <scurrie@sfu.ca>.

4. Communal Book Project
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Sandy Hirtz and David Harper invite you to participate in their communal book project initiated by BCcampus. This book will be a practical guide for faculty with an emphasis on demonstrating exciting opportunities offered by new technologies and outlining step-by-step how you can use the Internet to improve the educational quality of your teaching. How can you participate? The framework for the book has been outlined, and each chapter will be broken down into sub-sections. Find a topic that interests you, or recommend additional topics. Take the lead on a topic, co-author a section, provide feedback on drafts... there are many ways you can participate. Of course your contributions will be gratefully acknowledged in the final publication.
...more <http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca/course/view.php?id=16>

5. PeriSCoPE
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SCoPE members are busy elsewhere:

Heather Ross is facilitating a CIDER Session: DE Module for Rural Physicians Friday, 25 November (10:00 AM Pacific)
To register email Brenda Koritko at bkoritko@sympatico.ca
...more <http://cider.athabascau.ca/CIDERSessions/>

Join David Harper for a practical look at online course design at BC eLearning Marketplace and Expo: Put Your Course Online! - How To's and Tips and Tricks Thursday, 24 November 12:30 PM Pacific)
Join this live webcast click on the following link:
<https://www.elluminate.com/mtg.jnlp?password=828926604>
...more <http://community.bccampus.ca/expo>

6. Vote for SCoPE as a COOL site
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Help us spread the word about SCoPE. Here's how to vote:
    * Create an account at moodle.org if you haven't already (It's a great community, and a must if you want to learn more about Moodle)
    * Go to Moodle sites
    * Click on the text link Canada
    * Click on the button "show voting buttons for these sites"
    * Click on the thumbs up icon for SCoPE

7. SCoPE Logo Update
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The first voting booth for the SCoPE logo is closed (for now) and the beta logo based on your votes is now displayed at SCoPE. Jason ToaL, SCoPE's talented and very patient artist  encourages you to continue to make suggestions for alternatives or variations on this logo design.
...Visit the SCoPE Suggestion Box <http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca/mod/forum/view.php?id=131>

8. KnowTIPS 2006 Conference
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Planning is underway for the second annual KnowTIPS online conference. Note the new conference dates!  March 29-April 2, 2006, with proposals now due December 15, 2005. The conference is designed to engage participants in discussions about the practical aspects of working online in any setting. Please spread the word and consider volunteering to help plan or assist during the conference. It's great experience!  
..more <http://knowtips.ca>

9. Learning Partnership Call for Nominations
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The Learning Partnership is now accepting nominations for the 2006 National Technology Innovation Awards. Nominated projects should focus on the innovative and creative use of technology and include areas such as blended learning environments, knowledge transfer, organizational learning, professional development and/or the needs of special education students. Nominees may include teachers, professors, media specialists, technology specialists, technology directors or other innovative educators. Projects must have been in progress during the last 12 months and have made a measurable impact on student learning and achievement. Nominations must include a multimedia component and be submitted by February 17, 2006.
...more <http://tlp.td01.com/innovation_2006/>

10. About SCoPE
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SCoPE, supported by the Learning and Instructional Development Centre at Simon Fraser University, brings together individuals who share an interest in education research and practice, and offers opportunities for dialogue across disciplines, geographical borders, professions, levels of expertise, and education sectors. We organize seminars, events, and ways for practitioners to connect. Membership is free and open to the public.

Self-register at <http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca>

11. About MicroSCoPE
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SCoPE members receive MicroSCoPE issues automatically. If you prefer to read MicroSCoPE on the website or via RSS, manage your subscription here <http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca/mod/forum/view.php?f=5>.

MicroSCoPE is prepared by Sylvia Currie, Community Coordinator <scurrie@sfu.ca>.

Please spread the word about SCoPE. Distribute this newsletter! 

So, let's highlight some of the participants of this year's ScienceOnline09 conference:

Eva Amsen is a newly-minted PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Toronto, and she blogs on Easternblot, Expression Patterns and Musicians and Scientists.

Melissa Anley-Mills is the News Director in the Office of Research and Development at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Samia Ansari is a Biochemistry Undergraduate student at the University of Georgia, and she blogs on 49 percent. She will co-moderate the session on Race in science - online and offline.

Apryl Bailey is the Creative Director and Production Manager at SciVee.tv. She will co-moderate the session Not just text - image, sound and video in peer-reviewed literature and will also do a demo of SciVee.tv.

Stacy Baker teaches high-school biology. She also writes a blog about the use of technology in teaching - Using Blogs in Science Education - and runs, together with her students, a classroom blog Extreme Biology (which just received the EduBlog2008 Award). Miss Baker and eight of her students will lead the session Science online - middle/high school perspective (or: 'how the Facebook generation does it'?).

Enrico Maria Balli is one of the founders and the CEO of Sissa Medialab in Trieste, Italy.

Meredith Barrett is a Ph.D Student in the Duke University Program in Ecology at the Nicholas School of the Environment and writes (from the field, in Madagascar) her blog Lemur health & conservation.

Karl Leif Bates is the Editor of Duke Research which is published by the Duke University Office of News & Communications and is a SCONC board member.

Arati Bechtel writes the JMP Blog. JMP is Statistical Discovery Software from SAS.

Callan Bentley is a geology professor at Northern Virginia Community College, writing NOVA Geoblog.

Mike Bergin is well known to the readers of my blog, as the blogger at 10000birds and the manager of I and the Bird blog carnival. He will moderate the session Blog carnivals: why you should participate.

Peter Binfield is a physicist and the Managing Editor of PLoS ONE.

Larry Boles works at the Museum of Life + Science in Durham and blogs on their MLS Animal Department blog.

Mauricio Borgen is the IT Administrator at Athenix Corp.

Jean-Claude Bradley is a professor of chemistry at Drexel University. He is the pioneer of the Open Notebook Science movement, which you can see in action on his blog Useful Chemistry and the lab wiki UsefulChem Project. He will co-moderate the session Open Notebook Science - how to do it right (if you should do it at all)

Bjorn Brembs is a neuroscientist at Freie Universitat Berlin and a science blogger.

Chris Brodie is the vice president of corporate communications at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and one of the founders and board members of SCONC.

Daniel Brown is an IRTA Fellow in the Polypeptide Hormone Action Group at the National Institute of Environmental Health Science and blogs on Biochemicalsoul.

Christine Bruske-Flowers works in the Office of Communications for the National Institute of Environmental Health Science.

Steve Burnett is a musician, an acoustic ecologist and a blogger here in the Triangle.