Merry Christmas and Happy New eLearning

The 70 dollar computer

There are more and more interesting projects with cheap computers.

NComputing has a different solution than One Laptop Per Child.

“NComputing enables organizations to harness the untapped power of existing PCs so that everyone can affordably access computing”.

Computer World writes about this.

“Most recently, the country of Macedonia announced plans (PDF format) to serve all 420,000 of its K-12 students using a combination of PCs running Ubuntu Linux and NComputing's PC-sharing devices, which turn each computer into a mini-server that can be shared with up to 30 students in a single classroom…

NComputing claims that it can provide computer access -- whether for Windows XP, Linux or even Mac boxes -- for as little as $70 per student…"

That’s some interesting facts about hardware, if you want to know more about the software take our ICDL and ICDL advanced eLearning courses.

Give One Get One has started

"MKFC Stockholm Folkhögskola (Folk High School) has donated computers to children in a Primary School in Eritrea".



Read more at our school blog.

We support One Laptop Per Child

MKFC Stockholm College support through End - To- End eLearning developing countries and had also donated computers.


"Give One Get One"- initiative is an innovative way to support and offers people to send good start for children in Africa.

Vote for Best Technology Blog

Unfortunately we are not nominated but there are some great blogs nominated. So read, learn and vote!

The Microsoft Office Word Team's Blog

All things that you need to know about Microsoft Office Word, from the Word team.

Check out the MSDN Word blog for tips, news, and more from Microsoft.

Tips to speed up your PC

From 5min Life videopedia

ICDL at Stockholm College

At Stockholm College you are able to learn about the ICDL (International Computer Driving Licence) and ICDL Advanced. But there is also a chance for you how feel very comfortable with computers to read the Open ICDL yourself. The course material is free to download at http://www.openicdl.org.za/.

There is a difference between ECDL/ICDL certification (mainly based on Microsoft Office) and the Open ICDL (mainly for Open Source).

There is also a possibility to use the Open ICDL-material and get an ICDL-certification. Our teachers can help you with that.

Read more about ICDL at Stockholm College and other courses.

ICDL in Iran

ICDL is worldwide. Here is information and news about ICDL from the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ministry of Education, Research and planning Department that are responsible for Global ICDL in Iran.

Read more: http://www.iranicdl.ir/english/

Mac or PC?

Perhaps the geekiest video ever produced!

But quite funny and a relevant question.

Web Office

It’s web office week at read/write web. Web office is a good complement to software Office and better for collaboration.

Tokbox - just a test

Get your own TokBox at www.tokbox.com.

We are testing a new tool that might be interesting.

Open Office

ICDL isn’t all about Microsoft Office. Even tough we emphasis on Office 2003 we also have learning material and our teachers are experts on open office as well.

Read more about open office on the open office blog

Study our ICDL courses wherever you want

- Studies were you want!
- In your own pace!
- Material as books, documents and/or podcasts!
- Communication and help from your tutor and your classmates!

Apply today!

Learn about basic computing at wikibooks

Wikibooks is project that was started 2003 with the mission to create a free collection of open-content textbooks that anyone can edit. Since the founding, volunteers have written about 26,463 modules in a multitude of textbooks.

One interesting projects is the “Basic Computing Using Windows”. Reading this book you will get a basic knowledge on how to use your computer. You can read (and write) directly on the web or download it as a pdf.

Good luck with learning more about computers!

Microsoft News Log Podcast

Here is some good Microsoft news in form of podcasts. This is a real convenient way to receive information.

We also have all our course material as podcast, This means that you don’t even need a computer to take our courses.

Microsoft Word Tips and Tutorials

About.com has some nice desktop publishing tips. Kind of shallow but still okay if you want some introduction

Tell an ICDL-story and win a trip to Barcelona!

Still on a mental vacation but here’s an interesting competition!

Haven’t completed the ICDL yet? Apply for our courses, write a story and send it to http://ecitizen.icdlonline.net/ . Quite thin on materials but an interesting competition on a interesting subject :-)

Next week I’ll start with the blogging again!

ICDL from Stockholm College is back!

Perhaps you have some summer pictures that you want to show to family and friends? There are a lot of nice services that helps you to publish them on the web, and it’s easy as 1, 2, 3.

I use flickr but if you want to try something else here is a good list about evey (?) service on the net.

On summer vacation!

Both our school and I have summer vacation but you are still able to apply for next terms courses here.

Our learning vision

Stockholm College is mobilizing individuals learning to the benefits for themselves, their families, local communities and society in general. We are doing this by offer a virtual community with Open Educational Resources (OER).

Our idea is that Information and communication technology (ICT) in education empower people to create and participate in knowledge publishing and virtual communities. Virtual communities as blogs, wikis, podcasting and Open Educational Resources build collaboration with different kind of stakeholders and civil societies. We work with these tools in our courses in order to reinforce your learning.

We are also interested in finding several local entrepreneurs, organisations and institutions to work with in several countries. We want to develop our knowledge in e-learning about whom, how and what different countries, organisations and individuals interests are.

From our official homepage.

This is just a course blog for our ICDL and ICDL advanced courses.

Mail your documents – get it back as a PDF

There are many ways to create a PDF but KoolWIRE is very convenient because you don’t need a installed program.

Just attach as many documents of the following formats Word (.doc), Powerpoint (.ppt), Excel (.xls), Jpeg, GIF, Rich Text Format (.rtf), TXT and you have nicely converted PDF:s.

Our Roadmap for e-learning

Our school has successfully worked with e-learning for many years. Since 2001 we have all of our courses at distance.

In the beginning we only had Swedish courses but today we have courses in English (ICDL for example) and developing new courses in Arabic, French, Spanish and more. We think education and learning is a great way to achieve UN millennium goals. This is how we going to do it.

Creating desktop icons on Windows XP

I found a quick tutorial from a home page called 5min Life Videopedia

The whole idea with this page is to learn anything from “how to make a balloon dog” to “Use the Stock Market as Your Own ATM Machine”. There only limitation on this page is that the videos should be less than 5 minutes.

Virtual or reality?

An interesting technical gadget from Microsoft is on its way. By judging on their commercial it looks fascinating. This might be a big step for bridging the gap between what’s digital and what’s real.

“Microsoft Surface represents a fundamental change in the way we interact with digital content. With surface, we can actually grab data with our hands, and move information between objects with natural gestures and touch” (from blink.nu).

Quality survey 1 Spring 2007

Our philosophy is that everything can be improved. All it takes is to see the possibilites. On regular basis do we different mesurments to get indication on our weak and strong sides.

Below you´ll find our quality accurances. We do them twice on every semester for the students (external survey), and once every semester for the staff (internal survey). It´s in pdf format.

Quality survey 1 Spring 2007

Read more about our school and our different ICDL courses at http://www.stockholmcollege.se/

Stockholm College visit e learning Africa

Stockholm College is attending a e-learning conferense in Nairobi, Kenya. Stockholm College´s best e-leraning practic model got some very positive feedback from the participants. Director Marja-Riitta Ritanoro and Chairman Thord Fjellström has been invited to the ministry of Education in Nairobi by Moses Akaranga minister of Public service.
The conference:

http://www.elearning-africa.com/

One of the world's top spammers arrested

A 27-year-old man described as one of the world's top spammers was arrested Wednesday, a development that federal authorities said could lead to an immediate, perceptible decrease in the amount of junk e-mail winging its way across the Web.

Robert Alan Soloway has been hated for a long time all over the net. See specially http://www.solowaysucks.net/

“Soloway used networks of compromised computers called "botnets" to send out unsolicited bulk e-mails urging people to use his Internet marketing company to advertise their products. People who clicked on a link in the e-mail were directed to his Web site, where he advertised two types of services. In one, he would agree to send out as many as 20 million e-mail advertisements over 15 days for $495, the indictment said”.

U.S. Government Bans Vista, Office 2007

Microsoft (MSFT) has run into trouble with a major customer over Vista: The U.S. Department of Transportation has banned Windows Vista, Office 2007, and Internet Explorer 2007, InformationWeek reports. The newly revealed policy forbidding installation of Microsoft's latest software has been in place since mid-January.

From Business 2.0

We at Stockholm College also think Office 2007 isn’t as good as Office 2003. Therefore we still have our ICDL courses mainly in Office 2003. But of course you are able to use any office product you prefer.

Read more about our ICDL courses.

RSS in Plain English

Are you reading this blog in the "new" or the "old" way?



"We made this video for our friends (and yours) that haven't yet felt the power of our friend the RSS reader. We want to convert people and if you know someone who would love RSS and hasn't yet tried it, point them here for 3.5 minutes".

Microsoft next generation authoring tools

What happened to FrontPage?

After nine years of being an web authoring tool, FrontPage will be discontinued in late 2006.

Two brand-new application building and Web authoring tools using the latest technologies: Office SharePoint Designer 2007 for the enterprise information workers and Expression Web for the professional Web designer.


1. Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer 2007: Automate your business processes and build efficient applications on top of the SharePoint platform, and tailor your SharePoint site to your needs in an IT-managed environment.

2. Microsoft Expression Web: Take advantage of the best of dynamic Web site design, enabling you to design, develop, and maintain exceptional standards-based Web sites.

If you still is using Frontpage, you find some some documentation here

About recycling electronics...

From Basel Action Network

www.ban.org

Computer support

A computer can make miracles, but what happens when you need support

I found this at http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/

Share your presentations and slideshows

World's Best Presentation Contest has taken place on slideshare. SlideShare is a place to share and discover presentations and slideshows. Here you can

• Upload your presentations files
• Share with a link, or embedded on your blog
• View others presentations
• Tag and comment

Here are the winner chosen by the judges



http://www.slideshare.net/jbrenman/shift-happens-33834/1

The Top 25 Web Hoaxes and Pranks from PC World

"These online spoofs and shams have made the rounds on Web sites and through e-mail. Perhaps you even believed one or two of them yourself".

Read more in PC World

More web office applications

More and more web services help you create office documents directly on the Web. Earlier I wrote that Google Docs expands with Power Point.

The blog “Digital Inspiration” writes about a service called trailfire.com that helps you create a live slide show of web pages.

Another ICDL blog tip

ICDL Canada also has an ICDL blog. Just as Stockholm College.

About ECDL / ICDL Certification

The European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL), or The International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) for countries outside of Europe, is an internationally recognised qualification, which enables people to demonstrate their competence in computer skills.

MKFC Stockholm College offers you the possibility to attend the ECDL/ICDL
courses at home. We offer you a study environment on Internet through our eLearning
platform Edulink. We provide you with course material, test banks and assignments
with feedback from your classmates and a tutor. After studying and practice you perform
the certification test at a national test centre.

ECDL / ICDL raises the level of IT and computer skills and allows you to be
more productive at home and at work.. ECDL / ICDL also improve job prospects by providing an internationally recognized qualification. You can read more about ICDL at the ECDL Foundation.

The full ECDL/ICDL consists of seven modules and ECDL and ICDL start consists of four optional modules.

* Module 1: Information Technology

* Module 2: Using the Computer

* Module 3: Word Processing

* Module 4: Spreadsheets

* Module 5: Databases

* Module 6: Presentations

* Module 7: Information and Communications

Read more at our school www.stockholmcollege.se

Office Zealots, a place for office enthusiast

"Have you experienced the warm glow of satisfaction that is possible when you combine your technical know-how with the functionality of Office to solve problems or eliminate a manual process? At Office Zealot, we have been avid fans of Microsoft Office for many years now. We have been promoting Office as an important platform for developers and working with users to squeeze more productivity out of Office. For that reason, we are happy to be your hosts here at OfficeZealot.com. OfficeZealot.com is your source for relevant, focused and practical developer information pertaining to everything Microsoft Office".

Any reasons why you wouldn’t go there?

Microsoft Office 2007 with student discount

“Microsoft sells the premium version of its new Office 2007 software suite for $1150, but in a new promotion it is offering the package to Australian university students for just $75. The almost 95 per cent discount for Office 2007 Ultimate is offered through a website made specifically for the promotion, www.itsnotcheating.com.au”.

From Tama’s eLearning Blog

Also in my home county Microsoft sells Office 2007 Standard for about $120 and Office Enterprise 2007 for $180 Swedish link. I guess that this applies in all countries www.microsoft.com.

I also recommend you to download the free trail version for 60 days, US version. That’s enough to take the ICDL certification.

Google docs expands with Power Point

Google are developing a new presentation software on the net. It’s still rumours but I’m glad that their expanding from Google Docs and Spreadsheet and adding Power Point.

Of course, the web versions aren’t as versatile as Microsoft Office in a long way. But there are other advantages, as for example accessibility and collaboration.

Reduce e-mail stress

Problems with too much e-mail?

Read this

Stockholm College

Stockholm College is a school that offers you the possibility to attend courses from anywhere you want, you only needs a computer with internet access. We offer you a study environment on internet through our learning platform Edulink which provides course material, tests and assignments with feedback and discussion from classmates and teachers. All our courses are in English.

Our Key Challenges and our courses consist of five areas where ICDL is one.

Office Add-Ins

There are many add-ins, plus-ins, add-ons for Microsoft Office (as well as Open Office).

Microsoft has their own on http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/CD010225941033.aspx

There are also free downloads on http://www.download.com/Office-Add-Ins/3150-9694_4-0.html

ICDL approvment - How does it work?

Depending on your prior computer skills, the ICDL course requires different amount of training. For an average user it probably takes about 30 hours.

Read more on icdl.org

Laptops and ICDL to developing countries

Our school’s mission is that as many as possible should develop their computer skills. Therefore we are running the ICDL course. We are also very glad that both Intel and One Laptop per Child are making efforts on IT skills in developing countries. They are doing so by providing small cheap functional laptops to these countries.

“A classmate PC is a small, mobile learning-assistant educational solution that Intel specially developed for students in emerging markets” “Intel”.

“Our goal: To provide children around the world with new opportunities to explore, experiment and express themselves” One Laptop per Child.

Google Docs & Spreadsheet

There are more and more web services for office software. My personal favourite is Google Docs & Spreadsheets.

You are able to create, edit, share, store and publish documents without using your computers software. This is quite simple but I recommend you to have at least basic skills in some Word and Excel software.

>> Read more

CeBIT 2007

CeBIT is the world's largest trade fair showcasing digital IT and telecommunications solutions for home and work environments.

Watch what you are able to do with your ICDL knowledge and visit their homepage, and at the same time keep an eye on new technology.

http://www.cebit.de

Overcoming Test Anxiety

After hours and hours of preparation you’re finally ready for your ICDL examination. But test anxiety might ruin your day. Here are some nice tips.

“Almost everyone has experienced some form of test anxiety. But some find that anxiety interferes with their learning and test taking to such an extent that their outcome can be seriously affected. ICDL-US wants your ICDL test taking experience prove to be successful”.

>> Read more

Is the Net a safe place?

A list from some school leaders in Techlearning about making the net a safer place.

Free anti-spyware software

Ad-Aware Personal remains the most popular anti-spyware product for computer users around the world, with nearly one million downloads every week.

Key Features

* User-controlled spyware removal

* Customizable Scans

* Code Sequence Identification (CSI) technology

* Extensive Lavasoft Detection Database

* ADS scan

* Blocks browser hijackers

* Quarantine manager

I personally use this and have been for many years. It’s booth very effective and free. This is a great compliment to your firewall and anti-virus software.

Internet security is one of the things handled in the ICDL course

Star Wars in the school

George Lucas is mostly known for his Star Wars movies that engaged millions of people. But science fiction movies haven’t just worked as entertainment, it also results in many got an interest in science and the space.

George Lucas himself thought that public school was quite frustrating. He was often bored even if he had a teacher who engaged his curiosity and motivated him to learn. And as s a father, he felt it vital to transform schooling.

Therefore he started the George Lucas Educational Foundation. Their web page consists of articles, in-depth case studies, research summaries, instructional modules, short documentary segments, expert interviews, and links to other resources.

“Traditional education can be extremely isolating -- the curriculum is often abstract and not relevant to real life, teachers and students don't connect with resources and experts outside of the classroom, and schools operate as if they are separate from their communities.

Project-based learning, student teams working cooperatively, students connecting with passionate experts, and broader forms of assessment can dramatically improve student learning. New digital multimedia and telecommunications can support these practices and engage our students. And well-prepared educators are critical”

George Lucas, Edutopia.

Free online Photoshop in three to six months

The hosted Photoshop service is set to be free and marketed as an entry-level version of Adobe's more sophisticated image-editing tools, including Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.

>> Read more

Free online tutorials

Actden has some free online tutorials for Microsofts products on their website. By looking at the illustration this is perhaps most suitable for young persons. But for you who wants very basic skills this might be a good start.

http://www.actden.com/

Want to instruct on the web?

After reciving computer skills on ICDL you might want to use them. Here is a free digital book on “successful online instruction” from a company could webex.

“834 Tips for Successful Online Instruction is an amazing collection of tips from 336 of your professional colleagues. Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive set of tips that you can use to improve your knowledge and skills in online instruction”.

http://www.elearningguild.com/pdf/4/guildtipsbook-final.pdf

Computer tutor 2

There are many web based resourses on how to handle the computer for teachers and pupils on BBC:s online learning website. Their newest and perhaps most ambitious project is an interactive and game based toll, and it’s a fun way to receive basic computer skills. In addition the knowledge is being put in a context rather than just show the functions.

>>Visit BBC:s online learning website and Computer tutor 2

Internet Security Software

I promised you a list of software for protecting your computer against viruses and other threats. Of course I’m not the first to do this, so instead I give you the firewallguide.com “some of the best personal firewalls and Internet security products and services that are available free for personal use”. And really they are, my favourites:

• ZoneAlarm (firewall) "The Best Freeware", PC World, January 31, 2007.
• Ad Blocker -- WebWasher Classic for Windows, Macintosh and Linux includes filters for web bugs, referrers, cookies, and URLs.
• AVG AntiVirus

The list also consists of software for Back Up Files Online, Anti-Spyware, Anti-Trojan, Parental 'Content' Filter, Popup Stopper and more.

Don’t spend unnecessary money on software that you are able to download for free, and it’s just as good.

Se the entire list >>

Effective and interesting presentations

When it comes to giving a presentation, keep in mind the age old saying “be prepared”! Planning ahead is vital to the overall success of your presentation.

You need to consider presenting the right information, in the right layout, to the right audience in the right amount of time. Concentrate on the purpose of your presentation. Think about the audience, who they are, what they already know and what they want to know. Find out about the venue for your presentation or how people will view your presentation if you are emailing it to them. Think about ways of communicating your message, while keeping the flow steady and interesting. Spending the right amount of time in the planning phase for your presentation will help to ensure that your message is well-received.

Want to learn more?

Read the advanced ICDL module “presentation” with me as your teacher, working language is of course English. Read more at www.icdl.se.

Extensive IT information

This is a extensive site were you will receive information about almost everything in information technology. Quite much commercials but very informative with blogss, podcasts, news in different sectors and much more.

“InfoWorld provides in-depth technical analysis on key products, solutions, and technologies for sound buying decisions and business gain”.

http://www.infoworld.com/

I’ll try to complete the list of freeware this weekend that I promised a couple of days a go. Check in on Sunday or Monday and you get it.

Spreadsheet

Excel and other spreadsheet programs are much more than formatted cells and diagrams.

The blog “daily dose of Excel” gives you tips on the use of the software (for more advanced users).

Or read the “Spreadsheet History”. A collection of links for spreadsheets nerds that must know more… and more… and more ;-)

You don’t need to buy Microsoft Office to study the ICDL

Microsoft Office 2003 has a demo for 60 days if you don’t have the programs. That means that you can

• download the demo
• study our ICDL certified material,
• make our practice exercises and train in our question bank

Make the test at a test centre and be certified in ICDL.

>> Download the demo

Of course there are alternatives for Microsoft’s products, see ICDL for open source.

Protect yourself from the dangers of the web

Even tough this is a guide from Microsoft for school children it’s a good introduction and checklist to handle viruses, spyware, Internet security and backup.

Microsoft promotes their own software but theirs plenty of freeware on the net to use for free. In a couple of days I will complete a list of programs for this.

Young people knows IT, do you?

Everyday computer use isn’t a problem for most of the teenagers and kids today. There are different ways to look upon this; some think it’s a great tool for learning if young people are engaged in an exploration of language, games, social interaction, and self-directed education that can be used to support learning with help of IT. Some thinks this damaged young people e.g. unsocial behaviours, physical inactivity, less creativity, visiting inappropriate webpage’s.

The fact is that most kids and teenagers with computer access know how to use it, and the question is; do you?

The digital media and learning initiative have more information

Women and individuals with special needs among the most ‎enrolled in digital literacy programs in the Gulf area during 2006

“ICDL GCC Foundation, the governing body and certification authority of the ‎International Computer Driving License (ICDL) program in the Gulf region, has ‎announced its 2006 results on the implementation of computer skills and digital literacy ‎in the region. The results pointed out that the general level of digital literacy in the region ‎has witnessed a sharp increase.

This has been achieved due to the commitments of the ‎governments in the region to promote civic skills needed in modern society. The results ‎also highlighted that the categories of Women and individuals with special needs have ‎seen a climb in the enrolment in the ICDL’s digital literacy program.”

Read more >>

Active Learning with PowerPoint

University of Minnesota has made a tutorial on using “Active Learning” with PowerPoint. On this page you are able to learn more about using PowerPoint than displaying slides. You will find a video workshop, Active Lecturing, Active Learning Strategies, Formative Assessment, Games in PowerPoint and Effective Handouts.

IT self help

This is a great IT help page from the University of Wolverhampton. Here you are able to learn the basics of IT and Microsoft software word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook. This is a good start for you who want to continue with the ICDL.

Don’t ignore the basics!

The Stockholm folk high school is introducing ICDL because it is a program designed for the continuous learning world of the 21st century. It does not probe the airy heights of the newest or most complex technology. But ICDL does provide a standard – universally acknowledged level of knowledge from which to move on.

Don’t ignore the basics. Embrace them, and look into ICDL as a mechanism for getting on in your working life and in other parts where you need a computer.

If you are interested in more advanced computer skills we also offer ICDL advanced.

Accredited centres in your country

Before you decide to study and get certified in the ICDL you need to assure that there’s a accredited centre in your country/region. On www.icdl.org you are able to see if’s there a testcentre in your country. Each continent (except America) also has an ECDL/ICDL homepage.

Africa
Asia-Pacific
Europe
The arab region

If you live in America you find more information at http://www.icdl.org/countries/index.jsp?&pID=103&nID=169

Study the ICDL distance course with both classmates and a teacher

Stockholm folk high school has a long tradition of distance studies and successful courses in the computer driving licence (ECDL/ICDL).

If you’re interested in study the ECDL/ ICDL at home but at the same time with classmates from all over the world and have certified course material this is probably the course for you. Read more and register at http://www.icdl.se/.

Over 5 million people

Over 5 million people in 140+ countries are ICDL candidates
15 million tests have been administered to date.
Digital skills necessary to succeed in today’s schools and workplaces are attained
ICDL demonstrates competence and provides confidence.

100 dollar computer

One Laptop per Child (OLPC) is a non-profit association dedicated to research to develop a $100 laptop—a technology that could revolutionize how we educate the world's children. This initiative was launched by faculty members at the MIT Media Lab. It was first announced by Lab co-founder Nicholas Negroponte, now chairman of OLPC, at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland in January 2005. Visit the website>>

Edulink – an e-learning environment for many needs

Edulink – an e-learning environment for the ICDL course

Edulink offers easy-to-use tools for learning and development. Edulink is our educational plattform for our ECDL/ICDL/ICDL advanced students. It has been developed since 1998. Educationfinder uses Edulink for the ICDL. Read moore about Edulink >>

About the ICDL

The International Computer Driving License (ICDL) is an international qualification in end user computing. The ICDL qualification provides accreditation in the package of a students choice.

The Modules covered are as follows:

* Module 1 – Basic Concepts of IT
* Module 2 – Using a Computer and Managing Files
* Module 3 – Word Processing
* Module 4 – Spreadsheets
* Module 5 – Database
* Module 6 – Presentations
* Module 7 – Information and Communications.