After working in the field of Instructional Technology for almost twenty years, Ive seen many technologies that might impact higher education come and go. In the initial stages, universities often experiment with the latest gadgets or Internet services without thinking too much about the concrete, real-world applications the technologies might have.

MOOCs Massive Online Open Courses are a new model for online courses that have quickly gained interest and support among universities in recent months. We still find ourselves at the experimental stage, but its not too early to think about what kind of long-term impact MOOCs might have in higher education.

Some see MOOCs up-ending the whole model of higher education, allowing students to complete full courses of study in a non-traditional format, particularly with international students, which have made up a large part of the student body in early MOOC courses. Others see MOOCs playing a much smaller role, with the MOOC system of badges or certificates for course completion integrated into programs higher education institutions already offer.

I am much more of a pragmatist when it comes to any technology often, the promises of major change resulting from something new wind up being more subtle and nuanced. In the case of MOOCs, it is difficult to imagine that the non-classroom aspects of the undergraduate experience can be easily replaced by a computer screen.

What makes a MOOC unique and, in the short term, what role could they play in the core educational mission of universities?

Features of a MOOC

Theres nothing particularly new about MOOCs. Most universities have offered online courses for many years and the basic technologies involved video lectures, discussion forums, tests, and the like are the same we have used with on-campus and distance students. The only difference is the scale.

By their very nature large numbers of students, no direct faculty interaction with individual students, a pre-programmed course of study and assessments MOOCs would appear to have what some have called limitations when compared with a traditional face to face course or smaller online credit course with high faculty involvement. However, these arent limitations as much as features that make MOOCs unique.

MOOCs are built on efficiency of scale, giving access to the teaching of a world class professor to thousands of students at once. The lectures, assessments and activities for a course especially an online course and the expertise of the professor behind the content isnt cheap and, in many cases, is unique to a particular university. A MOOC throws open the door of the professors classroom, allowing him to teach more than just a few dozen students at a time.

Because of the scale, hands on involvement by the faculty member is limited. This shifts the responsibility for learning the material squarely on the shoulders of the individual student and their motivations to learn. It also shifts conversation and dialogue about the content to a more diverse student population that could be worldwide a community of learners.

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Online Education: What Is a MOOC?

The Amari Watergate Bangkok's Clark Hatch Fitness Centre invites aerobics enthusiasts to work out for a good cause for three hours non-stop during the "16th Aerobics Marathon on Aids".

The aerobics marathon will be led by many famous instructors including Bankchart Kaewchompoo, Ladda Pramote, Yodchai Yommakup and Anuwat Yaovakun.

Participants will also have a chance to rub shoulders and exercise alongside many celebrities and superstars.

As in previous years, the event also features a contest with trophies on offer for the best male and female dancer, the one with the most creative costume and a team with the most participants. The event aims to raise funds for charitable causes, including the Chalerm Prakiat HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn School, which supports the education of children whose parents have passed away due to HIV/Aids, and Baan Gerda, the children's village project which supports HIV-infected orphans in Nong Muang, Lop Buri province.

The '16th Aerobics Marathon on Aids' will take place at Amari Watergate Hotel's Ballroom on Sept 30 from 1pm-4pm. Tickets cost 300 baht and are available at the reception desk on the 8th floor. Call 02-653-9000 ext 5021 or 5780.

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Aerobics for a good cause

For this yoga class, you're going to need a mat and a glow stick.

Lucky for you, if you stopped going to raves in the '90s, they're passing out glow sticks at the door. Leave your lollipop at home, though. Here, there's an herb bar and a table of healthy, vegetarian munchies. Sugar's not a huge hit here. Neither are drugs, so ditch the Scooby Snacks. Tonight is about creating your own trip.

Forget what you think you know about raves, and forget what you know about yoga. This is a hybrid of the two -- a yoga rave -- that defies the stereotypes of both.

The head-to-toe tattooed so-called "bad boy of yoga," David Sye, headed up the party in Boulder on Saturday, in a dim room filled with 100 candles and live electronic music. About 40 people (mostly teens) came, sporting glow sticks on their necks and wrists while twisting into pretzels and downward dogs, following Sye's out-of-the-box style of yoga: constantly moving, almost wiggling. He calls is an "unapologetically sexy celebration of life" that has been both criticized and praised.

They call it a movement.

And the concept of yoga raves -- yoga-centric parties with live music, some in nightclubs, always sober -- is spreading as a nightlife alternative for people who lead healthy lifestyles and want to "get lifted," according to Yoga Rave USA (yogarave.org), which was not affiliated with the recent Boulder event.

You know that buzz your body feels after you take a really good yoga class?

You know how a great song can trigger your emotions? (Like how every Journey song makes everyone on earth happy, or how the Scorpions used to make me cry and angrily lip-sync in the mirror when I was in seventh grade?)

Put those together (except maybe no bad hair-band music) in a big group with special light effects, and just for good measure, throw free Reiki energy work sessions in the corner. Sip from the mate bar while relaxing on a stack of cushions after you reach your yogic bliss.

Maybe now you can see it? Even though the initial combo of "yoga" and "rave" seems almost contradictory?

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Drop the acid -- seriously, drop it -- this rave features yoga

LAKEWOOD, Ohio, Sept. 17,2012 /PRNewswire/ -- For Marcia Camino, there's more to yoga than going to class to exercise and relax. The owner of PinkLotusYoga (PLY) in Lakewood firmly believes that the practice of yoga ultimately is about fostering a sense of community, not just within the four walls of her Lakewood studio but in the surrounding community at large through outreach and involvement. That is why Camino is sponsoring "Bend for Beck," a fundraiser for a local nonprofit organization, on Saturday, Sept. 29 at her studio. All proceeds benefit the Creative Arts Therapies programs at Beck Center for the Arts, the leader in comprehensive arts education in Northeast Ohio.

When Camino opened her studio at 18103 Detroit Ave. in December 2011, she didn't want to have her own space to just teach students a wide variety of yoga styles; she also wanted a place where people could come to grow, connect and build awareness with each other and the world around them.

"Every yoga studio has a mission to build a community," Camino says. "I wanted to bring that sense of community to extend beyond my students' yoga mats. Practicing yoga isn't about the time you spend in the studio. It is about involvement and mindfulness in every aspect of life."

Camino, a Lakewood resident for the better part of a decade, practices what she preaches. Over the years, she has held a number of special fundraiser events benefitting a number of non-profit organizations, including the Cleveland Foodbank, Edna House and even her Detroit Avenue neighbor, Lakewood Congregational Church and its Youth Homeless Awareness Sleepout. What's more, for the past five years, even before she owned her own studio, Camino has encouraged her students to take alternative transportation to class walking, biking, carpooling, public transit instead of driving. She calls this Pink Goes Green and has offered incentives to those who participate.

Working and living in a city where bicycling plays a major role in daily life, Camino was thrilled when the city of Lakewood last year began an intensive public process to build a strategy to make Lakewood the most bike-friendly community in Ohio through its BikeLakewood master plan, which includes installing bike racks near businesses throughout the city. So thrilled, that she commissioned -- with the city's blessing -- Cleveland 3D metal sculptor David Smith to create truly unique bike racks for installation in front of the PLY studio.

On Saturday, Sept. 29, at noon, Camino, Smith and local officials will dedicate Big Pink Yoga Dude and Yoga Dude Junior, the studio's two new bike racks. Named by the artist, these sculptures are sure to be conversation pieces, thanks to their size and eye-catching color opening the racks for use by all bicyclists in Lakewood.

Smith, a self-proclaimed yoga addict, met Camino seven years ago in a yoga class at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. She was his first yoga teacher, and he was one of her first yoga students. When he initially started practicing yoga, Smith says he suffered from debilitating neck problems. Since then, Smith has pursued a consistent yoga practice, following Camino to her various teaching locations over the years. He credits regular yoga with healing his chronic neck injury.

"I truly believe in that yoga does wonders for the mind, body and spirit. The disappearance of my neck problems are testament alone to that," Smith says.

He adds that as Camino's long-time student and friend, he not only is one of her biggest supporters of her yoga business but also of her community outreach efforts, which is why he designed the "Yoga Dudes" bike racks for her.

"I wanted to support Marcia's good work at her studio and in the community. The bike rack and the fundraiser were logical ways to help," says Smith, who has turned his passion for metalworking into a career over the past 12 years.

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Lakewood's Pink Lotus Yoga Studio Kicks Off PLY Outreach Endeavor with Special Celebration on Sept. 29

GRANDVILLE, MI -- What once began as an ad on Craigslist has transformed into a newly-opened yoga studio near RiverTown Crossings.

Vida Yoga Studio, 4365 Canal Ave., opened last week after owner Jen Wittlinger and her friend, Jami Kok, dreamed up the idea over coffee in January.

Its been a labor of love and Im grateful for all the support of our friends and family, Wittlinger said.

The word Vida means life. Wittlinger hopes her yoga studio will bring just that to everyone who walks through its doors.

I want to take any insecurities out of yoga and just have people try it, she said. To get into yourself.

Vida Yoga offers a variety of classes geared toward experienced yoga enthusiasts, as well as those who have never heard the word, Namaste, a common yoga term meaning true self.

Wittlinger will teach beginners the dos and donts of yoga during the Never Ever yoga class on Thursday evenings.

Well be sitting down and Ill give the basic yoga 101 class think of it as yoga etiquette, she said. Yoga is for everyone its for the athlete and the dreamer. Its a great place to start.

For those more experienced in yoga, there are six various classes, including Vida Sunrise, a morning session where tea and coffee are provided after class, as well as Rock Your Vida, a powerful class that turns on the heat and the music.

Prices range from $14 for a one-time class up to $99 for 10 classes, in addition to monthly and yearly membership discounts.

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Vida Yoga opens in Grandville to entice beginners and devotees

A new yoga studio set to open in Lexington Center later this fall will be the first to benefit from amended zoning regulations allowing group fitness establishments in second-floor locations in Lexingtons Center Business District.

Yolanda Taylor of Lexington and Jillian McDonough of Woburn are planning to open Lexington Power Yoga on Oct. 1 at 1762 Massachusetts Ave.

We have a focus and a drive to cater to the community, and we want the community involved, McDonough said. The difference between our yoga studio and others, that I think people will see immediately, is we want to provide a place that is clean and comfortable for people to go to.

Unexpected partnership

Originally, Taylor and McDonough were each independently looking to open a yoga studio in Lexington Center.

Taylor said she looked at several first-floor locations before she learned about a zoning change that would her to explore second-floor locations, which proved much more affordable.

I had looked at one pretty seriously and it was just hard to justify economically because it was basically double the price on the first floor, she said. Yoga isnt something you are kind of casually walking down the street and say, Oh, I think I might do some yoga in my jeans. So you dont need the first-floor location as much.

After months of searching for the right location, both Taylor and McDonough settled on a spot above Rancatores Ice Cream at the corner of Mass. Ave. and Waltham Street. Rather than bid against each other, they decided to become business partners.

It thankfully so happened that we crossed paths before both of us signed the lease, McDonough said.

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Yoga studio to open in Lexington Center

Washington, DC (PRWEB) September 17, 2012

Fitness Together, Inc was awarded the "Best of the Best" designation by Follow Media Consulting, Inc. for excellence in the field of personal fitness in the Washington, DC metro area in the categories of Fitness Fairfax VA, Gym in Fairfax and Fairfax Fitness.

Established in 1996, Fitness Together Franchise Corporation has led the industry for one-on-one personal fitness training. Whether clients are looking to lose weight, tone and tighten muscles or simply work toward better health, Fitness Together pairs clients with a personal trainer in a private setting equipped with a workout plan tailored just for them. The reason why they have such great results is very simple. Fitness Together provides a private, personal and complete approach. No shortcuts. No gimmicks.

Named one of the best SEO Companies by Jonas Marketing, Follow Media Consulting, Inc. is a rapidly growing worldwide firm of SEO, Social Media, and Mobile Marketing Professionals. Follow Media Consulting, Inc. headquarters is located in Richmond, VA. However, our professional team is networked across the world, with regional offices across the United States, in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, South Africa, the Philippines, and India.

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Fitness Fairfax VA and Gym in Fairfax "Best of the Best" Awarded to Fitness Together for Excellence in the Field of ...

SAN RAMON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

24 Hour Fitness, one of the nations leading fitness club chains, is excited to announce the much-anticipated grand opening of its first club in Virginia, located at 1000 E. Broad Street in the City of Falls Church on Friday, Sept. 21 at 6:00 a.m. To celebrate, a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on opening day at 9:00 a.m., hosted by 24 Hour Fitness president and CEO Carl Liebert alongside special guest Falls Church Mayor Nader Baroukh.

24 Hour Fitness is proud to become a member of the Falls Church community and serve as not only a fitness resource for the thousands of people who call it home, but also as a role model for helping people live active, healthy lives, said Dan Benning, division president, 24 Hour Fitness. We are thrilled to have received such a warm welcome and look forward to supporting the fitness goals of this community for many years to come.

As an avid supporter of military personnel and their families, 24 Hour Fitness will also present 100 memberships to the National Military Family Association during the ribbon cutting ceremony. The association is dedicated to improving lives of military families of all ranks and service branches.

24 Hour Fitness invites the community to experience the new club and join the following festivities on Sept. 21:

We are excited that our residents now have a brand new fitness club available to help them pursue healthy and active lifestyles, said Mayor Nader Baroukh. With the arrival of a fitness leader like 24 Hour Fitness, were proud to demonstrate that the City of Falls Church is a great community to not only live, but also an ideal place to establish and grow a business.

Additionally, in honor of the local community, 24 Hour Fitness will donate $13,000 in sporting equipment to Baileys Community Center in partnership with Good Sports. Hundreds of pieces of equipment including basketballs, baseball gear, helmets, nets, soccer equipment, sport uniforms, volleyballs and more will be made available to approximately 150 children and teenagers who use the center each day. Baileys Community Center is operated by the Fairfax County Department of Community and Recreation and hosts activities for county residents of all ages including senior programs, after-school activities, youth mentoring and tutoring programs, health and technology classes, prevention programs and sports.

We know this is a community with deep respect for our nations heritage and history, which 24 Hour Fitness also shares through our support of youth, families, and the thousands of men and women in the U.S. armed services, said Carl Liebert, president and CEO, 24 Hour Fitness. We are honored that the City of Falls Church joins us for this milestone celebration. Our grand opening marks our first club in Virginia and the start of many years supporting fitness in this community.

Darren Bluffin, a 14-year veteran of 24 Hour Fitness, will oversee more than 100 team members as club manager of the more than 48,000 square foot club. The club will feature a wide variety of amenities and fitness resources for members and guests to enjoy, including:

For more information about memberships, club amenities, group exercise classes, personal training services and more, guests are welcome to stop by the new 24 Hour Fitness Falls Church Super-Sport club or visit 24hourfitness.com.

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24 Hour Fitness Opens First Club in Virginia and Hosts Grand Opening on Sept. 21

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Fitbit, the market leader in the Digital Health & Fitness category, unveiled two new trackers today, the Fitbit Zip Wireless Activity Tracker and the Fitbit One Activity + Sleep Trackerreinventing the category once again. The first all-day digital health & fitness trackers to offer Bluetooth 4.0/Smart compatibility, Zip and One have been redesigned to fit more seamlessly into peoples everyday lives, making it easier than ever to count steps taken, distance traveled and calories burned, track your fitness trends, challenge and share with others, and earn fitness badges.

In addition to the two new trackers, Fitbit also released an updated iPhone app to allow these trackers to sync through Bluetooth Smart devices, like the iPhone 4S. The free Fitbit app, available on all iPhones and Android devices, now allows you to track activity charts and leaderboards and log food and other workouts on the go. Starting in October, your fitness stats will sync automatically to notify you when you are near or meet your daily goals and share your standings on fitness challenges in real time. Like earlier Fitbit trackers, Zip and One also wirelessly and automatically upload your information to any computer for deeper insight and more information.

People are growing increasingly aware about how little we move and how we need to move more throughout the day, said James Park, CEO and founder of Fitbit. Fitbit is dedicated to helping people achieve health and fitness with products that are well designed, beautiful, easy, and fit seamlessly into their lives. To get people moving, we know that people want a tracker that will accurately inform and motivate them to move throughout the day. We are launching Zip and One to encourage our users to get fitin their own way.

Zip is offered in retail stores and at Fitbit.com for $59.95; One, which will replace the best-selling Ultra, will be available for sale later this fall at $99.95.

Add a Little Zip to Your Step

Available in five bright colors, Zip makes fitness fun for everyone and is priced to be the perfect gift for yourself or a fitness friend. Zip captures and provides your everyday activity stats in real time, including steps taken, distance traveled and calories burned, to encourage you to walk more and be more active, wherever you are. About the size of a quarter, Zip easily slips into your pocket for the day and comes with a small silicone clip that the Zip tracker snaps into and can be clipped snugly onto the inside or outside of your clothes.

Fitbit Zip features and benefits include:

Tracking Day and Night. All in One.

The Fitbit One Wireless Activity + Sleep Tracker is the redesigned flagship product that encourages people to be more active and helps them learn how to sleep bettertwo keys to a healthy, active life. It tracks steps, distance, calories burned, even stairs climbed, and also monitors how long and how well you sleep. The Fitbit One also has a Silent Wake alarm that gently vibrates when worn on your wrist at night to wake you without waking your sleep partner.

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Fitbit Gets People Moving With Launch of Two New Digital Health Trackers

Retirement! For many, the very word conjures up images of freedom an escape from the demands and drudgery of work; a chance to travel and pursue much neglected avocations; and the time to really enjoy the company of family and friends.

Retirement is supposed to be an exciting new stage of adventure and self-determination. Unfortunately, the reality is both different and much more complex.

In two groundbreaking studies, Ameriprise Financial, a major U.S. financial planning firm, found that retirement is not an end state but more of a series of separate and foreseeable stages through which people move. Understanding and planning for the challenges posed by this odyssey can improve the odds of having a successful journey. Here are the six stages:

Imagination

This stage occurs anywhere 6 to 15 years before the planned date of retirement. People begin to envision being retired even while they are busy with other priorities such a launching their children and paying down their mortgages.

Generally speaking, their outlook is optimistic and enthusiastic, even adventurous, as a picture of retirement begins to form in their minds.

Hesitation

In Ameriprises original study in 2005, this stage didnt exist. However, their 2010 study found that a new stage of worry and hesitation emerges 3 to 5 years before retirement, a consequence of the market meltdown during the global credit crisis.

With retirement approaching, people begin to worry about their preparedness and many begin more detailed planning, often with a financial advisor. The question will we have enough becomes paramount.

Anticipation

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The odyssey of retirement planning