Shameless Bit of Self-Promotion :)

Since I have chosen never to post anonymously on Degreeinfo (anyone with Google can find me easily on the Internet), I suppose this also means that I can engage in a shameless bit of self-promotion without having to blow my cover

Next, week, I shall be delivering the Keynote Address at the 10th Annual Distance Learning Administration Conference in Savannah, GA. DLA is the only conference, of which I am aware, geared primarily to those who oversee distance learning programs.

DLA Conference - UWG

While I am at it. A Paper co-authored with my Associate Dean and my LMS Administrator was published recently in e-Mentor, a peer-reviewed international journal edited at the University of Warsaw.

e-mentor :: Investigating and Implementing Online Student Identity Verification

Finally, last week, I was attending a concert of steel guitar virtuoso Robert Randolph and the Family Band, when Robert invited an audience member to come on stage as a guest guitarist for a song. My wife volunteered me and someone recorded most of it.

YouTube - ‪Tony Piña playing guitar with Robert Randolph & the Family Band‬‏

It has been a rather busy couple of weeks. I have now finished shameless self-promotion...now back to regular programming.

 

Wow!!!!!!!!! How cool is that!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Dr. Pina. Thanks for posting those links.

Abner

 

Robert Randolph is sick. I love when he plays with the Dave Matthews Band. The Bayou live with him playing is amazing. I've also seen him play with Aerosmith. The guy always amazes with what he can do.

Is that conference open to anyone? I'll be home in Charleston next week and Savannah is a short drive.

 

Very nice. Congratulations.

 

Woah, very nice! Congrats that you even got it on video. I think these kind of "memories" are sometimes more "valuable" than all the degrees we collect

 

Wow! Congratz Dr. Pina, awesome indeed.

 

That is beyond cool!! Congratulations as it sure looked like you enjoyed yourself on stage with Robert Randolph.

 

Yes, but one must register at the conference and pay the fee. Info is at Distance Learning Conference - UWG - DLA Conference Main Page

 

He also toured with Eric Clapton and is on Clapton's Crossroads Festival DVD. When I was on stage, I was thinking "Here I am, standing where Clapton stood when he played with Robert."

 

I had an absolute blast. I had just planned to attend a concert...I never dreamed that I would have the chance to become part of it. Robert Randolph is an amazing musician. His sister and two of his cousins are in his band (hence the "Family Band") and they all traded instruments with each other. Quite impressive.

 

Great job! Congrats on the recognition! It's nice when we can be recognized for our hard work. I'm getting ready to publish my first article in a peer reviewed journal in late June. With another one to follow in August. I'm nervous and excited. As a DL instructor we are in the throws of trying to figure out the student verification process. We are getting ready to try AXIOM for summer and fall. I'm off to view the link. I'm concerned about trying to require our totally DL students to come on campus for exams to verify their identity. If you have any suggestions or hear anything good please share. We are a poor community college in rural NC that just had our budget cut 15%. Faculty haven't had raises in 4 years and it will probably 4-5 before we see any. So we are trying to find inexpensive alternatives that fit the DOE and SACS requirement. I'm on the DL committee and it isn't easy! I'll take any help and suggestions I can get.

 

I would be happy to help. Earlier this month, I was invited to Clark Atlanta University, to meet with the President, Executive Council, Deans and selected faculty to discuss issued related to the establishment of distance learning and technology integration programs. It was quite a honor to meet with wonderful and enlightened individuals who are concerned about the right things (learning, teaching, student services and staff development), rather than seeing DL as a fast buck.

Acxiom has worked well for us and is a nice alternative to more unwieldy and invasive identification technologies.