EBSCO's new visual search

EBSCOhost has recently updated it Visual Search, for the better. It now is Flash-based and no longer uses Grokker or those awful circles. The visual search is more user friendly, but I do not think it makes the quality or relevance review of articles any easier or faster. I think one might be more quick to dismiss an article in the visual search interface versus the normal list interface (I see a study on the horizon). Plus, one is not able to search a specific field unless he knows the field codes (e.g. SO = Journal). I am now contemplating how to teach this search interface during my instruction. View EBSCO's Flash demo of the new Visual Search and try it yourself. Select one of the EBSCO databases (e.g. Academic Search Complete, Business Resource Center), then select visual search.

EDUCAUSE 2008 Horizon Report released

The 2008 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report(PDF) was recently released and it provides quality information to help institutions, faculty, and students to better understand trends in technology and higher education. The report discusses six emerging technologies, critical challenges to higher education institutions, and significant trends. Some of the report restates what is already known, but places the information in context and provides a time line for adoption. This report is always worth the time to read.