Techno-News Blog

January 24, 2015

Google Glass Pilot: Lessons Learned So Far

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By Jim Dutcher, Campus Technology

In the early days of piloting Google Glass for hands-on, experiential learning, SUNY Cobleskill’s CIO shares what IT and faculty are learning from the project. Our Project WAVE-ExSEL pilot began with an initial baseline project plan as per the grant requirements (and more importantly as needed in any proper IT management capacity). But once any project starts, it inevitably needs to be changed as circumstances and environmental factors dictate. So far we are in the implementation stages of the project, before we go live with Google Glass in academic labs this semester. We have to go through a number of technology iterations during these initial sprints. With each iteration, we want to be able to reflect on what went right and what could be improved. Plus, just being reminded of the lessons learned/re-learned helps establish good long-term habits.

http://campustechnology.com/articles/2015/01/14/google-glass-pilot-lessons-learned-so-far.aspx

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Is Online Learning an Institutional Fit?

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by Vickie Cook, Evolllution

Many institutions and their leaders make assumptions about online learning that are often false or simply incomplete as they plan to enter this marketplace. These assumptions include how an online program initiative should be approached, who the stakeholders are, institutional infrastructure support required for online learning, governance and organizational structure for online learning and the sustainability of the online learning courses and program offered.  While not comprehensive or customized to a specific organization, the following list may be helpful to the institution considering adding or energizing an online learning program.

http://www.evolllution.com/featured/online-learning-institutional-fit/

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January 23, 2015

Growth in Flipped Learning

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by eLearning Marketplace

In last couple of years we have seen significant growth in the number of teachers who are using the flipped model of blended learning. This shouldn’t really be a surprise as the majority of teachers using this model give very positive feedback about the impact on learners and results. What is interesting though is the fact that the flipped learning model is not generally driven by leaders of schools, colleges or businesses, but initiated by the teachers themselves. In the infographic below 93% of the 2,358 teachers surveyed said they started the flipped model using their own initiative. This contradicts what we would always advise that learning and development strategy driven by leaders is the most effective way of achieving change within an organisation. In the case of the flipped model it appears that teachers themselves are driving the change.

http://www.elearningmarketplace.co.uk/growth-in-flipped-blended-learning/

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Donor seeks to offer ‘freshman year for free’ through online college courses

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by Nick Anderson, Washington Post

A New York philanthropist announced a $1 million donation Wednesday that aims to make that possible through an online venture overseen by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. Steven B. Klinsky’s idea is for students to take foundational courses through the online venture edX that would prepare them for College Board examinations in various subjects. Those who pass enough Advanced Placement or College-Level Examination Program tests conceivably would be able to enter college as sophomores. That would cut the price of a bachelor’s degree by a quarter. Klinsky’s vision — “freshman year for free” — echoes in spirit what Obama proposed last week. The president wants Congress to approve $60 billion over the next decade for a partnership with states that would eliminate community college tuition for “responsible students” who get adequate grades and make academic progress.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/donor-seeks-to-offer-freshman-year-for-free-through-online-college-courses/2015/01/14/e4599b38-9c11-11e4-a7ee-526210d665b4_story.html

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Favorite Feedback: Fact and Fiction

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by Turnitin

A very interesting infographic, Exploring the Disconnect between Students and Educators, has been produced by Turnitin. Educators work hard to give their students thoughtful feedback on their work. But how helpful do students find that feedback? The infographic below explores the disconnect between their views, as shown in our study of over 2,000 students and educators (September 2014).

http://www.turnitin.com/assets/en_us/media/favorite-feedback

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January 22, 2015

15 E-Learning statistics you need to know for 2015

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by Training Zone

It’s the beginning of a new year and 2015 looks set to be an exciting one for E-Learning! Just before Christmas, we brought you 10 Key E-Learning Trends for 2015 and today we’ve compiled for you a handy infographic with the fifteen E-Learning statistics you need to know for 2015. The digital learning scene changes and expands so fast, it can hard to keep up sometimes. We hope our statistics will help give you an idea of the power of E-Learning and the traits of leading learning organisations!

http://www.trainingzone.co.uk/blogs-post/15-e-learning-statistics-you-need-know-2015/188198

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These 6 questions determine if you’re technology rich, innovation poor

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By Alan November, eSchool News

Think your school is innovative with tech? Answer these 6 questions and prepare to reassess innovation. questions. At the start of a webinar I recently conducted for school leaders, I asked attendees if they felt they were leading an innovative school as a result of the implementation of technology. More than 90 percent responded that they were. At the end of the webinar, when polled again, only one leader claimed to be leading an innovative school. The complete reversal was due to a presentation on the six questions that you will read about in this article—a list of questions that were developed to help clarify for educators the unique added value of a digital learning environment, and whether their assignments were making the best use of this environment. Want to test your own level of innovation? The questions we ask to evaluate implementation and define innovation are critical.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/01/13/questions-innovation-303/

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Teaching Rudimentary Coding Concepts to Students

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By Edudemic

After I tested Lightbot for a week in my classroom and analyzed other online reviews, I can unreservedly endorse it as the best educational programming game for iOS and Android. Relative to competitors, Lightbot has a stronger educational orientation and simpler explanations of complex concepts. With Lightbot, educators can not only familiarize students with basic programming, but can also hone students’ problem-solving and logical-reasoning skills. Lightbot is a cut above similar apps, thanks to its simple design and pedagogical focus. Read on to learn how Lightbot works and what makes it the preferred programming education tool.

http://www.edudemic.com/lightbot-teaching-rudimentary-coding-concepts-to-students/

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January 21, 2015

Report: Kick back online learning profits to faculty

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By Ron Bethke, eCampus News

“What is clear is that relying on the volunteer efforts of a few faculty with entrepreneurial spirits will not bring the widespread change that is going to be effective in the long run.” Want faculty to adopt the latest in tech-enhanced learning? Kick back some of the profits (e.g. revenue from online learning programs), says a new report. According to this new report published by Ithaka S+R with support from the Lumina Foundation, public research universities are cutting costs and increasing access effectively thanks not only to a host of new technologies, but sound implementation and a focus on faculty motivation. Initiated by public research universities, the report, Technology-Enhanced Education at Public Flagship Universities: Opportunities and Challenges, gathered the findings of 214 administrators, online learning directors, chief financial officers, career services staff, and department chairs at 10 major universities.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/technologies/technology-faculty-motivation-606/

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Innovations in Mobile Learning

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By Andrew R. McIlvaine, Human Resource Executive Online

Mobile learning may have gotten off to a slow start, but it seems the trend is now getting some momentum. The latest Sierra-Cedar HR Systems Survey report shows mobile-enhanced process adoption grew by 30 percent last year compared to 2013. Survey respondents plan to double their use of mobile this year compared to 2014. A white paper released by Tagoras, a technology consulting firm in Carrboro, N.C., finds 89 percent of 200 respondents to a survey for its Association Learning + Technology report saying their organizations offer some form of e-learning, and a third of them (37 percent) offer a mobile version for at least some of that content. Another 28 percent said they had plans to offer mobile learning this year. One of the most interesting mobile-learning trends witnessed by Steve Fiehl, chief innovation officer at New York-based e-learning provider CrossKnowledge, has been the “mobile first” strategy: Conceptualizing learning experiences for mobile devices first, rather than designing them for the PC and then transferring them to mobile.

http://www.hreonline.com/HRE/view/story.jhtml?id=534358158

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One Reason to Offer Free Online Courses: Alumni Engagement

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By Casey Fabris, Chronicle of Higher Ed

Conversations about the atomic bomb can go only so far among a classroom of 20-somethings. It’s hard for today’s students to imagine living in 1945, experiencing a world war, or, for most, serving in the military. But bring alumni—with many more years of experience to share—into the equation, and class discussions can get a lot more interesting. That’s what Karen Harpp is doing in her Colgate University course “The Advent of the Atomic Bomb.”

http://chronicle.com/article/One-Reason-to-Offer-Free/151163/

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January 20, 2015

William Mitchell welcomes its first hybrid ‘online’ law school class

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by MAURA LERNER , Star Tribune

Vershawn Young, a college professor from Canada, started his first day of law school on Monday. So did Dr. Brooke Baker, an anesthesiologist from New Mexico. But they won’t have much time to learn their way around their St. Paul campus. By this weekend, they’ll be heading home. They’re part of the first “hybrid” class at the William Mitchell College of Law — which means they’ll be doing most of their coursework online. Until now, no accredited law school in the country has offered such an option. But on Monday, William Mitchell became the first one. It welcomed an eclectic group of 85 students, ranging in age from their 20s to their 60s, who jumped at the chance to pioneer a version of law school that, some say, could be the wave of the future.

http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/288350831.html

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Where the Internet of Things Could Take Society by 2025

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By Tanya Roscorla, Center for Digital Education

Picture this: A world flooded with a sea of data from every connected device on the planet — devices found in and on human bodies, in homes, around communities, in products, and in the natural environment. And these devices on the Internet of Things are sharing information constantly with the promise of making people’s lives better. But the government, corporations and criminals can all tap into these data streams and use what they find for evil, if they so choose. And that tension comes through loud and clear in a report on the Internet of Things that includes opinions from more than 1,600 experts.

http://www.centerdigitaled.com/news/Where-the-Internet-of-Things-Could-Take-Society-by-2025-.html

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San Jose State, Cisco High-Tech Deal Ran Into Problem at Outset

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By Katy Murphy, The Oakland Tribune

San Jose State got a steep discount on Cisco products for a $28 million technology upgrade it launched in 2012, but there was a catch: The deal was good for only six months. In the first four weeks alone — for a project expected to span five years — San Jose State ordered more than $16 million worth of products and services from Cisco reseller Nexus IS and later stashed the gear in storage areas across the campus. An investigation by this newspaper reveals how that acquisition spree set the stage for what happened next: a theft that cost the campus roughly $800,000.

http://www.centerdigitaled.com/news/San-Jose-State-Cisco-Problem.html

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January 19, 2015

INFOGRAPHIC: 5 ways to strengthen higher ed-tech security in 2015

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by eCampus News

What can higher ed institutions do to protect their data and their students’ data? Learn 5 ways to protect data and meet compliance. 35 percent of all security breaches take place in higher education. 500+ security breaches have occurred at 320+ higher ed institutions since 2005–a rate of just over 1 security breach per week. These are just some of the sobering findings from recent research, with sources that include EDUCAUSE and the SANS Institute, and compiled into an infographic by SysCloud–a company that helps enterprises and educational institutions more easily transition to Google Apps and ensure continued safeguarding of their users’ data.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/safety-and-security/infographic-stregthen-security-738/

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How to Use Social Media as a Learning Tool in the Classroom

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By Edudemic

Social media is an ingrained part of today’s society. Our students are constantly on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and likely many sites we’re not hip enough to know about, and by reading this blog, you’re interacting with social media at this very moment. If you want to bring the “real world” into the classroom, consider integrating social media into your lessons. When used carefully, social media can be a useful tool rather than a distraction. A recent Edutopia blog post argues that using social media not only brings current technology to the classroom, but it also helps bridge the digital divide among lower-income students. These students may not have the constant access to social media that their counterparts do. Why should they be left behind as technology continues to march forward?

http://www.edudemic.com/how-to-use-social-media-as-a-learning-tool-in-the-classroom/

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Chief digital officer title gaining steam on campuses

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by Keith Button, Digital Dive
More universities and colleges are creating chief digital officer positions to help manage online learning and other digital initiatives. Part of the reason for the movement may be that higher education institutions believe that they need more structure and accountability for online and digital learning beyond what the chief information officer provides, Campus Technology reported. Splitting information technology duties between the CIO, CDO, and potentially other IT silos could dilute campus IT leadership.

by Keith Button, Digital Divehttp://www.educationdive.com/news/chief-digital-officer-title-gaining-steam-on-campuses/351268/

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January 18, 2015

Virtual school offers alternatives to Sanilac students

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by Syeda Ferguson, Times Herald

An online public school for grades 6-12 is opening up alternatives to the traditional public school model in Sanilac County. Blue Water Virtual School is the result of a partnership between Carsonville-Port Sanilac and Croswell-Lexington Community Schools. In its second full year, the school has an enrollment of 28 students. It targets students who either are home-schooled or not attending public school. Students who are attending traditional middle school or high school also can take online courses through Blue Water Virtual for high school credit. Blue Water Virtual School was a money-saving move, the school’s coordinator, Russell Clark, said.

http://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/local/2015/01/11/virtual-school-offers-alternatives-sanilac-students/21605181/

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Simon & Schuster to Sell Online Courses Taught by Popular Authors

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By ALEXANDRA ALTERJAN, NY Times

Simon & Schuster is making a push into paid online video, with a new website offering online courses from popular health, finance and self-help authors. The cost of the first batch of online courses ranges from $25 to $85, and includes workbooks and access to live question-and-answer sessions with three authors: Dr. David B. Agus, the best-selling author of “The End of Illness”; Zhena Muzyka, who wrote the self-help book “Life by the Cup”; and Tosha Silver, the author of the spiritual advice book “Outrageous Openness.” The courses will be available on the authors’ individual websites and on the company’s new site, SimonSays.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/12/business/media/simon-schuster-to-sell-online-courses-taught-by-popular-authors.html?_r=0

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eLearning as good as traditional training for health professionals

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by Imperial College London

Electronic learning could enable millions more students to train as doctors and nurses worldwide, according to research. A review commissioned by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and carried out by Imperial College London researchers concludes that eLearning is likely to be as effective as traditional methods for training health professionals. eLearning, the use of electronic media and devices in education, is already used by some universities to support traditional campus-based teaching or enable distance learning. Wider use of eLearning might help to address the need to train more health workers across the globe. According to a recent WHO report, the world is short of 7.2 million healthcare professionals, and the figure is growing.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-01/icl-eag010815.php

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January 17, 2015

EdX Offers Amazon Web Services Credit for Course Completion

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By HANNAH SMATI, Harvard Crimson

When edX courses Entrepreneurship 101 and 102 opened Friday, enrollees had an extra incentive to complete the courses: Users who pass either class will receive $1,000 in credit to spend on Amazon Web Services. “[The Amazon offer] is to provide a valuable incentive for people to take and finish the course,” edX spokesperson Nancy Moss said. According to the edX blog post announcing the offer, students who pass either course can participate in web training, attend virtual office hours with experts, and receive assistance from companies that help start-ups.

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2015/1/11/edx-amazon-credit-offer/

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