Techno-News Blog

by the Southern Education Foundation

For the first time in recent history, a majority of the schoolchildren attending the nation’s public schools come from low income families. The latest data collected from the states by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), evidence that 51 percent of the students across he nation’s public schools were low income in 2013. The pattern was spread across the nation. Half or more of the public schoolchildren in 21 states were eligible to receive free or reduced-price lunches, a benefit available only to families living in poverty or near-poverty in 2013. In 19 other states, low income students constituted between 40 percent and 49 percent of the states’ public school enrollment. In other words, very high proportions of low income students were evident in four-fifths of the 50 states in 2013.

http://www.southerneducation.org/getattachment/4ac62e27-5260-47a5-9d02-14896ec3a531/A-New-Majority-2015-Update-Low-Income-Students-Now.aspx

By Yasal MunimPublished, Express Tribune

In the contemporary digital era, the learning environment is not merely restricted to the classroom setting. The myriads of resources available on the internet allow students to access a vast domain of knowledge, which, if used properly can turn them into creative thinkers. The scope of the transformation triggered by technology in the lives of students was discussed on the first day of the School of Tomorrow conference in a session titled ‘Brave New Digital World: Dream or nightmare’. “I think rather than deliberating the advantages of the digital revolution of the classrooms we need to realise that it is already here,” said Karachi Institute of Technology and Entrepreneurship founder Afaque Riaz Ahmed. “It is up to us now to use it in a way to benefit the society.”

http://tribune.com.pk/story/1000322/digitally-yours-redefining-the-learning-space/

by Philadelphia Sun

Students don’t need to take a break from earning credits over winter break. Community College of Philadelphia will offer affordable online courses during the 2015 winter break to help students and guest students from other colleges and universities accelerate degree completion. “These three-credit courses will require 6-8 hours of work daily, so students must be committed to dedicating their time to the coursework and be prepared for a fast pace over the course of the four-week term,” said Dr. Samuel Hirsch, vice president for Student Affairs.

http://www.philasun.com/color-of-money/community-college-of-philadelphia-turn-winter-break-into-a-path-to-completion/

by Mark Brown, Helen Hughes, Mike Keppell, Natasha Hard & Liz Smith, IRRODL

Online and distance learning is becoming increasingly common. Some would say it has quickly become the preferred or ‘new normal’ mode of study throughout the world. However, surprisingly little is known about what actually happens to first year distance students once they have enrolled in tertiary institutions; what motivates them and how they actually experience the transition to formal study by distance. This gap in the literature presents a challenge for distance education providers who, worldwide, are coming under increasing scrutiny in light of poor retention, progression, and completion rates. Against this backdrop, the purpose of the current study was to gather insights and seek a deeper understanding from first-time distance learners about the nature of their experiences.

http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/1647/3448

By Cathie Norris, Elliot Soloway, THE Journal

For good economic and pedagogical reasons, by and large computers have been used in K-12 classrooms as supplemental, not as essential, elements of the curriculum. And research has shown that supplemental use of computers does not lead to increased student achievement. However, as we describe more fully below, four events are in the works that, taken together, provide the enabling condition for the creation of a new — revolutionary — generation of curricula, where the computer is an essential element, inextricably interwoven in the everyday activities of students. Truly, the opportunity to dramatically impact K-12 teaching and learning is at hand!

https://thejournal.com/articles/2015/11/18/the-perfect-storm-4-conditions-align-for-a-revolution-in-curriculum-development.aspx

By Laura Devaney, eSchool News

A free Minecraft coding tutorial from Microsoft, created for the upcoming and third annual Hour of Code, introduces players ages 6 and older to basic coding contained within the popular “sandbox” game, so named because players have freedom to build and do anything they wish inside the world they create. The tutorial was unveiled on Nov. 16 by Microsoft, Mojang AB, and Code.org and was created especially for students and educators. Code.org‘s Hour of Code is a campaign intended to expand global participation in computer science activities. It is held during Computer Science Education Week, which this year runs from Dec. 7-13. The tutorial, now available for free online, doesn’t require you to have the game installed.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/11/18/minecraft-tutorial-059/

By Bridget McCrea, eCampus News

For the most part, ePortfolios are seen as online, digital repositories where college students can house their work for sharing with potential employers and other interested parties. Projects, resumes, artwork and designs, work samples, video clips, awards, honors, and myriad other materials can be neatly organized and presented in a digital fashion, making it easy for employers to access and review the work at their fingertips. But what happens when you take the original ePortfolio concept and expand its horizons to include other purposes? In “The Changing Landscape of ePortfolios,” The Australasian Journal of Educational Technology examined one Australian university’s integration of ePortfolio tools with learning and teaching outcomes across numerous disciplines and learning contexts

http://www.ecampusnews.com/technologies/eportfolios-college-classroom-077/

By Ran Oelgiesser, eCampus News

Student meetings, course requests and more can be streamlined with online tools to reduce time wastes for faculty and admin. Thanksgiving has just ended and faculty and academic staff will soon dive into a full spring course load post holiday season. Professionals in the education industry know that meetings, paperwork, and other administrative tasks can be just as important to ensure a successful school year. However, they can often take up too much of an educator’s time. A study conducted at Boise St University in 2014 estimated these administrative tasks are taking up 30 percent of an education professional’s weekly workload, taking away from their abilities to properly serve their students.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/technologies/admin-online-tools-910/

By Abi Mandelbaum, eCampus News

From recruitment to distance learning, and from alumni relations to more culturally diverse courses, virtual reality has mass appeal to today’s institutions. Virtual reality (VR) is emerging as a powerful technology, projected to grow into a $30 billion industry in the next 5 years. Major brands across various industries have already begun using VR as a marketing tool to get customers to try their product, service, or visit their location. But when it comes to higher education, has VR’s dramatic rise impacted colleges and universities?

http://www.ecampusnews.com/technologies/colleges-virtual-reality-941/