Techno-News Blog

by Trefis Team, Forbes

LinkedIn now appears to be working on several initiatives to accelerate the revenue generation from this platform. The company recently announced that Linda.com is introducing ‘Learning Paths’ for its subscribers to help them stay ahead in their current jobs or acquire the necessary knowledge and skills if they are looking to make a career pivot. The step by step structured courses in ‘Learning Paths’ include several skills such as Web Development, Digital Marketing and 50 other such programs. We believe this initiative, which is currently targeted towards individual professionals, can also be expanded at an enterprise level, thus boosting LinkedIn’s revenues from this segment.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2016/04/05/can-learning-paths-boost-linkedins-education-revenues/#409dd97173cd

by Lydia Dishman, Fast Company

Data scientist is one of the most in demand jobs of the future. These three companies are trying to fill the skills gap. Harvard Business Review once called it “the sexiest job of the 21st century.” Data scientist is not only the top job this year (the position ranked number one on Glassdoor’s top jobs for 2016) but based on hiring demand and the potential for salary growth it’s poised to be the top job in the future as well. But there may not be enough people to fill it. A McKinsey report predicted that by 2018, “the United States alone could face a shortage of 140,000 to 190,000 people with deep analytical skills, as well as 1.5 million managers and analysts with the know-how to use the analysis of big data to make effective decisions.”

http://www.fastcompany.com/3058502/the-future-of-work/how-to-satisfy-demand-for-the-biggest-job-of-the-21st-century

by LISA KATZ, Crain’s Business

According to data from the Workforce Intelligence Network for Southeast Michigan (WIN), 40 percent of job postings identify communications skills — including verbal, written, and interpersonal skills — as a need. It is likely that the true number of job postings emphasizing communications skills is even higher, but the attribute is not specifically stated in the posting. WIN’s Eureka Report on preparing the workforce for innovative and disruptive technologies further underscores this research: It found that employers are less concerned about young peoples’ technical skills and more concerned about their abilities to relate and engage with others in the workplace.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20160405/BLOG107/160409927/communications-is-next-top-technical-skill

by AACSB

This is a vision for a future where business schools are drivers of change. Where business schools change the narrative about the role of business education, and of business, in society. Where business schools respond to the world’s demands to be more inventive. More daring. More connected. More agile. And even more impactful. This is a vision that challenges business schools to examine their relationship to society, to the business community, and to the higher education landscape. It will mean thinking, organizing, and acting in ways that have thus far been unusual or underdeveloped. It will mean incorporating new models and strategies and devoting renewed attention to economic, environmental, and personal well-being for all populations around the world.

http://www.aacsb.edu/~/media/ManagementEducation/docs/collective-vision-for-business-education.ashx

By Paul Riismandel, Streaming Media

Both inside and outside the classroom, video is as essential to students as email and Wi-Fi. Look for live streaming to increase in higher-ed, especially for popular events. Online video in education is the new normal. To grasp the full impact of that declaration, it’s important to take a step back from thinking only about memories of our own classrooms. Sure, video has come a long way in traditional teaching environments—something I won’t neglect in this review. But video takes a central role in learning in general. By the looks of it, LinkedIn agrees. Last April the company spent $1.5 billion to acquire Lynda.com, an early—and profitable—pioneer in providing skills-based video courses online. Lynda is a go-to destination to gain proficiency in areas such as web design, as well as courses on topics as diverse as accounting fundamentals and “The Neuroscience of Learning.”

http://www.streamingmedia.com/Articles/Editorial/Featured-Articles/The-State-of-Education-Video-2016-110211.aspx

by Marguerite Ward, CNBC

If you ever wanted an Ivy League education on your resume without the Ivy League sticker price, there are a few ways to do it. But are these classes really worth the effort? The answer is yes … with some caveats. In recent years, free and open online classes from colleges like Harvard and Yale have taken off as Ivy League schools seek to make some of their courses more accessible. Experts say these courses are starting to gain traction in the job market. Completing a massive open online course (MOOC) or certificate shows an employer that a job candidate is motivated and curious — and that could potentially set them apart from other applicants, career experts said. But it won’t necessarily land you a new job.

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/05/how-to-get-a-free-ivy-educationand-boost-your-career.html

by SHANNON WILLIAMS, IT Brief

ALISON founder Mike Feerick says global inequality and the skills gap is one of the biggest challenges facing governments, and free online education is one of the most powerful modern tools available to address it. However, he says governments and advisors are looking in the wrong places for answers, and asking the wrong people for solutions. “We have been stopping people from educating themselves, and stopping those who can teach from having a wider impact,” Feerick explains. Speaking at SXSW in Texas, Feerick says there are three policies that governments could implement to radically propel online learning for all societies. “Firstly, governments could mandate that free online informal learning becomes an integral part of any hiring decisions across public and semi-state recruitment,” he says. “It would comprehensively deliver the message that free online lifelong learning is important, relevant and valued.”

https://itbrief.co.nz/story/govt-needs-look-online-learning-skills-shortage-says-expert/

BY TANYA ROSCORLA, Center for Digital Education

Higher education leaders are pondering how to make bite-sized, low-cost learning opportunities available to students in different ways. Working adults who change jobs and careers frequently often don’t need to go through an entire degree program to learn different skills. However, they do need a flexible way to earn credentials that are recognized by employers and that demonstrate their ability to apply the skills they learn, said David Schejbal, dean of continuing education, outreach and e-learning at University of Wisconsin-Extension. University micro-credentials can help fill that role. Six universities have been working with employers to find out what skills they need their employees to have, including the Georgia Institute of Technology, University of California Davis Extension, University of California Irvine Extension, University of Wisconsin-Extension, University of Washington and University of California, Los Angeles.

http://www.centerdigitaled.com/higher-ed/Micro-Credentials-Offer-Universities-an-Opportunity-to-Bridge-Skill-Gaps.html

by Sarah Smith, eLearning Industry

There are many ways of integrating technology in the classroom; ways that do not directly involve the use of computers. Some of the traditional classroom tools have found equivalent technology tools. Schools or teachers that have adopted or replaced traditional classroom tools with equivalent technology tools are seen to be teaching with edTech tools.  See a summary of 24 key edtech tools linked below.

http://elearningindustry.com/integrating-technology-in-the-classroom-24-edtech-tools-5-benefits-educational-technology-integration

by Maurice Elias, Edutopia

Under-resourced schools face many challenges that are difficult. However, I believe that they can be conquered with sufficient time, dedication, and resources. Above all, success with these challenges stems from a belief in the potential of students and staff to achieve victory despite the odds. The barriers that have to be overcome are deeply unfair, and political efforts must be made to reduce educational and socioeconomic inequities. But our students cannot wait for that to occur. They need help now, and schools need to embark on the path to turnaround sooner rather than later. However, there are no shortcuts, and efforts to rush the process can lead to disappointment.

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/7-steps-turning-around-under-resourced-schools-maurice-elias

By Dian Schaffhauser, THE Journal

Rift has arrived. Oculus announced in a blog that it had begun shipping its virtual reality (VR) headset first to those who invested in its idea through Kickstarter. Next, pre-ordered Rifts will ship out, starting “mid-week.” Everybody else will have to hold on until July. That’s when the $599 units are expected to be available through the Oculus shop online. Or customers can choose a bundle that includes the headset and a gaming-caliber PC (most sans monitor) from Microsoft and Best Buy. A few hustlers have also listed their Rifts for sale through Amazon for prices ranging from $1,200 up.

https://thejournal.com/articles/2016/03/28/oculus-rift-begins-shipping.aspx

By Dian Schaffhauser, THE Journal

The tangle of data privacy regulation for education is heating up as state and federal lawmakers increasingly consider laws intended to protect students. Last year 187 bills in 48 states were introduced that touch on some aspect of student data privacy, up from 110 in the previous year; 34 states have passed new laws on student data privacy; and the United States Congress has seven bills under consideration related to the topic. Simultaneously, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) calls for states to use “evidence-based interventions” in order to improve school performance. That evidence is generated through education research, which in turn requires access to student data. What’s a state to do? A new example-rich report from the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) offers guidance to state policymakers worth considering before they take action.

https://thejournal.com/articles/2016/04/04/data-privacy-legislation-scrutinized-in-nasbe-report.aspx

BY MERIS STANSBURY, eCampus News

It’s a debate that’s spreading across the country: should colleges and universities have standardized assessments to measure student performance metrics? The Obama administration says yes, while most campus faculty and students say no. What should be done? According to Fredrik deBoer, a scholar and lecturer at Purdue University, it’s only a matter of time before institutions are forced to assess student performance in a standardized way, so they might as well get ahead of the curve in order to retain control of those assessments. “Every conversation that’s taking place about higher education today ultimately ends up around assessments,” said Kevin Carey, New America’s education policy program director. “Whenever there’s talk about price, value, outcomes, accreditation, innovation implementation, et cetera, it always comes down to proving student learning somehow. And weirdly enough, there’s very little solid research on student learning at the individual student- and department-level.”

http://www.ecampusnews.com/top-news/colleges-standardized-assessments/

by SCMP

“Worldwide, OERs and MOOCs are being offered free of charge, as a philanthropic and altruistic movement, and as a testing ground for offering effective learning online,” says Dr Yuen Kin-sun, director of the Educational Technology and Publishing Unit at The Open University of Hong Kong. “We’re still at an early, rather anarchic stage, where many courses carry no or only a nominal cost, and are frequently delivered by leaders in their field.” According to MOOC aggregator Class Central, there are now about 4,200 MOOCs offered by more than 500 universities around the world, with the number of students who signed up for at least one course hitting more than 35 million in 2015, roughly twice as many as in 2014.

http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/1932278/massive-open-online-courses-are-getting-bigger-hong-kong-universities

By Tara García Mathewson, Education Dive

The Institute for Advanced Computer Studies at the University of Maryland College Park is at the forefront of visual communication and learning, and virtual reality is expected to become an important element for students and faculty. EdTech reports the latest generation of virtual reality technology, including the recently released Oculus Rift headset, could achieve mainstream adoption in five to 10 years, giving students a way to experience their lessons firsthand, without leaving the classroom. The University of Maryland is launching a major in immersive multimedia design, training the students who will go on to create virtual reality content to meet the demand in the classrooms of the future.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/is-virtual-reality-poised-to-transform-higher-ed/416741/

by George Otte, Matthew Goldstein… Ray Schroeder, Vickie Cook, et al.

President of APLU, Peter McPherson, writes: “This book about change and reform is written by people who have spent their lives in higher education. Their concerns and proposals come from their deep commitment to our purposes and should be taken seriously by other serious people.” With chapters by the editors and Schroeder/Cook; Cathy Davidson; Candace Thille; James Hilton; Jonathan Cole; and Michael Zavelle, this book looks closely at the forces at play in higher education and the points to paths of positive change.  William Kirwan, Chancellor Emeritus of the University System of Maryland writes “In eight insightful essays and with uncommon wisdom, this anthology addresses major issues confounding American higher education leaders today. From university governance in a time of dramatic change to the challenges and uncertainties of technology-based “disruptions,” the authors provide a thoughtful and hopeful roadmap to the future. It is a ‘must read’ for all who care about the well being of our nation’s colleges and universities.”  [disclosure note: as indicated, I am a co-author].

http://www.amazon.com/Change-We-Must-Deciding-Education/dp/0795348045/

BY OSCAR LOPEZ, Mashable

Modeled on the Oxbridge tutorial system, SyriaScholar gives small groups of students direct one-on-one interaction with tutors. The brothers used available, open-source software to build the website, which includes a platform for video-conferencing, allowing them to run the two-way tutorials online as well as upload powerpoint presentations that the students can follow during the tutorials. The lessons are also recorded. Currently, they are working with students from Al-Andalus University for Medical Sciences in the city of Qadmus, as well as Tishreen University in Latakia, and they’re hoping to expand the program to Damascus University. The tutorial sessions, given in English, provide students like Ahmad with a level of practical, personalised teaching that their own universities simply could not provide right now. “The information from lectures we have had from SyriaScholar, like how to read an [electrocardiogram] or chest X-rays, gave us knowledge that was missed out by our lecturers here,” he said.

http://mashable.com/2016/04/03/syria-scholar-doctors-website/#p4P0LHCIZ8qt

by AMIT KARP,Venture Beat

Artificial intelligence* is developing much faster than we thought. Just last month, Google’s DeepMind AI beat Lee Sedol, a legendary Go player, at his own game in a defining moment for the industry. What enabled this win is a relatively new AI technique called deep learning, which is transforming AI. Until deep learning was introduced, even the best AI systems were always highly tuned for specific problems and required many rules to operate successfully. But deep learning has changed that, causing many researchers to abandon classical AI approaches. Deep learning relies on simulating large, multilayered webs of virtual neurons, which enable a computer to learn to recognize abstract patterns (somewhat similar to the way a human brain operates). It can be used to solve any general-purpose pattern-recognition problem, which means that any activity that has access to large amounts of data can find it useful.

http://venturebeat.com/2016/04/02/deep-learning-will-be-huge-and-heres-who-will-dominate-it/

by ABC Australia

Education Minister James Merlino said literacy abilities like reading, writing, speaking and listening would all be assessed. Mr Merlino said it was important to stop children falling through the cracks. “It’s absolutely critical that we identify, engage and support students with additional needs at the very earliest important opportunity,” he said. “That’s when you can make the biggest difference and this impacts on not only on the student’s schooling, but on their whole life.” He said the upgrade would be made to the current online English screening program available to teachers and parents.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-03/online-english-screening-tool-to-test-victorian-preps/7295106

By Bradley Fuster, US News

Everyone remembers the students in grade school who sat in the front, raised their hands to give every answer, endlessly complimented the teacher, grabbed attention at every opportunity and frustrated the entire class. Socially intelligent students eventually learn how to be a star pupil without resorting to such disruptive behavior. The ideal balance of admiration for the teacher and need to impress is tricky to establish in a live learning environment. In an online class, without the ability to process nonverbal cues and a lag time in most dialogue, establishing healthy patterns of communication with professors is even more complex. Below are four common do’s and don’t’s for online learners to establish and maintain a healthy interpersonal relationship with their professors.

http://www.usnews.com/education/online-learning-lessons/articles/2016-04-01/explore-the-dos-donts-of-interacting-with-online-course-instructors

by William J. Lowe, Chicago Tribune

Earlier this year, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education released an alarming figure. More than 750,000 Indiana residents, or about 22 percent of the state’s working-age adults, have attended some college, but, due to various circumstances, quit before completing their degrees. The value of a degree has never been greater or more attainable, thanks to advances in technology. There is no better time than now to support your family, and your dreams, by investing in a college degree. One way to do so is through online learning, which provides all students the convenience that fits their busy, highly complex lives.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/opinion/ct-ptb-lowe-oped-st-0403-20160401-story.html