Techno-News Blog

by Matt Zalaznick, University Business

Stony Brook University on Long Island in New York has awarded 130 badges in its school of professional development since launching them just over a year ago. Stony Brook University on Long Island in New York has awarded 130 badges in its school of professional development since launching them just over a year ago. Almost all U.S. colleges and universities now award certificates, digital badges and other forms of microcredentials so students can quickly show an employer specialized skills they’ve acquired. Driving this fast-growing trend are workforce millennials who want to learn, for instance, how to operate an Amazon delivery drone or repair a self-driving car without having to earn another degree, says James Fong, director of the Center for Research and Marketing Strategy at the University Professional and Continuing Education Association. A generation immersed in social media, millennials are also drawn to the gamified aspect of collecting and displaying digital badges, says Fong, who recently completed a study on the growing influence of microcredentials in higher ed.

https://www.universitybusiness.com/article/millennial-demand-drives-higher-ed-badging-expansion

by Education Dive

If knowledge is power, as Francis Bacon suggested, its supporting partner would undoubtedly be information. The kind of information that, in today’s world, can connect complex reams of disparate and often isolated data, and can help support better decision making and better outcomes. This is the promise of data analytics and, with its ability to capture behavioral information and provide the ability to manage and act on that data, it’s becoming of increasing interest to the world of education. With proven value in the fields of finance, research and in a thousand online applications, what might a marriage of analysis and academia look like? And what are the opportunities for colleges and universities to use data to secure better outcomes for students and further empower faculty?

http://www.educationdive.com/news/the-big-opportunity-in-data-analytics/424903/

By Tanya Roscorla, Center for Digital Education

Until recently, the expensive price tag for virtual reality technology has limited its use in education. Full immersion into an alternate reality has been expensive for schools and universities to dive into — that is, until the last 12 months: Virtual reality is attracting educators who want to give students hands-on experiences with a lot of different tools. This type of technology immerses students into a different world full of sites and sounds, whether it’s a simulation of the cockpit of an airplane, a human body or Paris. More expensive immersion setups turn an entire room into a world with 360-degree interactive displays, while others use headsets or insert phones into a viewer that covers the users’ eyes. About nine major companies are vying for control of this space, said Brad Waid, an education futurist.

http://www.centerdigitaled.com/higher-ed/The-State-of-Virtual-Reality-in-Education.html

By Jarrett Carter, Education Dive

Harvey Mudd College’s computer science graduating class featured more women than men this year, a historic trend that matches the school’s aggressive effort to increase participation from women, which has tripled in the last 10 years. Officials say targeted efforts to appoint and promote women in leadership positions throughout the institution, including six department chairpersons and nearly 40% of the campus’ total number of professors, makes the difference in encouraging and modeling success for women in historically underrepresented fields. Changes in curriculum, along with the school’s small size, allow for more adaptive learning opportunities which don’t skew in benefit to male or female students.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/harvey-mudd-college-has-tripled-female-computer-science-graduation-rates/424956/

by Tanya M. Spilovoy, WCET Frontiers

The North Dakota University System Open Educational Resources Initiative is a 3-phased plan hinging upon a unique collaboration among the North Dakota legislature, the University System Office, and the faculty at public institutions across the state. At the intersection of these three entities are change leaders who have come together for a common goal of improving higher education by reducing textbook costs for students. A 2015 post previewed this work, and this post outlines the plan, the people, and the product. The initial state investment was $110,000. The first four funded proposals include estimated student cost savings of more than $2 million for school year 2016-2017. Three of the campus projects will provide faculty stipends to revamp general education courses using open source materials and textbooks. One project at the University of North Dakota will make Robinson’s “The History of North Dakota” an open textbook. Another round of grant proposals is due in October, 2016 with four more $10,000 institutional grants anticipated.

https://wcetfrontiers.org/2016/08/23/north-dakota-open-educational-resources-initiative-a-system-wide-success-story/

By Jarrett Carter, Education Dive

A new study from Indeed.com lists computer and information sciences, engineering, architecture, management, health professions and finance as the top areas which have high needs in hiring, and low areas where technology can replace human capital in the workforce. Each of these fields were among the most popular academic programs of 2014, according to data on degrees awarded published by the U.S. Department of Education. According to Indeed, the programs comprise 92% of jobs showing trending upward in earning potential and offering an average salary of over $57,700.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/how-to-align-academic-offerings-to-meet-workforce-development-needs/424934/

By: Barbi Honeycutt, Faculty Focus

“How can I flip a large class?” I like this question because it’s not asking whether you can flip a large class, but rather what’s the best way to do it. Faculty who teach large classes are challenged not only by the sheer number of students but also by the physical space in the classroom. Having 100, 200, or 400+ students in class means teaching in large lecture halls with stadium seating and seats that are bolted to the floor. It’s not exactly the ideal space for collaboration and group discussions, so the types of flipped and active learning strategies you can use are more limited. Often, faculty fall back on the “think, pair, share” format or use clicker questions to encourage student engagement. But there are other techniques we can deploy in these large classrooms to engage students and involve them in higher levels of critical thinking and analysis.

http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/blended-flipped-learning/flipping-large-classes-three-strategies-engage-students/

By Jarrett Carter, Education Dive

Technology is reshaping the way industries and corporations are training employees to increase productivity, according to EdSurge, and that new focus, designed to engage younger employees, could have impact on higher education academic delivery models. Organizations are substituting theory-based models in exchange for scenario-based, practical instruction to help learners be more attuned to instruction. Lessons are delivered through simulations that are light on lectures and heavy on opportunities for learners to engage with online content and cohort members to learn information. Adapting teaching modules presents the biggest challenge in workforce development; about 61% of corporate executives say moving employees towards self-directed education is a difficulty in developing an environment of continuous learning.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/how-workforce-learning-trends-may-shape-higher-ed/424868/

By Joshua Bolkan, THE Journal

The 3D printing market will reach $35.4 billion in 2020, according to a new report form International Data Corp. (IDC). That total is more than double the revenue projected for this year and would constitute a 24.1 percent compound annual growth rate over the course of the period forecast. “While 3D printers and materials will represent nearly half the total worldwide revenues throughout the forecast, software and related services will also experience significant growth,” according to a news release. “Revenues for computer-aided design (CAD) software are forecast to triple over the five-year forecast period while the market for on-demand parts services will nearly match this growth. The gains in both software and on-demand parts printing are being driven by the rapidly expanding use of 3D printing for design prototyping and products that require a high degree of customization in non-traditional environments.”

https://thejournal.com/articles/2016/08/17/report-3d-printing-market-to-double-by-2020.aspx

By Sri Ravipati, Campus Technology

CMU researchers are working with local teachers to implement a pilot program that encourages students to use data, multimedia and technology to express ideas. Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) held summer workshops for Pittsburgh-area teachers to learn how to apply the concepts of data and technology fluency in schools. CMU researchers Jessica Pachuta, Jessica Kaminsky and Beatrice Dias led the workshop for 12 teachers from eight schools. With a 14-month, $593,000 planning grant from The Heinz Endowments, a Pittsburgh-based philanthropic organization, the researchers will create a pilot program for the teachers to implement at their schools. The grant will be used to develop “tools and methods that enable students to use data and technology for asking questions and exploring their environment, for telling cohesive stories, and for articulating opinions and arguments,” according to a CMU news release.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2016/08/19/carnegie-mellonled-project-promotes-data-and-technology-fluency.aspx

by Laura Devaney, eCampus News

Gaming in education has traditionally belonged to the K-12 sphere, but in recent years higher education has taken a vested interest in this learning approach, from taking a game-based approach in classrooms to ensuring future educators learn the merits of it. In recent years, gaming has gained momentum in higher education. Research indicates it is a viable learning approach, with faculty gamifying lessons and student teachers learning how to use the approach with future students. MIT, Penn State, and UC Irvine are all among schools leveraging game-based learning.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/technologies/gaming/gaming-higher-education/

By Sunne Wright McPeak, Sacramento Bee

There is much to celebrate in the Field Poll’s annual survey on the “digital divide” in California. The percentage of Californians with high-speed internet at home has risen to 84 percent in 2016 from 55 percent in 2008. But the divide between those who have broadband at home and those who do not is closing largely because of smartphones. The 2016 survey found that among the 84 percent with home broadband, 14 percent are connecting only through their smartphones. This percentage is a near doubling of smartphone-only users since last year. No doubt, smartphones are marvelous devices that provide access to information and online applications. But they are limited functionally for doing school homework, applying for jobs or college or taking online courses.

http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/california-forum/article96594082.html

by Tim Dodd, Financial Review

Dr Ben-Naim said he was very pleased to be bringing the adaptive learning delivered courses back to Australia where Smart Sparrow’s technology was developed. “It’s an Australian innovation which has had significant success in America and now we are able to bring it back to Australia. For us it’s very exciting,” he said. He said that the teacher’s role was not diminished by using the adaptive and multi-disciplinary approach to learning in the Inspark network, where students absorbed the key concepts online outside of the classroom. “They [students] still come to class and compare work, they work in small groups on a different problems, and the teacher has the opportunity to talk about something more advanced,” Dr Ben-Naim said. “We can make more students smarter in less time. We optimise the learning and the teacher time.”

http://www.afr.com/leadership/innovation/how-an-aussie-teaching-innovation-was-backed-by-bill-gates-and-swept-us-universities-20160818-gqvnep

By Gretchen Kernbach, ULoop

Something you weren’t often faced with in high school was the option to take online classes. Instead, you were forced to sit through lectures and busy work for eight hours a day, five days a week. Now that you have entered a university, online learning is quite popular. However, you may find yourself signing up for something you are not prepared for. So how do you know if online learning is for you?

http://www.uloop.com/news/view.php/210520/Take-This-Quiz-To-Find-Out-If-Online-Learning-Is-For-You

by Wade Rupard, Bismark Tribune

As students within the North Dakota University System continue to take more online classes, schools within the system are working to enhance those courses. In a presentation to the North Dakota Legislature’s Interim Higher Education Committee on Friday, Richard Rothaus, the university system’s vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, outlined how the system is accommodating students who take non-traditional classes, such as those online. The construct of what makes a typical student in today’s technology-filled world has been blurred, Rothaus said, noting 21,824 students systemwide took online courses in fall 2015. Some of those students took classes entirely online, while others enrolled in both traditional and nontraditional courses.

http://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/north-dakota-university-system-sees-gains-in-online-courses/article_d3a51afc-0362-5635-8b96-42a0429803a9.html

by Emily Marks, University Herald

Online education is fast gaining popularity for the convenience and flexibility that it provides students. Coursera offers short video lectures, interactive quizzes and peer graded assignments, among others, which is perfect for working adults. Coursera has about 170,000 students around the world that have signed up for it. While online education has been around for a long time, with top universities offering courses for a high fee, classes, called MOOCs or Massive Open Online Courses, are expected to revolutionize higher education. These online courses are different because they use new technology, feature well-known professors and they don’t cost anything. Educational institutions that have partnered with Coursera are: the University of Chicago, University of Washington, Duke University, Stanford University, Princeton University and University of California, among others.

http://www.universityherald.com/articles/37612/20160817/online-education-new-approach-teaching-learning.htm

By Robby Korth, Roanoke.com

Before new Virginia Tech freshmen start classes next week they’ll be required to take an online course on diversity. New students now have to take a trio of online courses to raise awareness of issues that they may face in college, including alcohol, sexual violence and being inclusive of people from different races and backgrounds. “Providing it to new students is consistent with and reflects the value we place on inclusion and diversity at this university,” Tech spokesman Mark Owczarski wrote in an email. “Virginia Tech is proud to promote inclusion and diversity as an important part of our land grant mission.

http://www.roanoke.com/news/education/higher_education/virginia_tech/virginia-tech-requires-online-diversity-course-for-incoming-students/article_c4f0730a-7403-5968-9bae-2fdd67534c87.html

By Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, Washington Post

Eight colleges will team up with companies that run computer coding boot camps or online courses for an experiment that lets students pay for nontraditional training programs with federal grants and loans, the Education Department said Tuesday. Short-term courses, such as coding boot camps, have become a popular model for acquiring skills and credentials without spending years in school, yet they’ve only been available to people who can afford thousands of dollars for six-week classes. The objective of the experiment, dubbed the Educational Quality through Innovative Partnerships, is to provide people with modest means access to innovative education and to ensure that they receive quality training.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2016/08/16/colleges-partner-with-training-bootcamps-and-online-course-providers-for-federal-experiment/

By Tess Taylor, HR Dive

The way in which learners encounter course content within a learning management system is just as important as what’s being presented. This is referred to as the user experience or UX. There are 3 major components of UX that need to be in place to ensure learners are getting the most from online training, including: design, communication, and measurement. The UX is, “a quantitative and qualitative measure, because it examines both the platform’s functions, and the user’s perception of them,” says Rajlakshmi Saikia, assistant vice president of corporate L&D at Genpact, who also contributes to ATD. Learning content that’s well-designed includes the ability for users to easily login to the learning management system, access their courses, and find the information they need. The other components of great UX include a system for managing user progress and gathering feedback from learners. There should always be support to orient users to the LMS as well as a help guide for troubleshooting.

http://www.hrdive.com/news/online-learning-3-components-of-a-great-user-experience/424558/

BY MERIS STANSBURY, eCampus News

UX innovator discusses what forward-thinking schools are doing now, and what AI in education will look like in the near future. If you ask kids today why phrases like “hang up” the phone or “roll down” the window exist, chances are they’ll have no idea. Fast-forward to the near future and “search the web” may also cause a few head scratches. “We’re evolving, but remain electronic ‘hunters and gatherers,’” explained Ralph Lucci, cofounder and user experience director at Behavior Design. But that’s about to change thanks to today’s quickly emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technology for practically every industry, including education. “The day will soon come when we’ll sardonically ask ourselves: ‘Remember when we had to visit a website and look around for what we needed?’ Now the data comes to us.” And while mainstream AI isn’t at that level just yet, innovative industries and some schools are already either beginning to implement AI basics or planning to structure entire departments or services on the potential power of AI.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/disruptions-and-innovations/ai-educations-future/

by Christopher Ratcliff, ClickZ

You know, apart from the most obvious search engine. And possibly the second most obvious one too. In fact I’ll start again, what are the eight most popular search engines after Google and Bing? The first list below contains the most popular search engines currently available, ordered by most to least popular in the US. The ranking is according to eBiz, it’s in order of estimated unique monthly visitors and is accurate as of August 2016. The second list is a global overview of most popular search engines, according to Net Market Share, which is ranked in order of market share and is again accurate as of August 2016. As opposed to our previous list of search engine alternatives to Google, this list will concentrate purely on informational searches rather than say… Gifs or copyright free images.

https://www.clickz.com/what-are-the-top-10-most-popular-search-engines/104620/