Techno-News Blog

by Diogo Costa, Tech.co

The internet is a useful tool for many things, including learning a new language. Possible sources are online courses, specific websites or watching videos spoken in other languages, for example. But there are many more sources that can be used to learn a new language without leaving home. Even social networks like Twitter and Facebook can be considered in the category of useful tools for learning languages online. In an ever more globalized world, knowing a second language is very important. Professionally, it can even be a differentiating factor, giving you extra points when applying for a new job. Some of the aforementioned learning sources are not exactly obvious, which is why it is important to mention them.

http://tech.co/5-easy-ways-learn-new-language-internet-2017-01

BY MATTHEW LYNCH, Tech Edvocate

Makerspaces are popping up across the nation, but a startling number of educators are unfamiliar with the premise. So, what the heck is a Makerspace? It’s a doorway to a new learning paradigm. It’s designed to help teachers and students of all ages engage in an exploration of various STEAM subjects.

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/what-the-heck-is-a-makerspace/

BY MATTHEW LYNCH, Techh Edvocate

As an educator, you already know the importance of reading. When it comes to technology, there is a constant flow of new books and publications, but many of them only capture a small part of what you need to know, and they become outdated far too quickly. Getting your hands on an edtech book is really simple, but finding one that will help you can be an incredibly time-consuming endeavor. Whether you want to see how technology can help (or harm) in the classroom, see what tools are available, understand how students today view technology or see how technology has affected education in the past (and how it is likely to affect education in the future), there is a book that can help. This list of 10 books includes some of the most insightful and inspiring details to help you determine the right path forward for your students or school. They are listed in no particular order.

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/10-must-read-books-about-edtech/

by Doug Black, Enterprise Tech

As companies increase their digital footprints, ‘identify and diagnose’ capabilities will not defend against the growing array of security threats, according to analysts at Gartner Group. Because the types of data ingested by analytics packages are evolving from structured to hybrid data–containing text, objects and other formats– the market will respond to that transition by offering packaged applications that utilize more powerful predictive and prescriptive analytics. Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) (I use these terms interchangeably) continue to be hotly debated in security circles. The pessimists believe hackers will always outmaneuver ML, while the believers view AI as an essential companion to finding and displaying threat patterns in a complex, cloud-enhanced IT environment. While both sides have merit, the market itself is moving ahead with real-life ML applications in 2017.

http://www.enterprisetech.com/2017/01/05/machine-learning-online-security-2017/

BY MATTHEW LYNCH, Tech Edvocate

Knowing how to code can secure well-paid jobs in the future, and that means more freedom to choose and say “no” to mediocre positions. So, when children learn to code, they are not only gaining higher-order thinking skills but a chance to choose exciting and more challenging jobs in the future. When children learn how to code, a whole world full of possibilities opens; they can create new solutions in their way. You might think it is hard for kids to learn to code, but in reality, it is quite easy. Learning coding at a young age makes kids better thinkers and communicators. This leads to more innovations, which is certainly beneficial throughout life. Even if later they decide that they want to be musicians, artists or something else, thinking logically can be helpful in the long run. Critical thinking and problem solving are skills that are important way outside computer science.

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/why-learning-to-code-is-so-important-for-children/

by Research and Markets

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the “Online Language Learning Market in the US 2017-2021” report to their offering. The report forecasts the online language learning market in the US to grow at a CAGR of 8.6% during the period 2017-2021. The education market in the US has seen the emergence of new pedagogical techniques. Advances in technology have not only increased broadband network but also introduced schemes like bring-your-own-devices (BYOD). These schemes have brought about a change in the education paradigm with the implementation of innovative learning methods such as flipped classrooms, blended learning, simulations, experiential, and inquiry-based learning.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170104005970/en/Online-Language-Learning-Market-Grow-8-2021

by Roger Jones, American Genius

The launch of Find Lectures is a boon to the prospective student. In one place, you’ve got a searchable catalog of nearly 26,000 free lectures, many 60-minutes or less, from TED, the Library of Congress, Talks at Google, and more. For those who want more than just an exploratory conversation about a topic, there are multiple colleges and universities who have opened MOOCs, or massive open online courses. MOOCs, many of which are free, can be found for an almost unlimited number of courses, with some leading to degrees, while others allow you to get the knowledge, information, or skill, albeit with no degree path following.

https://theamericangenius.com/business-news/temp-test-see-masters-degree-really-right/

by David Raths, Campus Technology

Last year, eight universities across the country embarked on a bold experiment to see if they can scale up the use of adaptive courseware to increase retention and graduation rates. With support from the Association of Public Land-grant Universities (APLU), these schools have set a target of using adaptive courseware for 15 to 20 percent of general education course enrollments between spring 2017 and fall 2019. APLU’s Personalized Learning Consortium is overseeing the grant program, which is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Tailoring a course to adaptive learning can be difficult, as we learned when Campus Technology interviewed faculty members involved in pilot implementations of the technology. Despite being encouraged by the results, those pioneers reported being exhausted by how much work is involved in retrofitting their courses to the adaptive platforms. We spoke with two executives participating in the grant program about their goals and the early challenges they see.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/01/04/scaling-up-with-adaptive-learning.aspx

By Joshua Kim, Inside Higher Ed

Can we get beyond the tired old discussion about if laptops should be banned from the classroom? The discussion that we should be having is about how we can harness the digital competencies – and the digitally inspired behaviors – that our students bring to their own learning. Have you ever observed a college student watching an online video? They are not passive video consumers. They actively control the in-video watching experience by speeding up and scrubbing through the video. They keep their cursor on the video controller and skip through the “slow” parts. Not only do students compress their video consumption by speeding and scrubbing, they also simultaneously interact with other content while watching. A video will share screen real estate with social media sites. They will chat, post, upload, compose, edit, scan, and scroll while also watching the video. How might we harness these digital video viewing behaviors to improve learning?

https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/technology-and-learning/moving-beyond-tired-classroom-laptop-debate

BY LAURA DEVANEY, eCampus News

Education has a much higher rate of ransomware attacks than other industries, according to a recent report that analyzes how different sectors are managing the security challenges these attacks pose. The rate of new ransomware attacks has jumped in recent years, as numerous industries, including higher education, fall victim to the attacks and struggle to fight them off, according to the report. Thirteen percent of the higher education sector has been infected with ransomware, according to The Rising Face of Cyber Crime: Ransomware, a BitSight Insight Report. In fact, advanced strains of ransomware encrypt data on an organization’s network or lock users out of their devices. Hackers then demand a ransom, usually in the form of Bitcoin, before they’ll restore data to normal. Some hackers use “ransomware-as-a-service,” which offers malware-construction kits designed to be easily deployed even with little hacking experience.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/it-newsletter/combat-ransomware/

by MIT Office of Digital Learning

The new option for online learners tests subject mastery and provides meaningful certificates for one of the most popular MITx courses. One of the most popular MITx on edX courses now challenges online learners to put their knowledge to the test. MITx 7.00x (Introduction to Biology – The Secret of Life), which has been an exciting educational option for learners to engage with biology since 2013, now offers a rigorous competency exam certificate. The next competency exam opens on Feb. 21 and is available to learners enrolled in the verified-certificate track. The competency exam is designed to test a learner’s mastery of the course learning objectives, tying together techniques and materials from different topics to provide a more thorough and robust means of evaluating online learners — and a more meaningful certificate for those who excel.

http://news.mit.edu/2016/competency-exam-available-for-mitx-introduction-to-biology-0103

BY SHAINA CAVAZOS, Chalkbeat

Online schools offer opportunities that can be life-changing for children who need flexible learning, even though the schools have broadly demonstrated a poor track record in Indiana so far. Indiana Connections Academy, along with every online school in the state that tested students in 2016, received an F grade from the state last month. But the Neiers and Taylors, who have been with Indiana Connections Academy since it opened in 2010, are happy with their choice. They said the self-paced nature of virtual learning, the lack of social distractions and the ability to learn anytime, anywhere, have given their kids the environment they need to be successful. The families — who are from Franklin and related — learned about virtual schooling when Stephanie Neier, a mother of five, enrolled her kids after hearing rave reviews of Connections Academy from a friend. Her oldest son has autism, and traditional high school wasn’t working for him, she said.

http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/in/2017/01/03/why-online-learning-works-for-these-indiana-kids/

By Joshua Bolkan, Campus Technology

Augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) headset sales will see a compound annual growth rate of 108.3 percent from 2015 to 2020, according to a new report from International Data Corp. (IDC). That growth rate will lead to 76 million units shipped in 2020, if the forecast holds true. “2016 has been a defining year for AR as millions of consumers were introduced to Pokemon Go and, on the commercial side, developers and businesses finally got their hands on coveted headsets like Microsoft’s HoloLens,” said Jitesh Ubrani, senior research analyst for IDC mobile device trackers, in a prepared statement. “AR may just be on track to create a shift in computing significant enough to rival the smartphone. However, the technology is still in its infancy and has a long runway ahead before reaching mass adoption.”

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/01/03/report-augmented-and-virtual-reality-shipments-to-double-each-year-through-2020.aspx

by Jarrett Carter, Education Dive

GettingSmart.com profiles several areas of tech engagement that will help to attract and retain students in a climate where enrollment may shrink due to high costs and waning confidence in higher education. Officials say education should become more personalized through distance learning and tutoring systems, virtual learning environments which can help with professional development, and gamification to induce increased participation from diverse student populations. Microlearning, or reducing traditional lectures into smaller video tutorials, may also prove to be a change agent in keeping students’ attention and improving learning outcomes.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/how-technology-will-shape-new-trends-in-college-learning/433161/

BY THOMAS GOLDRICK, eCampus News

Most Higher Ed IT departments face similar challenges with budget restraints, hiring and retaining talented staff, and balancing the maintenance of existing systems with the need to implement emerging technologies. As if that weren’t enough, IT departments at state universities also run into a variety of specific problems that can further complicate how they operate. From a decline in state funding, to the needs of an evolving student base, there’s a lot that state university IT departments need to keep in mind, but there are ways to make edtech challenges easier. Let us walk you through some of those challenges so that your state university IT department can compete against Higher Ed’s most pressing issues on more equal footing.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/it-newsletter/edtech-challenges-state-universities/

by Roger Riddell, Education Dive

A range of issues and concerns, new developments and ongoing trends promise an interesting 2017 for higher ed tech. With the spring semester on the horizon and new funding and regulatory realities on the way with the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, we reached out to four CIOs to get their opinions on what college and university tech chiefs should expect.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/higher-ed-tech-predictions-cio-melissa-woo-david-hinson-raechelle-clemmons-michael-berman-2017/432001/

BY MERIS STANSBURY, eCampus News

Educators and tech leaders look back on 2016; predict where higher ed trends in teaching and learning will head this new year. With every new year comes new ideas. To get a glimpse into what the next 12 months will hold for everything from micro-credentialing to energy savings, and the rise of nontraditional students to focusing more on outcomes, 14 higher ed luminaries looked back on 2016 higher ed trends to help predict what’s in store for 2017. Here’s what they said:

http://www.ecampusnews.com/disruptions-and-innovations/hot-higher-ed-trends-2017/

By Jason Hiner , Chris Duckett , Larry Dignan , and Steve Ranger, ZDNet

As we do each week, the editors of ZDNet will continue to put our heads together in 2017 and give you our weekly Monday Morning Opener–an editorial that zooms in on the most important topic in tech for the week. Now that we’re sailing into the new year, we’ve also put a few brain cycles into zooming out on the big issues that will shape the year ahead. So after giving you the 5 biggest tech trends of 2016, we’ve now got the four big ones that will dominate 2017. The real story behind AI is automation, the Internet of Things platform eludes us, the smartphone holds out for the big one, and virtual reality becomes less virtual and more reality.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/the-4-tech-trends-that-will-shape-2017/

By THE NEWNAN TIMES-HERALD

…. Bullying shall also include acts which occur on school property, on school vehicles, at designated school bus stops, or at school-related functions or activities or by use of data or software that is accessed through a computer, computer system, computer network, or other electronic technology of the district. The term also applies to acts of cyberbullying which occur through the use of electronic communication, whether or not such electronic act originated on school property or with school equipment, if the electronic communication (a) is directed specifically at students or school personnel, (b) is maliciously intended for the purpose of threatening the safety of those specified or substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school, and (c) creates a reasonable fear of harm to the students’ or school personnel’s person or property or has a high likelihood of succeeding in that purpose. Electronic communication includes, but is not limited to, any transfer of signs, signals, writings, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectronic or photo optical system.

http://times-herald.com/news/2017/01/coweta-schools-definition-of-bullying

By Craig Perrier, EdSurge

The most compelling way to teach for tomorrow is for teachers to avoid replicating their classroom experiences, and rather use practices that address global citizenship: a combination of knowledge, skills, and dispositions, all of which put the focus on students’ futures. Teaching for tomorrow is about providing the instructional structures, resources, assessments and technology to make global connections so students can explore topics for themselves to construct their own knowledge and form informed opinions and views.

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2017-01-01-social-studies-should-teach-students-for-tomorrow-not-the-past

by Times of Malta

Around one in six adults in Britain have done, or are intending to take, an online course as the programmes become more popular with the public and employers. Many are signing up for ‘moocs’ – massive open online courses – in a bid to further their careers, while for others it is a way of pursuing a personal interest, according to research. The study, by Futurelearn, the Open University and Parthenon-EY, also reveals that employers are increasingly using the courses to differentiate between job applicants. And it shows that graduates would like to have studied for at least part of their degree through online modules. Overall, 15 per cent of those surveyed for the research said they have either taken a short online course, or intend to do so.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20170101/business-news/15-of-adults-in-Britain-have-taken-or-are-planning-online-course.635384