Techno-News Blog

by Roger Riddell, Education Dive

Higher ed institutions are behind in ensuring accessibility for all students with digital material and platforms, as detailed by a new 3PlayMedia whitepaper. According to eCampus News, 11% of students have disabilities, but the shift to digital has left them in a particular bind as multimedia materials have expanded faster than accessibility initiatives designed to comply with federal and state laws. When working to establish accessibility for all students, institutions should consider compliance across hardware, software, digital text documents, web design, audio and video, and course design.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/higher-education-digital-accessibility-special-needs-disabilities/439847/

by Donovan Slack , USA TODAY

House Republican Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy says veterans need more educational opportunities that meet the demands of the fast-paced technology industry. The California lawmaker is introducing legislation Thursday giving the Department of Veterans Affairs $75 million to start a pilot program to provide accelerated computer courses in everything from robotics and basic programming to artificial intelligence and virtual reality. McCarthy, who is second-in-command to the House speaker, said the GI bill doesn’t cover many such courses and the VA approval process for changing curriculums or course offerings creates bureaucratic delays that are not conducive to the quickly changing technology fields. Under his proposal, veterans, instead of going to a traditional college — or in addition to a traditional degree — could get a shorter-term nano degree or micro credential.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/04/05/kevin-mccarthy-wants-va-provide-free-high-tech-courses-vets/100096868/

By Richard Chang, Campus Technology

Virtual reality (VR) has found its way into the educational space, and by all indications, it’s here to stay. Since VR glasses can be obtained for as low as $10 apiece, cost is becoming less of an issue, although the expensive headsets are still out of reach for many. Nonetheless, the actual applications beyond the “wow, cool” factor are still being explored. Here are three guidelines toward introducing VR in e-learning courses, according to the website E-Learning Industry.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/04/05/3-keys-to-introducing-vr-in-elearning-courses.aspx

By Dian Schaffhauser, Campus Technology

In the next year or two, research data management and the valuing of the user experience will drive technology adoption in research and academic libraries. The growth of research reports through online library databases is making it easier for students, faculty and researchers to access and build upon existing ideas and work. But as libraries adopt new data formats, they must also prepare for new methods of data curation involving “cutting-edge technology.” Libraries are also tapping usability principles in their digital and physical spaces to improve the quality of patrons’ interactions by making them more efficient and personalized.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/04/05/report-ai-and-iot-to-change-academic-and-research-libraries-in-years-to-come.aspx

by Matthew Lynch. tech Edvocate

Virtual reality sounds like a far-off futuristic concept. When we hear the words “virtual reality” we may think of people wearing big helmets that transport them to another location from the comfort of their home (or classroom). However, virtual reality is slowly becoming a reality in the classroom. It doesn’t look quite like what you might imagine, but it is improving all the time. The potential benefits of virtual reality in the classroom are endless. Students from schools all over the world could have access to the same resources and experiences through virtual reality, creating an even playing field like we’ve never seen before in education. Students could use virtual reality to travel back in time and see history come to life, or to take field trips to far-off locations that would cost hundreds to travel to in real life.

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/state-virtual-reality-classroom/

by Pat Donachie, Education Dive

The use of artificial intelligence in U.S. education stands to increase by nearly 50% in the next five years according to a new report analyzed by eCampus News. The analysis found that AI-powered educational games are an increasing trend in educational institutions, as they can be utilized to teach students difficult subjects, and many of the AI additions are done in such a way that students can interact directly with the game without human intervention. Supporters think AI can be utilized to offer each student a personalized educational experience, and that it can help students as they start their college careers by addressing specific needs and questions with the time that staff may not have.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/report-next-4-years-will-see-ai-in-education-grow-by-nearly-50/441210/

by Matthew Lynch, tech Edvocate

Gamification has grown in popularity as teachers and educators realize the wealth of potential that games offer their students, no matter the age. Fast fading is the idea that video games are a waste of time. Children these days are among the most tech-savvy people precisely because they have been playing games on a range of devices for nearly their entire lives. Gamification can be used in many different ways. Whether your students need a better set of flashcards, hands-on experience, or a more memorable experience, gamification gives you the tools to create something that will engage your students. With all of that being said, what are the essential things that educators should know about gamification, in order to harness its full potential? Well, not to worry, we decided to do the work for you. Here are the things that educators should know about gamification.

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/9-things-educators-know-gamification/

By STEVE LOHR, NY Times

When the Georgetown University Law Center offered computer programming last year, it was an experiment, a single class for about 20 students. It was filled almost instantly, and the waitlist swelled to 130. This semester, the law school has five programming classes, and the waitlist still overflowed. “They aren’t going to become programmers, but they realize these are skills that will make them better lawyers,” said Paul Ohm, the Georgetown law professor who teaches the course. His students, for example, learn to write short, tailored programs that can identify clusters of words and concepts in Supreme Court rulings more accurately than a Google search or standard legal software. It’s the same in every field, from marketing to manufacturing to medicine. Code, it seems, is the lingua franca of the modern economy.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/04/education/edlife/where-non-techies-computer-programming-coding.html

by UT Arlington

The University of Texas at Arlington has partnered with five international universities to create a software tool that provides timely and personalized feedback to help students adjust their studying throughout the course. The online tool, OnTask, uses data about students’ activities throughout the semester and helps instructors to provide suggestions on specific assignments and strategies that enable students to adjust their studying throughout the course in order to be more confident and successful. The tool uses data from video engagement, assessments, student information systems, electronic textbooks and discussion forums. “An important benefit of OnTask is the ability for teachers in large classrooms to still provide individual feedback to each student,” said George Siemens, executive director of The University of Texas at Arlington’s Learning Innovation and Networked Knowledge Lab.

https://phys.org/news/2017-03-software-tool-students-personalized-feedback.html

by Joanna Kristine Ninal, Cougar’s Byte

Sometimes, life can get in the way of people pursuing their education. It can be personal, family related or work related, but it still prevents them from getting a degree. Kean Online is the perfect way for students to find an internet connection and complete their coursework. There are a few degrees offered at Kean Online, so it might work for any prospective student who needs to take classes virtually. “Kean Online was created with the community college graduate in mind, making it easy for students and graduates from community colleges in New Jersey to apply,” excerpted from Kean Online.

http://www.cougarsbyte.com/article/2017/03/taking-classes-online

by Melissa Woo, EDUCAUSE Review

As IT professionals, what should we do when we encounter potentially murky situations? Sometimes existing laws or institutional policy will guide ethical behavior; sometimes they won’t. What many people often do not understand is that what is legal is not always ethical. I believe it is our responsibility as IT professionals to act in an ethical manner in the performance of our work duties. To inadvertently do otherwise risks losing the trust of our students, faculty, staff, communities, and the general public. Without such trust I have difficulty imagining how IT professionals can continue to perform their duties effectively.

http://er.educause.edu/articles/2017/3/ethics-and-the-it-professional

by eCampus News

Major online learning provider Alison releases data on the skills most sought-after by students and professionals looking to upskill. Americans looking to upskill online are focusing on hard skills they can use in the workplace, according to new data released by Alison. The list of the top 10 most popular courses on Alison, a free e-learning site, was dominated by Customer Service, IT, and workplace skills like time management. Health and education related courses also claimed many of the top spots, including courses focusing on mental health, working with students with special needs and teaching English as a foreign language.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/top-news/demand-skills-united-states/

By Marian Stoltz-Loike, US News

Through online graduate education programs, future educators might learn how to incorporate digital tools into their classes.Teaching is often seen as a great field for career changers and other nontraditional students. Some pursue teaching because they want to contribute to society in a meaningful way. Others may desire to share the knowledge and expertise they gained in another setting, or they may no longer want to compete in the corporate world. Online education is an ideal way for future teachers to build the expertise they need while balancing school with work, family or other commitments. Here are five ways online graduate education programs offer value for future teachers.

https://www.usnews.com/education/online-learning-lessons/articles/2017-03-31/5-reasons-online-graduate-education-programs-build-good-teachers

By WILLIAM L. WANG, Harvard Crimson

Harvard Medical School will launch its first online certificate program this summer for people considering health careers, offering four paid courses on topics in medicine. The program, titled “HMX Fundamentals,” will be open to the public through a brief application and includes courses in physiology, immunology, biochemistry and genetics. Upon completion of a course, students will receive a PDF certificate which will not count for academic credit at Harvard. Unlike Harvard’s edX and HarvardX platforms, which offer their online classes for free, access to HMX Fundamentals will come at a cost. Tuition will cost $800 for a single HMX Fundamentals course, $1,000 for two courses, and $1,800 for all four.

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2017/3/31/hms-launches-first-online-certificate-program/

by Autumn A. Arnett, Education Dive

A new report from PwC is encouraging higher education to “build capacity and attract more students to” data science and analytics coursework, saying “every major industry” needs these capabilities to thrive. The report says hiring needs will shift to include a focus on these soft skills, such as data-driven decision-making, functional analysis, data engineering and data analysis. The report lays out four things higher education needs to do to meet this demand: leverage data analysis to create multidisciplinary hubs vs. discipline silos; promote data literacy for all students in all disciplines; strengthen ties with professional societies; and design courses and curricula to expand pathways for “a diverse analytical workforce.”

http://www.educationdive.com/news/report-data-science-and-analytics-skills-critical-for-todays-workforce/439444/

By Dian Schaffhauser, THE Journal

In 2015, less than 1 percent of all U.S. engineering bachelor’s degrees went to African-American women. Of the 106,658 engineering bachelor’s degrees awarded that year, 937 went to African-American women, just a third of the number that were achieved by African-American men. That gap, among others, represents “ignored potential,” according to a new paper put out by Purdue University, the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the Society of Women Engineers and the Women in Engineering ProActive Network. As the report noted, STEM jobs are expected to increase by 10 percent by 2020.

https://thejournal.com/articles/2017/03/30/african-american-women-in-engineering-ignored-potential.aspx

BY RUSSELL D. SHILLING, eSchool News

Engaging young children in STEM is critical for creating a lifelong love of learning and for developing critical thinking skills which will serve them well across all academic disciplines and prepare them for the 21st Century workforce. The recently released report, STEM Starts Early: Grounding Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education in Early Childhood by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center and New America is a summary of current research and makes critical recommendations for both STEM communication to parents and future research in early childhood STEM. The appropriate use of innovative education technologies will be an essential component to bringing STEM to children wherever they live as part of a well-balanced set of active learning experiences with educators and parents.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/03/31/stem-education-makeover-soon/

by Matthew Lynch, Tech Edvocate

While it may seem like almost everyone has internet access, a shocking number of families lack fast or reliable internet connections. There are roughly 5 million households with school-age children who don’t have broadband internet access at home. That means millions of students are being left behind. There are many ways that a lack of internet access can affect a student’s academic performance. Students without internet can’t connect with teachers or classmates, do independent research, or get online homework help. For families, not having internet access can mean missing out on information or losing out on a direct line of communication with schools and teachers. One of the biggest problems faced by students without internet access at home is their inability to complete homework.

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/the-absence-of-internet-at-home-is-a-problem-for-some-students/

by Joshua Kim, Inside Higher Ed

Today’s reality is that the line between administrative and academic technology has blurred to such a degree that applying organizational distinctions is no longer useful – and is perhaps actively harmful. The reason for this is that we no longer have a clear line where an academic IT service ends and an administrative IT service begins. Are efforts to leverage learning data to drive student success a task of administrative or academic IT? The answer is that neither the skills of the traditional administrative technology professional or the seasoned academic technology expert are, on their own, adequate to the opportunity. Rather, administrative and academic IT people must work collaboratively – really as a single unit.

https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/technology-and-learning/myth-higher-ed-tech-academic-administrative-divide

By Rhea Kelly, Campus Technology

University of Maryland University College students and graduates can sharpen their coding skills at no cost thanks to a new partnership with technology talent development company Revature. Revature’s online training program is designed to provide a pathway to successful software development careers regardless of a student’s major or technical experience, according to a press release. “Through this partnership, students with non-technical academic backgrounds can expand their career options by mastering the latest software programs and computer platforms,” said Nikki Sandoval, associate vice president for alumni and career services at UMUC, in a statement.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/03/29/umuc-to-offer-free-online-coding-program-for-students-and-grads.aspx

By Dian Schaffhauser, Campus Technology

The availability of analytics products for higher education is on the rise, and the applications tend to fall into two broad camps: learning analytics, designed to be used by instructional staff to examine data tied to student engagement and academic outcomes; and operational analytics, for use by administrators to explore operational and financial areas, such as admission, enrollment and retention. That’s how a new report from Eduventures classifies the more than two dozen offerings it has identified in the current analytics marketplace.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/03/30/higher-ed-analytics-market-is-growing-in-complexity.aspx