Techno-News Blog

BY ROB SPARKS, eCampus News

Have faculty, administrators and advisors actually prepared their students for the “real world” and aligned programs, degrees and training with the job market? Without diminishing the quality of the academic program, have students made the right choices to fulfill their ambitions and aspirations and begin their contributions to society? For decades, institutions have made it their missions to improve not just academic outcomes for their students but also career outcomes. Career fairs, services and internships have been a staple of the student experience for decades. But the reality is that most employers still find graduates lacking essential skills and academic programs lagging behind current needs in a rapidly evolving marketplace. Often, educators find themselves out of sync with the job market.

https://www.ecampusnews.com/campus-administration/universities-data-grads-careers/

by Matthew Lynch, Tech Edvocate

*The Tech Edvocate is pleased to produce its “Best of the Best” resource lists. These lists provide our readers with rankings for edtech-related blogs, twitter accounts, influencers, products, etc. These lists are meant to be fluid, and for that reason, they are regularly updated to provide up to the moment information. Let’s face it. Edtech is here to stay. If you work in the field of education you need to keep abreast of the latest developments in edtech. We decided to help you out by creating a list of 88 amazing edtech tools, apps, and websites. Here they are, in no particular order.

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/tech-edvocates-list-88-amazing-edtech-tools-apps-websites/

By Joe Chapman, US News

Online degrees allow students to get to the next level in their careers, but time management can be challenging. The reality is that there will never be a perfect time to return to school. But that doesn’t mean that earning a degree is beyond reach. Heading back to school requires organization and patience and support from those around you. Higher education also remains the best pathway to career success, directly impacting employment opportunities and wages. A study from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce found that bachelor’s degree holders earn 31 percent more than those with an associate degree and 74 percent more than those with only a high school diploma.

https://www.usnews.com/education/online-learning-lessons/articles/2017-06-09/3-things-to-know-about-working-while-getting-an-online-degree

By Sri Ravipati, THE Journal

The total number of devices connected to IP networks is projected to be three times the global population by 2021. Internet of things (IoT) technologies specifically are expected to represent more than half of the total 27.1 billion devices and connections. That analysis comes from Cisco’s recent Visual Networking Index for the 2016-2021 forecast period. Wireless and mobile devices will make up 63 percent of total IP traffic by 2021 — up from 51 percent in 2016. ”TVs, tablets, smartphones and machine-to- machine (M2M) modules will have traffic growth rates of 21 percent, 29 percent, 49 percent and 49 percent, respectively,” according to the report. Connected home, connected healthcare, smart cars and other M2M services will play a key role in this growth.

https://thejournal.com/articles/2017/06/09/iot-to-represent-more-than-half-of-connected-device-landscape-by-2021.aspx

by Allison Linn, Microsoft

The team has created what they are calling a physical programming language. It’s a way for kids to physically create code by connecting pods together to build programs. The system, called Project Torino, is designed to make sure that kids who have visual impairments or other challenges can participate in coding classes along with all their classmates. But Cecily Morrison, one of the researchers working on the project, is hoping the system also will be appealing and useful for all learners, regardless of whether they have visual impairments or other challenges. “One of our key design principles was inclusion.” The ultimate goal is even more ambitious: To get more kids with visual impairments and other challenges, such as dyslexia or autism, on the path to becoming software engineers and computer scientists.

https://blogs.microsoft.com/next/2017/03/15/project-torino-microsoft-creates-physical-programming-language-inclusive-visually-impaired-children/

BY TANIA BARDYN, eCampus News

University of Washington brings data to life in new “Idea Incubator” space with an interactive video wall for health sciences researchers. Our mission at the Health Sciences Library at the University of Washington is to advance the healthcare fields through scholarship, research, education and access to health information resources. We support not just university faculty, health researchers and students, but also a variety of other professionals and researchers in the Puget Sound and state of Washington. With that in mind, when the university library decided to add a new space on campus to enhance research data analysis and allow multidisciplinary collaboration, we didn’t want just another conference room; we wanted to give researchers something they couldn’t get elsewhere on campus.

https://www.ecampusnews.com/featured/featured-on-ecampus-news/university-of-washington-lab/

By Dian Schaffhauser, Campus Technology

During 1Q17 both Xiaomi and Apple shipped 3.6 million wearable devices (with a slight bump by Xiaomi over Apple), compared to Fitbit’s 3 million, IDC reported. Korean behemoth Samsung came in fourth with 1.4 million shipments. The overall wearables market grew by almost 18 percent year over year, compared to 17 percent last quarter. Currently, producers are still “seeding wearables” in the market, added Jitesh Ubrani, senior research analyst for IDC Mobile Device Trackers. “It’s all about getting people accustomed to the idea of wearing a device.” The next stage “will be all about putting user data to good use,” he said. “This is when step counts translate into healthier hearts and minds. And it’s also when we will start to see devices that actually augment our abilities and make our lives easier or more productive rather than just being another screen we keep an eye on.”

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/06/07/wearables-market-continues-kick-in-first-quarter.aspx

by Matthew Lynch, Tech Edvocate

Organizations today — whether colleges and universities or third-party providers — are investing considerable funds and effort in building technology platforms, content, features that make the content discoverable and usable, and an interface that allows users to navigate the resource. Creating and maintaining an accessible digital resource is no simple feat. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 AA standards require providers to support visual, auditory, and manual accessibility. To create accessible resources requires an understanding of these standards, routine monitoring, testing, evaluation, and most important, building accessibility into the DNA of code development and web design.

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/opinion-creating-maintaining-accessible-digital-resources-neither-easy-optional/

BY MERIS STANSBURY, eCampus News

Online learning apps are broken down into specific categories to maximize production and streamline online communication. Technology and its potential to simplify life for its users can be a beautiful thing, which can be seen in the example of providing online learning for students. But, unless you have the right technology to streamline tasks and aid in learning, going online for education can also be a nightmare. According to U.S. News & World Report, the average online student often takes online courses due to an already hectic life. Luckily, “there is no shortage of mobile apps that can help online students stay productive.”

https://www.ecampusnews.com/curriculum/apps-include-online-learning/