Educational Technology

by Virtual College (UK)

Online learning courses could be beneficial to prospective students hoping to gain qualifications in the medicine, banking, nursing, journalism, social work and finance sectors. Computer-assisted education is becoming increasingly popular among both young and old audiences and for one postgraduate student of molecular biology, distance training has been vital to improving her professional development, the Independent reports. Enas Newire completed an e-learning Masters degree in infectious diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and with the help of a scholarship from the Schlumberger Foundation, a non-profit body supporting science and technology education, she has been able to study towards a doctorate in antimicrobial strategies and resistance. According to the young woman, distance learning provided her with a pathway to the prestigious degree, without her needing to sacrifice any social commitments.

http://www.virtual-college.co.uk/news/Elearning-benefits-students-in-a-variety-of-sectors-newsitems-801546133.aspx

by Geoffrey Mock, Duke Today

In panel discussion, faculty praise online learning but say nothing will replace liberal arts education. In looking at the future of teaching and learning, Duke faculty heard the expected praise for how online learning and classroom technology can transform education. Less expected during a faculty meeting last week: a physician and a biologist stepping forward with a promising prediction for the humanities: Nothing will replace the value of the humanistic learning between a faculty member and a student.

http://today.duke.edu/2013/02/teachinglearning

By Tanya Roscorla, Center for Digital Ed

Humanoid robots take center stage in a new dance competition designed for California students. Called Robotic Idol 2013, the competition challenges teams of junior high and high school students to make robots — that have body parts like humans, and can see, hear, speak and move — dance. In two separate competitions, teams of five students will compete in Northern California and Southern California. By creating this competition, the French company Aldebaran Robotics hopes to attract more students to robotics and science. Its 23-inch humanoid robot named Nao is designed for research and education, and has competed in international robotics competitions including RoboCup.

http://www.centerdigitaled.com/news/Robotic-Idol-Dance-Competition.html

by Center for Digital Ed

A pilot test of computer-based assessments from the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium is set to run from February to May. Designed to test students’ learning against the Common Core State Standards, the assessments will be adopted by the 2014-15 school year. Both the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium and the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers received grants from the U.S. Department of Education to fund their efforts toward this goal. By participating in the pilot, schools and states can see how the assessments work, learn how to support them and work out any issues.

http://www.centerdigitaled.com/news/Smarter-Balanced-Tests-Computer-Assessments.html

By Tanya Roscorla, Center for Digital Education

For the past year, job preparation for science, technology, engineering and math careers has been at the top of the priority list in The Windy City. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his staff have forged a series of pilots and partnerships that bring STEM education front and center. In the last year, five STEM schools launched with help from partner companies and city colleges. A pilot of Web development courses will start in the fall, and a new partnership with the Navy will provide more STEM education opportunities for students. “STEM is where the job growth of the future is going to be,” said Beth Swanson, deputy chief of staff for education at the mayor’s office, “and that’s why we’ve obviously made it a priority here in Chicago on our education reform agenda.”

http://www.centerdigitaled.com/news/STEM-Education-Chicago.html

By Daniel Bean, ABC News

Apple has become one of the most popular gadget brands in the world — not only in sales, but in theft. With iPhones, iPads and iPods stolen so often, New York City police have teamed up with Apple Inc. to combat these crimes directly, the New York Post reports. The NYPD has designated a special “team of cops” to pursue the theft of mobile Apple devices like iPhones and iPads. With the use of a device’s International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMSEI), it’s possible for Apple to track the whereabouts of a device and then share that information with the police. “We’re looking for ways to find individuals who have stolen Apple products and return the products to their original owners,” NYPD spokesman Paul Browne told the Post.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2013/02/new-york-police-set-up-team-to-track-stolen-apple-iphones-and-ipads/

Shawn Ingram, Gotta Be Mobile

Google Glass will arrive in stores by the end of 2013. It will work with Android or iPhone, and cost less than the $1500 Explorer Editions of the glasses. The Verge reports that Google aims to have Google Glass in user’s hands by the end of the year. The team also wants to bring the price down from the price of the early Explorer Edition of Google Glass. Another report from The Verge says Google Glass will have a Wi-Fi radio and GPS. When outside of Wi-Fi, the device can connect to either an iPhone or Android smartphone to use 3G or 4G LTE data. That’s good news for iPhone users who now know Google Glass will work with their smartphone of choice.

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2013/02/22/google-glass-coming-to-stores-by-end-of-2013-for-less-than-1500/

by Trixie Clark, Edudemic

Visit this article for a brief review of the most popular eBook formats. One thing that an e-book user should know is that formats can be unprotected or protected by a digital rights management (DRM) wrapper. The DRM, which is used as an anti-piracy tool to protect authors, can prevent you from opening an e-book file even if the format is compatible with your reader.

http://edudemic.com/2013/03/most-popular-ebook-formats/

by Jay Yarow, Business Insider

Josh Topolsky, editor in chief of tech site The Verge got some hands on (or is it eyes on?) time with Google Glass. While he didn’t spend enough time with Google Glass to deliver a definitive review, his first impressions of using Google Glass are overwhelmingly positive. He writes, “What’s it actually like to have Glass on? To use it when you’re walking around? Well, it’s kind of awesome.” He was skeptical about Google Glass before testing it. He didn’t think anyone would want to wear it. But after a few minutes of using Google Glass, he’s a believer.

http://www.businessinsider.com/review-of-googles-glasses-kind-of-awesome-2013-2

by Katie Lepi, Edudemic

Last year, iPads in education took the world by storm, finding their ways into initiatives at both the K-12 and university levels. Edudemic’s friends over at Education Dive have talked to some of the people responsible for those roll-outs and watched schools decided how to use tablets, whether they were Apple’s or not. In 2013, iPads are still going strong. New pilot programs are winning over former doubters—and in some cases existing programs are expanding. So how will iPads be used as their classroom roles evolve in 2013?

http://edudemic.com/2013/02/ways-ipads-are-being-used-in-schools/

By AMIR EFRATI, Wall Street Journal

Google Inc. on Thursday unveiled the first touch-screen laptops powered by its Chrome operating system—the latest foray into hardware development for the company best known for its Internet search and mobile software. The new high-end Chrome device, which is called the Chromebook Pixel and went on sale Thursday, was designed and built by Google with help from a hardware partner in Taiwan. The Pixel costs $1,299 for a Wi-Fi-only version and $1,449 for a version that also includes built-in LTE wireless technology so people can use it on the go.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324048904578318334083850180.html

by Bridget McCrea, Campus Technology

Three higher education CIOs discuss their e-learning agendas and wish lists for the year ahead. For administrators in higher education, each new year presents a clean slate that they can use to consider, test out, and implement new technology projects. In 2013, campus technology leaders are focusing more of their efforts on academic computing. Some initiatives are small in scale and limited to a handful of classrooms or departments while others permeate entire campuses. Regardless of size and scope, each of these projects comes together to contribute to the institution’s educational mission.

http://campustechnology.com/articles/2013/02/07/6-ways-campuses-are-scaling-up-elearning-in-2013.aspx?=CTEL