Educational Technology

September 30, 2013

Bill would require Pa. public schools to offer online courses

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:40 am

by Jan Murphy, Penn Live

A Lancaster County representative has introduced a bill that seeks to make online courses a staple in the learning opportunities offered at more public schools. Online learning opportunities would be offered in more public schools under legislation offered by Lancaster County Republican Rep. Ryan Aument. The legislation sponsored by Republican Rep. Ryan Aument would require the state Department of Education to establish a clearinghouse of online courses that schools could use by entering into contracts with the provider who developed the course. It would require all public schools to offer online courses for students in grades 9 to 12, starting in 2015-16. That mandate would be expanded to apply to grades 6 to 12 beginning in 2018-19. The courses that are offered can be developed by the district, contracted through an on-line course provider,or come from the department’s clearinghouse.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/09/bill_would_require_pa_public_s.html

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Special Education Goes High Tech

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:35 am

by Special Education Degree

Nowhere has technology been more of a force in education than in special education. This infographic provides highlights and insights.

https://sites.google.com/site/colrsupdate/

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Is Google Glass Worth the Risk in Education?

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:29 am

by Center for Digital Education

Google Glass gives users a hands-free way to take pictures, record videos and share on social media. But will this eyewear really work in education? “So people are really critical of Glass, and I think that’s fabulous ’cause we’re saying,’What is this, why do we have it, and what are we going to do with it?’ And that’s what needs to happen in our schools too,” said Andrew Vanden Heuvel, a science teacher at Michigan Virtual School. “We don’t all need iPads. We need to think, “What do I need?” because what am I trying to get my kids to do. And that’s what the conversation needs to be about.”

http://www.centerdigitaled.com/video/Is-Google-Glass-Worth-the-Risk-in-Education.html

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September 29, 2013

Augmented Reality Brings Learning to Life

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:39 am

By Center for Digital Education

“With augmented reality, you pretty much have a target or a trigger, so some type of image to tie some type of file or, you know, 3-D animation to it,” Waid said. “In the future, you’re not going to have to have a target or a marker ’cause we’ve seen some of the new technology that’s still in prototype right now that you can get your phone out and you can just scan an area, and all of a sudden it’s laying down markers in the real world, and you can drop 3-D animations in there, and it will learn the environment.” “I think augmented reality is the future of not only technology, but technology in education mainly,” Minock said. “It changes the way that the kids are engaged in learning, and that’s what we’re going for. We want to get these kids engaged in something to where they’re learning on a level that they don’t even realize they’re learning ’cause they’re so deep into it, and that’s something that augmented reality does.”

http://www.centerdigitaled.com/video/Augmented-Reality-Brings-Learning-to-Life.html

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New tools shine in online education

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:36 am

by the Holland Sentinel

Some online colleges are re-imagining higher education in ways that recognize the demands placed on people seeking to advance their careers. There is a skills gap in the United States. Thirty-nine percent of U.S. employers report having difficulty finding staff with the appropriate skills, according to the annual Talent Shortage Survey conducted by the ManpowerGroup, a human resource consulting firm. If you are trying to get ahead in your career, you’ve likely realized the skills gap exists and you know the benefits a new position or promotion could mean to you and your family. Some online colleges are re-imagining higher education in ways that recognize the demands placed on people seeking to advance their careers. Here are some reasons to pursue online courses.

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/community/blogs/biz-bits/x1155163675/New-tools-shine-in-online-education

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Six laws for tech adoption

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:31 am

By Gary Shattuck, CIO Advisor

Obviously, there are districts, schools, and many classrooms in which technology has had a major impact on student learning; however, I contended that a more thorough reorganization of our purposes when it comes to technology in education is needed. We need to change the teachers’ paradigm as it concerns teaching and learning. In order to achieve that reorganization I am proposing Six Laws for the Adoption of Technology in Education.

http://www.schoolcio.com/Default.aspx?tabid=136&entryid=6459

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September 28, 2013

State initiative growing technology in classrooms

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:39 am

By Tracey McManus, Augusta Chronicle

Three schools in Richmond County are piloting a Bring Your Own Technology, or BYOT, initiative that allows students to use personal smartphones, laptops and other devices in class. The program will expand to all schools next year if the district can meet its goal to be completely wireless on all campuses by August. The initiative is part of a larger effort to grow technology in the classrooms, from incorporating more devices into the learning experience to offering more online courses. “Technology is integrated in education,” said Kim Stripling, the director of media and instructional technology. “It’s not going away, it’s here to stay, it’s how our kids learn. To allow students to use what’s easy for them really helps them learn.”

http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/education/2013-09-22/state-initiative-growing-technology-classrooms

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University Uses iPads To Customize Learning

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:36 am

by Imperial Valley News

Learning has gone mobile, and the students at Jackson State University (JSU) are reaping the benefits. Through the iPad Technology Advantage Scholarship Initiative (TASI), incoming full-time freshmen at JSU are each provided with the latest-generation iPad. And what do the students do with these iPads? Some pretty amazing things. In addition to having 24/7 access to textbooks online in the form of eBooks or iBooks, students have dozens of apps that enable them to take class notes, collaborate on content, communicate via Skype, tap into resources like math reference formulas or periodic tables, learn a foreign language online, access world maps at a touch, read or listen to thousands of other books or audiobooks, use their iPad as a graphing calculator and much more. ESE Apps are also included, with references for American Sign Language and text to speech conversion.

http://www.imperialvalleynews.com/index.php/news/latest-news/5386-university-uses-ipads-to-customize-learning.html

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List of the top free online Linux courses

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:30 am

by CIOL Bureau

Free online Linux courses, whether affiliated with universities or not, are generally intended for self-study and aren’t offered for academic credit. Some material is offered through the schools’ OpenCourseWare (OCW) projects. Most Linux course materials include PDF, video and screenshots. Though content is usually directed toward first time users of Linux systems, the IBM and the University of California at Davis’ offerings cater to intermediate users. Students may need to have access to their own computers running Linux in order to complete some lessons.

http://www.ciol.com/ciol/news/196230/sites-offering-free-linux-courses-online

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September 27, 2013

We need to stop masking passwords

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:40 am

By Matt Baxter-Reynolds, ZD Net

Masking passwords doesn’t defend against any likely threat, causes user frustration, and drives them to pick poor passwords. Windows 8 has a little “reveal” button on password fields to help you type in passwords correctly.

Truth be known, I’m a little bit nervous about this article. I’m going to suggest something that a lot of people won’t like. And it’s this: Passwords should not be masked by default. Now, I know what you’re going to say. It will be something like, “but someone will steal my password if they can see it! Won’t somebody think of the children!” Before you jump to the comments section, let’s see whether we can get on the same page on this…

http://www.zdnet.com/we-need-to-stop-masking-passwords-7000020894/

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Please, let Windows XP die with dignity

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:35 am

By Ed Bott, ZD Net

Yesterday my colleague David Gewirtz delivered a fire-and-brimstone sermon on the coming XPocalypse, the date early next year when Microsoft stops supporting Windows XP. Here’s Pastor Gewirtz, in a passage replete with Biblical references:

If you don’t think that cybercriminals have marked April 8, 2014 on their calendars with a big star, you’re crazy. If you don’t think they’re holding back on launching some of their bigger exploits until after the patching ends, you’re naive. For cybercriminals intent on skinning our 500 million sheep, April 8, 2014 is D-Day.

By abandoning XP on April 8, 2014, Microsoft will cease being a good shepherd of its most loyal customers. Microsoft is just leaving them out there, exposed, and unprotected. On April 8, 2014, those millions of remaining XP users will be like lambs being led to the slaughter. To paraphrase Jeremiah 11:19, they do not know that plots have been devised against them.

http://www.zdnet.com/please-let-windows-xp-die-with-dignity-7000020923/

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Apple iOS 7 flaws, oddities and mistakes

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:30 am

By Charlie Osborne, ZDNet

iOS 7 is considered a robust update with a number of positive points, including edge-to-edge design, the automatic update of apps, improved Mail, better security and the inclusion of AirDrop for iOS. The new update also fixes 80 security vulnerabilities that presumably remain in iOS 6, including the prevention of malicious code execution, determination of passcodes through applications, and the ability to intercept data protected with IPSec Hybrid Auth. However, a number of flaws and problems have been reported, including lagging response times, app confusion with gesture control, inconsistent design and garish colour schemes.

http://www.zdnet.com/uk/apple-ios-7-flaws-oddities-and-mistakes-7000020940/?s_cid=e539&ttag=e539

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September 26, 2013

Google Partners with edX to Create ‘YouTube for MOOCs’

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:40 am

by Julia Lawrence, Education News

Online education consortium edX is teaming up with Google to bring MOOCs to the masses. Bigger masses, that is. Google is committing to helping the online education non-profit, which was originally founded by Harvard University and MIT, to create a portal website that both partners hope will become a YouTube for MOOCs. The site will be hosted at an easy-to-remember web address – mooc.org. Will Oremus of Slate Magazine reports that the website will rely on the same web platform already being used by other edX schools. However, unlike other edX courses that are chiefly limited to students from offering and partner universities, anyone with an internet connection will be able to take advantage of the courses offered on the new website.

http://www.educationnews.org/online-schools/google-partners-with-edx-to-create-youtube-for-moocs/

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Knowledge Is Power: Awesome Websites for Learning Library Skills

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:34 am

by Ashley Mancill, INALJ

I discovered a number of great resources that allowed me to learn a lot at my own pace. Below is a list of ones that I feel provide the best introduction to library work for students and career changers like myself and are great for staff workers who want to improve their skills and knowledge. These are not meant to be substitutions for graduate work and training, but are useful for anyone interested in developing a deeper understanding of librarianship and what library work generally entails.

http://inalj.com/?p=40391&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=knowledge-is-power-awesome-websites-for-learning-library-skills

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The PBL Super Highway… Over 45 Links To Great Project Based Learning

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:30 am

By Michael Gorman, TechLearning

Are you on a journey to find great PBL ideas? Then you have come to the right place. In fact, you just might want to spend some time here and also continue to come back. The first of my list includes sites that have created data bases of PBL Units. You will find units that you can use, improve, or incorporate as a base. – See more at: http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&entryid=6476#sthash.aapgQU1w.dpuf

http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&entryid=6476

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September 25, 2013

Google Glass Prompts Experiments in Journalism Schools

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:36 am

By Tanya Roscorla, Center for Digital Ed

Professors are experimenting with Google Glass to see how it works in journalism. California State University, Chico, is one of the latest journalism and public relations programs to buy the wearable technology, which allows users to shoot video, share tweets and show the latest news, among other things. The developer version of Google Glass costs around $1,500 and is currently only available to explorers that Google selected through a contest.

http://www.centerdigitaled.com/news/Google-Glass-Prompts-Experiments-in-Journalism-Schools.html

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Do Your Social Media Policies Run Afoul of the First Amendment?

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:30 am

By Tanya Roscorla, Center for Digital Education

Social media policies that target student athletes are popping up around the country this year. From California to Connecticut, these policies are stirring up controversy, and they could end up costing schools and universities millions of dollars in civil litigation. But parents and students are upset that these policies target student athletes and say their First Amendment rights are being violated. Lawyers and the American Civil Liberties Union warn that education institutions are crossing legal boundaries. Some legislators also disagree with how schools are trying to control students’ free speech.

http://www.centerdigitaled.com/news/Social-Media-Policies-First-Amendment.html

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Open Access Publishing Moving Forward at an Indiana University

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:28 am

By Center for Digital Ed

Scholars at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) are now able to publish their articles in open access journals – without paying a fee out of their own pockets. IUPUI has started a pilot open access fund that will cover publication fees that some open access, peer-reviewed journals charge, according to the university. Over the next two years, faculty will have $47,000 for publication of their work, which will be made available to the public in academic journals and IUPUI’s own repository.

http://www.centerdigitaled.com/news/Open-Access-Publishing-Fund.html

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September 24, 2013

MITx introduces “XSeries” course sequence certificates on edX

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:40 am

by MIT

MITx, the massive open online course effort at MIT, has announced new certificates for completing sequences of related modules or courses on the edX platform. The sequences, called “XSeries” sequences, represent a new approach to MOOC instruction and certification across integrated offerings more expansive than the individual courses that have thus far defined the MOOC landscape. The two initial XSeries sequences are Foundations of Computer Science and Supply Chain and Logistics Management. Curriculum for each XSeries is developed by MIT faculty members and overseen by their academic departments. “These sequences are an opportunity for MIT to both explore how subjects can be addressed in depth through the MOOC format and to better understand student interest in various types of certification,” remarked MIT Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department Head Anantha Chandrakasan in discussing the announcement. “XSeries sequences allow our departments to reimagine the building blocks that structure teaching in our disciplines for the digital environment.” Each XSeries will cover content equivalent to two to four traditional residential courses and take between six months and two years to complete. In a break from previous MITx offerings, the Foundations of Computer Science and Supply Chain and Logistics Management XSeries sequences are composed of shorter, more targeted modules without one-to-one residential course equivalents.

http://www.itnewsonline.com/showprnstory.php?storyid=288290

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3 Ways Colleges Are Adapting to Online Learning

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:35 am

By SUZANNE SATALINE, US News

Flipped classrooms are among the ways schools are using technology to diversify the student learning experience. From putting lectures online to offering math homework in 3-D and creating massive open online courses accessible to anyone for free, colleges and universities are marshaling new technology and the Internet to educate students in novel ways. Anyone headed to campus these days should get set for “a blended experience,” says David Leebron, president of Rice University and an advocate of online learning. While some college students will probably still have an entirely brick-and-mortar experience, Leebron says, other folks “may get their education entirely online.” Most will find themselves mixing traditional and virtual learning.

http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/articles/2013/09/18/3-ways-colleges-are-adapting-to-online-learning

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Brown University Profs explore U.’s online education offerings

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:27 am

by Emily Passarelli,  Brown Daily Herald

Professors stepped out of the classroom and into computer screens this summer with a variety of online class offerings. Through the learning platforms Coursera and Canvas, the University explored different methods of online education. Brown professors taught Massive Open Online Courses, also known as MOOCs, to virtual audiences on Coursera, while Elizabeth Taylor, senior lecturer in English, piloted “Introduction to Creative Nonfiction” with a group of 17 students on Canvas as Brown’s first online for-credit course.

http://www.browndailyherald.com/2013/09/18/profs-explore-u-s-online-education-offerings/

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