Educational Technology

November 23, 2013

Study: Teachers Love EdTech, They Just Don’t Use It

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

By Katie Lepi, Edudemic

I had a teacher recently say to me “It seems like EdTech is taking over”. Mulling that thought over brought to mind a lot of different possible responses. First off: the teacher who said this is older, approaching the end of their career, and not very tech-aware at all. Not just not tech-savvy, but not interested in becoming tech-savvy, either. A bit later in our discussion, this particular person admitted that they thought that technology could help improve students’ learning, but that still didn’t make them interested in it. While I’d probably place this person in the minority of teachers, it got me thinking. Is edtech really taking over? Are the majority of teachers integrating tech, or are there still a lot of ‘old school’ folks out there shunning tech? The visual below takes a look at some teachers’ opinions on edtech, and as the visual might have given away – it isn’t optional, it’s essential! Keep reading to learn more.

http://www.edudemic.com/teachers-edtech-study/

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Can An App Really Improve Learning?

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

By Katie Lepi, Edudemic

We already know that mobile learning is the future, both in and out of the classroom. The number of smartphones being sold is soaring while other hardware (desktops, for example) are slumping. You can’t really beat having information at students’ fingertips whenever they need it. That doesn’t mean, however, that there aren’t skeptics out there. Just as parents and teachers questioned other innovations in education in years past, and the inclusion of other types of technology into educational environments, many are doing so with mobile learning as well. The big question they’re asking: Can mobile apps really improve learning? The handy infographic below takes a look at the role of mobile apps in learning.

http://www.edudemic.com/app-improve-learning/

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Q&A with Anthony Kim: What will the next phase of blended learning look like?

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

By Sarah Butrymowicz, the Hechinger Report

In the past, what we’ve seen are individual schools implementing school models. What I think the next evolution of blended learning is districts or networks of schools thinking of how to scale this. It’s not just kind of just replicating the same model, but it’s actually having multiple versions of that that’s suitable for different types of teachers’ skills and students’ skills, and also building district level capacity to support these implementations. We’re just starting to hear more about, instead of districts saying, ‘Hey I want to do this at one school and try it out,” we hear from districts saying, ‘I need to do this at 10 to 20 schools at a time.’ We need to have the sustainability of supporting this kind of roll out.

http://hechingerreport.org/content/qa-with-anthony-kim-what-will-the-next-phase-of-blended-learning-look-like_13849/

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November 22, 2013

A Handy Visual Guide To Twitter Lingo

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:40 am
By Jeff Dunn, Edudemic
Are you tweeting a RLRT that’s NSFW and a MT? Did that sentence look like total nonsense? Do you hate acronyms? Me too! Does it mean you should avoid knowing what people are talking about on Twitter? No. In an effort to get you up to speed on the current language of Twitter, Mashable created this handy visual guide to Twitter lingo. It features just some of the countless acronyms and symbols that every Twitter user should know. From hashtags to mentions, there’s a lot going on with every tweet. It’s actually quite incredible to see how far it’s all come. Just a few years ago (before Twitter), this stuff was only used in email. Even then, not on a regular basis. Now with Twitter, it’s everywhere! Did you know all these symbols and acronyms? Which are new to you? Which are some that are being left out? Add yours (where else?!) by mentioning @edudemic on Twitter and I’ll retweet them!
http://www.edudemic.com/handy-visual-guide-twitter-lingo/
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Windows laptop, MacBook, or Chromebook? Let’s ask Amazon

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:35 am
by Ed Bott, ZD Net

Are you looking for a clamshell-style laptop? The world’s largest online market, Amazon.com, has a huge selection, with cheap Chromebooks at the top of the list. What does that list say about the three very different ecosystems for this familiar form factor? Tablets might be one of the fastest-growing categories in technology, but for sheer numbers conventional PCs still rule, especially those available in the classic clamshell format: Windows laptops, MacBooks, and Chromebooks.
http://www.zdnet.com/windows-laptop-macbook-or-chromebook-lets-ask-amazon-7000023120/

Windows laptop, MacBook, or Chromebook? Let’s ask Amazonby Ed Bott, ZD Net
Are you looking for a clamshell-style laptop? The world’s largest online market, Amazon.com, has a huge selection, with cheap Chromebooks at the top of the list. What does that list say about the three very different ecosystems for this familiar form factor? Tablets might be one of the fastest-growing categories in technology, but for sheer numbers conventional PCs still rule, especially those available in the classic clamshell format: Windows laptops, MacBooks, and Chromebooks.
http://www.zdnet.com/windows-laptop-macbook-or-chromebook-lets-ask-amazon-7000023120/

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Using Blogs to Add Value to the Writing Process

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

by Sean Dowling, Oxford University Press

There is no doubt that writing to a wider audience motivates the writer and results in work of higher quality being produced. However, it is rare that student writing goes beyond the teacher. It may be opened up for peer review, but this usually involves no more than one or two of the writer’s classmates. One way to create a wider audience is to post student work on blogs. In a previous post, I discussed how the comment area of a class blog post or page could be used by students to post their work. In this post, I will discuss how students can use their individual blogs to publish their work, thereby making it available to a wider audience.

http://oupeltglobalblog.com/2013/11/11/using-blogs-to-add-value-to-the-writing-process/

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November 21, 2013

Google Glass Release Date: How Are College Students Experimenting With The Wearable Technology?

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

By Melanie Ehrenkranz, idigitaltimes

“Ok, Glass, go to class.” Google announced in July that five film schools would receive Google Glass eyewear for the fall semester. The selected colleges include American Film Institute, California Institute of the Arts, Rhode Island School of Design, University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California. The participating colleges were granted three pairs of the wearable computing devices and have since taken advantage of the futuristic gadget. Months have passed, and the Google Glass release date looms on the horizon (or perhaps on the San Francisco Bay). How have college students been experimenting with Glass?

http://www.idigitaltimes.com/articles/20726/20131111/google-glass-release-date-film-school-students.htm

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Sequester severely affecting America’s research capabilities

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

By Ananth Baliga, UPI

A survey of university leaders has shown that the sequester — mandatory budget cuts which will remain in effect for the next eight years unless Congress acts — will adversely affect the innovation and technology edge the U.S. enjoys. The survey, conducted by the Association of American Universities, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and The Science Coalition, asked leaders from 171 public and private research universities about the effects of the sequester. The survey suggests cuts to federal research grants and delayed federal projects have already had a negative impact.

http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Blog/2013/11/11/Sequester-severely-affecting-Americas-research-capabilities/8271384205494/

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Keeping Pace with K-12 Online & Blended Learning

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

by Tom Vander Ark, Gilfus Education

The 10th annual Keeping Pace report is bigger and better than ever. The annual review of policies and practices in K-12 online and blended is the go-to source. The report includes 100 pages of state profiles that highlight programs and identify policy issues. Following is a quick recap.

New & different (this year or in the last few years)

* For the first time in KP history, no new states allowed stated fully online schools

* A quick 4 page landscape analysis (report card) of all 50 states (p10)

* State course choice programs (p34) with a great summary table (p37)

* MOOCs were all the rage in 2012 in higher ed and they are beginning to become available to high school students (p39)

* An increasing number of district programs offer a range of online options to their students

http://www.gilfuseducationgroup.com/keeping-pace-with-k-12-online-blended-learning

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November 20, 2013

Survey: Nearly half of schools to move to BYOT in near future

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

by School CIO

A few years ago, the notion of using a smartphone as a legitimate learning tool seemed improbable, if not out-and-out foolish. Students, in most cases were either prohibited from bringing their mobile phones to school, or at the very least told to leave them in their lockers or turned off and stored in their backpacks during school hours. However, according to a recent survey conducted by MDR’s EdNET Insight research services for Mimio, what many students are going to hear is, “Class, turn on your mobile phone; it’s time to learn.” The nine-question survey polled more than 150 educational professionals, including school district technology, instructional media services, and curriculum directors, coordinators and specialists. Respondents were asked the impact that consumer technology devices and bring-your-own-technology (BYOT) initiatives were likely to have on future interactive classroom planning and purchases.

http://www.schoolcio.com/cio-trends-&-resources/0114/survey-nearly-half-of-schools-to-move-to-byot-in-near-future/52928

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Six laws of tech adoption (part 3 of 7)

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:32 am

By Gary Shattuck, CIO Advisor
 
In my last blog, I began explaining the first of what I call the Six Laws of Technology Adoption in Education. This first law was the Law of Scarcity. Today’s blog is about the second of these six laws: The Law of Change. In 1970, Alvin Toffler in Future Shock predicted that in the 21st century accelerating change would become endemic. This eerily prophetic prediction is causing and will continue to cause major disruptions in education beyond any of our imaginations. The best we can hope for is to learn to quickly adapt to our fast-changing societal and educational issues. For example, in 2001, Marc Prensky described what he saw as a different type of student emerging in our society: the digital native. As Prensky articulated, these new type of students were born into the digital age and know nothing else but a digital world. In fact, Jane Healy described in Endangered Minds that these digital natives’ brains have been structurally changed by this digital technology. As a result, 90% of today’s students are visual learners. This is an example of the accelerating change that is disrupting education.

http://www.schoolcio.com/Default.aspx?tabid=136&entryid=6667

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Being digitally naked—are we too connected?

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

By Carl Hooker, CIO Advisor

You ever have that heart-stopping feeling of fright when you leave the house without your phone? What about that feeling of exposure when you are the dentist office and realize you don’t have your favorite tablet to help you pass the time while catching up on episodes of Orange is the New Black? Isn’t it amazing how quickly we’ve become attached to our devices? They’ve become more than an accessory, they’ve become part of our clothes. You wouldn’t leave the house without clothes on would you? In September, I attended the Mobile 2013 Experience in Arizona and was faced with quite a conundrum. My phone was about to die and we were heading into the networking reception part of the event. I didn’t want to carry an iPad or laptop around with me, but didn’t want to be disconnected. It dawned on me the irony that I was about to head into a networking event and felt the need the to carry my phone with me to stay connected. Much like Linus of Peanuts fame, my iPhone is my security blanket. I figured I had two options at that point: either stay in my room and communicate and connect digitally with folks or actually go into the event without my device.

http://www.schoolcio.com/Default.aspx?tabid=136&entryid=6726

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November 19, 2013

Distance learning expands course offerings in Neb.

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

by the Associated Press

Live from Beatrice High School, it’s Chinese class. Every school day Caroline Li greets her 16 Chinese language students through a screen on a wall. Through the power of distance learning technology, BHS students have had the chance to take classes that they wouldn’t be typically be offered. Beatrice Public Schools director of curriculum and assistant high school principal Jackie Nielsen said distance learning has been fairly successful since its start about six years ago at the high school and has saved the district money.

http://www.theindependent.com/news/state/distance-learning-expands-course-offerings-in-neb/article_c5b57bef-630a-5b13-a6b4-3ad4bd7b540b.html

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College classes available to all Maine inmates, but interest limited

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

By Judy Meyer, Sun Journal

In Maine, the Sunshine Lady Foundation tuition grant program is available only at the Warren facility and only to a select few, but other inmates there and inmates in other prisons can take college classes through online courses once they complete what’s called an “accuplacer” test and are approved for enrollment by each prison’s respective education department. For inmates who meet these qualifications, the Department of Corrections pays as much as two-thirds of the tuition and inmates or their families are responsible for the rest, ranging from $175 at the Bolduc Correctional Center to $220 at the Maine State Prison per three-credit class. The department also pays the full cost of books, which can run up to $700 per semester. To qualify for this funding, students must maintain at least a C average and stay out of trouble while in prison.

http://bangordailynews.com/2013/11/10/news/midcoast/college-classes-available-to-all-maine-inmates-but-interest-limited/?ref=latest

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At Northampton Community College, online learning is entrenched

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

By Sara K. Satullo, The Express-Times

Online classes are key to future growth at Northampton Community College, with statistics showing one in three higher-education students signing up. College trustees recently received an extensive review of the Bethlehem Township, Pa.,-based school’s online offerings and how students fare in the courses. It was prompted by repeated questions from trustee Tom Doluisio about the effectiveness of the teaching medium. The college plans a careful expansion of its online offerings with many quality controls in place, said Jeff Focht, NCC’s vice president of academic affairs.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf/2013/11/northampton_community_college_56.html

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November 18, 2013

Marshall University Professor’s texting research to be published

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

The Herald-Dispatch

Dr. Jeanne Widener, associate professor in the School of Nursing, said she chose to utilize text messaging in her medical-surgical nursing course because she believes the standard lecture is not keeping the attention of students in the classroom. “I’ve found that several students slept through all or part of the class, even though it was only 60 minutes of lecture beyond the announcements and discussion of assignments,” Widener said. “Informally, the students have stated they seem to feel the interaction (of texting) and immediate feedback does make them think more and several distant-site students have thanked me for using this approach because they can now participate in classroom activities.” Swartzwelder said she hopes her research generates awareness about the changing educational environment.

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/x1572731421/Professor-s-texting-research-to-be-published

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How will U of M change with the times? A chat with Pres. Eric Kaler

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

by: MAURA LERNER, Star Tribune

I think online will be an important part of what we do going forward. But I don’t see it, frankly, ever replacing the bricks-and-mortar institutions like the University of Minnesota. Online education is absolutely terrific for people who are placebound. It’s terrific for people who need to fill a specific gap. [But] the ability to learn from each other, to make new friends and to explore the intellectual world in front of them … that happens at bricks-and-mortar institutions. And I don’t think that transition is going to easily occur by somebody going down in the basement and taking online courses for four years. I think what will emerge, almost certainly, is that large classroom lectures will become less important, less common. Students will listen to the lecture online and then come to class and interact with students and faculty. With faculty being more of a coach and a mentor, a person who answers questions rather than just dispensing wisdom.

http://www.startribune.com/local/231306691.html

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500,000 person lumosity study examines optimizing cognitive training tasks to accelerate learning

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

by Science Codex

Lumosity, the online cognitive training and neuroscience research company, is presenting today at the annual 2013 Society for Neuroscience meeting showing that optimizing training tasks can accelerate and lengthen learning rates. The study, titled “Optimizing Cognitive Training Task Designs to Improve Learning Rates in a Large Online Population,” found that altering various psychophysical task parameters that make a task more challenging led to different learning rates of the tasks. Results showed that the altered training task group showed greater improvements in spatial recall and attention, and effects were dose-dependent. “These results are interesting because they show that small changes to a training task can lead to large differences in learning rates,” said Aaron Kaluszka, Ph.D. Candidate, Research Scientist at Lumosity, and lead author on the study. “Understanding the impact of these changes in training can inform our understanding of online game-based learning, and help us develop more targeted tasks that help people of all ages and skill levels learn faster and more efficiently.”

http://www.sciencecodex.com/500000_person_lumosity_study_examines_optimizing_cognitive_training_tasks_to_accelerate_learning-122707

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November 17, 2013

How To Choose The Best Education Technology For Your School

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

By Benjamin L. Stewart, Edudemic

Inspired by a recent #edchat poll for possible discussion topics: if the choice were yours, would you rather your school adopt 1:1 laptops, bring-your-own devices (BYOD), or a little-to-no approach to educational technology? erhaps those a bit more savvy when it comes to educational technology (ET) might find it strange to still hear the argument that bringing devices into schools does little to advance student learning. Forget the ubiquity of current technologies, students do not learn any differently today than they did in the past, the argument goes. Educators have gotten by without using technology in the past while student learning has not suffered, some may claim. But is this still really a sound argument?

http://www.edudemic.com/best-education-technology-for-your-school/

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How To Choose The Best Digital Tools For You

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

By Patrick Larkin, Edudemic

As I look for entry points in working with school leaders just getting their feet wet with digital tools, I sometimes struggle to pinpoint the best place to start. I guess it is because there are so many useful tools out there that my colleagues could utilize to help them to change their workflows for the better. However, the important thing is not the tool at all. The important thing is that educational leaders are modeling the fact that they too are continuous learners who are striving to employ the most relevant resources that they can access to do their jobs.

http://www.edudemic.com/choose-best-digital-tools/

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KU professor creates online course to combat bullying

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

by Ann Wilson, Channel 6 Lawrence

Educators throughout the nation are working on ways to combat bullying, but a University of Kansas professor in Lawrence is training teachers and administrators through an online course to curb the problem. “Most people think of bullying as two types, like when I grew up in the 50’s and it’s sticks and stones, verbal teasing and hitting,” said Bob Harrington, professor of psychology and research in education. Harrington said those forms of bullying still occur in 2013, but the types of bullying are much more expansive and can happen at any age. A lack of civility in schools prompted Harrington to start an online series of courses for graduate students in education. This semester focuses on bullying prevention and intervention. “When you come into a school, you should be guaranteed to be safe. Schools should be safe places,” Harrington said.

http://6lawrence.com/news/education/7813-ku-professor-creates-online-course-to-combat-bullying

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