Educational Technology

By Katie Lepi, Edudemic

I was having a discussion recently with someone about trends in education, and the topic of augmented reality came up. Without re-hashing the entire conversation, it basically boiled down to this idea “Isn’t augmented reality mostly something in the movies”? Well, no, it isn’t. Augmented reality is more mainstream than many of us think. It does have the potential to sound like something that isn’t in our immediate future, but the future is now, apparently! The handy infographic below takes a look at some examples of augmented reality that many of us see in daily life. Many of these can have a variety of applications in the classroom, too. Keep reading to learn more! There are a lot of cool applications of augmented reality that you may already know about, and others that you don’t.

http://www.edudemic.com/guide-to-augmented-reality/

by LearnWithOthers, Edudemic

One way to help differentiate learning for students is through the use of appropriate, assistive technology tools. The term “assistive” is often misunderstood as doing the job for the person. This is not the case. A basketball player that throws the ball to the person closer to the basket to make a shot is not the individual that scores the points. That does not diminish the role, but the work or score in this example is done by the person using the assist to make a basket. Much in the same way assistive technology tools do not do the work for the students. When used effectively, they offer the opportunity to help the students become more independent and successful with their academic tasks. An assistive technology tool can be something as simple as using a word processor to make the text and spacing bigger for a test.

http://www.edudemic.com/assistive-technology-plan-for-middle-school/

by Sramana Mitra, Xconomy

The field of educational technologies is going through an exciting period. From massively open online courses (MOOCs) like MIT’s OCW or edX and Khan Academy to a range of tablet and smartphone applications, the field is rife with exciting innovations that have dramatically changed the face of education. There is a higher degree of self-learning and from a ‘sage on the stage’ model, education has evolved to a ‘guide on the side’ model. And in niche areas of education like special education where the ‘guide on the side’ models are the norm, there is a revolution happening, aided by the tablet and the various applications. FreeSpeech addresses a growing problem encountered by children with special needs. For every 88 children in the US, one child is diagnosed with autism.

http://www.xconomy.com/san-francisco/2013/12/05/tablet-app-invention-labs-helps-kids-speech-disabilities/

by Joseph DiBenedetto , Clinton Township Patch

Learning in a virtual setting offers many unique and powerful opportunities for learners. With the explosion of information available daily through online resources, such as the media, companies, government websites, and many others, the Internet is a portal of rich knowledge and understanding. Does this mean online learning is limitless? Today’s K-12 learners must be able to know and do more than just finding and reciting facts – they have to use the information they find to interpret, analyze, and problem solve. Simply having access to the online world of information and resources doesn’t equate to learning, which is why having state-certified teachers to guide and facilitate the online learning process is key to a student’s academic success.

http://clintontwp.patch.com/groups/michigan-virtual-school-connections/p/is-online-learning-limitless_e99cb24a

by Lara Hulcher, NCSU Technician

The somewhat-traditional teaching method of determining students’ grades based solely on a midterm and final exam was recently called into question by a psychology study. However, it’s unclear whether this new method will take wide effect at N.C. State. Psychologists at the University of Texas at Austin released findings from an experiment this month in which 901 students in a popular introduction-to-psychology course took their laptops to class and were quizzed online. The researchers found that frequent quizzing, as opposed to a few large tests and projects, increased both class attendance and overall performance. Scott Despain, an associate professor in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, teaches Spanish I and gives several small quizzes throughout the semester. Usually, his quizzes only take 30 seconds to a couple of minutes to complete and come directly from the homework, Despain said. “It facilitates students’ success,” Despain said. “I come from a background of learning by doing.”

http://www.technicianonline.com/news/article_50a41600-5b0f-11e3-9833-001a4bcf6878.html

By Colleen Lee, Edudemic

Twitter, and its role in teacher professional learning, is one of the hottest trends in teaching today. As a connected educator I have written and presented many times about the amazing things that happen on Twitter for teachers who actively use it. The PLN has done more than give teachers access to an international cohort but has, myself included, helped rejuvenate teaching and challenged us to improve what we do.

http://www.edudemic.com/teachers-on-twitter/

by Cindi Brown, Inventor Spot

Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” Here are five of the most innovative companies seeking to change the world by equalizing educational access. Visit the URL for profiles of Khan Academy, Coursera, StraighterLine, Lyrnsoft, and OpenStudy.

http://inventorspot.com/articles/5-innovative-companies-changing-education

by Lawrence Biemiller, Chronicle of Higher Ed

A study comparing traditional and “flipped” versions of a pharmacy-school course at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that students much preferred the flipped course and got better grades on the final examination. The flipped course replaced in-class lectures with videos that the students watched before they came to class to take part in a series of activities—assessments, presentations, discussions, quizzes, and “microlectures.” The study is to be published in February in Academic Medicine, the journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, but it is available online now (it can be downloaded using the “Article as PDF” tool). It reports on the 2011 and 2012 versions of a first-year course for graduate students, “Basic Pharmaceutics II.”

http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/study-measures-benefits-of-a-flipped-pharmacy-course/48749

By SUSAN BALDRIGE, Lancaster Online

Once upon a time, every high school student carried a heavy backpack filled with thick textbooks — the precious source of all knowledge they would need to study, pass tests and graduate. Those textbooks are precious all right, soon to be artifacts from another age. In many classrooms in Lancaster County and across the nation, textbooks now sit on classroom shelves while students are switching to virtual books, interactive materials and classroom lessons they can access from their home computer. Despite the hurdles involved, which mostly have to do with costs, at least five districts — Lancaster, Conestoga Valley, Hempfield, Manheim Township and Ephrata — are experimenting with digital textbooks in different degrees. Educators say digital textbooks are the future of learning.

http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/925279_Digital-textbooks-are-the-future-for-learning.html

By Katie Lepi, Edudemic

Writing can be a difficult task for many students. Some have trouble getting started, others have trouble staying on task, and many struggle with both. Staying focused when you’re sitting at your computer and somewhat uninspired can be a disaster waiting to happen – there’s a lot of stuff to waste time with on The Interwebs! The Internet can be a huge distraction, but it can also be the tool that helps to make you a more efficient and better writer. In fact, there are many online tools you can start using today and start getting the work done more quickly, efficiently, and effectively. Check out some of the tools below that can help keep you focused while your creativity flows!

http://www.edudemic.com/tools-help-writing-process/

by the CBC

Alberta Education has reduced funding for a provincewide centre that offers online course. Teachers who instruct online and distance courses for Alberta students say their jobs are in jeopardy. Junior and senior high school students across the province can sign up for courses offered by the Alberta Distance Learning Centre if they live in rural areas that don’t offer them, or if they don’t go to a traditional school. But in September, Alberta Education cut the funding by about half to school boards that use the centre’s courses. Alberta Education had been covering the entire cost to the school boards plus 56 per cent of the distance learning centre’s expenses.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/distance-learning-cuts-put-centre-in-jeopardy-teachers-say-1.2445185

by Patrick R. Lowenthal, Instructional Technologist

Upcoming Educational-Technology-and-Education-Conferences (January to June 2014 and beyond)–including instructional design and technology and online learning conferences. The original list was prepared by Clayton R. Wright, November 13, 2013. I shortened it listing conferences that interest me (either due to the content and/or location).

http://patricklowenthal.com/2013/11/educational-technology-related-education-conferences/

By WALTER C. JONES, Online Athens

The University System of Georgia, which oversees the state’s public four-year colleges and graduate schools, has a similar mission to help the estimated 1 million Georgians who dropped out of college get their diploma. That is why it’s looking at the Coursera and D2L arrangement as a way to develop tuition-based classes for enrolled students rather than free MOOCs for anyone on the Web. The next evolution of traditional online courses may be less expensive, more convenient and better adapted to students returning to finish degrees, said Houston Davis, the system’s chief academic officer.

http://onlineathens.com/local-news/2013-11-28/georgia-colleges-explore-online-courses

by SchoolX

Are Online Classes on Your Educational Path?The quantity and quality of online classes is increasing. More than 50 percent of college presidents surveyed by Pew Research said that online courses provide the same value as do traditional classroom courses. With more people seeking alternative ways to learn, online classes are proving to be an effective solution. Online classes fill a variety of needs for people wanting to learn. For some, it’s a way to get back into education after a long absence. You may have postponed your education for years while volunteering overseas or while taking care of an ill family member. Online classes give you a way to see how studying feels again and can even help you decide how much of a course load you can manage.

http://blog.schoox.com/are-online-classes-on-your-educational-path/

By Jeff Dunn, Edudemic

The idea is simple. Just use Explain Everything, YouTube, Evernote, and Penultimate. Seriously. That’s all you need. Granted, you can download other apps and install them to your heart’s content. In fact, I’d recommend that. But as the basics of a one iPad classroom go, these four apps are going to be your most important download. Don’t believe me? Check out the awesome chart and visual guide from iPad 4 Schools below. It details how you can share videos and student folders using a single iPad. Personally, I’d say that Evernote is the keystone to this four app game plan. Make sure you’re familiar with it and know how to use all of the many features.

http://www.edudemic.com/4-apps-needed-run-one-ipad-classroom/

by Clint Lalonde Blog

This is the fundamental problem many in the open movement have with Coursera and Udacity – they are not open resources. But yet they are getting connected by association to the open resource movement. And this is wrong. Not only does it undermine the many years of hard work done by open education advocates to make sure educational resources are openly licensed resources, it is a vitally important pedagogical difference, especially when examined through the lens of this article. The article makes the point that, MOOC’s as they are being implemented and used in developing countries have the potential to reduce local capacities and lead to the Americanization of education in the developing world. The MacDonald’s version of higher ed. Or, as the author puts it with a better metaphor, the “Baywatch” of learning.

http://clintlalonde.net/2013/11/28/coursera-and-udacity-are-not-open-courseware/

by Sam Jones, Bubble News

Experts agree that online learning programs work very well. Many universities and schools are now turning to the online environment as a means to improve the richness of their training. Distance learning courses are springing up all over the world. No longer do we have to be sat in a classroom in order to learn the subject, or complete a course. There are lots of reasons why online learning works. Online courses tend to be very interactive. They provide the opportunity for lecturers to interact one-on-one and in groups with students. On the other hand, classroom-based, and lecture hall based, learning tends to be very passive. Students fall asleep in lectures and get very little from them.

http://www.bubblews.com/news/1674548-why-online-learning-is-the-future

By Chris Preimesberger, eWeek

You’re in charge of rolling out a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) program for your company, and you have to figure out what actions to take. BYOD is an approach that allows employees, business partners and others to use personally selected and purchased client devices to execute enterprise applications and access data. It typically spans smartphones and tablets, but the strategy may also be used for PCs, including netbooks, notebooks or other portable connected devices. “BYOD strategies are the most radical change to the economics and the culture of client computing in business in decades,” said David Willis, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner. “The benefits of BYOD include creating new mobile workforce opportunities, increasing employee satisfaction, and reducing or avoiding costs.” This eWEEK slide show, with key information from Ali Din of cloud services provider dinCloud, presents a checklist to make sure your BYOD program works within the requirements of the enterprise.

http://www.eweek.com/mobile/slideshows/byod-programs-a-10-point-checklist-for-a-successful-strategy.html

by Jennifer Smola, USA TODAY

Could a quiz a day keep the bad grades away? A study by professors from the University of Texas-Austin published last week in PLOS ONE — a scientific journal run by the Public Library of Science — showed that giving brief online quizzes at every class meeting in an introductory psychology class boosted student performance.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/26/more-quizzes-blessing/3707307/

by Los Altos Town Crier Staff

The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges recently awarded the partnership of the Foothill-De Anza and Butte-Glenn community college districts a $16.9 million competitive grant to launch Gov. Jerry Brown’s Online Education Initiative in California. Building on the existing California Virtual Campus, the launch team will develop a one-stop statewide online education portal where California community college students can apply, register and take online courses from participating colleges. The initiative’s goal is to increase the number of California students who earn associate degrees and transfer to four-year universities by dramatically boosting the number of online classes available and providing online students with support services to help them succeed.

http://www.losaltosonline.com/news/sections/schools/209-school-news/46194-

By Joshua Kellogg, The Daily Times

San Juan College is among five New Mexico colleges and universities that will participate in a pilot program that offers an online option for preparing for high school equivalency tests. The New Mexico Higher Education Department selected San Juan College’s adult education program to test the new program, which will help adults get ready for General Educational Development, or GED, tests. Doña Ana Community College in Las Cruces, the Roswell and Ruidoso campuses of Eastern New Mexico University and Albuquerque GED are also participating in the pilot program. Students will complete 10 weeks of online classes geared toward preparing them for the GED test. They will meet in person at the beginning and end of the course, as well as once in the middle. Students will mostly work on their own to complete assignments. Before the start of the 10-week session, they must also attend an eight-hour orientation.

http://www.daily-times.com/four_corners-news/ci_24607462/san-juan-college-offers-online-classes-prepare-ged