Educational Technology

By Katie Lepi, Edudemic

This year’s “The Learning Curve” report from Pearson takes a look at education across the globe. One of the main things the report does is rank the world’s educational systems (which we’ll talk about in a different post). What I find even more interesting is the focus on what skills current students need to meet the ever changing needs of the global market, and some potential ways to address shortcomings in our collective educational systems. See leadership, digital literacy and the half dozen other skills listed in the link below.

http://www.edudemic.com/new-skills-world-looking/

By Ronnie Blair, Tampa

The number of Pasco County students taking online courses grows dramatically each year, but science teacher Staci Kreitz says people still possess misconceptions about what online education means. “I’m not sitting around in my pajamas making it an easy day,” Kreitz said on a Pasco eSchool video shown to the school board last week. Although she and her students aren’t face to face, she said they have regular interaction and she is available for a phone call from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Like regular classroom teachers, she spends time on the weekends grading or answering emails. Kreitz, who teaches eight science subjects, worked with more than 300 students this year.

http://tbo.com/pasco-county/explosive-eschool-growth-brings-need-for-teachers-20140608/

by the Idaho State Journal

When you think about technology and learning, images of eager students likely come to mind. But in the digital age, technology is far reaching and not exclusive to America’s youth. One of the most active groups of digital learners is actually adults – a movement that is being driven by the desire for self-improvement and to gain knowledge about a variety of topics of personal interest. Adults are embracing digital learning at steady rates, which is not surprising when you look at mobile connectivity statistics. As of January 2014, 58 percent of American adults have a smartphone, 32 percent own an e-reader and 42 percent own a tablet computer, according to the Pew Research Internet Project. These digital devices mean that adults have a wealth of knowledge at their fingertips 24 hours a day.

http://www.idahostatejournal.com/vac/tech_talk_and_innovation/learning-on-the-go-how-digital-learning-can-help-you/article_5c8018ef-3f55-5d84-9cf2-f7121b0d0306.html

by the Economist

Two decades of fitting classrooms with computers and whiteboards have gobbled rich countries’ school budgets and done little for attainment. But the latest technology promises to improve teaching methods, rather than merely shifting them from blackboard to screen, and to give all children the personalised education once only available to the rich. Game-style lessons let pupils progress at their own pace, getting instant feedback at every step. Even homework is more fun: when Pearson (a part-owner of The Economist) supplied tablet-based courses to schools in Alabama, they were such a hit that Wi-Fi was installed on school buses so it could be done en route.

http://www.economist.com/news/international/21603471-latest-innovations-promise-big-improvements-teaching-taking-learning-tablets

by Alice Keeler, Edutopia

Game-based learning (GBL) and gamification are hot topics in education. These terms are often used interchangeably, but they actually describe different phenomena. GBL is when students play games to learn content. Gamification is the application of game based elements to non-game situations. Playing games can give students context for what they are learning. When my students played Angry Birds in the classroom, none of them asked what the purpose of learning x intercepts was. Gamification applications do not necessarily provide a context for students, but they usually give students an indicator of their achievement and progress. There are different types of games that students can play on a device. Some truly fall under the category of GBL, such as CellCraft, which provides biology students with information about cells and then allows them to interact in an environment as if they were a cell. Other games provide reinforcement of concepts — these are playsheets.

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/beyond-worksheet-playsheets-gbl-gamification-alice-keeler

By Peter West, eSchool News

There is often insufficient time in the fast paced world of blended learning to create these materials ‘on the fly’ blended-learningSelf-paced blended learning (and any type of blended learning that provides access for students to “future” learning materials) produces a wonderful “problem” – what should be done with those students who successfully complete the assigned learning quickly? There are a number of possibilities.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2014/06/04/fast-blended-learning-student-531/

by Laura Devaney, eSchool News

Mobile technologies are increasingly gaining support among school administrators, who opt for one-to-one initiatives and BYOD programs to help deflect the costs of maintaining a mobile device initiative, and to let students use technologies they’re already using in their personal lives. Speak Up 2013, an annual survey lead by Project Tomorrow, focuses on digital learning and college- and career-ready skill development. Survey results reveal that educators, school and district leaders, and parents understand that mobile devices help students access more digital content and digital learning opportunities.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2014/06/04/speak-up-mobile-438/

by Laura Devaney, eSchool News

As educators and school leaders would likely agree, any technology initiative begins not with an iPad or a laptop, but with teaching and learning goals. But once school leaders have identified those goals, created a plan, and moved to implementation, what are some of the keys to success? David Mahaley, head of school for the Franklin Academy’s high school program and a teacher at the school, outlined a number of steps and considerations that are essential to a successful mobile deployment.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2014/06/05/design-ipad-program-378/

by Lewis Wallace, Cult of Mac

Instead of dropping an iWatch or some other hardware bombshell at WWDC, Apple showcased the futuristic tools it will use to extend its rapidly growing empire. “Apple engineers platforms, devices and services together,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook as he wrapped up the Worldwide Developers Conference keynote Monday in San Francisco. “We do this so we can create a seamless experience for our users that is unparalleled in the industry. This is something only Apple can do.” Yet while there were was absolutely no talk of new hardware, Apple offered an exciting peek at where the world is headed next with iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, both of which are available to developers now and will be released to the public this fall. “We’re always future-focused,” said Cook, who shared presenting duties with Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, and others. Here’s a look at the shiny, translucent, interconnected future Apple is focusing upon.

http://www.cultofmac.com/281926/10-things-wwdc-2014/

By Agam Shah, IDG

Intel wants to completely eliminate wires from computers, and is working on a series of wireless technologies to make that a reality in the coming years. PCs are on the way to a “true no-wire” experience, and Intel is working on technologies to remove the clutter of power cords, display connectors and peripheral cables, said Kirk Skaugen, senior vice president, and general manager of the PC Client Group at Intel, during a speech at the Computex trade show in Taipei. Intel is working on new wireless charging, docking, display and data transfer technologies. Skaugen shared details of the new wireless technologies and provided demonstrations of how they would work during the keynote.

http://www.cio.com/article/753684/Intel_Wants_Your_Next_PC_to_have_No_Wires

By David Nagel, Campus Technology

A little more than 12 percent of all American post-secondary students were enrolled exclusively in online courses or online degree programs in 2012, according to the latest figures released by the National Center for Education Statistics, with another 13 percent taking at least some courses online. On the whole, more than one-quarter — 25.8 percent — of post-secondary students took at least some courses online in fall 2012 (the latest period for which data are available). Among undergraduates, 2.6 million (14.2 percent) took just some courses online, with 2 million (11 percent) taking their courses exclusively online.

http://campustechnology.com/articles/2014/06/04/1-in-10-students-enrolled-exclusively-in-online-courses.aspx

By Katie Lepi, Edudemic

It is pretty much a given these days that students have mobile phones, tablets, and e-readers. Leveraging what your students already have and already know how to use is a smart idea – even if you aren’t implementing a full-on BYOD classroom environment. There are probably hundreds of ways, if not more, to have students use their mobile devices in the classroom in a format geared towards learning rather than for leisure. The handy infographic below takes a look at ten fairly general ways to use devices in the classroom. The general nature of some of the recommendations makes it a great starting point if this is a newer concept for you or for a particular group that you’re working.

http://www.edudemic.com/mobile-devices-in-the-classroom-2/

By Dian Schaffhauser, Campus Technology

When it comes to teaching with technology, or even teaching in general, most faculty could use a little support. To provide the resources, ideas and inspiration faculty need to become better instructors, higher education institutions typically create some form of Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), devoted to fostering teaching excellence across the board. But it’s not enough for these organizations to help individual instructors learn how to deliver their courses, engage students and manage their classrooms. These days, much of a CTL’s attention is directed to helping faculty evolve their instructional practices for a technology-laden learning environment — whether for online or hybrid courses; as part of active learning programs; or to better exploit the benefits of technical resources such as learning management systems. Here, three CTLs share best practices they’re perfecting to help faculty get up to speed with technology.

http://campustechnology.com/articles/2014/06/04/3-ways-to-get-faculty-up-to-speed-with-technology.aspx

by SRI International

Blended learning models— the combination of teacher-led and online instruction— may improve education by enhancing personalized learning in schools and freeing teachers to focus on helping all students develop higher-level learning skills. However, successful implementation of these models requires adequate infrastructure, reliable technology, quality software content, and changes in classroom management practices, according to new research by SRI International. “The explosion of digital content and resources available for teachers and schools is driving changes in practice, and there’s no question that more online resources are going to be used in K-12 classrooms,” said Robert Murphy, Ph.D., director of evaluation research for the Center for Technology in Learning, SRI Education. “But our findings make clear there are foundational issues to be addressed for blended learning to be successful in improving teaching and learning.”

http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1958934

by the NEA Foundation

To equip educators with the impactful tools they need to lead and transform their profession and public education, the NEA Foundation has created and is sharing a set of open-sourced online courses. The courses were created to provide union and district leaders, and the education sector, with skills and knowledge to support and inspire effective labor-management collaboration necessary for systems change. “The evidence is clear. Effective education policy and practice can more likely be achieved if the wisdom, experience and expertise of educators at the frontlines of practice is systematically brought to the table,” said Harriet Sanford, President and CEO of the NEA Foundation. “For teachers and unions to be a part of the key decisions that will shape the future of the teaching profession, they must have knowledge and capacity on issues of teaching and learning. These courses are designed to help build both their knowledge and leadership skills.”

http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1961198

by Vala Afshar, Huffington Post

Google Glass is finding its way into almost every industry, with applications in healthcare, construction, gaming, tourism, and law enforcement. Gartner believes that smartglasses will save the field service industry $1 billion per year. One domain that is especially ripe for Google Glass innovation is education. I spoke with Brian A. Rellinger, CIO Ohio Wesleyan University about the ways Glass can be used on campus. The OWU Information Services Department purchased Google Glass in March, 2014 and started brainstorming about ways to use it with a cross section of campus groups. Since Glass is a new technology, the ideas continue to multiply as individuals gain hands-on experience. Even so, the faculty, staff, and students at OWU came up with a diverse list of initial ideas.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vala-afshar/14-google-glass-innovativ_b_5410893.html

by The Bellingham Herald

The Washington state community-college system will offer a new route to an associate degree in business that is less expensive and time-consuming than the traditional path, if it’s approved by the state Board of Community and Technical Colleges at its June meeting. The all online, competency-based two-year degree would transfer to four-year colleges, paving the way for more students to achieve their bachelor’s degrees. The program offers great promise to older students who may draw on work experiences to complete their community college credits. It is also well-suited to students who are place-bound and unable to attend classes in person due to family and job commitments. Online learning is already well established in the community colleges across the state. But this would be the fastest and least expensive pathway to an associate degree ever offered at a public college in Washington.

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2014/06/03/3677185/competency-based-learning-makes.html?sp=/99/122/

Can Student Data Improve Learning Without Compromising Privacy?By Tanya Roscorla, Center for Digital EducationEducators agree that technology has a place in the classroom, but does existing legislation adequately protect student information? Instead of locking student data in the principal’s office, more school districts are moving it to cloud providers.By sharing data with private companies, schools can improve student learning using data analysis tools. But on the flip side, privacy advocates worry that student data is not safe in the hands of schools or the third parties they contract with. “Across the board, students unfortunately don’t have the level of protection they need,” said Khaliah Barnes, director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center’s Student Privacy Project.

http://www.centerdigitaled.com/news/Student-Data-Privacy.html

Tim Clark, CIO Advisor

The BYOT Mindset is a deeply ingrained (in your bones, even) conviction that students can and should own the learning (or at least share it with their teachers). Just as they own their technology devices, most students also possess an understanding of software, processes, and media that have to be acknowledged as possibilities for deeper learning. The BYOT mindset is more than the understanding of a technology device (most students don’t automatically know how to learn with their technology); rather, the BYOT mindset also takes into consideration that the students have particular knowledge of applications that may be beneficial for their learning.

http://www.schoolcio.com/Default.aspx?tabid=136&entryid=7710

By Joshua Bolkan, THE Journal

Eighty-two percent of districts are “highly interested” in launching or expanding a 1:1 technology initiative within the next two years, according to a new report from Amplify and IESD. The report, the “2014 National Survey on Mobile Technology for K-12 Education,” also found that the number of districts reporting that at least one-quarter of their schools had deployed mobile devices had risen to 71 percent, up from 60 percent in 2013. Forty-four percent of districts surveyed said that approximately 75 percent of their schools had deployed mobile technology. “The most commonly expected and sought after benefits from adopting mobile technology for student instruction,” wrote the report’s author, “included their potential to increase student achievement, be engaging for students, and support personalization of instruction to meet the needs of different students.”

http://thejournal.com/articles/2014/05/29/report-most-districts-have-deployed-mobile-tech-want-more.aspx

By Katie Lepi, Edudemic

Crowdfunding is a pretty cool concept. It can be a great way for folks to gain the funds they need to bring a project to completion, start a small business, or collect funds for social campaigns or nonprofit groups. There are a ton of different crowdfunding sites out there now, including ones specifically geared towards education (more on that another day), but the most popular and widely known is probably Kickstarter. From funky electronics, software, apps, and games to straight out funding, there are a lot of things on these sites that can be useful in your classroom or for you and your students whether they are designed specifically for education or not. Periodically, I scroll through some of these sites to see what is interesting and new, and I’ve put together a short list of some fun and innovative projects that are interesting and might prove useful in or out of the classroom.

http://www.edudemic.com/cool-kickstarter-projects/