Educational Technology

by Burning Glass

In the middle-skill job market, the world is increasingly divided between the jobs that demand digital skills and the ones that don’t—and the ones that don’t are falling behind. Much of the debate over technology in the workforce has focused on sophisticated skills, such as writing code. But the more significant impact on the middle-skill job market is in the humbler world of everyday software: spreadsheets and word processing, programs for medical billing and running computerized drill presses. To a large extent, a job seeker without the ability to use this software won’t even get in the door.

http://www.burning-glass.com/research/digital-skills-gap/

By Elisa Crouch, St. Louis Today

A freshman at Roosevelt High School is suing St. Louis Public Schools after the district suspended him from the school’s Virtual Learning Center in October and directed him to take online courses from home. The lawsuit filed last week in St. Louis Circuit Court says the student is not getting meaningful education instruction because he cannot access those online courses. He does not have a computer and cannot afford one, the suit says. And the library nearest his home does not allow minors to use its computers during school hours.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/freshman-at-roosevelt-sues-city-schools-for-directive-to-take/article_5f77be59-4e40-5c14-9824-754f182c26ca.html

By Pamela DeLoatch

Many of the teachers who bring tech into the classroom use one of three tools. Smart TVs are similar to traditional televisions, but they can connect to the Internet, allowing streaming of programs, videos and apps. Apple TVs are devices that, when used with an iPad and a projector or television screen, can stream like a Smart TV, but also allow all of the information on the iPad to be mirrored or shown on the projector. Interactive whiteboards, while not technically TVs, when connected with a projector and laptop, are often used interchangeably with the high tech TVs, replacing traditional whiteboards and DVD players.

http://www.edudemic.com/5-ways-to-use-apple-tv-in-the-classroom/

by Drew Hendricks, Online Learning Tips

While nobody should discount the value of a good education, the truth is that you’ll probably learn more outside of the classroom than anything. That’s not a knock on any institution of higher learning; they would likely reaffirm this idea. If anybody understands the importance of a well-rounded education, supplemented with hands-on opportunities, it’s the schools that offer these opportunities for learning. As a college student pursing a business degree in 2015 and beyond, it’s critical that you take advantage of available resources. Failing to do so will limit your career opportunities and potentially stunt your professional growth in the early years.

http://onlinelearningtips.com/tag/networking-with-peers/

by John Watson, Keeping Pace

The Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute, which is a center at the Michigan Virtual University®, has recently released its latest Virtual Learning Effectiveness Report. The study reviews virtual learning in Michigan during school year 2013-14. The report provides summary information showing the number of virtual courses taken by students in Michigan: 76,122 K-12 students in Michigan took one or more virtual courses during school year 2013-14, an increase of about 38% over the prior year. Some of the growth appears to be a result of data collection changes for this report, but the researchers believe that most of the increase represents real growth. The total number of online course enrollments was 319,630, an increase of about 73% over the prior year. Most enrollments (68%) were from local school districts. Online charter schools accounted for 27%, and Michigan Virtual School accounted for 5%.

http://www.kpk12.com/blog/2015/03/michigan-study-provides-detailed-online-learning-data-shows-student-attributes-and-growth-in-online-enrollments/