Educational Technology

By Todd Hitchcock and Mary Beth Lakin, eCampus News

Seventy-five percent of today’s students (mostly adult learners) are juggling some combination of family commitment, job, and education, while commuting to campus, according to Complete College America. Credit for Prior Learning has emerged as an effective pathway to help more learners today, with busy lifestyles, to achieve their higher education goals. Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) is a term educators use to describe learning that a student acquires outside of a traditional academic environment. This learning may have been attained through work experience, professional development courses, military training or experience, independent study, noncredit courses, volunteer or community service, travel, non-college courses, or seminars, many of which are offered online, such as MOOCs. For too many people today, time is the barrier to college completion.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/top-news/credit-prior-policy-728/

by eCampus News

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) recently awarded the STEMPREP Project at Southern Methodist University a $3.78 million grant to support its goal of increasing the number of minorities in STEM fields. The grant follows a $2.6 million grant in 2014. According to a report just released from the Executive Office of the President, 21 percent of Hispanic men and 28 percent of black men have a college degree by their late twenties compared to nearly half of white men. The 2013 U.S. Census Bureau reports that African Americans make up 11 percent of the U.S. workforce but only 6 percent of STEM workers. Hispanics make up 15 percent of the U.S. workforce, but just 7 percent of the STEM workforce.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/top-news/dod-universitys-stem-577/

By Jerish Papapurath, eSchool News

Firewalls alone may not be enough to stop cyber attacks. For that, there’s data science and cyber-science. Recently, KTVB evening news reported a denial-of-service (DoS) attack occurring on and off for over a week on Idaho’s largest school district Internet connection. It’s yet another example of a school district IT department having to wade through piles of system logs to find that the potential root cause was a student who hired someone to perpetrate the attack. The news report closed with the disclaimer that, “these attacks didn’t breach the network, so no student information was accessed.” The question is, when a network is breached, do school systems really have the tools they need to prevent data loss?

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/07/15/cyber-attacks-368/

By Kristen Hicks, Edudemic

Once upon a time, educators recoiled from the idea of online education. How could classes taken over a computer possibly provide the same benefit to students as those taken in person? As technology has improved and more reputable educational institutions have embraced online learning over the past few years, many of the early criticisms lobbied at online learning have been well challenged. Over a third of all higher education students are taking at least one of their courses online, and more than 12% are enrolled in online courses exclusively. Clearly students, professors, and colleges are all coming around to the idea of distance education.

http://www.edudemic.com/7-tips-successful-online-student/

by eSchool News

At this year’s ISTE conference Lexia Learning polled more than 200 educators in an informal survey, which suggests teachers are not using collected data to pinpoint skill deficiencies in a timely manner. According to the survey, only 35 percent of respondents felt that teachers at their schools had a high or very high level of comfort connecting data to instruction. The survey also found that fewer than half (48 percent) of respondents felt that their current screener assessments provide clear categorizations of which students were on track and which needed more attention.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/07/16/teachers-data-142/

By MARSHA SILLS, the Advocate

More than 600 students in Lafayette Parish — enough to fill a school — don’t attend class in a traditional classroom and instead are being home-schooled. The Lafayette Parish School System hopes to attract those students and others who may want a nontraditional learning option with the expansion of its existing “virtual learning” program. Starting in August, the school system will launch the eCampus Academy, a virtual school for kindergarten through 12th grade that allows students to take classes online in real time with a teacher. The school system tested the full-time virtual class option with middle and high school students in the 2014-15 school year and enrolled 70 students, all of whom passed their end-of-course tests, said Jarrett Coutee, the school system’s virtual learning administrator.

http://theadvocate.com/news/12912202-123/lafayette-expanding-virtual-learning-program

BY LORI FALCE, Centre Daily

“At Penn State, and especially with the World Campus, the military population is growing,” said Drew Tatusko, assistant director of faculty development for World Campus, the university’s online arm. The World Campus’s enrollment has the highest concentration of military students across all of Penn State’s locations, with 17.2 percent of the student body being service members. From deployment to training to sudden and unexpected relocation, there are often extenuating circumstances that require adjustments or allowances from instructors. Joan Smeltzer, a Penn State York math instructor, has seen the impact firsthand with her students. She had one who was being deployed, and while she was encouraging and trying to be helpful, he was also insistent that he expected no special treatment.

http://www.centredaily.com/2015/07/14/4835275/penn-state-offers-class-on-teaching.html

by Melanie Pinola, Lifehacker

Google has partnered with NASA, National Geographic, Khan Academy and other major organizations to teach kids science over the summer. It’s called Camp Google and the first week takes kids underwater. Virtually, that is. Kids sign on at camp.withgoogle.com to watch videos, participate in activities, and earn badges. After this week’s Ocean Week, they’ll explore space, nature, and music to do things like create space food, grow crystals, and turn a smartphone into a booming stereo. It’s tough entertaining and educating kids when they’re home all day in the summer, so thank you Google.

http://lifehacker.com/keep-kids-learning-this-summer-with-googles-free-online-1717750067

BY Jeremy Goldman, INC

If you’re unhappy at work, don’t complain to your coder friends. Chances are they won’t be able to relate. The stereotype of web developers is that they don’t get up from their workstations except to grab another Red Bull. However, a new survey from education site SkilledUP (and conducted by market research firm ProvokeInsights) indicates that most developers are happier than you are, largely due to a high degree of freedom and rewarding salaries. Among the survey’s findings: Of the 303 developers surveyed, 88% indicated that they were completely satisfied with their career. Another 11% indicated they were somewhat satisfied. Perhaps surprisingly, only 1% of developers surveyed were not at all satisfied. Out of different specialties, the happiest developers on average worked in mobile/responsive programming.

http://www.inc.com/jeremy-goldman/surprise-this-career-is-one-of-the-happiest-around.html

by Sybil Pressprich, the State Journal

Credentials are as important as ever in applying for a job, but nowadays there are more kinds to choose from. Along with job experience and traditional education, today’s job-seekers have alternative methods of showing that they’ve mastered a skill. For example, they can earn a digital badge, enroll in a massive open online course or complete a certificate program. Do employers take these new-style credentials seriously? It may depend on how you present them in your application materials and interview. Given the right approach, they can help convince an employer that you’re the right person for the job. Here’s how three types of alternative credentials can be useful to a job-seeker:

http://host.madison.com/business/career-corner-making-use-of-alternative-credentials/article_e3237020-ca26-5026-bdd8-12d2ab4b51cd.html

by Kristin Kim Haynes, ATD

As our economy, technical capabilities, and job demands continue to grow, it may not be long before the majority of our work is done remotely. Technology, paired with the savvy and know-how of most individuals in today’s workforce, has come to a place where we are using online communications to boost our productivity. In light of these developments, online training and education have become charged for success for an increasing segment of the workforce. While remote training programs offer convenience, they also can pose unique challenges that individuals do not encounter with a traditional classroom setting, such as household distractions, scheduling, and hands-on experience. These challenges, of course, affect both employers and employees. Fortunately these hurdles can be combated successfully if all parties—students, instructors, educational institutions, and employers—work together to construct a strong program and support system.

https://www.td.org/Publications/Magazines/TD/TD-Archive/2015/07/Find-Success-with-Online-Learning-for-the-Trades

by Glenn Mulcaster, Sydney Morning Herald

The project surveyed students at Macquarie and three other universities about cheating in higher education. Of the students surveyed at Macquarie, 55 per cent said academic integrity was a serious problem and many agreed to join a student-led group to help renew trust in the system. Arts student Gillian Downie, who is completing a master of arts degree as a distance learning student, joined the group. She said one initiative the ambassadors promoted was an online learning module, Academic Integrity for Students, a resource that complements the StudyWISE student support module that helps first-year and returning students plan study habits. The modules are not compulsory. Miss Downie said the AIM group was yet to find a sense of identity because it had only been operating for a short time. “They are constantly trying to be proactive to help the students do the right thing,” she said.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/students-fight-back-against-widespread-cheating-in-their-ranks-20150712-gi7qia

By Paige Allen and Emily O’Donnell, SUN CHRONICLE

It turns out special education isn’t just for special education students. And, it seems there’s an app for almost everything and everyone. When Kim Janssen talks about how Attleboro schools use technology to teach students with disabilities, for example, she refers to something called “universal design.” Janssen, the assistive technology coordinator for Attleboro schools, said universal design is a concept that recognizes the wide range of human ability, taking into account physical, perceptual and cognitive disabilities, as well as body types. She said designers use it to create products and methods that are beneficial for everyone.

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/attleboro/technology-helps-level-playing-field-for-special-ed-students/article_c1670737-cf2b-5a02-8855-c5e42ee8cc66.html

by Maureen Downey, Atlanta Journal Constitution

Nearly 800 high school students in the Atlanta Public Schools attended an online summer school that had to be overhauled when it became clear it wasn’t moving students fast or far enough. Along with adding two days to the 16-day summer term, APS discarded the online component and brought in teachers for small group instruction. In a bit of artful dodging to the question of the program’s success, Strickland said, “As the world of technology evolves and provides increased opportunities for the individualization of education, APS is committed to embracing innovative practices that ensure more students are successful. With that innovation, however, comes the expectation that there will be a steep learning curve, and that not every implementation will go flawlessly.”

http://getschooled.blog.ajc.com/2015/07/10/aps-virtual-summer-school-pilot-online-or-off-course/

by San Mateo Daily Journal

The San Mateo Office of Education is working to expand online learning for incarcerated youth in court schools, according to a response letter to the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury. The grand jury investigated services for jailed youth and concluded the Office of Education should ensure that credits obtained by juveniles in the program should be counted toward graduation and that online education should be a greater priority.

http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/lnews/2015-07-10/online-learning-for-jailed-youth-to-expand-county-office-of-education-responds-to-civil-grand-jury-report/1776425146471.html

by Davey Alba, Wired

Research outfit Gartner tracked a 9.5 percent decline in shipments in the second quarter of this year compared to the same time a year ago, posting a tally of 68.4 million units. Meanwhile, researchers at IDC, which doesn’t count tablets in its report, calculated an 11.8 percent drop year-over-year to 66.1 million PCs shipped. To put that number into context, Apple said in its most recent earnings report that it had sold 61 million iPhones during the same quarter—and that’s just one smartphone from one (massively popular) company. Manufacturers saw declines across the board, both in the U.S. and abroad. Lenovo held on to the title of top PC seller in the world with a 20.3 percent share of the market, according to IDC, followed by US manufacturers HP (18.5 percent) and Dell (14.5 percent).

http://www.wired.com/2015/07/death-pc-not-greatly-exaggerated/

by San Mateo Daily Journal

The San Mateo Office of Education is working to expand online learning for incarcerated youth in court schools, according to a response letter to the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury. The grand jury investigated services for jailed youth and concluded the Office of Education should ensure that credits obtained by juveniles in the program should be counted toward graduation and that online education should be a greater priority. The report, “Is the San Mateo County Office of Education adequately educating its incarcerated youth?” was released Wednesday and recommends that more collaboration is needed between the Office of Education, the Probation Department and Behavioral Health and Recovery Services to develop a more comprehensive transition plan to ensure contact is made with a student’s family and school before the student is released from detention.

http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/lnews/2015-07-10/online-learning-for-jailed-youth-to-expand-county-office-of-education-responds-to-civil-grand-jury-report/1776425146471.html

by The Expositor

High school graduates across the area celebrated an important milestone last month but for some it was a long time coming. Kaleena Dyk and Jason Richardson, members of Community Living Brant, returned to school as adults to complete their high school diploma. This time, however, it was all online. With the support of Contact North | Contact Nord, Ontario’s distance education and training network, and their educational partner, Quinte Adult Education located in Belleville, they were able to take all their courses online. Contact Nord partners with Ontario’s 24 public colleges, 22 public universities, and 250 literacy and basic skills and training providers to deliver online programs and courses to residents living in 600 small, rural, remote, aboriginal and francophone communities across Ontario.

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2015/07/09/education-students-go-online-to-earn-high-school-diploma

By Laura Devaney, eSchool News

As efforts to increase bandwidth and internet connectivity in K-12 schools grow, a new report from CDW-G, based on a survey of 400 K-12 IT professionals, reveals just how connected — or not — the nation’s classrooms are today. The CDW-G K-12 Connected Heat Map outlines wired and wireless connectivity in a state-by-state display. The map is an ongoing project and CDW-G is asking schools to fill in their details to help make it more complete. Currently, there is not enough data to shade several states in the midwest and west.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/07/09/classroom-map-743/

by eSchool News

Nonprofit Digital Wish is offering technical support grants to school administrators who need assistance with planning one-to-one computing programs for their elementary or middle schools. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis through the summer months. The grant is open to public, charter and nonprofit independent schools. Digital Wish has implemented one-to-one computing programs in 28 schools — developing expertise, evaluation programs and sustainability tools that can help get a school’s one-to-one technology program off the ground.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/07/10/one-to-one-grant-059/

by Meg Bernhard, Chronicle of Higher Ed

The idea is to make life more convenient, and to provide useful data about the campus, said Anind K. Dey, the project’s lead investigator and an associate professor at the university’s Human-Computer Interaction Institute. And it won’t stop at Carnegie Mellon’s borders. Eventually, the experiment is to expand into the city of Pittsburgh, in hospitals, at bus stops, on bridges. Mr. Dey envisions that the campus could be wired with temperature sensors, cameras, microphones, humidity sensors, vibration sensors, and more in order to provide people with information about the physical world around them. Students could determine whether their professors were in their offices, or see what friends were available for lunch.

http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/new-model-of-smart-campus-carnegie-mellon-to-embed-sensors-across-landscape/57079