Educational Technology

May 31, 2016

8 High-Quality OER Collections

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

By Dennis Pierce, THE Journal

Finding high-quality open educational resources used to be a challenge, but a number of curated OER collections have made the task much easier for educators. Here are eight sources that can help.

https://thejournal.com/articles/2016/05/19/8-high-quality-oer-collections.aspx

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Tough Tech Choices: Laptops, Tablets, Chromebooks, BYOD? Practical Advice to Help You Find Your School’s Solution

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

By Jeff Mao, THE Journal

Use the SAMR model of technology integration developed by Dr. Ruben Puentedura to help guide discussions about how the technology will be used — how it will change how teachers teach and students learn. You can use Common Sense Education’s quick video introduction to SAMR along with videos and blog posts written by Dr. Puentedura; also, the MLTI iTunes U page hosts an excellent podcast series by Dr. Puentedura himself. An additional benefit to using this or another model is it will provide a common vocabulary for your school community to discuss technology use. Broad terms such as “integrating technology” are better defined, and, as a result, discussions can be more meaningful and useful. With a model like SAMR in hand, you can define your educational vision and goals. This will help you better determine your device needs.

https://thejournal.com/articles/2016/05/24/tough-tech-choices-laptops-tablets-chromebooks-byod.aspx

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Robotic Telepresence Device Allows Student to Attend School Virtually While Receiving Treatment

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

By Richard Chang, THE Journal

Brad Sandman and Tanya Jenkins both work at Suitable Technologies, based in Palo Alto. The company makes Beam, a mobile videoconferencing device that can be operated remotely with a computer or a phone. The Sandmans spoke with their company and convinced them to let Naya indefinitely lease the Beam+. Within a couple of weeks, Naya was virtually attending classes through Beam, even socializing with her friends, while she was lying in the hospital or at home in San Carlos, getting treatment or recovering. “I think it’s pretty cool,” she said. “I feel it’s more high tech. I feel really lucky to be in the Bay Area because of stuff like this.”

https://thejournal.com/articles/2016/05/17/robotic-telepresence-device-allows-student-to-attend-school-virtually.aspx

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May 30, 2016

UMD’s virtual reality students show off final projects

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

by eCampus News

Universities are expanding virtual reality course offerings as the technology expands. For 29 students at the University of Maryland, the Spring 2016 semester ended with a virtual walk in the desert and junkyard demolition derby and a digital waterfall created from tweets. The undergraduate and graduate students were part of the university’s first class in virtual reality, the exploding immersive technology that is expected to generate more than $1 billion in sales this year. Students spent the semester learning the technical aspects of virtual reality and augmented reality.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/technologies/umd-virtual-reality/

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New trend sees higher ed bootcamps go 2.0

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

BY MERIS STANSBURY, eCampus News

Coding bootcamps are step one, new 12-week data science bootcamps from accredited parties are step two. It seems that coding bootcamps are so 2015. For students eager to get into a burgeoning field that pays well, data science bootcamps promise to be the new oases amidst hiring deserts. Starting this summer and continuing throughout the fall, third-party hosts, such as Metis and NYC Data Science Academy (NYCDSA), are offering 12-week programs in data science for students that have some beginner’s knowledge of coding and/or statistics. The impetus behind these trending data science bootcamps, say creators, is largely due to reports from career research websites, like Glassdoor, which say positions in data science fields not only aren’t getting filled—leading employers to offer high-paying salaries—but will only increase in number of positions available in the future, providing stability within the field.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/curriculum/data-science-bootcamps/

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Harvard Grad School of Ed Holds Online Data Wise Institute

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

By Leila Meyer, Campus Technology

The Harvard Graduate School of Education has introduced an online version of its Data Wise Leadership Institute. The Data Wise Leadership Institute is a week-long intensive program that teaches the 8-step Data Wise Improvement Process for using data from standardized tests, student work, teacher observations and other sources with the goal of improving classroom instruction and, ideally, student outcomes. The institute first launched 10 years ago, and is now available online. The online institute has lower tuition than the on-campus program and eliminates additional airfare and lodging costs.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2016/05/25/harvard-grad-school-of-ed-holds-online-data-wise-institute.aspx

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May 29, 2016

3 Keys to Creating an IT Strategic Plan

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

By Frank DiMaria, Campus Technology

An information technology strategic plan provides tech workers with guidance and ensures that all personnel are working in alignment with the university mission. Here are three things to keep in mind when formulating an IT strategy. Woe is the IT shop operating without a strategic plan. Staffers may be tasked with supporting the overall university mission, but without a specific strategy they are working with little or no guidance. On these campuses unofficial strategic plans often hatch organically — or perhaps haphazardly — as tech workers do what comes naturally and makes sense to them, said Christopher Eagle, IT strategist and enterprise architect at the University of Michigan. A formal IT strategic plan helps ensure all personnel are moving in the same direction.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2016/05/26/3-keys-to-creating-an-it-strategic-plan.aspx

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Moodle Intros Full Support for Competency-Based Ed

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

By Rhea Kelly, Campus Technology

The flagship feature of Moodle 3.1 is support for competency-based education. Open source learning platform Moodle today released version 3.1, which introduces new features for competency-based education. “With Moodle 3.1, administrators can create learning plan templates and apply them to individuals or entire cohorts of students,” according to a press release. “Competency frameworks and learning plans can now be constructed within Moodle or imported from external sources using a plugin.”

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2016/05/23/moodle-intros-full-support-for-competency-based-ed.aspx

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U Wisconsin Prof Seeks To Bring Data Science to Life with Virtual Reality

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

By Joshua Bolkan, Campus Technology

Students in an online data science program offered by the University of Wisconsin (UW) may soon get an opportunity to use virtual reality headsets to interact with mountains of data. “Ryan Martinez, an instructional designer for UW-Extension, sees both a need and an opportunity to make big data come to life in a way that can dramatically change people’s behavior,” according to a news release.”If data scientists could more quickly analyze data that’s already available, they could make faster decisions, act sooner and potentially even save lives,” said Martinez in a prepared statement. “All someone needs is a phone and a VR headset. What we can do to bring the data from virtual reality into real life — it’s incredible.”

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2016/05/19/u-wisconsin-prof-seeks-to-bring-data-science-to-life-with-virtual-reality.aspx

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May 28, 2016

Online degree units to cut tuition fees

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

By Sean Coughlan, BBC

A UK online university network is claiming a “breakthrough moment” with a project which will allow students to cut the cost of a Russell Group degree by studying part of it online. A Futurelearn online course will provide credits towards a University of Leeds undergraduate degree. It will mean reducing the time and cost of tuition fees for a full degree. Futurelearn chairman Peter Horrocks says this will provide the flexibility needed by many students.  The online learning platform, which offers courses from more than 50 universities, was set up in 2013 by the Open University, as a UK provider for so-called Moocs (massive, open, online courses).

http://www.bbc.com/news/education-36378572

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IBM’s Big Data University: Free Online Learning With Over 400,000 Students

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

by Bernard Marr, Forbes

Although there are a large number of startups in the field, one old name which is once again making waves is IBM. Its Big Data University initiative has now signed up over 400,000 students. Although it doesn’t charge for any of its courses, it takes a business-centric approach to delivery which sets it apart from many other online open course providers. Students can sign up independently at home and work at their own speed and on their own initiative, just as they can with Coursera and Futurelearn or other similar services. However, IBM also works with partners to tailor course packages to fill the needs of individual organizations.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2016/05/26/ibms-big-data-university-free-online-learning-with-over-400000-students/#38b52dd3452a

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$100K Machine Learning Challenge

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

by Lucy Black, iProgrammer

In partnership with Udacity, Chinese ridesharing company Didi Chuxing has announced a global machine learning competition to come up with a better ride matching algorithm using Didi’s published data sets. The grand prize winner not only gets $100,000 and worldwide acclaim, and also a chance to work at the Didi Research Lab in China or Silicon Valley. The judging panel includes Sebastian Thrun, founder of Udacity and Peter Norvig, Director of Research at Google as well as He Xiaofei, President of the DIDI Research Institute.

http://i-programmer.info/news/204-challenges/9766-100k-machine-learning-challenge-.html

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May 27, 2016

Three Ways the Maker Movement Can Be More Inclusive of Women and People of Color

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

By Suzette Duncan, Edsurge

Although most of the educators I know who self-identify as makers are women, some of them cite a lack of women in STEM fields and related pursuits as the very reason they are now makers. They are trying to change the landscape by encouraging young women and girls to become makers also. When I speak with people of color with about making, some discuss the lack of diversity when attending maker events. They rarely, if ever, see themselves represented. As a teacher and a woman of color, I am interested in shaping a Maker movement that reflects the diversity of people interested in creating, building, hacking, and tinkering.

http://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-05-23-three-ways-the-maker-movement-can-be-more-inclusive-to-women-and-people-of-color

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Teen to graduate high school with bachelor’s degree, no college debt

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

by Bob Johnson, MLive

When Rachel Klammer finishes the last course she is currently enrolled in at Saginaw Valley State University, she will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in literature. Just a few weeks earlier, the 19-year-old Frankenmuth teen received her high school diploma. She follows in the footsteps of her sister, Sarah, who a year ago accomplished the same feat of graduating high school while earning a 4-year college degree. “It feels great that I’m done with undergrad,” Rachel Klammer said. “It’s kind of like I’ve just added four years to my life because all of my other friends are just starting college and I’m already starting my masters.” How did she and her sister do it? Rachel Klammer, who describes herself as “sort of a nerd,” began taking college classes at age 14 after enrolling in a program called the Paris Academy of Co-Secondary Education, or PACE. PACE is a dual enrollment program that allows students of any age to attend college or career-technical/CTE classes.

http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2016/05/teen_graduating_high_school_wi.html

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Technology can be the big disruptor and innovator in education

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

by Ashish Dhawan and Namita Dalmia, Economic Times

Technology has a huge potential to disrupt the education space in all three categories: (i) student’s preparation (ii) educator’s effectiveness and (iii) administration’s efficiency. Personalised tools help students learn and progress at their pace. Such tools, when integrated with the classroom, allow teachers to track the learning data of each child and provide individual intervention.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/education/technology-can-be-the-big-disruptor-and-innovator-in-education/articleshow/52378695.cms

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May 26, 2016

How this 16-year-old is teaching the world to code

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

by Anita Balakrishnan, CNBC

High school junior Moksh Jawa is only 16 years old, but thousands of people around the world are turning to him to learn a valuable skill: coding. Jawa, the author of “Decoding AP Computer Science A: For a High Schooler, By a High Schooler,” is also the self-taught brains behind a free online computer course that has 4,000 students enrolled. “Going through the entire experience, I know that if the resources I had used had been paid, I wouldn’t have learned computer science,” Jawa said. “It’s my way of giving back. I’ve learned so much from the online community. Computer science is such an important skill it should be offered for free.”

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/05/19/how-this-16-year-old-is-teaching-the-world-to-code.html

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District to offer summer courses

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

By Samm Quinn, Daily Reporter

Mt. Vernon School Corp. is offering all students the option this year to enroll in summer school — a program historically reserved for those who had fallen behind. The program gives students — even those who aren’t struggling — the flexibility to continue learning through the summer, even if they can’t be on campus. High school students will be able to take their summer courses online, so they can take the class anywhere. Elementary and middle school students will take two-week courses at Fortville Elementary and the high school focused on reading, math and language arts, while high school students will have the opportunity to earn extra credits on and off campus, through online learning, in a number of courses.

http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/local_story/District-to-offer-summer-cours_1463789834

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Surprise! Data science, technology among key higher ed growth areas

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

By Tara García Mathewson, Education Dive

New research from Learning House aims to help colleges and universities think about the future of higher education. While many of the findings should not be a surprise to those inside the evolving educational landscape, “Growth Opportunities in Higher Education: Degrees and Alternate Pathways,” may provide some external validation of strategic plans at colleges and universities across the country. The report projects high-demand online bachelor’s, master’s, MBA and doctoral degree programs of the future, along with alternative learning pathways that are bound to gain in popularity. “This research underscores that for higher education institutions to thrive, it’s critical that they’re flexible in how, where, and what they offer to students,” said Learning House CEO Todd Zipper in a prepared statement.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/surprise-data-science-technology-among-key-higher-ed-growth-areas/418204/

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May 25, 2016

Online alternatives expand options for home-based learners

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

by Marla R. Miller, Second Wave Media

Whether it’s due to special needs, behavioral issues, learning delays, health problems, bullying at school, intense athletic training schedules, extensive travel or other extenuating circumstances, many families are turning to online learning for their children’s education. Virtual offerings for students of all ages have been growing for the past decade. In 2006, Michigan became the first state in the country to make online learning a requirement for high school graduation. It’s evolved from high school students taking special languages or Advanced Placement courses, to home-schoolers taking advantage of free online electives through their local public schools. The majority of students participate in some form of blended learning, using online classes to supplement traditional school. But the expansion of for-profit online charter academies continues to transform the face of today’s home-schooler.

http://www.secondwavemedia.com/southwest-michigan/features/Online-alternatives-expand-options-for-home-0519.aspx

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Common Active Learning Mistakes

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

by Richard M. Felder and Rebecca Brent, Tomorrow’s Professor

Active learning is an easy and remarkably robust teaching method that functions well in every conceivable academic setting – a claim supported by a mountain of literature. Instructors who start using it often limit its effectiveness by making certain mistakes, however, and many drop the method when the results disappoint them or they experience vigorous student resistance. Table 6.5-1 lists six mistakes to avoid when you use active learning and strategies to avoid making them, and the paragraphs that follow elaborate on the strategies.

https://tomprof.stanford.edu/posting/1491

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Facebook Schools MOOCs on Engagement

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

By Jason Schmitt, EdSurge

If MOOCs want to build student engagement, they may want to take a lesson from Facebook. That’s the takeaway from a recent study by researchers at Pennsylvania State University and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, who found students favor using Facebook groups over MOOC forums in part because they have more positive interactions on the social media site and feel a stronger sense of community there. Trust plays a role; on Facebook the students tended to use their “real” names and could see one another’s profiles. Researchers at Pennsylvania State University and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory analyzed data on student use of forums for three MOOCs from Coursera and course-related Facebook groups, and interviewed instructors and a dozen students. The research was presented at the ACM conference on Learning at Scale.

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-05-19-facebook-schools-moocs-on-engagement

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