Educational Technology

by Bradley Fuster, US News

Beyond buying a house, financing a college education can be one of the most expensive investments a person ever makes. As college costs skyrocket and student loan debt receives increased media attention, it’s easy to overlook the unadvertised expenses associated with required college textbooks and other learning materials, even when pursuing an online degree. In fact, the average cost for textbooks is estimated at $1,200 per year for a full-time student – a 73 percent increase in just the past decade. Linked below are six considerations to help online students access, budget for and effectively work within the changing and potentially expensive landscape of college textbooks.

http://www.usnews.com/education/online-learning-lessons/articles/2016-07-01/6-ways-online-students-can-save-on-textbooks-learning-materials

by Class Central

More than 850 new MOOCs are starting this month. They include a wide range of courses offered from colleges and other entities on multiple continents. A comprehensive list is available at this site.

https://www.class-central.com/report/mooc-course-report-july-2016/

By Jarrett Carter, Education Dive

The ‘Internet of Things’ is expected to change the dynamic of industry, human connectivity and business. Standards of customer service, learning and teaching will be dramatically impacted by the blending of technology and environment. Higher education will be a critical partner in the development and innovation of the expanded internet.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/higher-ed-needs-to-play-trendsetter-role-in-the-internet-of-things/421928/

by Jim Kendall, Daily Herald

Time and money likely will be an issue, of course, and the number of MBA choices can be daunting. But the University of Illinois has created an interesting option: You can get what essentially is a free MBA from the university. OK, nothing is free, but you can take the MBA coursework, online, free. If learning is your goal, the coursework — which is the same MBA coursework others take online and pay for — may be enough. If, however, you want that fancy, frame-ready diploma that proclaims you have indeed earned an MBA from the University of Illinois, you’ll pay. By MBA standards, you won’t pay much, however: Tuition, fees, books and supplies for what Illinois calls the iMBA will run you slightly under $22,000 — if you want the diploma.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160703/business/160709893/

by Cartob.com

Create rich, dynamic maps in moments… Whether you’re starting from a spreadsheet, connecting your favorite business software, or drawing from vast sensor networks, CartoDB brings your location data to life. CartoDB looks through your data and suggests map types that highlight key trends. Our intuitive tools mean you can make your visualizations as simple – or sophisticated – as you like. The CartoDB Editor is a self-service mapping and analysis tool that combines an intuitive interface with powerful discovery features. Mix and combine your datasets to get fresh insights into your visualizations. You don’t need to be an expert to start mapping your data today. Point and click interfaces let you do everything from design, to analysis, to publishing APIs.

https://cartodb.com/

by DEE SHARP, Inquisitr

If you want to learn how to be a filmmaker and you live in Texas, chances are you might have a college professor by the name of McConaughey. Matthew McConaughey, that is – the Texas native will be teaching a film-making class at the University of Texas at Austin according to Variety. But if you think that might mean you will be attending a class with the Free State of Jones actor at the head of the class, that probably won’t happen but maybe once. The class at UTA lists Scott Rice as the official professor, but McConaughey and director Gary Ross (Hunger Games) will help teach the class.

http://www.inquisitr.com/3269325/matthew-mcconaughey-will-be-teaching-film-making-class-at-uta-video/

By ION Today

Culture Vannin has launched an innovative online Manx language course for beginners or people who want to improve their Manx. The course has been produced in conjunction with online course provider Say Something in Welsh. Adrian Cain, Manx Language Development Officer of Culture Vannin, said: ‘It has been a real coup for us to work with the team at SSIW. ‘Their unique methodology is a real eye opener to people and learners will be amazed at by the complex sentences they will be able to pick up and use within a remarkably short period of time’.

http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/learn-to-speak-manx-with-online-course-1-7986209

by BoniO

PaGamO is a unique learning game that allows users to study virtually any subject while competing in a game based on the principles of classic board games like Risk and Settlers of Catan. The game encourages players to build their own kingdom of knowledge, wealth and land by answering questions and solving quizzes. While the game offers academic Common Core-aligned content to hone math and spelling skills, it also offers game missions that allow users to brush up on general knowledge, from science to history to pop culture and news

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/popular-online-learning-game-pagamo-now-available-as-android-app-300291974.html

By Dian Schaffhauser, THE Journal

Educators overseeing Chromebook programs have a new tool to help them manage those devices. Lightspeed Systems has unveiled the Bundle for Chrome. The company also introduced a new cloud filter for schools to ensure CIPA compliance. Both announcements came during the International Society for Technology in Education 2016 Conference, taking place this week in Denver. The Chrome release provides features to educators for classroom controls and to IT people for device security. A bundled version of the new release pulls together two of Lightspeed’s products: Web Filter and Classroom Orchestrator.

https://thejournal.com/articles/2016/06/30/chromebook-bundle-handles-web-filtering-and-class-controls.aspx

By Sri Ravipati, Campus Technology

Millennial students seem to prefer badging and certificate programs to traditional bachelor’s degrees, according to a new study from University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), Pennsylvania State University and Pearson that explored the role that alternative credentials play in higher education. “Demographic Shifts in Educational Demand and the Rise of Alternative Credentials” reveals that programs offering alternative credentialing have become widespread in higher education, with 94 percent of the institutions reporting they offer alternative credentials. Alternative credentials can take the form of digital badges, certificates and micro-credentials. The study was conducted by Jim Fong, director of UPCEA’s Center for Research Marketing Strategy; Kyle Peck, director of the Center for Online Innovation in Learning and a professor at Penn State; and Peter Janzow, senior director of business development at Pearson’s Acclaim.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2016/06/29/study-says-more-than-90-percent-of-institutions-offer-alternative-credentials.aspx

By Sri Ravipati, Campus Technology

Illume Learning is introducing a free course creation tool designed to help professors save time on looking for course resources. Illume provides end-to-end resources for professors to access materials, including:

25 million text, trade and scholarly books;

Tens of thousands of case studies;

Articles from 12,645 academic journals;

Millions of articles from 65 leading newspapers and 140 magazines;

Hundreds of thousands of syllabi, reading lists and lecture slide presentations; and

Tens of thousands of tutorials from Khan Academy, simulations, problem sets, videos and course notes.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2016/06/29/illume-learning-launches-free-database-of-teaching-materials.aspx

by Connections Education

Survey commissioned by Connections Education finds blended learning, online courses, online school options strongly supported; findings show Americans view online schools as potentially better able to personalize education. The majority of Americans, 76 percent, feel that K-12 public school students should be able to choose tuition-free online learning options to meet a student’s learning needs, according to findings from a new independent survey of U.S. households supported by Connections Education. Those with children in the household were even more likely to support online learning options (86 percent) compared to those with no children in the household (71 percent). “As the national conversation about online schools continues to be driven by policy-makers and industry groups, it is important to take a step back and listen to what the American public, particularly parents of school-age children, want for their children’s education,” said Steven Guttentag, president and co-founder of Connections Education.

http://www.pressreleaserocket.net/majority-of-americans-feel-k-12-students-families-should-be-able-to-choose-tuition-free-online-learning-options-to-meet-student-needs/464555/

BY MERIS STANSBURY, eCampus News

Report on student opinions regarding campus technology includes infographic; take the eCampus News poll to voice your own opinion. According to a new report, thanks to a lack of digital options and tedious online protocols part of many campus technology initiatives, students say they study less and think less of their university.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/technologies/students-campus-technology/

by eCampus News

The online resources are designed to harness the power of more effective personal communication in driving real business results. Developed to meet the growing need of Millennials to stay up-to-date on professional development topics, SelfLink was created to serve a younger audience keeping their learning preferences in mind. SelfLink’s micro-learning videos are aimed at moving learners quickly from where they are to where they need to be in order to make real contributions to their organizations. Each self-paced module within the suite of courses on SelfLink.com is followed by a short survey to best identify areas of strength, and highlight opportunities the learner can utilize to improve his or her communication effectiveness.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/news/micro-learning-platforms/

By Dian Schaffhauser, Campus Technology

Retention technology has revolutionized the way schools identify struggling students and manage the advising process — but the hard part is what happens after a student is flagged “at risk.” Two institutions share how they have fine-tuned their intervention strategies. It used to be that Ramapo College of New Jersey instructors would be asked by myriad departments — athletics, specialized services and various financial aid offices — to fill out questionnaires giving feedback about the students in their classes. The goal was to find out how students were doing and whether they needed extra help. These surveys came in a multitude of formats and might, in some cases, ask about the same student who belonged to multiple programs. At best, said Chris Romano, vice president of enrollment management and student affairs, the response rate would be about 40 percent. The faculty feedback that did come in would really only go to whichever entity had done the requesting, and the faculty themselves would rarely hear back about what actions had been taken. The results would go into a black hole, never to be seen again.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2016/06/29/student-at-risk-now-what.aspx

By Jarrett Carter, Education Dive

A new study reveals that more than 90% of American colleges and universities offer alternative credential or badging programs for certification in industry-specific careers. The University Professional and Continuing Education Association says millennial survey respondents prefer certifications to bachelor’s degrees, and schools are responding with increased development of professional training silos. More than 60% of respondents believe that credentialing is an important part of an institution’s professional development strategy.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/millennials-prefer-credentialing-programs-to-traditional-degrees/421754/

By Jarrett Carter, Education Dive

A new study suggests academia benefits from economic recession, because it drives more people to pursue advanced degrees and to look for work as professors or researchers at universities. Ph.D. cohorts graduating during recessions showed a 12% increase in published research in the decade following their exit from school; graduates who applied for advanced programs during recessions and stayed in academia post-graduation increased research by 17%. The study, which analyzed the performance of economics graduates, projected similar outcomes for candidates entering business and STEM programs.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/does-economic-recession-bolster-academic-productivity/421779/

By Michael Hart, THE Journal

Incorporating touch technology, a new device can turn any flat-screen television or monitor into an interactive display. The Touchjet Wave was first introduced to the consumer market at International CES in January. It was introduced to the education market during ISTE’s annual conference taking place this week in Denver. The Wave is a device that hooks on to the top of a television and turns it into a giant Android tablet. It connects to any TV with HDMI and uses a mix of infrared technology, sensors and what Touchjet calls its Light Processing Unit (LPU) to track finger movements on the screen. A camera and dual-stereo microphones for video chats can also be added. The Touchjet Wave uses its own launcher on top of Android KitKat and offers full access to the Google Play Store.

https://thejournal.com/articles/2016/06/28/new-touch-projector-can-turn-a-tv-into-a-whiteboard.aspx

By Dian Schaffhauser, THE Journal

1-to-1 programming up and running? Check. Blended learning in place? Check. Then maybe it’s time to add virtual reality to the classroom too. In a recent survey more than 9 in 10 teachers (93 percent) said they believe the use of VR would “excite” their students, and 8 in 10 (83 percent) say it might improve learning outcomes. The survey was run by a market research firm on behalf of Samsung, which sells its own VR headgear. Among the findings: Although only two percent of teachers reported having tried VR in the classroom, 60 percent said they would like to add it to their learning technology arsenal. Almost 8 in 10 respondents (77 percent) said they believe that VR could help students gain a better understanding of learning concepts, as well as increase collaboration (71 percent) and help motivate students in the classroom (84 percent).

https://thejournal.com/articles/2016/06/28/the-possibilities-for-vr-to-transport-students-appeal-to-teachers.aspx

By Joshua Bolkan, THE Journal

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has unveiled new ISTE Standards for Students this week at its annual conference. More than 2,700 people, including approximately 300 students, from 52 countries helped to create the new standards. “Supporting a learner-driven approach, the 2016 ISTE Standards for Students are a blueprint by and for innovative educators worldwide to guide education transformation and meaningful, future-ready learning,” according to a news release. “They are not about devices or using technology; they are about giving voice to learners the world over and ensuring that learning is a student-centered process of exploration and discovery.”

https://thejournal.com/articles/2016/06/28/iste-debuts-new-standards-for-students.aspx

by JC Torres, Slash Gear

In this Internet age, a lot of information flows freely on the Web, but not all of them are reliable or even factually correct. A whole market, led by the likes of Coursera and Udacity, have sprung up to give a bit of formality to “online education.” Now Amazon is jumping in with its new Amazon Inspire platform, but with a very different twist. Instead of catering to students looking online instruction, Inspire practically crowdsources educational materials and resources that other teachers and educators can use and customize for their particular use cases. Teachers reveal to Amazon that they spend 12 hours a week scouring for resources to use in their classes, and that, more often than not, they favor those that come from their peers and fellows in the field. Sensing an opportunity, Amazon created Amazon Inspire to give these educators a single place to share and use those materials to not only help make their lives easier but also improve the quality of education, especially for K-12 programs.

http://www.slashgear.com/amazon-inspire-crowdsources-resources-for-educators-28446104/