Educational Technology

November 23, 2016

Hopkinsville students create vehicle for real-world solution

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

BY SAM MORGEN, The Kentucky New Era

Gateway principal Penny Knight jumped at the opportunity to let her students help Clara. Clara, who can’t walk, is unable to move without the assistance of a family member. The project fit perfectly with the school’s goal. “We present students with problems, real-world problems,” Knight said, “and they have to do the research and figure out how to solve that problem.” Known as project-based learning, each classroom at Gateway offers a curriculum in which students work through problems that exist in the real world to prepare students for jobs in industries like construction or hospitality. Knight recruited the help of two classes, the advanced machine tool class and the advanced electrical circuitry class, for Clara’s toy car.

http://www.heraldonline.com/news/article114517383.html

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Charlottesville elementary schools look to balance online, traditional instruction

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:31 am

by Josh Mandell, C’ville Tomorrow

Third-grader Sam Farmer celebrated with a fist pump when he solved a tricky multiplication problem at Greenbrier Elementary School. “Yes! Take that,” he exclaimed. While playing an educational computer game, Sam traversed a virtual landscape and solved dozens of math problems in order to cast spells and capture magical creatures. He played the game on his school-issued Chromebook, a laptop running Google’s Chrome operating system. Charlottesville City Schools expanded its “one-to-one” device program to elementary schools last year, assigning each student in third grade and above their own Chromebook. While middle- and high-schoolers take their computers home with them, elementary students leave theirs in their homerooms.

http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/25487-cville-schools-balancing-online-traditional/

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November 22, 2016

Cyber school program could recoup students, tuition dollars

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

BY VALERIE MYERS, Erie Times-News

Students work on laptops at tables set up in an open area at the junction of two main hallways at Erie’s Central Career and Technical School. Three teachers stationed at desks beside and behind them are available for help when the students need it. Most of the time, teachers monitor other students working online at home. The makeshift classroom is home base for the Erie School District’s cyber school, created in 2012. High school students work mainly online at home but come to the class if they need one-on-one help from teachers. Middle school students new to the cyber program this school year are required to go to class at least weekly.

http://www.heraldonline.com/news/business/article113085043.html

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How to Structure Modern Blended Learning

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

by Shannon Tipton, ATD

Today’s modern learner is well aware that learning doesn’t just come from PowerPoint and classrooms. Here’s a clearer picture of what blended learning actually looks like. When it comes time to think about designing a new course, is it a forgone conclusion that the course will either be held in a classroom with one instructor or as a stand-alone e-learning course? Probably not. Learning today requires a much more flexible approach to learning delivery methods. You don’t have to be stuck completely in a classroom or in front of computer screens. You can do both.

https://www.td.org/Publications/Newsletters/Links/2016/11/How-to-Structure-Modern-Blended-Learning

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Does Technology Belong in College Classrooms?

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

by Pete Musto, Voice of America

Modern technology has a strong influence on many things we do. In fact, technology is shaping almost every part of our day-to-day existence, including education. Ashok Goel is a professor with the School of Interactive Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Goel says he uses the Internet in almost all of the classes he teaches. Every term over 300 graduate students take his class on artificial intelligence (AI). The students never meet in person. All of the classes take place online — through a website. The site lets students ask questions and complete their work from anywhere in the world. It was only at the end of the semester that Goel’s students learned Watson’s secret: she was not a real person like the other teaching assistants. Jill Watson is an AI computer program.

http://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/technology-in-college-classrooms/3589730.html

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November 21, 2016

Student Success Pervades Top IT Issues for 2017

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

By Dian Schaffhauser, Campus Technology

Educause’s annual roundup of the most pressing issues in higher ed technology highlights data issues, digital transformation of learning and “next-generation” use of IT. The complexities of technology just don’t generate much concern among college and university IT leaders these days. What do are more strategic initiatives such as student success, the transformation of learning and the use of data. Yes, it’s true that for the second year running cybersecurity has come in first on Educause’s list of the Top 10 IT issues for higher education. But this year it doesn’t dominate the results as it did last year, according to Susan Grajek, the organization’s vice president of data, research and analytics. Information security “is a huge risk area,” she said, but, according to Educause member votes, “not by quite as much.”

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2016/11/10/student-success-pervades-top-it-issues-for-2017.aspx

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New Documentary Explores Impact of Mobile Devices on Teens’ Lives

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

By Richard Chang, THE Journal

A new documentary explores the impacts smartphones and other mobile devices are having on teenagers and their social, emotional and psychological lives. “Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age” examines the impact of screen technology on kids and offers parents practical solutions that can work. The movie, directed by California-raised, New York-based physician Dr. Delaney Ruston, has played at several film festivals and is screening at schools, churches and community centers across the country. According to recent studies, the average kid in the United States spends 6.5 hours per day looking at screens, and that doesn’t include classroom or homework screen time. Boys spend on average the equivalent of 1.5 days on video games every week, and some recent studies show that screen time increases dopamine production and causes behavior that mimics addiction.

https://thejournal.com/articles/2016/11/10/new-documentary-explores-impact-of-mobile-devices-on-teens-lives.aspx

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Learning In The Age Of Digital Distraction

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:29 am

by ERIC WESTERVELT, NPR

A new book The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High Tech World explores the implications of, and brain science behind, this evolution (some might say devolution). It was written Adam Gazzaley, a neurologist and a professor at the University of California, San Francisco, and research psychologist Larry D. Rosen. Our friends at NPR’s Shots blog recently spoke with one of the authors about distraction’s impact on productivity. I wanted to talk with Dr. Gazzaley about what his research tells us about teaching, learning, studying and screen time in the age of digital distraction.

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/11/05/498477634/learning-in-the-age-of-digital-distraction

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November 20, 2016

Accreditation of Online Degree Programs: Frequently Asked Questions

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

By Jordan Friedman, US News

Accrediting agencies hold online programs to the same standards of quality as those on campus, experts say. Accreditation is a process conducted by an outside authority to ensure that a school and degree program meet certain standards of quality and rigor. Online, blended and on-campus degree programs can all be accredited. While it’s voluntary, accreditation has many benefits and, in many ways, validates a program to employers and other colleges or universities. Legitimate online degree programs are accredited by agencies recognized by either the Department of Education or the nonprofit Council for Higher Education Accreditation, known as CHEA.

http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/articles/2016-11-11/accreditation-of-online-degree-programs-frequently-asked-questions

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What Faculty Need to Know About ‘Learner Experience Design’

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:34 am

By Patrice Torcivia & Whitney Kilgore, EdSurge

The emerging field of Learner Experience Design or LX design is about balancing the need for quality course design with the central role of human interaction in online learning. It’s a collaborative process that engages faculty in the design and improvement of online courses. But LX design doesn’t have to be daunting or complicated. Here are three big LX ideas for faculty who may be new to online learning, and hope to create and facilitate more humanized online learning experiences.

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-11-10-what-faculty-need-to-know-about-learner-experience-design

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College leaders identify the top IT challenges

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

by Jarrett Carter, Educaton Dive

Security, data management and governance, and next-gen enterprise were among the top networking concerns for CIOs at Educause this year. IT impact from affordability, funding and leadership were also among chief concerns. Next generation enterprise and the digital transformation of learning were rated by attendees as the top two themes of importance during one session of the conference.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/college-leaders-identify-the-top-it-challenges/430256/

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November 19, 2016

More schools are online than ever before – but it’s far from perfect

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

by Nichole Dobo, Hechinger Report

Even though more schools are online, leaders say they will need more modern connections in the coming years to keep up with the pace of technological advancement. Nearly 60 percent of school leaders surveyed by CoSN said ongoing costs remain a major challenge. “The good news is districts are making real progress in supporting modern technology infrastructure,” Keith Krueger, the CEO of CoSN, said in a statement. “However, it remains clear that more work and investment are needed over the long run to address the digital equity challenge of today and provide robust broadband connectivity for all students in and outside of school.”

http://hechingerreport.org/more-schools-are-online-than-ever-before-but-its-far-from-perfect/

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5 Tips For Learning A New Language Efficiently

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:33 am

by Huffington Post

Vacations are fabulous opportunities to immerse ourselves in new cultures and experiences. However, with more than 4,000 languages spoken around the world, communication remains a constant barrier for those who are not multilingual. While we would all would like to learn the language of the country we’re visiting before actually getting there, the fact of the matter is learning the nuances of an entire language can be almost impossible before embarking on a holiday. Not being able to easily communicate while vacationing can create feelings of isolation or, even worse, lead to problems if you are misunderstood.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/strip/new-language-efficiently_b_12880526.html

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Air Force Engineer Kicks Off Boots, Studies Online to Advance Her Career

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

by University of Arkansas

Danielle Tabb, a U.S. Air Force engineer, hopes to advance her career by earning a Master of Science in Engineering degree online from the University of Arkansas. Danielle Tabb, a U.S. Air Force engineer, hopes to advance her career by earning a Master of Science in Engineering degree online from the University of Arkansas. Danielle Tabb, a civil engineer, has a blueprint to advance her career and make industry connections. And she’s doing it online. Tabb is earning a Master of Science in Engineering degree online from the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas while she is stationed with the United States Air Force in Little Rock. Originally from Washington state, Tabb studied civil engineering in the United States Air Force Academy and graduated in May 2015.

http://news.uark.edu/articles/37085/air-force-engineer-kicks-off-boots-studies-online-to-advance-her-career

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November 18, 2016

This district is using novel methods to teach familiar skills

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

BY DAVID SINGER, CENTRE DAILY TIMES

From gamifying popular works of literature, to pitching invention ideas in “Shark Tank” productions, school districts are rethinking how to get beyond homework and traditional lectures to engage students. Teachers in Pennsylvania’s Avella, Burgettstown, Canon-McMillan and Carmichaels districts have offered up how they’re reworking class time to help young pupils value their education and take it beyond the classroom. Though it all can’t be fun and games, even the nuts and bolts of mathematics can be made more captivating. Joelle Cooper is right at home teaching geometry and calculus at Avella. A district graduate, the math teacher has been facilitating innovative team-building lessons through a blended learning model the district is piloting this year through Carnegie Learning.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2016/11/07/this-district-is-using-novel-methods-to-teach-familiar-skills/

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Online Education Can Provide You With These Degrees And Certificates

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

By Emily Marks, University Herald

Online education is slowly changing the way students earn their degrees. It is definitely more convenient and, oftentimes, more affordable than traditional college. It has helped several working adults finish their degrees, whether graduate or post-graduate, and continue with their respective careers at the same time. Moreover, there are ree online fcourses that anyone can enroll in. This may be one of the best solutions to the ever-growing worry over college debt. U.S. News collated a list of the degrees and credentials that students can earn through online education. Students can plan their education according to what they want to achieve and what their career goals are.

http://www.universityherald.com/articles/47798/20161106/online-education-provide-degrees-certificates.htm

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Does your organisation have an agile learning strategy?

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

by L&D

Focusing on mentoring at the expense of authority is at the heart of what Kim Shepherd’s company Decision Toolbox does. L&D professionals can learn a lot from this approach. The one ingredient in e-learning that people often forget is agility in responding to emerging opportunities.  This includes ensuring employees can access support easily. Agility is creating a learning function with rapid development built in, to meet the demand of changes in the workforce. As such, providing up-to-date, relevant content for employees is a core mandate for L&D teams. However, there are many challenges that make this difficult, Rachel Kuftinoff, learning consultancy director at KnowledgePool told Training Journal.

http://www.ldphub.com/general-news/does-your-organisation-have-an-agile-learning-strategy-226267.aspx

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November 17, 2016

“This house believes AI could, should and will replace teachers”

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:38 am

by OEB

At this year’s OEB, we’re looking to provide some of that nuance in our annual Plenary Debate on the motion entitled “This house believes artificial intelligence (AI) could, should and will replace teachers”. This is not only a debate about the capabilities of technology, but also about its ethical implications. In this particular case, it’s as much a question of philosophy as of technological practicality. What exactly is a teacher? Some would say that in many schools, teachers have become little more than devices for transmitting information in the hope of achieving defined educational outcomes and that these functions can be taken over – and even improved on – by a machine. For Donald Clark (proposition) the case for teaching bots is fairly obvious: they would be “free from cognitive… racial, gender and socio-economic biases. They never get ill, don’t forget much of what they are taught, operate 24/7, and can deliver from anywhere to anywhere where there is an internet connection. Unlike our brains they don’t sleep for eight hours a day and, in a fatal objection to human frailty, neither get burnt out, retire or die.”

http://www.online-educa.com/OEB_Newsportal/this-house-believes-ais-could-and-will-replace-teachers/

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Students worldwide competed to improve security software in a contest led by UMD

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

By Rachel Kuipers, Diamondback

Some University of Maryland professors are trying to change how software designers approach their work. Three cybersecurity professors — Michelle Mazurek, Andrew Ruef and Dave Levin — and computer science professor Michael Hicks were among those to host the Build It, Break It, Fix it security contest, which aims to teach students how to construct more secure programs, according to the contest website. This is the fifth contest the group has held in the past two and a half years, Hicks said. “We want to make software security better [and] help developers who aren’t security experts do a better job of writing secure software,” said Mazurek, who is also a member of the Maryland Cybersecurity Center. “There’s a gap between what seems like it should work and what actually should work in the real world.”

http://www.dbknews.com/2016/11/07/university-of-maryland-computer-science-software-contest/

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No matter where you turn, the Internet shapes us

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

By Zhu Shenshen, Shanghai Daily

Virtual reality English learning is just one example of Internet Plus services in Shanghai — a merging of online applications and offline lifestyle trends. This latest digital trend covers a wide range of services, including the panoramic view of a restaurant when you book a table via smartphone, sharing bicycles unlocked by mobile apps, and paying for Metro trips and drinks by smartphone or even smart watches. Internet Plus services are turning Shanghai into one of the world’s most “digital smart” cities and, at the same time, changing human experiences and habits in education and entertainment, dining, transportation, payment and investment.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/business/economy/No-matter-where-you-turn-the-Internet-shapes-us/shdaily.shtml

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November 16, 2016

Wyoming Department of Education releases Digital Learning Plan

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

By Kristine Galloway, Wyoming Tribune Eagle

State education officials are a step closer to revamping the delivery of education statewide. The Wyoming Department of Education recently released the 2017-2021 Digital Learning Plan. “This comprehensive five-year strategic plan was written around the importance of incorporating digital learning and education technology into the classroom and addresses the need for equitable access to educational opportunities for all students,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow said in a news release. The introduction of the plan imagines a new world of education, in which a student will have some traditional classes, some classes that are offered entirely online, and some taught in a classroom with students working at their own paces through the use of digital tools.

http://www.wyomingnews.com/news/wyoming-department-of-education-releases-digital-learning-plan/article_f16b8d66-a31e-11e6-9de9-13dc8b6b5612.html

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