Educational Technology

by Jarrett Carter, Education Dive

Campus Technology reports on the growing presence of cloud technology on college campuses and a new survey of IT officials who overwhelmingly project more growth for 2017. More than 81% of survey respondents say they will invest more in cloud technologies for email, data storage and collaborative research and teaching modules next year, and that the 35% of current campus cloud technologies may nearly double in the next five years. While most institutions are using cloud-based computing for data backup and smaller functions, some officials see full campus services moving to the platform.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/college-it-leaders-the-future-of-campus-cloud-technology-has-arrived/432441/

By David Raths, Campus Technology

Small liberal arts colleges looking to innovate with technology in education are finding strength in numbers. Liberal arts colleges are at something of a disadvantage in the pursuit of digital technology innovation because they don’t have the size or resources of large research universities. But some are finding strength in numbers as they collaborate on projects involving MOOCs and other online learning strategies. During a Dec. 8 Future Trends Forum video chat hosted by futurist Bryan Alexander, several liberal arts technology leaders spoke about their efforts to define their colleges’ approach to digital innovation.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2016/12/12/the-secret-to-digital-innovation-in-the-liberal-arts.aspx

by Andrew Milne, Converge

Modern educational experiences combine an in-class, physical component and digitally mediated interactions that take place in a “virtual” world. Often we think of these two realms as distinct and separable, but in reality anytime students are working online they are doing so from a physical context. Although the GUI design remains the same for these virtual spaces, the context in which students experience those cloud-based environment varies depending on the nature of the physical space from which they are accessing it. Consider, for example, students working together on a document in a Google Drive environment. The experience of 3 students working on this document together from their separate homes is different than if they were working together in a single room using a large flat-panel monitor to display their work as they discussed changes, reacted to each other’s non-verbal communication cues, and gestured to elements of the content.

http://www.centerdigitaled.com/k-12/High-Performance-Collaborative-Learning-Spaces.html

By Dian Schaffhauser, Campus Technology

Ovum’s latest report examines the key trends that are expected to impact higher education in the new year. Sometimes predictions about coming trends in a given segment seem willy-nilly. First, we’re marching in this direction, and then suddenly, it’s a new year and we’re marching in that direction. Not so with Ovum in its recent report, “2017 Trends to Watch: Higher Education.” There, the industry is expected to follow in the same direction it has been heading for the past year. The key watchwords: use of innovative technology in teaching and learning, improvement of the student experience and an overall IT strategy that focuses on IT agility. The main difference: Colleges and universities have made “significant advancement” along the way.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2016/12/13/3-forces-shaping-ed-tech-in-2017.aspx

By Mike Tomei, Campus Technology

While there’s no substitute for experience when it comes to AV system design, these tools can help you through the process. With all the factors that go into implementing the correct audiovisual systems for a higher ed classroom, AV design and installation projects can be rather daunting for those who are new to the industry. There’s no substitute for experience when it comes to AV system design — and even though colleges and universities often use AV contractors for equipment installation, in-house AV or IT departments still must handle many of the initial design and project management tasks. Thankfully, there are tools out there that can help you through the process. Here are some recommendations on software that makes my life easier during the design and construction phases of AV projects. I have no affiliation with any of these pieces of software — I’m just a fan.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2016/12/14/av-design-and-project-management-software-that-makes-life-easier.aspx

by Gordon Wishon and John Rome, EDUCAUSE Review

An advanced analytics platform helps prepare your institution for the volume, variety, and velocity of data coming your way. Tremendous opportunities exist from using nontraditional data sources to find new ways to advance student success and institutional performance. The ability to deliver analytic services in the public cloud will force the rethinking of current or future on-premises solutions because of the potential flexibility and innovation offered. While data scientist is the hot new job title, the rest of the institution’s analytics workforce must develop and strengthen their skills and technology tools to engage, evaluate, and leverage these new, impending, and inevitable analytics platforms.

http://er.educause.edu/articles/2016/12/institutional-analytics-and-the-data-tsunami

by Jarrett Carter, Education Dive

Executives from educational engagement firm Cengage are weighing in on how access and training are going to be key focus areas for higher education, and their supporting systems of finance, exposure and governance in the year to come. Officials say that building confidence and workforce capacity, mobile access to training and education, and accrediting credentialing modules are among the top concerns for institutions going into new eras of student diversity and access. Some expect for federal aid to be extended to for-profit, non-traditional learning options like bootcamps and workforce training programs.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/workforce-capacity-and-mobile-access-to-courses-higher-ed-trends-to-watch/432364/

by KOA Radio

Online classes are popular. Yet, many people don’t know a lot about how they work. Dr. Jon Bellum is the Provost of Colorado State University-Global Campus and he joined us on Colorado’s Afternoon News to talk about how the online campus works, the type of education experience students get and to debunk some myths about online education.

http://koanewsradio.iheart.com/onair/colorados-afternoon-news-54737/online-classes-a-popular-way-to-15384207/

by Ben Gomes, Google

It’s that time of year — when we look back at the last 12 months and reflect on the trends that defined the year in Google Search. From Powerball numbers to Olympic champions, whether making dessert or becoming a mannequin, this year affected us all in different ways. Through all the highs and lows, people came to Search to learn more and understand. So to celebrate the end of 2016, here’s a peek at some of the trending U.S. topics that caught our attention as especially unique to this year.

https://blog.google/products/search/year-search-2016/

By Dian Schaffhauser, THE Journal

One teacher is developing open physics curriculum; another is evolving a tutoring program in a blended format; and a third is working on competency-based math lessons. All three of these instructors, alongside several others, have been the recipients of teacher grants from the Foundation for Blended and Online Learning intended to help them continue creating or expanding personalized learning programs that incorporate blended and online learning components. The foundation is a charitable organization set up by K12, an education technology company that produces online curriculum for schools and families. Educators from 33 states submitted proposals for grant amounts of up to $10,000, according to Amy Valentine, the organization’s executive director.

https://thejournal.com/articles/2016/12/09/grants-support-teachers-pushing-blended-and-online-learning.aspx

By Utah Online School

The internet and technology have revolutionized the way students learn. No longer are teachers confined to teaching from out-of-date textbooks (or any textbooks for that matter). With up-to-date information available for the taking, teachers can deliver educational content on a range of topics, allowing students to learn more completely. But, what about outside the classroom, say, in an online learning setting? Are students who are enrolled in online education programs able to receive a quality education that matches that of the classroom? According to the professionals at Utah Online School, not only are students receiving a quality education, but they are gaining the cutting edge as well.

https://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=42390990&nid=1268&title=how-students-are-gaining-the-cutting-edge-in-education-through-online-learning

by Jarrett Carter, Education Dive

Recent data collected by the Program for International Assessment (PISA) found the United States trailing international averages for student aptitude in mathematics, and placing just ahead in areas of science and reading. In total, students in the U.S. were outperformed by at least 14 countries in each area, and by 36 nations in math. The test, organized by the French-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and administered every three years for 15-year-old students in select school districts, serves as an international benchmark for success in teaching and learning. Colleges and universities have taken notice of the declines, and in partnership with private foundations and government, are working to reverse course for the United States’ place as one of the world’s most educated countries.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/pisa-scores-highlight-need-for-k-12-higher-ed-partnerships/432088/

by Ken Rodriguez, Rivard Report

Mikayla Bass used to wonder if this day would ever come. It’s hard to imagine finishing college when you can’t type a paper because your fingers won’t move. Or can’t read a book because your eyes see double. Or can’t put on your clothes and brush your teeth because you can’t lift a hand. MG is rare – roughly 20 out of 100,000 people are afflicted – but debilitating, causing Bass to leave volleyball and drop out of school. Over the past two years, she has fainted, lapsed into unconsciousness and been rushed to the hospital. She’s battled severe headaches and wrestled with viral meningitis. Unable to perform basic human functions, it appeared Mikayla would not finish college. But then the university called with an extraordinary gift: A team of professors had designed a set of online courses for Mikayla so she could complete degree requirements without leaving home.

https://therivardreport.com/st-marys-student-overcomes-life-threatening-disorder-to-graduate/

by CHELSEA DAVIS, Missoulian

The state’s Dual Credit Incentive Program gives dual enrollment teachers a “coupon.” For every credit hour taught, the MUS covers the tuition for that same number of credits for the teacher to further his or her education. The state wants to expand online course availability. Cech said the state is a finalist for a J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation grant that if funded would provide $2 million to help Montana grow Big Sky Pathways and dual credit opportunities, particularly in Career and Technical Education. “Specifically regarding tuition, we’re always looking for opportunities,” Williams said. “We’re always looking at other states. Education budgets are always lean; we’re all basically in the same boat. It’s who is innovating best and fastest, and what’s working.”

http://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/dual-enrollment-grows-in-montana-but-reduced-cost-still-insurmountable/article_c3e7e8f9-7b3a-5d7d-883a-d13c57e514da.html

by Tim Dodd, Australian Financial Review

In a world first Deakin University has decided to offer a suite of its degrees through a global massive open online course (or MOOC) provider, bypassing its own sophisticated learning management platform in search of a larger market. From early next year six Deakin post-graduate masters degrees will be available through the rapidly growing UK-based MOOC provider FutureLearn. ​The degrees will be in cyber security, information technology, financial planning, property, diabetes education, and humanitarian and development action. ​The move is a significant step towards a possible future for higher education in which universities are no longer be the main channels through which students study for degrees. Companies such as FutureLearn, which was founded by The Open University in Britain, could become large-scale aggregators of university courses.

http://www.afr.com/news/policy/education/deakin-university-leads-the-world-in-disrupting-traditional-education-20161209-gt86yy

by Jarrett Carter, Education Dive

NPR examines the growing trend of inaccessible or incomprehensible data provided by states on secondary education performance, which offers citizens broken links and hard-to-read education jargon on what scores and access really means. The report is aligned with similar complaints from the higher education community regarding the federal government’s data keeping on colleges and universities, which offers a number of resources providing a number of varying views on retention, graduation rates, postgraduate job placement and other key factors which influence funding and public perception of schools. Without the information, parents across all levels of education are deprived of an accurate context for which schools are an ideal fit for their children, or for their money.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/the-growing-problem-of-data-access-in-education/431647/

by Julia Gray, EDUCAUSE Review

In “Community Colleges: Somewhat Different,” a recent Connections: Community College Insights column, Bret Ingerman addressed a number of issues regarding the role of information technology in community colleges and the conversations that community college IT organizations need to have to help support our students.1 One area to discuss is how to ensure that our Internet/web-based systems can be used by our students. Our role must be to look at who our students are and at the available data on what technology our students have and how they access the Internet.

http://er.educause.edu/articles/2016/10/mobile-and-community-colleges

by Susan Brennan and Kara Della Croce, University Business

An evolving marketplace requires closer relationships with the corporate world. If recruiters are saying they need more candidates for lucrative sales roles, for example, it might be time to create a new sales course. Or if hiring managers tell you that, in order to truly assess students’ analytical abilities, their companies will be using case-style interviews, college career services should offer workshops that prepare students for this format. Bentley University formed what we call a Board of HIRE Education that includes representatives from more than a dozen companies. This is a win-win proposition: Schools get input that helps them better understand employers’ needs in order to adapt career preparation and curriculum. Employers get the opportunity to share valuable information about their company, as well as learn from peers about trends in recruiting.

https://www.universitybusiness.com/article/1216-gap

BY KEITH KRUEGER, eSchool News

CoSN defines their essential skills with support of the NSF; aims to advance district technology leadership. Leading a school district in the digital age can be both exhilarating and formidable. Technology has proven to enhance the educational experience of students and educators, preparing everyone for success in the ultra-competitive, highly connected, ever-shrinking world. What core competencies do school system technology leaders exactly need to succeed? And what skills should a superintendent look for in his/her technology leader? CoSN (the Consortium for School Networking), the national association of school district technology leaders, has thought long and hard about this question, and we have developed the first-ever aspirational leadership certification to address this need.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2016/12/07/essential-skills-technology-leader/

BY LAURA DEVANEY, eSchool News

Tech-savvy educators know they must stay on top of the myriad changes and trends in education to learn how teaching and learning can best benefit from technology’s near-constant change. Check below for the latest marketplace news to keep you up-to-date on product developments, teaching and learning initiatives, and new

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2016/12/07/marketplace-funding-technology-learning/

By Paul Krajewski, High River Times

Spitzee Elementary School recently introduced a new online literacy program to improve students’ spelling and writing capabilities through entertaining and engaging activities. According to its website, Spelling City uses differentiated instruction for individual level and ability learning focused on vocabulary and reading. It allows students to work at their own pace in the classroom and at home. The online format gives students, teachers and parents access to it anytime, anywhere and provides immediate guidance and support for all parties. Brooke MacNeill, Spitzee Elementary School principal, said the school will purchase the program for all grades using a $1,200 donation from The Co-operators – Crawford Insurance Group Ltd.

http://www.highrivertimes.com/2016/12/09/new-online-literacy-program-makes-learning-fun