Educational Technology

May 31, 2017

Exploring online options for K-12

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

by Angela Farmer, Digital Journal

In the complex world of K-12 education in the United States, one assertion is certain, much like the famous Bob Dylan song, “The Times They Are a-Changin’” has never been more true. Leading the change, evidenced daily, is the expanding development and utilization of online educational options for students and families. Just a simple search for online K-12 education options, immediately leads to a plethora of options for the consumer.

http://www.djournal.com/opinion/columnists/angela-farmer-exploring-online-options-for-k/article_3c1c7bd8-f7b5-5dfc-a90b-88c0b90bde0e.html

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How edtech start-ups are shaking up executive education

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

by: Jonathan Moules, Financial Times

Executive education has long been a lucrative market for business schools, but they now face competition from tech start-ups, which have seen an opportunity for market disruption. New York-based Grovo, for example, offers what it calls microlearning courses — lessons with a single learning objective delivered in bite-sized chunks on users’ smartphones. Grovo says research among its corporate customers — which include US oil group Chevron, advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi and Capital One bank — found that 97 per cent of the assignments started were completed by users and that the average user finished 50 per cent more course material than they had been assigned by their employer.

https://www.ft.com/content/8c8cf4b6-2c3a-11e7-bc4b-5528796fe35c

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Districts Need to Set-up WiFi in Public Housing

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

by Matthew Lynch, Edvocate

So what can school districts do to help students whose families can’t afford internet access? One solution is to provide Wi-Fi for these families, free of charge. This sounds ambitious and expensive, but it may be one of the best methods educators have to fight the cycle of poverty. We already know that there are millions of families with school-age children who don’t have internet access. Almost all of these families lack internet access because they can’t afford it. Additionally, we know that this creates problems for students in school. So why not eliminate these problems completely by simply providing internet access to needy families? An easy way to target the families who are most likely to be unable to afford internet access would be to give free Wi-Fi to students in public housing.

http://www.theedadvocate.org/districts-need-set-wi-fi-students-public-housing/

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May 30, 2017

7 go-to apps for students with special needs

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

BY LAURA ASCIONE,eSchool News

When used properly as a teaching tool, technology has the power to engage students and elevate their learning. High-quality, effective teachers know this–and they also know that students of all abilities can use technology to assist with learning. A plethora of technology tools, including apps for tablets and mobile devices, can meet the varying needs of students with disabilities and other special needs. The apps in this list can be used by students with dyslexia, students with autism, those who need social assistance, and more.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/05/12/7-go-apps-students-special-needs/

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New report reveals 10 ways students are outpacing their schools

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

BY LAURA ASCIONE, eSchool News

Students reveal their favorite technology learning preferences and talk about where digital learning can take them. Although technology changes at a rapid pace, one thing is constant: today’s students have a deep desire to learn using digital tools and resources that engage them and help them develop real-world skills. From mobile devices to gaming and online learning, students are ready to take charge of their learning, often outpacing their schools in their use of these digital tools for learning. More than one-third of middle school students say they have already taken an online class in math, science and English. But they want more options, and said they would take more courses, and take a variety of subjects, if possible.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/05/15/students-digital-schools/

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Why higher ed needs to eradicate the university term

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

BY CHERRON HOPPES, eCampus News

What do education and music have in common? Rhythm. We gain our first introduction to the rhythms of education in kindergarten. The natural order of fall starts, winter breaks, spring starts, and summers off provide the mile markers that guide us through the year and organize our memories. Then there is the rolling start cohort model of higher ed. The ultimate goal in today’s higher ed environment is to gain sustainability and scalability as an institution while creating the conditions for student satisfaction and success. This is why the fixed start, carousel model works far better for both the institution and the student.Adopting this model allows institutions to gain top dollar for every student they enroll while mitigating potential administrative and retention issues. That being said, no model is ever perfect.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/campus-administration/eradicate-university-term/

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May 29, 2017

What Is Digital Transformation, and What Does It Require?

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

by eMarketer

Most executives agree that a digital transformation is necessary to remain competitive, keep pace with disruptive technologies and evolve with shifting consumer expectations. Still, many are unsure of how to start the process, or even what it entails. eMarketer defines digital transformation as the process by which business leaders harness the capabilities and advances of emerging technologies to digitally reinvent their company’s operations, products, marketing, culture and goals for future growth.

https://www.emarketer.com/Article/What-Digital-Transformation-What-Require/1015854

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What Higher Education Can Learn From Summer Camps

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

by Steven Mintz, Inside Higher Ed

The American higher educational system has proven to be remarkably adaptable and resilient. As we’ve recently learned in the case of Sweet Briar, it’s awfully hard to close a college. The value of an institution – to faculty, staff, alumni, and the surrounding community – is simply too great to allow a college to shut down without protest. But the challenges that face higher education are daunting, especially for small rural colleges and regional comprehensives located in areas with falling populations. Demographic, financial, and political pressures appear likely to intensify. What, then, might the future hold? Let’s look at an odd but plausible analogy: Summer camps.

https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/what-higher-education-can-learn-summer-camps

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Ten Characteristics of Teachers Who Successfully Use EdTech

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

by Matthew Lynch, tech Edvocate

Technology is changing the landscape of teaching and learning. Textbooks are being phased out, makerspaces are becoming increasingly common, and communication between teachers and students has never been easier or more abundant. Technology is unavoidable, and while some teachers may still feel hesitant about the changes that are coming fast and furiously in the wake of these advancements, most teachers want to embrace the potential. Teachers that are successfully integrating educational technology in their classrooms are beacons for their peers – and there is much they can teach us.

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/ten-characteristics-teachers-successfully-use-edtech/

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May 28, 2017

Liberating young minds with technology

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

BY MICHAEL PENN, JAPAN TIMES

Education in Japan, within the nexus of business, science and internationalization, is currently developing progressive initiatives. One such trend is to move university teaching out of brick-and-mortar classrooms and into the online sphere. This could be, in its more modest form, simply supplementary resources for the classroom experience that students can use to study while at home or commuting on the train, but potentially it could evolve into a more common form of long-distance learning as well. Staff members at elite Japanese universities are already developing full-scale online courses through a process of trial and error.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2017/05/14/issues/liberating-young-minds-technology/

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More kids could go to school online under Texas bills to expand virtual learning

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

by Eva-Marie Ayala, Dallas News

Texas could greatly expand the reach of virtual charter schools even after the digital campuses have faltered across the state and nation. This week, the Senate passed a bill by Sen. Van Taylor, R-Plano, that would expand the state cap on charter schools by allowing operators to hold more than one charter if the programs are distinctly different, such as a virtual school. A separate measure pending in the Senate by Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas, would open enrollment in virtual schools to some of the state’s youngest students — kindergarteners through second-graders.

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2017/05/13/kids-go-school-online-texas-bills-expand-virtual-learning

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Virtual school offers alternatives

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

By Erin Weeks, Independent Tribune

Field trips, commencement, even dances—all aspects of a traditional school experience that might fall by the wayside in a digital learning environment. But North Carolina Connections Academy has found a way to blend the two concepts, using virtual classrooms, enrichment and student engagement to bring students and families an alternative education system right in their own living rooms. We are a charter school; we are our own local education agency,” Connections Academy Superintendent Nathan Currie said. “Next April, we’ll be having prom, and the year after that we’ll be having graduation.”

http://www.independenttribune.com/news/virtual-school-offers-alternatives/article_0c2a0bf4-35e7-11e7-9521-ff4b1bd37691.html

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May 27, 2017

Greenville’s virtual learning programs report success

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

By Emilee Nielsen, Greenville Daily News

The landscape of learning is changing rapidly and Greenville Public Schools officials are working to stay ahead of the curve. The first semester of the year saw 177 students signed up for classes through the program. Students can choose to take their entire class load online or they can choose to take some classes in a traditional classroom setting. A total of 205 students enrolled at the beginning of the second semester. A total of 21 students are graduating from the Legacy program in coming weeks. “We’re currently meeting with incoming students interested in the Legacy program for the fall. There are quite a few,” Long said. “It’s a program that’s continuing to grow.” Taylor Townes, 17, told board members how the Legacy Learning program is the reason she’s graduating high school and headed to Ferris State University.

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Digital learning: how to keep your students switched on

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

by Leonard Haux, the Guardian

Digital learning is growing in sophistication. It can be developed for fully online remote learning courses, or added to traditional classroom-based courses as blended learning. But how do you ensure it adds value, and avoid the risk of miscommunication? As an instructional designer, one of the most common things I hear when meeting with academics is that their students don’t engage with online activities. There are a number of reasons for this, but the most fundamental is that they see no reason to do it. If you want a student to engage in an online activity, you need to ensure they understand the task, and its meaning and relevance.It might be that an activity will help a student learn about themselves, do better work in their job, or maybe it will give them practise for a final exam.

https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2017/may/11/digital-learning-how-to-keep-your-students-switched-on

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College Board: 115-Point Rise with Free Khan Academy Online Class

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

by 2Paragraphs

The College Board anointed Khan Academy the king of score improvement, releasing data that credit 20 hours spent on the free Official SAT Practice with an average 115-point score lift on the new SAT. The study considered nearly 250,000 test takers using Khan Academy program. Even those students with a less rigorous commitment showed improved scores, with students spending 6-8 hours of Khan practice jumping 90 points on average. The Official SAT Practice at Khan Academy uses video lessons, tips, and practice questions to prepare students for the standardized tests. Khan and The College Board are paired in what they call the “College Readiness Project.” Khan Academy says: “We’re here to help you support your students and children on their path to college. ” Here is Khan Academy founder Sal Khan announcing the results.

http://2paragraphs.com/2017/05/college-board-115-point-rise-with-free-khan-academy-online-class/

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May 26, 2017

The reign of the $100 graphing calculator required by every US math class is finally ending

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:37 am

by Amy X. Wang, Quartz

If you took a math class at some point in the US, there is likely a bulky $100 calculator gathering dust somewhere in your closet. Enter Desmos, a San Francisco-based company that offers a free online version of TI’s graphing calculator. Users across 146 countries, most of them teachers or students, are currently logging 300,000 hours a day on the platform—and today, Desmos announced a major partnership with testing consortium Smarter Balanced, which administers academic exams in 15 US states. Beginning this spring, students in those areas will use the online tool in math classrooms and on statewide performance assessments. “We think students shouldn’t have to buy this old, underpowered device anymore,” Desmos CEO Eli Luberoff tells Quartz. “It’s a huge source of inequity, and it’s just not the best way to learn.”

https://qz.com/977987/thanks-to-the-startup-desmos-the-reign-of-the-texas-instruments-100-graphing-calculator-in-schools-is-finally-ending/

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Is Two Hours Really Too Much Screen Time for Kids?

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

by Matthew Lynch, tech Edvocate

In a nod to the increasing ubiquity of technology in our world, the American Academy of Paediatrics announced in October last year that it is beginning the process of revising its guidelines for children and screens. The academy says it has realised that in a world where screen time is becoming simply “time”, its policies must evolve or become obsolete. The new formalised guidelines will be published later this year and many expect screen time allowed to be lengthened. It is unrealistic for high school students to only spend two hours per day on screens, particularly when school work obliges them to do that or more. Time is also not necessarily the best measure to ensure children’s screen use is part of a healthy and balanced approach to life.

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/screen-time-limits/

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REVOLUTIONARY TEACHING PROJECTS RECOGNIZED BY IMS GLOBAL LEARNING CONSORTIUM

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

by Matthew Lynch, Tech Edvocate

A California school district is using a revolutionary writing improvement technology in a revolutionary new way. According to the IMS, the award sponsors, the prestigious recognitions are intended to, “recognize outstanding, innovative applications of educational technology to address the most significant challenges facing education.” And what the Newport-Mesa Unified School District is doing with Turnitin Revision Assistant applies. Even though Revision Assistant was designed to provide real-time feedback on student writing, which it does, the Newport-Mesa district is also using it help teachers score writing assignments more consistently across the district grading rubric.

http://www.theedadvocate.org/revolutionary-teaching-projects-recognized-ims-global-learning-consortium/

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May 25, 2017

How Machine Learning Will Impact Online Security This Year

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

by Justin Blanchard, Forbes

Last year wasn’t a great year for security on the web. Every month, the media reported another major breach, many of which had an impact at the corporate and even state level. Online criminals want to remain hidden — if they’re discovered, it’s game over. They invest significant resources into hiding their presence, but it’s impossible for them to hide completely. There are always tell-tale network and usage patterns. But those patterns are constantly changing and obscured within massive quantities of genuine user interactions. Discovering those patterns is like looking for a needle in the world’s biggest haystack, and you have no idea what that needle looks like. It’s beyond the ability of humans, but it’s within the scope of what can be achieved with machine learning, which is capable of spotting patterns without being told exactly which patterns it should look for.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2017/05/08/how-machine-learning-will-impact-online-security-this-year/

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Free online math tool plots new course for old graphing calculators

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

by Greg Toppo, USATODAY

Young people these days live most of their lives online, so why shouldn’t they be plotting graphs and performing advanced calculations there as well? For the first time this spring, students taking basic skills tests nationwide will be using a free, online, embedded graphing calculator that its developer says may finally bring the tool into the 21st century. The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium was set to announce on Monday that it will embed the online calculator into math tests that millions of students use. The tool, developed by San Francisco-based Desmos, is being tested by students this spring, with plans to use it widely in classrooms in the fall. Students in the College Board’s “SpringBoard” math program are already using it, the company said.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/05/08/online-graphing-calculator/101412372/

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Home-based K-12 schools on the rise in Washington

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:27 am

by Sheila Hagar, Union Bulletin

In 30 minutes, teacher Erika Montgomery has wrapped up the weekly “live lesson” over the computer connection. Preston, 7, leaves his seat at the kitchen counter in the family’s home in Walla Walla to find a spot on one of several couches in the living room. Preston is a first-grader enrolled in Washington Connections Academy online public school. The no-tuition, virtual school was approved in Washington state for grades K-12 in 2016 and currently serves grades K-10; grades 11 and 12 will be added later. The parent organization, for-profit Connections Education, was founded in Baltimore in 2001. The program is currently available in 28 states.

http://www.union-bulletin.com/news/education/home-based-k–schools-on-the-rise-in-washington/article_a0815962-32de-11e7-a376-3381c51b2868.html

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