Educational Technology

October 10, 2017

Cool Tool: Google Course Builder

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

by ATD Staff
Considering that most companies deliver at least some training via e-learning, course authoring software is an important tool for talent development. And while many of these tools have expensive licensing fees, open-source alternatives exist.
One option of note is Google Course Builder. Free to download and legal to modify, it lets you set up a course-building web application for your entire organization or for a specific learning program. Once you’ve set up this app, you can use it to create, deliver, and manage online learning programs.

https://www.td.org/Publications/Magazines/TD/TD-Archive/2017/10/Intelligence-Google-Course-Builder

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Florida Virtual School to welcome 20,000 Puerto Rican students, Gov Scott says

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by Leslie Postal Leslie, Orlando Sentinel
Puerto Rican students, whether still on the island or resettling in Florida, can take classes through the state’s public online school for free, Gov. Rick Scott announced Thursday. The Florida Virtual School will accommodate up to 20,000 youngsters from Puerto Rico, Scott’s office said. The offer comes as the U.S. territory continues to struggle after Hurricane Irma pounded it two weeks ago, damaging homes, schools, business, roads and the island’s power grid. The virtual school offers more than 150 online courses for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/school-zone/os-florida-virtual-school-puerto-rican-students-20171005-story.html

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Online homework help through Gig Harbor library helping Peninsula School District students succeed

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

by News Tribune

Students in the Peninsula School District determined to excel in class but concerned they will fall short, need not worry. The Pierce County Library System offers in-library and online resources to help students master core academic standards, successfully write research papers, complete daily homework, and become fluent in a foreign language.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/community/gateway/g-living/article177247016.html

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October 9, 2017

Learn how to grow your tech interest into a lucrative career

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

by Android Authority

Some people go to school for years to learn the skills they need to pass the exam and be proficient IT experts. They may even take additional courses or hire private tutors specifically for exam studying. This is the old model, and it’s expensive. To the ire of university computer science departments nationwide, the landscape is rapidly shifting. Online courses are quickly becoming the norm for educating one’s self to proficiency in a variety of fields, and the places we’re seeing this the strongest is coding, IT, and network security. The landscape is rapidly shifting. These courses can still be pretty pricey, however. Especially if you’re buying the individually. And you’re going to need to take several to get a full curriculum. Just like the traditional route, you can’t take one Biology 101 course and then expect to get your degree in bioengineering. The good news is that online course creators like to bundle together related courses to create a kind of lesson plan. Their benefit is that they increase their enrollment, making their classes more attractive. Your benefit is that you don’t break the bank, and you don’t have to worry about what course to take next: they’re all laid out for you.

http://www.androidauthority.com/learn-grow-tech-interest-lucrative-career-804664/

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MIT Professional Education launches Digital Plus

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by MIT Professional Education

MIT Professional Education is launching Digital Plus Programs, an innovative, collaborative learning portfolio of courses that allows organizations to enhance the skills of their employees by bringing cohorts together to learn and work through a combination of project-based challenges and exercises designed by MIT faculty experts.
The programs create a learning environment that is personal and highly effective for individuals, while offering organizations insights on participant engagement and outcomes. MIT Professional Education leverages some of the world’s most advanced online platforms, which use a variety of collaborative tools in order to meet the needs of individual and corporate participants.

http://news.mit.edu/2017/mit-professional-education-launches-digital-plus-programs-innovative-collaborative-learning-1004

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​Can Online Teaching Work at Liberal-Arts Colleges? Study Explores the Pros and Cons

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

by Tina Nazerian, EdSurge

Deanna Marcum, one of the lead researchers, says the finding that she found the most “puzzling” was that the “instructors were quite worried about student engagement, but the students didn’t seem to be worried about student engagement.” Musselman says in some ways, student engagement in his online course was “more robust” than when he teaches in person. His students had to respond to detailed prompts, for one thing, and they knew how he’d be evaluating their responses. And writing out answers later rather than answering in the spur of the moment in class gave students time to ponder their answers. “Some of that was really rich, and I think it was because they were sitting down five days later in full view in a written form to capture their thoughts,” he explains. But Musselman says the online discussion format meant losing certain nuances that face-to-face classes have, such as being able to see a student’s “furrowed brow.”

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2017-10-04-can-online-teaching-work-at-liberal-arts-colleges-study-explores-the-pros-and-cons

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October 8, 2017

CIO Roles in Flux

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By Joshua Bolkan, Campus Technology
Nearly all, 95 percent, of chief information officers expect their positions to be changed or remixed owing to digitalization, according to a new report from technology market research firm Gartner. The two largest changes, according to respondents, will be to become change leaders and to assume increased and broader responsibilities. “The CIO’s role must grow and develop as digital business spreads, and disruptive technologies, including intelligent machines and advanced analytics, reach the masses,” said Andy Rowsell-Jones, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner, in a prepared statement. “While delivery is still a part of the job, much greater emphasis is being placed on attaining a far broader set of business objectives.”

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/10/04/cio-roles-in-flux.aspx

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Google’s bet is that smartphone hardware is a commodity and artificial intelligence will win the day

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By Larry Dignan, ZD Net

Google launched the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL phones in a move that shows how it aims to embed its artificial intelligence knowhow, be a serious hardware player, and ultimately compete with Apple’s iPhone 8 and iPhone X as well as Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8. Toss in smartphones from the likes of Lenovo’s Motorola unit and LG and you get a feel for what’ll equate one helluva battle. Google’s pitch is that it’ll win with AI. Google’s Pixel will be smarter and more simple in 6-inch and 5-inch versions with three colors: Kinda blue,

http://www.zdnet.com/article/google-launches-pixel-2-pixel-2-xl-ai-first-phones-for-649-849/

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The top 2018 strategic IT budget priorities: AI, IoT, conversational systems, security everywhere

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:15 am

by  Larry Dignan, ZD Net

Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and tools such as conversational platforms, digital twins and blockchain are among the most strategic 2018 technology investments, according to Gartner. At Gartner’s Symposium/ITXpo in Orlando, Gartner outlined its top strategic investments. These investments will be pushed into a global It spend of $3.7 trillion, up 4.3 percent from a year ago. Respondents in a Tech Pro Research survey found IT budgets will be up modestly, but there are a number of uncertainty. Thirty-nine percent of respondents said their 2018 IT budget will be up 1 percent to 10 percent.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/heres-a-look-at-the-top-2018-business-technology-priorities-ai-iot-conversational-systems-security/

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October 7, 2017

5 technologies that are transforming corporate learning

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

by Paxton Ritter, HR Dive

Will emerging technologies enable the touchscreen generation to make good on Peter Senge’s vision for the “learning organization” 20 years later? Or will today’s tech startups struggle with the complexity and pace of enterprise change at a time when nearly half of the S&P 500 kicked off large-scale reorganization in the past five years alone? As instructional designers, we at iDesign are inspired by the potential for unprecedented demand and emerging technologies that fuel pedagogical innovation across the enterprise. Here are five technologies we’re watching closely, and why they matter for both today’s challenges, and the future of corporate learning.

http://www.hrdive.com/news/5-technologies-that-are-transforming-corporate-learning/506384/

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Higher ed leaders are 10% more likely to use social media than their corporate counterparts

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

by Pat Donachie, Education Dive
Many higher ed institutions across the globe are boosting their social budgets to keep up with a new generation of students who rely primarily on social media for their news and information about a variety of topics, according to a new report from Hootsuite, a social media monitoring company. These results and others are found in “The Social Campus Report: 8 Opportunities for Higher Ed in 2018,” which is to be released today in conjunction with a webinar conducted by Phil Chatterton, the industry principle for higher education at the company. Chatterton said the company received more than 800 responses from institutions around the world in regards to their survey. The study revealed that on 70% of campuses, students had spurred the increased focus on social media. Chatterton said the analysis revealed higher ed administrators and executives are increasingly aware of the need to invest in social media, with 66% of executives viewing it as a strategic area of focus and 63% believing it is an important aspect of a school’s strategic planning and the fulfillment of its institutional mission.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/higher-ed-leaders-are-10-more-likely-to-use-social-media-than-their-corpor/506325/

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Data can improve both student outcomes and faculty performance

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

by Shalina Chatlani, Education Dive

 

In response to a realization that students weren’t performing well in class, Pierce College has collected data on course-completion for every instructor, allowing more than 95% of full time faculty to see how students from various backgrounds are performing in their classes over the last three years.  To get instructor buy-in to the data dashboards, Pierce administrators have been engaging in conversations with faculty on specific ways the data can be used to improve teaching — and as a result, the college has added dozens of dashboards to show what types of innovative instructional approaches have positive impacts, reports the Chronicle of Higher Education.  The institution has also invested in professional development around the data, offering a $2,000 increase in salary to faculty for using it — with the result of increasing salaries by more than $300,000 since 2012.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/data-can-improve-both-student-outcomes-and-faculty-performance/506421/

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October 6, 2017

Libraries help promote lifelong learning

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

By Jessica Watts, Sudbury Star

What does lifelong learning mean to you? Some people I know were so happy to close their last textbook and write their final exam at university or college that they never wanted to take a ‘class’ ever again, while others look for opportunities to take part in workshops and seminars every chance they get. I would think most of us fall somewhere in the middle. Lifelong learning is defined as learning that is pursued throughout our lives that can include formal and informal opportunities. It might be done to foster improvement of knowledge and skills and for reasons that relate to both personal interest and employment needs. The Greater Sudbury Public Library has many lifelong learning opportunities available for people of all ages and interests. Sometimes, it comes in the form of a book, but these days there are also many ways to get inspired and foster continuous self-development online.

http://www.thesudburystar.com/2017/10/01/watts-libraries-help-promote-lifelong-learning

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Georgia State Backed Up Analytics With Support System

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

by Jamaal Abdul-Alim, Diverse Ed

In short, the predictive analytics system at GSU is one that triggers an alert to advisers when students exhibit any one of the 800 risk factors that could derail the student’s academic success. Those risk factors can range from getting a mediocre grade in a prerequisite for one’s major to dropping a course mid-semester. “What we’ve found is the real challenge is not coming up with the data,” Renick said. “But once you have all these thousands of risk factors identified, do you have a system to take those alerts, put them into action and have mediation so that students can be helped?” The investment in 42 academic advisors resulted in an additional yearly cost of $2 million, but more than paid for itself because the increased retention rate meant more revenue for the school, Renick said.

http://diverseeducation.com/article/102425/

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Institutions turn to Snapchat to recruit new generation of students

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

by Patti Zarling, Education Dive

“We serve as the front door to the campus,” said Jena Richter Landers, a social media specialist and 2013 graduate of UWGB. “We try to reach the students where they are, and then more serious information comes through traditional methods.” UW-Green Bay’s snaps included fun photos from around campus, usually with the school’s Phoenix mascot, and messages ranging from “Welcome to the Phoenix family” to “We can’t wait to see you in fall.” Students often replied with an excited selfie or thank you text. “More students want an interpersonal feel, as in ‘I’m talking to you, you’re talking to me,’” said Katelyn Santy, UWGB student recruitment and enrollment coordinator. “That’s incredibly difficult for a large institute to achieve. This is one way to do that.”

http://www.educationdive.com/news/institutions-turn-to-snapchat-to-recruit-new-generation-of-students/504986/

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October 5, 2017

10 WAYS TO USE FACEBOOK IN THE CLASSROOM

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

by Matthew Lynch, Tech Edvocate

If you have not already started using Facebook in the classroom, now is the time. As teachers strive to keep their students engaged, Facebook is a unique tool that allows teachers and students to interact in a new way. As Kevin Hull explains, “As the most popular social networking website, especially among high school aged students, Facebook is a page that can seemingly integrate seamlessly into the curriculum by creating that sense of community and group learning possibilities.” When you begin to see Facebook as a potential education tool, you will discover several ways to integrate this platform into your classroom.

10 Ways to Use Facebook in the Classroom

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The 10 Gold Standards of Ensuring Online Course Quality

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

by Eduvation
Online courses represent some of the most accessible and potentially comprehensive learning available. Whether they come in the form of free online courses or classes from a university, online learning is extremely popular. However, online classes are meant to be more than assignments and reading without interaction; they need to be personal. Taking these steps can greatly enhance your e-Learning solutions and lead to a better online course.

http://www.focuseduvation.com/10-gold-standards-ensuring-online-course-quality/

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A Strategic Focus on Outcomes: Shifting From Access to Success with Data

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

by Brenda Hellyer, Evolllution

Colleges and universities across the United States have historically been judged on the basis of their ability to create access for students, making enrollment numbers one of the key metrics in determining institutional success. Today, however, simply opening the door is not enough. Institutions are instead being judged on whether their students are earning credentials—be they degrees or certificates—and following through on their goals. In this interview, Brenda Hellyer reflects on the importance of switching gears from access to success, and shares her thoughts on the critical role data plays in making that switch a reality.

A Strategic Focus on Outcomes: Shifting From Access to Success with Data

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October 4, 2017

How can states improve data innovation in ed systems?

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

by Pat Donachie, Education Dive

States must support K-12 and higher ed initiatives to introduce students to the kinds of skills that will help them compete and fill jobs in the burgeoning data economy, and there also must be support for training opportunities for individuals in the workplace to garner new skills, according to the author of a recent report from the Center for Data Innovation that ranked the states which have been the best in data innovation, including creating available datasets, investing in new technologies and helping to develop “human and business capital.”

http://www.educationdive.com/news/how-can-states-improve-data-innovation-in-ed-systems/505884/

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Cyber Classes Offered to Hazleton High School Students

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by Jessica Albert, WNEP

Rocco Petrone is the principal of Hazleton Area High School. He says the district gets a large number of students that enroll after the school year has already started. Which means there’s a lot of students playing catch up. “Our thoughts here is to give the students the best opportunity for the best educational environment and the best education overall,” said Petrone. Petrone came up with the idea for a cyber classroom designed for new students who have been out of school for a while and have missed at least 22 days of the semester. These students will be able to take online classes so they can get caught up at their own pace.

http://wnep.com/2017/09/29/cyber-classes-offered-to-hazleton-high-school-students/

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DISTRICTS NEED TO SET UP WI-FI FOR STUDENTS IN PUBLIC HOUSING

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

by Matthew Lynch, tech Edvocate

Students who live in poverty are among the most at-risk students in the public school system. There is extensive research to show that students from low-income families struggle more with behavior and academics for a wide variety of reasons related to poverty. Often, this means that students who come from poverty are left behind in the classroom. Many students whose families live below the poverty line also don’t have internet access at home. This creates all kinds of problems as well. Students who have access to the internet can go home and get online to work on homework, do research, or just learn about something they’re interested in for fun. Students without the internet may struggle with completing assignments, or feel stuck when they can’t get easy homework help.

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

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