Educational Technology

BY STEPHANIE FRANCIS WARD, ABA Journal

The skills for teaching online law school courses are not unlike those needed for the practice of law. Both require concise writing, well-organized outlines and the ability to speak without appearing that you’re reading from a script, says Ellen Murphy, assistant dean of instructional technologies and design at Wake Forest University School of Law. And despite the stereotypes about online offerings being low-quality, Murphy says that when the courses are done well, students and professors may have a better connection than they would with in-person classes. With online learning, she adds, “you can’t hide in the back row.”

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/are-online-law-school-courses-good-that-depends-experts-say

Sandra Ponce de Leon, Forbes

Besides being a hot topic these days, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain have received a reputation for being especially male-dominated in an already bro-saturated tech world. However, the buzz around artificial intelligence and cryptography isn’t without merit, as these technologies are much more than just one more thing to be mansplained.  With such diverse and far-reaching applications, it is clear that a diversity of perspectives will be necessary to create effective and sustainable solutions. I interviewed some of the most innovative female voices in AI and blockchain to better understand their struggle to ensure that this technology benefits everyone.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognitiveworld/2019/02/03/emerging-technologies-need-diversity-innovative-women-in-ai-blockchain-to-follow-in-2019/#14fbd2e9d3ed

By IBL News

Big news for Open edX’s developers: Ironwood, the 2019 version of this learning platform, will be released on February. The first release candidate, Ironwood.1rc1, was just made available this week. “Our goal is to release Ironwood in two weeks. In order to do that, I need to hear back from you about how testing is going,” Ned Batchelder, Software Architect at edX announced on Google Groups.

https://iblnews.org/2019/02/07/ironwood-the-last-open-edx-version-expected-to-be-released-this-february/

BY JULIE MARSHALL, eSchool News

There is a fair amount of research into the impact of classroom design on student learning. Spaces flooded with natural light that allow for a variety of learning methods and activities, and spaces that let students feel a sense of ownership over the classroom, demonstrably affect how well students learn.  Active learning applies a similar principle, including minimizing institutional barriers like teacher lecterns, fixed and stagnant furniture, and limited student exposure to real-world experiences. Through active learning, the teacher gradually releases control to the students, encouraging them to become independent learners.

https://www.eschoolnews.com/2019/01/30/7-discoveries-from-an-active-learning-classroom/

https://www.thetechedvocate.org/delivering-tech-enabled-learning-opportunities-to-refugees/

Tom Simonite, Wired

Oak Ridge National Lab’s Summit supercomputer became the world’s most powerful in 2018, reclaiming that title from China for the first time in five years. The record-setting project involved the world’s most powerful supercomputer, Summit, at Oak Ridge National Lab. The machine captured that crown in June last year, reclaiming the title for the US after five years of China topping the list. As part of a climate research project, the giant computer booted up a machine-learning experiment that ran faster than any before. Summit, which occupies an area equivalent to two tennis courts, used more than 27,000 powerful graphics processors in the project. It tapped their power to train deep-learning algorithms, the technology driving AI’s frontier, chewing through the exercise at a rate of a billion billion operations per second, a pace known in supercomputing circles as an exaflop. Fittingly, the world’s most powerful computer’s AI workout was focused on one of the world’s largest problems: climate change.

https://www.wired.com/story/worlds-fastest-supercomputer-breaks-ai-record/

By TERRY FLORES, Kenosha News

Extreme cold and wind chills of minus 50 degrees cancelled school in many areas of Wisconsin Wednesday, but that didn’t stop one high school in Kenosha County from holding classes. Students and faculty weren’t present inside the building at Central High School in Paddock Lake for the normal school day. But make no mistake, classes were taking place, assignments being turned in and collaboration was going on in virtual classrooms from their homes during two-day required “Digital Learning Days” held during the cold snap instead of making up school days missed.

http://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/no-snow-days-here-central-students-go-digital-to-keep/article_2f95d2cb-b5ed-5c70-97cf-8ee6a62f1703.html

by Santiago Caicedo, CBS 4

More and more parents are preferring their kids go to school online as opposed to attending class at a brick-and-mortar school. Ana Gault is a teacher in Brownsville, but she won’t be found teaching in a typical classroom. Her home office is the classroom and students see her through a webcam. “[Online learning] is growing; it is scary how fast it is growing,” Gault said. Online learning with schools, like Texas Connections, has an enrollment of 6,000 students a year in Texas, with more enrollment growing every year. “For a lot of parents, brick and mortar [schools] now have so many issues,” Gault said.

https://valleycentral.com/news/local/parents-choosing-online-schooling-over-brick-and-mortar-schools

Christensen Institute
Over the past several years, more and more schools across the U.S. have been implementing blended-learning strategies for their students. What is blended learning? It is a formal education program that must have three components: It must be part online, with students having some control over the time, place, path, or pace of their learning; it must occur, in part, in a brick-and-mortar location away from home; and the modalities along a student’s learning path must be connected to provide an integrated learning experience.

https://www.the74million.org/article/commentary-5-myths-to-bust-about-blended-learning-what-it-is-and-the-benefits-it-has-for-students/

Nick Vlahos , the Journal Star

Virtually every school in central Illinois was closed Wednesday, the result of wicked winter weather. But in some area school districts, the learning process wasn’t frozen. The districts have launched pilot programs that allow students to complete assignments from home, through the internet, on days school buildings are closed because of snow and/or cold. That allows schools to avoid rescheduling attendance days later in the academic year. Peoria Public Schools conducted such a day Wednesday for the first time. Peoria Notre Dame High School has used them, too. A recent change in state law allowed their creation.

https://www.pjstar.com/news/20190130/nick-in-am-online-learning-replacing-snow-days-for-some-area-schools

by Matthew Lynch, Tech Edvocate

Everyone seems to recognize the importance of STEM education, especially in recent years. But it can be difficult to help students understand how some STEM learning can benefit them. Maintaining student engagement is one of the most important keys to improved learning outcomes, so helping students to make a link between their interests and what they are learning can make STEM studies more meaningful.

https://www.thetechedvocate.org/examining-local-issues-can-make-stem-learning-meaningful/

By SHALINA CHATLANI, National Public Radio

The executive director of Tennessee’s Higher Education Commission, Mike Krause, says the agency will form a task force to see how local colleges and universities can meet employer demands. The move aligns with Gov. Bill Lee’s mission of creating more vocational education in the state.  During Wednesday’s budget hearing, Krause said he’s fearful colleges and universities in the state aren’t preparing students for jobs of the future. He says they should talk to employers before considering new course offerings.

https://www.nashvillepublicradio.org/post/top-higher-education-official-calls-more-vocational-education-tennessee#stream/0

By Taylor Donovan Barnett, Interesting Engineering

Throwaway the textbook and check out these YouTube channels if you are interested in building a career in artificial intelligence.   AI is on track to create well over 2 million new jobs by 2020. To begin your exploration into the world of AI you are going to need some great sources. Though textbooks can be a great tool, YouTube has a fantastic, reliable, and highly educated community of artificial intelligence experts. Ready to jump into the world of AI? Here are some of the best YouTube Channels for beginners and experts eager to learn more about artificial intelligence.

https://interestingengineering.com/9-youtube-channels-that-will-teach-you-everything-you-need-to-know-about-artificial-intelligence

by Gartner

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly making its way into the workplace, with virtual personal assistants (VPAs) and other forms of chatbots now augmenting human performance in many organizations. Gartner, Inc. predicts that, by 2021, 70 percent of organizations will assist their employees’ productivity by integrating AI in the workplace. This development will prompt 10 percent of organizations to add a digital harassment policy to workplace regulation.

https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2019-01-24-gartner-predicts-70-percent-of-organizations-will-int

Recruiting AI Talent: 4 Ways To Get Ahead Of The Next Hiring Wave
Meghan M. Biro, Forbes

While businesses may not be facing this new reality, at least education is. As Fisher told me, “Fortunately, the U.S. education system is in step with the demand for AI talent, and the number of graduates with technical skill sets is starting to expand.” Good news, but on the other hand, consider the laws of supply and demand. If the talent shortage continues, salaries will be high.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/meghanbiro/2019/01/24/recruiting-ai-talent-4-ways-to-get-ahead-of-the-next-hiring-wave/#1ac47a659b02

Written by Libby Webb, Training Journal

In a typical learning situation, we can only process one resource at a single time. Now that access to content is far easier than it ever has been, the issue facing organisations has moved to providing the right kind of content, at the right time, via the right channel. For the modern workforce, finding the time to dive into a learning activity when there are hundreds of other tasks to accomplish in the working day seems an impossible feat. This, coupled with an overwhelming list of articles, blogs, videos, podcasts etc to select from, sees many learners giving up before they’ve even started. And with a lack of motivation among learners apparent within organizations globally already, your L&D departments cannot afford for too much content to be the reason your investment doesn’t provide any benefit.

https://www.trainingjournal.com/articles/opinion/why-unlimited-content-isn%E2%80%99t-useful-your-learners

by Matthew Lynch, Tech Edvocate

Open educational resources may just be the best part of the edtech revolution: the ability to solve so many different problems in the field of education with one novel idea is truly a phenomenon to be excited about. Here are several reasons why digital publishing is the future of education.

https://www.thetechedvocate.org/why-digital-publishing-is-the-future-of-education/

by Matthew Lynch, Tech Edvocate

The entire topic of data analytics can be intimidating for teachers. There is an understandable reluctance to adopt the latest educational fad, often combined with a discomfort with the mathematical and scientific aspects of the enterprise. The key to making the transition to being a data-savvy teacher is to start small and see how an easy, simple data analytics process can improve classroom outcomes. For example, a teacher could add instant polling applications to their normal slide presentation, using Poll Everywhere or a similar tool, instead of asking one student for the correct answer. Teachers will quickly realize that some problems don’t need review—everyone in the room already understands them. Additionally, they can see precisely which kinds of errors their students make. Errors are not random, but rather reveal misconceptions. With better data, teachers can more easily assess what problems students have and respond to them in real time.

https://www.thetechedvocate.org/empowering-teachers-with-learning-analytics/

BY LAURA ASCIONE, eCampus News
The demand for “uniquely human” soft skills is increasing even though tech and automation are replacing some jobs. Employers are still asking for workers with strong soft skills, despite increasing technological advancements that allow many jobs to instead be automated. Strong “uniquely human” skills, as some call them, are some of the most important when it comes to what employers seek in job applicants–but they’re having trouble finding applicants with these skills, according to a new survey from Cengage. The survey of more than 650 employers and more than 1,500 current and former college students reveals soft skills are most in demand by employers (by at least 65 percent), while quantitative skills and computer and technical skills were less so (47 percent and 50 percent, respectively).

https://www.ecampusnews.com/2019/01/24/dont-worry-grads-robots-arent-taking-your-jobs-yet/

By Rhea Kelly, Campus Technology
From artificial intelligence to STEM education, these technologies and topics are worth paying attention to this year.What technologies and trends will have the biggest impact on higher education in the coming year? We asked four university IT leaders to weigh in on the top issues in ed tech and share what they’re seeing both on the horizon and in their own institutions. Here’s what they told us.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2019/01/24/8-ed-tech-trends-to-watch-in-2019.aspx

by Matthew Lynch, Tech Edvocate

Studies show that teenagers are spending more than one-third of their days using technology, amounting to nearly nine hours on average. But is this merely an obsession with technology, or is it a technology addiction? Officially, Internet addiction is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), and psychologists are divided on whether it should be included. In China, Internet addiction is already labeled as a mental disorder. The United States may soon follow suit. However, psychologists are still debating on whether people are addicted to the Internet itself or to specific online behaviors such as gambling, shopping, video games, and pornography.

https://www.thetechedvocate.org/technology-addiction-concern-debates-and-finding-balance/