Online Learning Update

By Joe McKendrick, RTI Insights
Online learning has moved to the next level. Instructors can now administer their courses with real-time data feeds, enabling interactions in the moment.  As education is increasingly delivered online, there are new possibilities for real-time interaction between educators and students. That’s the word from Erin Brereton, who notes in a recent issue of EdTech: Focus on Higher Education. Online learning is seen as a huge piece of the future of higher education, Brereton says. “Faculty can provide coursework from a learning management system and measure track student learning and program outcomes,” Brereton says. “The real-time data that some learning management system platforms provide can help faculty see patterns, such as how many students answer introductory-level questions incorrectly, to determine what extra resources are needed.”

https://www.rtinsights.com/real-time-platforms-add-personal-touch-to-online-learning/

by Sylvia Vorhauser-Smith, Forbes

The technology advances of the past decade have laid the foundations for learning that harness the speed, power and ubiquity of digital capability. It adds up to an accelerated, personalized and transformed learning experience that puts the learner squarely in the driver’s seat.  These foundational blocks have, in just a few short years, disrupted how we think about educating our kids, gain additional skills and qualifications, and ponder reinventing our careers. Platforms, software and devices have unleashed a perfect digital storm with the promise of removing any obstacles to reaching your potential. Even so, we are only at the tipping point of what future learning technology can deliver. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will transform all aspects of human capital management, including learning. It’s not just hype.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sylviavorhausersmith/2017/08/15/the-new-era-of-learning-is-here-and-its-not-hype/#184cdfa23834

By Eric J. Perry, Faculty Focus

Whether it’s in a “Choose Your Own Adventure” or score-based style, creating interactive content that includes a scoring system and the ability to replay scenarios allows students to engage with the content, potentially without the fear of grading. Although some instructors would advocate for grading these types of assignments, this usually comes in the form of a grade for completing/attempting the game rather than to assess knowledge. Regardless, most LMS systems are capable of tracking a student’s progress through these types of activities and even grading them, if you so choose.

https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/engaging-students-online-courses-adding-experiential-asynchrony/

by Pat Donachie, Education Dive

Researchers analyzed a sample of 50,984 UT System graduates who received bachelor’s degrees between 2008 and 2011, using datasets to match graduates with their accompanying degrees with career and wage data. The report indicated a $40,000 median gap between earnings of graduates from the top-earning majors (architecture and engineering) and graduates with majors in biology and life sciences, the lowest-earning degrees among UT grads. The report also found a $3.4 million difference in earnings between majors over the course of a lifetime, far surpassing the lifetime earnings gap between college and high school graduates. There is evidence to suggest that graduating from any school with particular majors could outweigh the benefits of attending a “top” school with a less valued degree.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/report-finds-majors-matter-more-for-graduate-earnings-than-institutional-br/449200/

By Pat Donachie, Education Dive

A new report from the National Governors Association (NGA) and the National Associations of State Workforce Liaisons and State Workforce Board Chairs urged the federal government’s support for continuing work spurred by the 2014 passage of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act — federal legislation aimed at streamlining public support for workforce development programs, including institutions at the higher ed level. Michelle Sager, who heads the NGA Center for Best Practices Economic Opportunity Division, said that while the lower unemployment rates throughout the country signaled economic stabilization in the aftermath of the Great Recession, it also means employers have fewer potential qualified applicants to fill job openings. For four-year colleges and community colleges, she said it is imperative to partner with industries in fields like information technology to ensure that the degree and certification programs being offered are meeting industry needs.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/governors-call-for-greater-partnership-around-workforce-development/449301/

By Ashley A. Smith, Inside Higher Ed

A recently released survey from the University of Phoenix finds the majority of working adults view college as a way to improve their careers. The online survey of more than 1,000 adults who are employed at least 20 hours a week found that 38 percent are very satisfied with their current employed position. Forty-three percent said they were very satisfied with how their skills and abilities were being utilized by their employers, and 46 percent said they were fairly compensated. The survey also found that two in five adults are very satisfied with their current level of education and 65 percent of Americans anticipate their current salary would increase if they were to achieve a higher level of education.

https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2017/08/15/survey-adults-see-college-path-better-career

By Sri Ravipati, Campus Technology

The five-year coding bootcamp industry estimated at $266 million is rapidly expanding, according to a new market study from Course Report. The study counted 94 full-time coding bootcamps across the United States and Canada (with programs in 74 U.S. cities). Compared to 2012, there will be 10 times as many graduates this year — or roughly one coding bootcamp graduate for every 3.5 graduates from a traditional university or college. Course Report estimates that 22,814 developers will graduate from coding bootcamps this year — an increase from 15,048 graduates last year.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/08/14/study-finds-1-coding-bootcamp-graduate-for-every-3-university-grads.aspx

by Ritesh Mehta, Customer Think

Collaboration in VR classroom boosts social integration of learners. Students that struggle to be part of the class group were able to be accepted by their peers due to their technology skills. With the technology, shy learners will come out of their shells and the kids, lacking in confidence previously in their math abilities, became confident technology experts. Virtual reality is apt to students with various needs and styles of learning. Furthermore, it provides a lot of opportunities for peer teaching and group work. What is impossible in reality is possible in virtual reality. The pedagogies of game-based and constructivism learning shows that students learn best by doing or being. They shouldn’t just read about history, but they should be historians as well. They shouldn’t just study archaeology but should be archaeologists themselves. The capacity to introduce practical knowledge to a classroom without actually leaving the space makes educational experience invaluable. Instead of simply listening to lectures, kids could put words underneath a headset and get real experience but in a virtual wrapper.

https://customerthink.com/how-will-virtual-reality-revolutionize-education/

BY LAURA ASCIONE, eCampus News
Interested in IoT? Students and professionals need to brush up on your communication skills. Communication skills rank high on the list of career skills necessary for success in the quickly-growing Internet of Things (IoT) field, according to a new survey from Northeastern University-Silicon Valley. The university surveyed more than 500 members of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the responses yielded surprising findings about the challenges facing the IoT field. Nearly 60 percent (58.8 percent) of survey respondents said those working in the IoT field need communications skills, including an ability to explain ideas or concepts clearly and effectively. That compares to just 19.5 percent of respondents who cited deep industry knowledge as the most relevant skill, and 14 percent who cited collaboration.

https://www.ecampusnews.com/it-newsletter/iot-brush-communication-skills/

by Jennifer Snelling, Converge

With the help of data analytics, state education agencies and higher education institutions are trying to increase college retention and graduation rates. According to a 2016 report by the U.S. Department of Education, 60 percent of full-time students who enrolled at a four-year institution in 2008 took six years to graduate. The same study showed the average retention rate is around 80 percent, but less selective schools with open admissions policies retained 62 percent of their students between 2013 and 2014. Graduation and retention rates are key components to a school’s reputation.  A typical college graduate working full time earns 54 percent more than a worker who attended some college, but has no degree. When retention and graduation rates improve, both students and institutions benefit. How can higher education keep students in school long enough to graduate? Turns out, analytics has some answers.  Predictive analytics uses massive amounts of historical data to identify patterns and forecast outcomes and trends.

http://www.centerdigitaled.com/higher-ed/How-Three-States-Boost-College-Student-Outcomes-with-Analytics.html

by Julia McCandless, Converge

She works closely with EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit community of IT leaders and professionals focused on advancing higher education, and received the organization’s 2012 Rising Star Award for her accomplishments. Joanna Young, senior managing director at BlueLine Associates and former CIO at Michigan State University, collaborates with Woo at EDUCAUSE and values her strong leadership in the IT field. “We’re both part of a small group — women leaders in the C-suite — and we both get that more participation by women is needed in IT at all levels, as part of the overall need for more technology talent in the U.S.,” she said. Young and Woo continue to “talk” every week on Twitter’s #CIOchat along with others and help widen their circle to include CIOs from a wide range of industries.  Beyond enhancing innovation in higher education, Woo is a passionate mentor who is motivated by seeing others grow and advance to places they dream of. That’s also the reason why working in public higher education remains so important to her. “We are training the minds for the next generation; the people who are going to provide all the innovation going forward,” she said.

http://www.centerdigitaled.com/higher-ed/Melissa-Woo-Brings-Diversity-to-the-C-Suite-in-Education.html

by Tereza Litsa, ClickZ
Social listening is the process of monitoring and analyzing conversations across social media, centered around specific keywords, phrases, or brands. As social media becomes more important for marketers, it is also crucial to justify its return on investment in the strongest possible way. Social listening can be beneficial both in helping brands explore the different opportunities to improve their online presence, and in proving the worth of social media as a marketing tool. When done well, it can go beyond simply monitoring for mentions and likes to become a crucial component of a social strategy.

Nine reasons for your brand to use social listening tools

by Cynthia Lee, Vox

In the end, focusing the conversation on the minutiae of the scientific claims in the manifesto is a red herring. Regardless of whether biological differences exist, there is no shortage of glaring evidence, in individual stories and in scientific studies, that women in tech experience bias and a general lack of a welcoming environment, as do underrepresented minorities. Until these problems are resolved, our focus should be on remedying that injustice. After that work is complete, we can reassess whether small effect size biological components have anything to do with lingering imbalances. For today — given what women in tech have had to deal with over the past week — try pouring a cup of coffee for a female coder in your office, and asking her about the most interesting bug she’s seen lately.

https://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2017/8/11/16130452/google-memo-women-tech-biology-sexism

By Sri Ravipati, THE Journal

A new nonprofit science education organization based in Baltimore, MD wants more African American girls and young women to explore marine-related research and pursue careers in aquatic-based STEM fields. The Black Girls Dive Foundation (BGDF) operates the STREAMS program, which integrates science, technology, robotics, engineering, the arts and mathematics with scuba diving. The program (open to Baltimore-area girls ages 9 or older through college-age freshmen) focuses on structural, mechanical and electrical technologies, with some exposure to optical, biotechnical, thermal and fluid technologies.

https://thejournal.com/articles/2017/08/09/nonprofit-encourages-african-american-girls-and-women-to-stay-afloat-in-stem.aspx

by Pat Donachie, Education Dive

With most college students having at least one “non-traditional” characteristic, colleges and universities need to amend their recruiting and advertising strategies to attract potential applicants, including first-generation college students as well as adult learners, according to a recent op-ed in University Business. Some colleges and universities are reaching out to students in K-12 schools, with the belief that earlier support can help first-gen students in the process of selecting a school. For example, Colorado State University offers a number of different tutoring, instruction and professional development services in high schools and middle schools.  Schools should also consider featuring more adult learners in online and promotional materials about the institution, as it could make adult students returning to the classroom feel more welcome. And many of these students will likely want to complete their schooling as quickly as possible, so schools could consider offering accelerated courses.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/how-can-schools-better-target-adult-and-first-generation-students/448809/

By Cait Etherington, eLearningInside News

To date, Canvas, like most learning management systems, can be accessed via a computer, mobile phone or tablet. With the Alexa addition, Canvas can now be accessed by voice and not simply via a keyboard. This means that students will be able to ask Alexa key questions (e.g., What were the main points made in today’s class?), and Alexa will be able to offer a summary. Students will also be able to ask Alexa to quiz them on key concepts in preparation for an upcoming quiz or test. Of course, students will also be able to ask other pressing questions, including “What is the homework for tomorrow? Do I have any readings? Where are the readings…are they posted on the website?” If an instructor has posted any videos online, students will now also have the option of watching them on their television rather than on their computer, smart mobile phone, or tablet. For instructors, the new feature will also enable them to carry out routine tasks, including providing student feedback, without spending hours hunched over a keyboard typing.

https://news.elearninginside.com/amazons-alexa-your-next-teacher/

by Gregory Ferenstein, Forbes

University degrees are really, really expensive and there are plenty of new startups in Silicon Valley offering job readiness training for much cheaper. So, how does a $100,000 graduate degree in statistics stack up to an online course for 1/100th the price? The short answer is that I think for many jobs, an online certificate in data science from a quality online education provider is comparable to a more traditional graduate statistics degree. For the past year or so, I’ve been sampling various online degree providers, including Udacity, Coursera, DataCamp, and EdX to see how they compare to my (much pricier) Master’s in Mathematical Behavioral Sciences from the University of California, Irvine. I still have a lot of courses to take and will be doing more reviews in the future, but I think I now have enough experience to draw a few conclusions.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gregoryferenstein/2017/08/10/thoughts-on-how-online-data-science-courses-stack-up-to-a-masters-degree/#36b84c982c88

by Pat Donachie, Education Dive

For mainstream colleges and universities, competency-based education programs remain the exception to the norm, and “program stability and institutional readiness” are vital to their success, according to the second annual report on CBE programs from Eduventures, in conjunction with Ellucian and the American Council on Education.  The report found the most successful programs come from the institutions where CBE programs where not brand new, but were receiving revived interest from institutions and educators. The schools with effective programs also more often used experienced individuals from within the institution, rather than outside hires or consultants.  The analysis concludes that progress on instituting new CBE programs in a widespread manner will be “incremental,” with the heads of many CBE programs reporting that they had become used to the halting momentum of creating such programs. Schools working to institute these options should conduct a “self-assessment of institutional readiness” in order to prepare, the report stated.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/cbe-programs-face-challenges-of-growth-at-many-institutions-report-finds/449114/

By Sri Ravipati, Campus Technology

A new digital marketplace is helping colleges and universities turn existing courses and content into certificates and digital credentials. Course Market aims to streamline any institution’s ability to deliver modular course offerings that meet shifting learner and employer demands. A collaborative effort among education technology companies, Course Market combines iDesign’s design and processing support, Instructure’s learning management system technology and Credly’s credential technology, allowing institutions to:

Enroll students in continuing education programs;
Accept payments;
Deliver content; and
Issue digital badges or certificates, shareable via LinkedIn or Facebook.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/08/10/course-market-delivers-alternative-credentials-and-certificates-to-higher-ed.aspx

By Dian Schaffhauser, Campus Technology
Should an average salary for full professors of $102,402 be considered low compared to an average salary of $334,617 for college and university presidents and $202,048 for chief financial officers? Should institutions be concerned that the ratio of faculty and staff positions per administrator dropped from 3.5 in 1990 to 2.2 in 2012? Those are the kinds of questions posed by a new report from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) that encourages college leaders to contain and even cut administrative spending.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/08/09/research-whos-worth-more-the-administrator-or-the-professor.aspx

By David Raths, Campus Technology

Over the past several years, student success initiatives have burst onto the scene as academic officials have sought to respond to pressure to improve retention and graduation rates. Philanthropic groups such as the Gates Foundation and state legislatures have made student success a point of emphasis. Many universities don’t have the technology infrastructure to respond to the needs of these new programs, which raises the question of the CIO’s role in designing solutions. Why should CIOs be proactive on the issue of student success? “It is important to be engaged in things that are important to the overall mission of the university,” said Scott Winslow, practice manager at EAB, a consulting firm and technology platform provider.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/08/10/3-ways-it-is-impacting-student-success.aspx