Online Learning Update

By JONATHAN VANIAN, Fortune
In recent years, researchers and journalists have highlighted artificial intelligence sometimes stumbling when it comes to minorities and women. Facial recognition technology, for example, is more likely to become confused when scanning dark-skinned women than light-skinned men. Last week, AI Now, a research group at New York University, released a study about A.I.’s diversity crisis. The report said that a lack of diversity among the people who create artificial intelligence and in the data they use to train it has created huge shortcomings in the technology.

http://fortune.com/2019/04/23/artificial-intelligence-diversity-crisis/

By NAVNEET ALANG, University Affairs

At its most basic, learning analytics is simply the analysis of data related to learning, and thus encompasses even rudimentary acts like taking attendance or calculating average test scores in a class. But, as digital technology evolves, the amount and types of data one can collect continues to expand. Think about the variety of digital tools a student might use: online courses in which they work out calculus or physics equations step-by-step; digital textbooks that can track which parts are highlighted and by how many users; or, even more futuristic technology that tracks eye movement to see where a student’s attention is focused. What might one be able to do with all these data?

https://www.universityaffairs.ca/features/feature-article/the-lure-of-learning-analytics/

By Natalie Schwartz, Education Dive
Nine universities from around the world announced Tuesday that they are teaming up to explore how emerging technologies like blockchain can help them give students a digital version of their academic record, including badges, certifications, internships and traditional degrees. The U.S. institutions involved in the project are Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the University of California System’s Berkeley and Irvine campuses. Such digital records would allow students to securely own and share their information instead of having to go back to the relevant institution each time they need proof of their accomplishments, said Sanjay Sarma, MIT’s vice president for open learning, in the announcement.

https://www.educationdive.com/news/9-universities-partner-to-craft-standards-for-digital-records/553184/

Knowledge@Wharton
By all counts, China is leading the world in the use and development of blockchain technology. It has far and away filed the most patents related to blockchain in the world and some of the biggest names in the blockchain and cryptocurrency community are Chinese firms. What’s more, blockchain is also a national priority: The Chinese State Council included its development in the nation’s 13th Five-Year Plan. And last year, President Xi Jinping said China seeks to lead in innovation worldwide, citing blockchain, AI, the Internet of Things and other technologies as the driving forces.

https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/can-u-s-catch-chinas-blockchain-dominance/

by Matthew Lynch, Tech Edvocate

Cognitive computing is an extension of AI with one significant added component: cognitive computing systems are able to interact with humans using natural language.  IBM defines cognitive computing as,” systems that learn at scale, reason with purpose and interact with humans naturally. Rather than being explicitly programmed, they learn and reason from their interactions with us and from their experiences with their environment.” The big difference here being that cognitive computing agents are able to interact naturally with humans. AI are systems that follow a complicated set of rules to arrive at outcomes. Their usefulness is limited to structured data; they are not able to process unpredictable, nonlinear data, like natural speech. On the other hand, cognitive systems are probabilistic, meaning they can handle probabilities and uncertainties. They are able to make sense out of the changeability of unstructured information.

https://www.thetechedvocate.org/artificial-intelligence-vs-cognitive-computing-in-education-how-they-differ/

By Ray Schroeder, Inside HIgher Ed
Quantum computing will burst onto the educational technology scene. Are you preparing now? The quantum era will soon be upon us. The changes we will see will far outpace even those we saw in the development of personal computers, smartphones and broadband networking — combined. IBM has already created a commercial quantum computer prototype, the IBM Q System One.  We should begin to visualize adaptive learning models in which the power and speed of quantum computing may best serve the individualized needs of our students. An awesome quantum future awaits us!

https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/blogs/online-trending-now/quantum-leap-future-education

Hallie Busta, Education Dive
The function and makeup of the workforce will change as industries adapt to new technology and processes, raising questions about how educational models are responding to deliver relevant training, explains a new white paper from the World Economic Forum and the Boston Consulting Group. The report examines eight possible outcomes for the future of work based on three variables: educational models, workers’ economic mobility and the rate of technological advancement. A combination of the outcomes is most likely, the authors note.  One common theme throughout the outcomes is what the report positions as a consequence of educational models being slow to adapt to workforce needs: displaced workers competing for fewer jobs as industries become increasingly automated.

https://www.educationdive.com/news/how-new-learning-modes-will-shape-the-future-of-work/553133/

By Rhea Kelly, Campus Technology
Purdue University is expanding into the corporate learning realm with two new deals with Fortune 500 corporations Cisco Systems and Eli Lilly and Co. The institution worked with each company to create custom courses for their employees, with a focus on providing high-quality content in a flexible online format.  “One thing we have learned is that companies want flexibility in their online education,” said Gerry McCartney, executive vice president for Purdue Online, in a statement. “We are able to offer an immediately available product that works for one company’s learner cohorts rather than requiring the usual academic scheduling.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2019/04/22/purdue-partners-with-cisco-lilly-for-corporate-ed.aspx?admgarea=news

Megan Leonhardt, CNBC
Almost half of young adults have student loan debt. And 36% of college graduates paying off student loans say now that taking on that debt wasn’t worth it, according to a new report by Merrill Lynch and Age Wave, which surveyed over 2,700 early adults (defined here as those ages 18 to 34). A smaller poll by GoBankingRates recently arrived at similar conclusions: It found that, while a vast majority of Americans with college degrees don’t regret college itself, many do say the student debt they incurred wasn’t worth it.

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/18/36-percent-of-college-grads-with-student-loans-say-debt-wasnt-worth-it.html

Elissa Nadworny, NPR

Inmates are among the least-educated people in America. That’s despite research that shows education is one of the most effective ways to keep people from coming back to prison. Now, there’s renewed interest in giving adults behind bars better access to higher education. A new bipartisan bill in Congress would allow incarcerated people to use federal Pell Grants — designed for low-income students — to pay for higher education, including college classes and workforce training.

https://www.npr.org/2019/04/20/713874091/congress-considers-making-college-more-accessible-to-people-in-prison

Beth Hawkins, the 74

New York University is expanding its novel teacher training program, which places diverse teachers into high-needs schools for an intensive, year-long master’s program organized around the belief that all teachers benefit by learning to work with students with disabilities and those learning English. The Steinhardt’s Teacher Residency program combines online academic preparation with full-time classroom placements in districts and public charter schools in four states.

https://www.the74million.org/3-ways-nyu-is-training-new-teachers-to-use-special-ed-and-ell-strategies-to-better-serve-all-kids/