Online Learning Update

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/

By Dian Schaffhauser, Campus Technology
A survey of chief academic officers at public colleges and universities found that while most online courses are taught by full-time faculty, their preparation for and oversight in doing so is highly inconsistent. The survey was undertaken by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) working in tandem with Learning House, a Wiley division that provides online program management services. Researchers received responses from 95 CAOs, representing a quarter of AASCU’s membership. According to the results, two-thirds of courses are currently being taught by full-time faculty, and almost all of those instructors (98 percent) are “expected” to teach online as part of their regular workload.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2019/03/07/faculty-training-support-for-online-teaching-needs-improvement.aspx

By: Brian Udermann, Faculty Focus

As the number of online courses and degree programs in higher education continues to increase, more faculty are being asked to design and develop online courses. Sometimes this course design and development process is done somewhat reflexively, in a short time period, and with limited planning and preparation. This is not ideal as it can lead to a more stressful course development process for instructors and negatively impact the quality of online offerings. This article will explore seven things that instructors should consider prior to developing an online course

https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/seven-things-to-consider-before-developing-your-online-course/

By: Anirban Roy Choudhury, Financial Express
The online learning or edutech industry had humble beginnings in India, when technology happened to be too complex.
In today’s fast-paced world, there is little time to stand and stare longingly at a reputed B School campus; nor is there time for preparation for a dream course in an IIM. Today’s students looking to enter the workforce, or employees looking for promotions based on acquiring certain skillsets have options that don’t involve waiting for the next admission forms for courses to be available. From strategic media planning to software development to specialised courses in marketing and communication, online education platforms claim to have answers for every academic problem. The wide variety of specialised courses target working professionals, school goers as well as 20-somethings trying to crack an entrance examination or climb up the corporate ladder.

https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/technology/online-education-a-learning-curve/1293101/

by Teach Online Canada

The tool collects student feedback data and uses it to adjust the grades for the group assignments using the logical structure of team-based learning (TBL). In the peer evaluation assignment students assess their group members on teamwork dimensions that are pre-identified by the instructor for example, “preparation”, “contribution” and “collaboration.” Students evaluate each of their teammates on a Likert scale and provide written comments that surface practices which are perceived to help or hinder team performance. The final grades for group assignments are automatically adjusted by the feedback from the group members received through the peer evaluation assignment(s) using the team based learning logic. After screening by the instructor, each student receives an anonymized summary of qualitative comments from group members and the instructor receives a compiled report for the whole class. Finally, to close the loop, students write a short, graded reflection on what they have learned from the process of giving and receiving feedback.

https://teachonline.ca/pockets-innovation/peer-evaluation-learning-and-assessment-strategy-school-business-simon-fraser-university-british

by Global Banking and Finance Review
Gone are the blackboards of yesteryear. Instead, many schools and higher education institutions are using a range of connected devices, both at school and at home, as part of a wireless revolution in the education sector.With the growth of automation, cyber-security and AI, the role that technology will play in the education sector is already shaping a future job market. In preparation for these new advancements, schools and students will need to adapt to a constantly changing way of digital learning. Here Performance Networks discuss 5 ways digital connectivity is revolutionising the education sector, as well as offering insight into how digital learning technology will shape schools in the future.

5 WaysDigital Connectivity is Revolutionising Education

by Webster University

Compliance Steps.
Do you collect, store or transmit any personal data in your role with Webster? Faculty, staff and students at all Webster University campuses should be aware of how GDPR affects business processes and the handling of personal data. The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) will go in effect on May 25, 2018. The regulation is the most far-reaching change to data protection in a generation. Review these steps to compliance provided by the GDPR project team. You may find useful this one-page handout [PDF] containing all of the steps listed below. Discuss them with your colleagues and supervisors. Make sure you are prepared for the compliance deadline of May 25.

http://news.webster.edu/employee/2018/steps-gdpr-compliance-preparation.html

BY GERALDINE LEE, eSchool News
As technologies and the workforce change, society must help equip students with the skills for success. Today’s jobs are changing, and they are changing at such a rapid pace that many of the jobs our students will hold in the future do not even exist today. But just because we don’t know what those jobs are doesn’t mean we can’t do our best to prepare today’s students, and tomorrow’s work force, for the opportunities awaiting them. A large part of that preparation will rely on equal technology access to all students.

Newsflash: Preparing students for the future workforce is a society-wide effort

by Shayna Cook, New America

This report aims to answer those last two questions, which represent new and unexplored terrain in early childhood education policy. To investigate the intersection of issues in teacher preparation, early childhood policy, and online degree programs, we synthesized findings from published reports on the state of teacher preparation, conducted interviews with experts, culled information from websites of institutions offering online degree programs, and analyzed national data sets on early childhood teacher preparation programs, as well as surveys of the early childhood workforce. We focused primarily on the segment of the early childhood workforce that is closest to achieving the bachelor’s degree credential and commensurate compensation: pre-K lead teachers. Our findings show how online degrees can provide teachers with greater access to programs, but also point to the need for better higher education data and the benefits of degree programs that provide teachers with financial supports.

https://www.newamerica.org/education-policy/policy-papers/when-degree-programs-pre-k-teachers-go-online/

By Jennifer Mason, StL Today

Varsity Tutors is a live learning platform that connects students with personalized instruction online, on mobile devices and in person. To date, students have accessed more than 2 million hours of live instruction. The company, with a corporate office located in St. Louis, has free online learning tools including test preparation books, practice questions, answers and explanations. After struggling to find an effective tutor to help him in high school, founder and CEO Chuck Cohn recognized there was an opportunity to create a business that helped people learn. Varsity Tutors was founded in 2007 at Washington University in St. Louis.

http://www.stltoday.com/business/advancingstl/chuck-cohn-turned-a-college-project-into-a-global-business/article_ff2c2de2-db68-11e7-8bb5-0f7341613aff.html

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 Rhea Kelly, Campus Technology

The majority of millennials ages 18-34 (69 percent) say they learn more information from technology than from people, according to a new report from nonprofit leadership training organization Growing Leaders. In comparison, just 50 percent of surveyed adults ages 45 and up said the same. The online survey of 2,264 American adults ages 18 and older, conducted by Harris Poll, focused on technology’s role in learning as well as different generations’ preparation for adult life. The survey also identified a gender divide when it comes to technology and learning. Thirty-three percent of millennial males “strongly agreed” that they learn more from technology than from people, while 19 percent of millennial females said the same.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/08/02/report-most-millennials-learn-more-from-technology-than-from-people.aspx

by Autumn Arnett, Education Dive

Equity took center stage in the day two conversations at the Education Commission of the States National Forum on Education Policy Thursday. One resonant statement reflected how principal preparation programs didn’t include equity components, meaning that now leaders are struggling to approach their work through an equity lens. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education President Joe Garcia — who shared with the audience that his school counselors never once mentioned to him the idea of his going to college— said working harder to close achievement gaps from early education on through to higher ed is everyone’s work. “It’s not just an issue of racial justice — although that’s important — it’s a question of our economic sustainability” as a nation, Garcia said. Professional development is perhaps the single most important aspect of the equity conversation.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/i-dont-know-how-to-lead-for-equity-that-was-not-part-of-my-program/446094/

by Laurel Iverson Hitchcock, Teaching & Learning in Social Work

As the field of online education grows and new technologies develop, it’s important to us to make sure that we’re inclusive in administration, planning, and teaching.  Matthea Marquart and Beth Counselman-Carpenter of Columbia hosted a conversation on the topic, tod learn from the experiences of our peers at other institutions. You can access a copy of our handout, which includes details about the tools & strategies we’ve used to support online students who are deaf, here: https://doi.org/10.7916/D8V12B58 From our perspective, there are three critical components to success: never assume, attention to a solid time line, and thorough preparation with a back-up plan for live course sessions.

http://www.laureliversonhitchcock.org/2017/06/23/supporting-the-success-of-online-students-who-are-deaf-lessons-presented-at-swde2017/

https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/call-action-marketing-and-communications-higher-education/coming-phigital-generation-%E2%80%94-and

by Carolyn Hitt, Wales Online

The “blended” bit refers to the style of course. As well as two hours in the classroom each week at Wales’ National Sports Centre, there is an online element as we log on to the course website – www.caerdydd.ybont.org – to complete both preparation modules before the class and revision activities afterwards. This is suiting me much better than just a weekly stint in the classroom. It feels more immersive. The temptation with a night-class is to forget about it all between gatherings but committing to individual online study ensures the learning continues beyond the lessons. And there’s no chance of digitally winging it either. Like linguistic Big Brother, our tutor is able to track our progress online. This isn’t as sinister as it sounds. It means help is on hand between lessons while getting an email with a “badge” to signal a completed online unit feels like a little reward.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/education/learning-welsh-getting-easier-course-12386894

by Jarrett Carter, Education Dive

A new study from the Vibeffect casts new light on the motivations of low-income students as a primary factor in their college success. The results, officials say, challenge traditional notions about the importance of secondary preparation or familiarity with course content as predictors for completion. High achieving students from more than 5,000 households making $35,000 or less, or $150,000 or more, similarly suggested positive attitudes around personal finance, seeking out help when needed, and self-confidence are primary factors in students’ ability to thrive in college. The sharp difference between the two groups was previous exposure to college. A majority of low-income students (57%) are first-generation students who typically do not engage in campus visits for the schools they attend, compared with 81% of high-income students whose parents are college-educated and have taken a campus visit.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/survey-shows-personality-traits-not-income-key-to-college-success/429167/

By Jarrett Carter, Education Dive

A new study from Gallup suggests that students who are exposed to nurturing faculty and engaging internship or extracurricular experiences have double the amount of professional satisfaction in their post-collegiate lives. The survey of more than 60,000 college graduates reveals that these elements, which could be classified as customer service elements in the college setting, promote key metrics of individual purpose and well-being in financial, social and emotional areas of life. Gallup recommends that colleges increase their focus on mentoring and career development to help students make stronger connections between college preparation and their success in working and personal development.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/poll-reveals-connections-between-college-professional-engagement/426277/

By Jarrett Carter, Education Dive

Stephen Downes, the designer of the first open source learning course, says education will not be revolutionized by technology that brings the current classroom environment and curriculum to digital platforms. Changes to curriculum, desired learning outcomes and professional preparation are the keys to innovation in higher education. Many campuses are changing curriculum to competency-based and adaptive learning models to encourage success, improve completion rates and boost interest among students.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/going-beyond-moocs-in-higher-education-innovation/424184/

by Financial Express

Technology integrations like video lectures, online problem-solving features, graphic representations—and all of these on a smartphone—have made online learning interesting, accessible and far more engaging. With the Indian smartphone user base growing rapidly and especially with the mobile app boom, education technology (ed-tech) has also proliferated. In 2015, according to research firm IDC, the Indian smartphone market grew at 28.8% to 103.6 million units and smartphone shipments in the country crossed the 100-million mark. With more and more young people, including students, using smartphones, ed-tech players are redefining their strategy and presence in the online space. Earlier, the focus of ed-tech players was limited to entrance exam preparation, but now it has expanded to technical courses and even vocational education. In fact, today there are such courses in the online space that are also contributing to the Skill India mission.

http://www.financialexpress.com/industry/tech/education-technology-how-smartphones-make-learning-easy/340770/

by Rebecca Marriage, Relocate Global

As students in the US receive their SAT test results, the university preparation association, the College Board and online learning platform, the Khan Academy are celebrating an unparalleled online learning uptake by the nation’s students. Enlisting the help of the hugely successful and free online learning platform for school-age children, the Khan Academy, the College Board has developed interactive practice tools to create a tailored online learning experience to help students prepare for the test. Going live almost exactly a year ago, the College Board and Khan Academy have seen more than 1.4 million unique users take up the ‘Official SAT practice’ program online. The program is free to use and, says the College Board, is reaching students, ”across race, ethnicities, and income levels.” But, most importantly, the results of tests issued to students by the College Board are then communicated with the Khan Academy and students receive personal study recommendations.

http://www.relocatemagazine.com/news/education-college-board-and-khan-academy-revolutionising-student-learning-in-us