Techno-News Blog

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 Drew Hendricks, Inc

Digital transformation is disrupting every industry, and education is no exception. Global investment in edtech companies is increasing rapidly, with some reports predicting a total of $252 billion in investments by 2020. Investors aren’t the only people recognizing the importance of technology for education. Educators and students are flocking to solutions that enhance their experience while reducing the high price associated with higher ed. In fact, research shows that 70% of students want their universities to update their digital options, with 44% of the same group saying they’d be happier with their university experience if they could engage with more digital resources. With an obvious demand from students for better digital solutions, organizations that don’t engage with the latest in technology may struggle to engage with new students and grow.

https://www.inc.com/drew-hendricks/3-ways-technology-is-empowering-educators.html

by Bridget Beale, TES

This week Robert Hannigan, former head of GCHQ, the government intelligence agency responsible for digital listening, surprised parents across the country by suggesting that children should spend more time online to “save the country”. He believes parents shouldn’t feel guilty if teenagers spend their summer holidays in front of a screen. You’d be right to feel at least a small level of unease with this notion. It flies counter to received parental wisdom about encouraging children to explore and better understand the world by scraping their knees and climbing trees. However, the truth of the matter is that in the past 10 years the world has changed at a much more accelerated rate than at any other point in human history. In the next few years alone, it’s set to change beyond our wildest childhood imaginations, as we usher in the age of driverless cars and “machine learning”.

https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-views/children-shouldnt-waste-their-summer-just-climbing-trees-they-need

by Robyn Shulman, Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-top-15-traits-educators-need-to-teach-successfully_us_598c6cf4e4b08a4c247f28b3

BY ANIL KAMATH, eCampus News

According to Carnegie Mellon University’s Dean Andrew Moore, AI students are “worth somewhere between $5 million and $10 million to a company’s bottom line.” It’s no wonder, then, that big companies are heavily recruiting PhD candidates. Over the past 10 years, nearly 20 percent more data science PhD students have taken industry jobs. Collaborating on data science projects is a great way to connect university students to real-world opportunities and private companies to the talent they are looking for. By sharing their resources and data libraries, researchers and companies are much more likely to discover AI solutions that improve human lives. A machine-learning model at Stanford sorted through 50 million images in two weeks—a task that would take a human 15 years. Researchers are using such unprecedented computational power to solve real-world problems.

https://www.ecampusnews.com/curriculum/ai-help-colleges-universities/

by Matthew Lynch, tech Edvoate

When you have 25 students in your classroom, it’s challenging to differentiate instruction for varying ability levels. As you work to help struggling students catch up, your gifted students may be twiddling their thumbs, having long ago completed the “easy” assignment. It’s important to continue challenging these gifted students. Otherwise, they may become disengaged and fail to reach their fullest potential.  These 6 must have apps, tools, and resources for gifted children can help you keep your brightest students engaged and challenged—without using too much of your limited time.

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/6-must-apps-tools-resources-gifted-children/

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 Sri Ravipati, THE Journal
Sony Corporation and Sony Global Education have finished developing a cloud-based platform built on IBM Blockchain that allows a secure exchange of educational data. Blockchain technology records and keeps information safe by creating a decentralized record of data that can be confirmed and validated without relying on a single authority. IBM Blockchain underpins Sony’s new education platform, which harnesses IBM Cloud and The Linux Foundation’s Hyperledger Fabric 1.0 blockchain framework. “Blockchain technology has the potential to impact systems in a wide variety of industries, and the educational sphere is no exception when educational data is securely stored on the blockchain and shared among permissioned users,” said Masaaki Isozu, president of Sony Global Education, in a prepared statement.

https://thejournal.com/articles/2017/08/10/sony-and-ibm-to-secure-student-data-records-with-blockchain.aspx

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 Matthew Lynch, tech Edvocate

Every day, hundreds of thousands of people go to the gym. They go to exercise their muscles and get stronger. But many of these same people neglect the one thing they really should be strengthening—their brain.  Brain training apps and tools are designed to help your brain be better. The idea is that by practicing daily, the brain, like your muscles, can grow stronger over time. If you’re going to take the time to work out your brain, however, you want to make sure you’re using the most effective tools possible. Let’s take a look at 7 of the best brain training apps and tools.

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/7-brain-training-apps-tools/

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 LAURA ASCIONE, eSchool News

A new report, How Minecraft Supports Social and Emotional Learning in K–12 Education, published by Getting Smart, investigates the connection between classroom use of Minecraft and the SEL outcomes of K– 12 students. The report is based on interviews, a global survey and case studies as it offers an overview of SEL, an insight on gaming in education, and advice from educators on how to support a school-based SEL program. Almost all of the teachers surveyed (97.7 percent) said problem solving is the top SEL skill their students learn from in-school and extracurricular Minecraft participation.

https://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/08/11/link-minecraft-and-sel/

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 Matthew Lynch, tech Edvocate

The virtual classroom is a brand new technology that’s quickly spreading to teacher education programs across the nation. The concept is a bit like a flight simulator that a pilot might use before getting into a real plane. Teachers are placed in a virtual classroom full of virtual students and must teach as if they were really in the classroom.There are two main options for teacher education programs looking to implement the virtual classroom in their curriculum. A company called Mursion has developed a virtual classroom that is used by school districts and teacher education programs around the U.S. There’s also TeachLive, a virtual classroom program developed at the University of Central Florida. Both programs are fairly similar, offering some of the same benefits for teachers in training.

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/virtual-classrooms-future-teacher-education/

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 Shalina Chatlani, Education Dive

Over the last two years, bootcamps — not just for coding, but also for intensive skill development in other fields, like healthcare and accounting — have grown in popularity among traditional nonprofit, four year insttitutions, reports EdSurge. Though bootcamps are proliferating throughout higher ed, it is still unclear whether the model will be successful as an alternative credential pathway model, as Reuters reports that many of these for-profit schools are shutting down. For example, the well known Dev Bootcamp announced in July its plans to shut down for lack of a viable business model, even though there has been growth in enrollment.  Though some bootcamps are closing, others are thriving, like Flatiron School, which has a 97% job placement rate and has its student outcomes audited by Massachusetts, according to Reuters — highlighting not only that success of such programs are heavilly tied to ROI beyond graduation, but also that the traditional education pathway with accountability for student outcomes is here to stay.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/bootcamps-expanding-at-traditional-universities-but-efficacy-of-model-stil/449143/

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 PAT SCHNEIDER | The Capital Times

One national study in 2013 found that 65 percent of students said they decided against buying a textbook because it was too expensive, even though nearly all of them worried it would hurt their grade.  An appreciation for how the costs of textbooks and other learning materials make it harder for many students to pay for college has prompted universities across the country — and some university systems — to adopt policies to create or adopt what are called open educational resources, or OER. Most simply, OER are textbooks and other learning materials produced under a copyright that typically allows their use and adaptation free of charge rather than prohibiting use or requiring payment of a fee. The movement has a way to go. Only 5.3 percent of courses nationwide used an open textbook in 2015-2016, according to the Babson Survey Research Group.

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/education/university/breaking-free-to-save-students-money-colleges-are-looking-to/article_eebc0888-2f1f-5faf-ace3-6264b52b8512.html

By Dian Schaffhauser, Campus Technology
A project at Penn State World Campus immersed teachers into a virtual classroom as part of a graduate-level special education course. Students could use a virtual reality headset to watch 360-degree videos or view them as regular videos on YouTube.  The course, “Special Education 801,” helps teachers learn how to respond to challenging behaviors. The 360-degree view allows them to be placed into the classroom virtually to view a teacher explaining how she has arranged the space for learning. The videos were created using a 360-degree video camera and uploaded into the course in just a few days, Penn State World Campus representatives said.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/08/08/penn-state-world-campus-taps-vr-for-educating-teachers.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