Techno-News Blog

By IBL News

Michael M. Crow, President at Arizona State University (ASU), talked today on a keynote during the ASU GSV Conference in San Diego about the importance of connecting the workforce with lifelong learning opportunities. He elaborated on ASU’s model and mentioned the “technologies we need” to achieve a maximum impact in education. He listed those technologies in the following six categories. Personalized learning at scale will be one of the requirements.

https://iblnews.org/2019/04/09/michael-crow-at-asu-gsv-technologies-we-need-to-transform-education/

Sara Friedman, THE Journal
Designing high-capacity and widely available networks is essential for meeting the digital learning goals, according to a new SETDA study. The report looks into how individual states are working to close the digital divide in education by creating dedicated networks for schools and funding grant programs. In order to provide personalized learning experiences for students to best prepare them for college and careers, and to compete in a global economy, all schools need access to reliable, high-speed broadband,” said SETDA’s incoming executive director, Candice Dodson.

https://thejournal.com/articles/2019/04/09/how-education-is-closing-the-digital-divide.aspx

by Marina Gorbis, EDUCAUSE Review

In these five decades we learned a lot, and we still believe—even more strongly than before—that systematic thinking about the future is absolutely essential for helping people make better choices today, whether you are an individual or a member of an educational institution or government organization. We view short-termism as the greatest threat not only to organizations but to society as a whole.

In my twenty years at the Institute, I’ve developed five core principles for futures thinking:

Forget about predictions.
Focus on signals.
Look back to see forward.
Uncover patterns.
Create a community.
https://er.educause.edu/articles/2019/3/five-principles-for-thinking-like-a-futurist

By Miles Burton, U Chicago Maroon

The popular physical sciences class titled Global Warming: Understanding the Forecast has adopted a “flipped” class format this quarter, in which students receive primary instruction through videos on Coursera, an online education platform. Rather than traditional lecture-style classes with a faculty member, the format relies on graduate students for nearly all the in-person teaching. Geophysical sciences professor Dorian Abbot, who took over the course this year from professor David Archer, who told The Maroon he developed the flipped curriculum to improve attendance in a class that has historically been poorly-attended, and also to reduce cheating. He piloted the new format in fall quarter of 2018, and has adopted it in full this spring.

https://www.chicagomaroon.com/article/2019/4/10/flipped-classroom-grad-students/

EDUCAUSE

New approaches to enrollment management also reflect a growing expectation that enrollment managers contribute more directly and significantly to institutional efforts to fulfill academic missions, meet financial goals, sustain a diverse and successful student body, and increase access to education.  How does it work? For students, emerging models of enrollment management aim to provide a seamless experience for individuals who engage with the institution as a prospect, applicant, enrolled student, advisee, selector of an academic pathway, orientation participant, and completer of the first-year experience. In addition, enrollment management provides and aligns support to ensure learners’ ongoing academic progress through completion of a
credential or other academic goal.

https://library.educause.edu/resources/2019/3/7-things-you-should-know-about-enrollment-management

Kirsten Korosec, Tech Crunch

Udacity, the $1 billion online education startup, has laid off about 20 percent of its workforce and is restructuring its operations as the company’s co-founder Sebastian Thrun seeks to bring costs in line with revenue without curbing growth, TechCrunch has learned. The objective is to do more than simply keep the company afloat, Thrun told TechCrunch in a phone interview. Instead, Thrun says these measures will allow Udacity to move from a money-losing operation to a “break-even or profitable company by next quarter and then moving forward.”

Udacity restructures operations, lays off 20 percent of its workforce

Martin Ebner & Sandra Schön, Drexel Virtually Inspired

We have been taking the approach of Inverse Blended Learning for 4 years now, we can proudly report that we have reduced the dropout rate dramatically. Even more, we can state that learners who visit the face-to-face offerings on a regularly basis are more likely to complete the course with success. It is great to see, that the arrangement of those face-to-face elements differs arbitrarily; weekly meetings in a very informal setting (cafes, public places) as well as in formal settings (higher educational seminars) and even online (webinars). These settings enable learners to not only discuss content but to see to each other’s problems, needs, questions and to complete tasks.

https://virtuallyinspired.org/inverse-blended-learning/

Edward J. Maloney and Joshua Kim, Inside Higher Ed

Rather than passing along the savings of online education to students — as Carey argues that online means “no buildings to maintain, no lawns to mow, no juice bars and [no] lazy rivers” — the tuition dollars are being instead converted to corporate profits for the OPMs.  The classic online program management business model is for the company to fund the costs of developing the online programs, recruiting the students and running the programs — and in exchange the OPM received a share of the tuition. This revenue share to the OPM is typically around 60 percent. The OPM market is growing, with Carey quoting Trace Urban from Tyton Partners saying that the market is likely to be worth $8 billion by 2020.

https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/blogs/technology-and-learning/opms-are-losing-battle-hearts-and-minds

Allison Dulin Salisbury, Forbes

There’s an important lesson there for higher education and it’s not just anecdote. Employers increasingly use applicant tracking systems that often screen for very specific skills. A resume for a digital marketing job, no matter how stellar, that doesn’t mention experience with platforms like Facebook Ad Manager or Hubspot may not even make it through the first automated round of screening. Same goes for an application for a data analyst that doesn’t mention a facility with Tableau or Microsoft Excel, a game developer without Unity, or a sales rep without Salesforce. In that sense, it’s not broad digital skills that matter, but rather skills tailored to one specific platform that is state-of-the-art in an applicant’s chosen field.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/allisondulinsalisbury/2019/04/08/community-colleges-and-tech-companies-are-co-branding-credentials-to-solve-the-skills-gap/#1094cf6949b5

Henry Kronk, IBL News

Professor Emeritus Ray Schroeder finds it difficult to stop working. As the Associate Vice Chancellor for Online Learning at the University of Illinois Springfield and the founding director of the National Council for Online Education at the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), he has a lot on his plate. IBL News recently got in touch with Professor Schroder to discuss his current work and a few trends in online learning. The interview occurred on the afternoon of March 12th, and the first topic of conversation had to be the admissions scandal that had come to light that morning.

Ray Schroeder: “Universities Have to Change To Meet Students’ Needs”

Meredith Broussard and Seth Lewis, Knowledge @ Wharton

In the past year, you have most likely read a story that was written by a bot. Whether it’s a sports article, an earnings report or a story about who won the last congressional race in your district, you may not have known it but an emotionless artificial intelligence perhaps moved you to cheers, jeers or tears. By 2025, a bot could be writing 90% of all news, according to Narrative Science, whose software Quill turns data into stories. Many of the largest and most reputable news outlets in the world are using or dabbling in AI — such as The Washington Post, The Associated Press, BBC, Reuters, Bloomberg, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Times and Sunday Times (U.K.), Japan’s national public broadcaster, NHK, and Finland’s STT.

https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/ai-in-journalism/

Ellucian

This survey report outlines perceptions and prospects for careers among students and HR recruiters.  Among the results: GenZ students feel less prepared than prior generations and employers are seeking an array of soft skills led by communication, industry-specific skills, critical thinking and accountability.  Both students and employers agree that continuous learning is necessary.

https://www.ellucian.com/assets/en/white-paper/credential-clout-survey.pdf

Robert Hansen,  Kathleen Ives, Russ Poulin; EvoLLLution
Despite changing student demographics and technological advancements, the American higher education regulatory infrastructure and related legislation continue to address only the needs of traditional postsecondary students. In this interview, leaders from three associations serving providers of non-traditional higher education—Robert Hansen from UPCEA, Kathleen Ives from OLC and Russ Poulin from WCET—discuss some of the critical reforms needed for federal legislation to better fit the 21st-century model of higher education.

Aligning the Regulatory Environment with the 21st Century Realities

Tom Vander Ark, Forbes
Minerva might be the most interesting and important higher education program in the world. The school, sponsored by Keck Graduate Institute at Claremont, offers an undergraduate program with a rigorously designed curriculum that develops knowledge and skills in about 100 foundational concepts and habits of success. Students focus on thinking critically and creatively and communicating and interacting effectively. They study and apply their learning in seven cities. The first class of world changers will graduate next month.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomvanderark/2019/04/08/minervas-innovative-platform-makes-high-quality-higher-ed-personal-and-affordable/#2a7ed2545742

TJ McCue, Forbes

Whether you are a business executive, a young computer coder, or a consumer who simply wants to keep learning, the Lynda.com website (acquired by LinkedIn a few years ago and now called LinkedIn Learning officially) is often available at a public library for free. If you wonder if those soft skills are really valuable, the third annual 2019 Workplace Learning Report found some of the country’s fastest growing roles—sales development, customer success, and customer experience jobs—are largely soft skills-based. The most in-demand skill is Creativity, followed by Persuasion, Analytical reasoning, Collaboration, and, Flexible approach (a.k.a. Adaptability). If you thought all those soft skills were not needed in the workplace, think again. The online learning platform has all of these courses.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tjmccue/2019/04/07/how-to-access-lynda-linkedin-learning-for-free/#746951861ee9

by Ray Schroeder, Inside Higher Ed

There is much at stake in the development of AI. The “big nine” corporations are the linkages that ideally will bring cultures together and create a compass for development in this field. Action must be taken now to assure that the underlying assumptions are in the best interests of the learners. A first model for a governance framework for AI has been developed by the Personal Data Protection Commission of Singapore. The 27-page instrument is well worth reading to gain a better understanding of AI and its implications.

https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/blogs/online-trending-now/vr-ar-ai-worldwide-perspectives

WFMZ
If you’ve ever thought about changing careers, you might have also thought about going back to school.   It can be expensive and time-consuming, but thanks to online learning, you can take classes anytime you want.  LinkedIn Learning is an app that offers online training for jobs that are in demand now, like web and graphic design, sales and marketing. You can learn dozens of skills, including Google and Microsoft software. Learn how to create your own business plan or become a web developer.

http://www.wfmz.com/features/what-the-tech/what-the-tech-app-of-the-day-linkedin-learning/1066867860

Sanjay Bahl, Entrepreneur India
A decade ago, when India began it ascends to high GDP rates, companies realized that the workforce needs to step up and embrace the inevitable effects of change. Jargons like VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) and growth mindset were not widespread and most training intervention was led by instructors using projector and PPTs! But today these jargons are the harsh reality that unicorns of India Inc. have accepted and inculcated in their strategy. The need is to align the corporate training with a mindset of delivering quality learning & development solutions, which have a direct and measurable impact on key business performance indicators. Today, employees are looking to upgrade their knowledge as well as skills required for their job roles and are keener to join organizations that provide opportunities to grow.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/331829

BY DENNIS PIERCE, eCampus News

Time and cost are two key barriers standing in the way of college completion, and that’s especially true for working adults going back to school. To eliminate these barriers and help registered nurses make faster progress toward earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, the University of Memphis School of Health Studies is using adaptive learning technology and other practices to accelerate completion—reportedly saving participants more than $100,000 in collective tuition costs in a single year. “Students shouldn’t get bogged down with paying to learn things they already know,” says Richard Irwin, dean of UofM Global, the university’s online program. “Adaptive learning helps students move through the content at a more rapid pace.”

https://www.ecampusnews.com/2019/04/05/benefits-adaptive-learning/

Jennifer Auh, Fox 10 Phoenix

Arizona State University is currently phasing out the traditional classroom setting, at least for its math and science courses.  This new way of teaching is about providing a more interactive learning experience for students, and the new system has been so successful that it has been adopted by about 30 other universities across the country. Instead of going to class to listen to lectures, students in Professor Susan Holechak’s class do that online. Then, they go to class to work on problem-solving in small groups. “I feel the students are more engaged, because in a setting like this, they work in groups and able to go table by table, group by group. I can interact with them,” said Holechak, an instructor at ASU’s School of Life Sciences.

http://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/arizona-news/asu-phasing-out-traditional-classrooms-in-favor-of-new-approach-to-teaching

Helen Lammers-Helps, Country Guide

We’re told there has never been a time in all of human history when things have changed at such a rapid pace. And this is especially true for agriculture. Nor are farmers just letting it happen. Instead, they’re embracing lifelong learning to prepare and to adapt, whether it’s learning new software programs, farm business management skills or any of a thousand different things. Fortunately, the internet has made it easier for those in rural and remote areas to access a wide array of new information from anywhere in the world, provided of course that you can put up with interruptions due to bandwidth and program speed.

https://www.country-guide.ca/guide-life/do-you-know-what-learning-styles-work-best-for-you-and-your-team/