Educational Technology

by Sue Gee, iProgrammer

With Android clearly the dominant app market there’s obvious interest in learning about it, both on the part of beginners and those who already program in one of more languages. Joining a MOOC seems a good route to follow and there are many to choose from. So you want to know about Android. This round up of MOOC opportunities looks at the range on offer from Udacity and Coursera for students with differing requirements.

http://www.i-programmer.info/news/150-training-a-education/10000-learning-android-online.html

By Jarrett Carter, Education Dive

Higher education commands nearly $70 billion in funded research, but many institutions do not take advantage of technological advancement which could generate billions by cutting delays in experiments and savings on personnel. Improving recruitment strategies for graduate assistants, building networks for peer review and publishing and implementing cloud-based data storage and virtual-lab work are ways to expedite the research process while cutting costs. Smaller laboratories are frequently hampered by the antiquated systems of research management, but all institutions can benefit from cost savings and expedited systems, specifically in areas like pharmaceuticals and disease research.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/how-technology-strategy-can-generate-billions-for-higher-ed/425128/

by Case Quinlan, Think Progress

A common cultural trope of the incompetent teacher is one who plays videos for their students on a regular basis instead of lecturing and overseeing in-class activities and projects. Yet that’s exactly the kind of education one Republican senator would like to see college students receive. During a recent appearance on WisPolitics, a state political news service, Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson (R) suggested that the country could save money on higher education costs by cutting back on instructors — and instead allowing students to learn from Ken Burns videos and the internet. “If you want to teach the Civil War across the country, are you better off having, I don’t know, tens of thousands of history teachers that kind of know the subject, or would you be better off popping in 14 hours of Ken Burns’s Civil War tape and then have those teachers proctor based on that excellent video production already done?” Johnson said. “You keep duplicating that over all these different subject areas.”

https://thinkprogress.org/gop-senator-says-college-students-dont-need-teachers-can-watch-ken-burns-videos-all-day-f7002dac1f45#.dm2h3c84i

By WSLS.com

Going to college just got a little bit less expensive for students at Wytheville Community College (WCC). WCC now offers students significant savings by providing classes this fall that do not require them to buy books or supplemental course materials. This cost-saving measure is possible through WCC’s use of open educational resources in several selected courses. Nearly 20 courses with almost 30 sections will not require a textbook or will use materials that cost less than $40. These classes will be offered both online and on campus at WCC’s main campus, WCC at the Crossroads Institute in Galax, and WCC at the Summit Center in Marion. Last year, WCC’s administration committed to offering a “zero” textbook cost degree, the Associates of Arts and Sciences in Science with a Specialization in Mathematics.

http://wsls.com/2016/08/22/community-college-offers-no-textbook-classes/

by Health Forum Online

HealthForumOnline (HFO) has recently updated its online continuing education (CE) course, School Children that Bully and Bully Victims: Psychological Theory, Assessment and Intervention, providing mental health professionals with theory- and evidence-based information and skills necessary to identify, assess, prevent and intervene in the context of school-based bullying. HFO offers over 100 online CE courses for psychologists, social workers, counselors and therapists that are fast, convenient and especially cost-effective – with free ongoing access to course updates beyond completion of the CE activity.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2016/08/prweb13632359.htm

by Education Dive

If knowledge is power, as Francis Bacon suggested, its supporting partner would undoubtedly be information. The kind of information that, in today’s world, can connect complex reams of disparate and often isolated data, and can help support better decision making and better outcomes. This is the promise of data analytics and, with its ability to capture behavioral information and provide the ability to manage and act on that data, it’s becoming of increasing interest to the world of education. With proven value in the fields of finance, research and in a thousand online applications, what might a marriage of analysis and academia look like? And what are the opportunities for colleges and universities to use data to secure better outcomes for students and further empower faculty?

http://www.educationdive.com/news/the-big-opportunity-in-data-analytics/424903/

By Jarrett Carter, Education Dive

Harvey Mudd College’s computer science graduating class featured more women than men this year, a historic trend that matches the school’s aggressive effort to increase participation from women, which has tripled in the last 10 years. Officials say targeted efforts to appoint and promote women in leadership positions throughout the institution, including six department chairpersons and nearly 40% of the campus’ total number of professors, makes the difference in encouraging and modeling success for women in historically underrepresented fields. Changes in curriculum, along with the school’s small size, allow for more adaptive learning opportunities which don’t skew in benefit to male or female students.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/harvey-mudd-college-has-tripled-female-computer-science-graduation-rates/424956/

by Eric Demoncheaux, LinkedIn

How will each student achieve what he/she ought to be achieving? Education ought to open up doors, it ought to develop abilities and provide them with the talents they need to succeed. It is important that academic faculties and schools improve their standards and share good practice. Eventually, all will come down to whether or not educational establishments can adapt and meet the needs of all learners. It is important that academic faculties and schools develop dynamic learning communities. The world is mutating into different ways and we need to help our learners merge into this changed constellation. We need to place students into this changed constellation and design systems that will help them succeed. One of the greatest challenges is for learners to become autonomous thinkers who can make the right choices.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/unlocking-our-childrens-ability-learn-future-learning-demoncheaux

by Tanya M. Spilovoy, WCET Frontiers

The North Dakota University System Open Educational Resources Initiative is a 3-phased plan hinging upon a unique collaboration among the North Dakota legislature, the University System Office, and the faculty at public institutions across the state. At the intersection of these three entities are change leaders who have come together for a common goal of improving higher education by reducing textbook costs for students. A 2015 post previewed this work, and this post outlines the plan, the people, and the product. The initial state investment was $110,000. The first four funded proposals include estimated student cost savings of more than $2 million for school year 2016-2017. Three of the campus projects will provide faculty stipends to revamp general education courses using open source materials and textbooks. One project at the University of North Dakota will make Robinson’s “The History of North Dakota” an open textbook. Another round of grant proposals is due in October, 2016 with four more $10,000 institutional grants anticipated.

https://wcetfrontiers.org/2016/08/23/north-dakota-open-educational-resources-initiative-a-system-wide-success-story/

by John McCarthy, Edutopia

Not since Minecraft has there been an entertainment program that captures the imagination of so many people. Pokémon Go is addictive for blending imagination from the Pokémon game world into the real environments of our communities. Establishing a learning culture of mutual support for growth is important at the start of and during the school year. Group students by teams with the charge of helping each other collect the same Pokémon into their respective Pokédex. Use the Pokémon Go app to set one or two Lures on or near campus, depending on the number of participants. This will encourage students to migrate between locations rather than standing around. To adequately complete the task, set a number of Pokémon to catch during a specific time period to ensure that all students stay active. Have teams submit their individual Journals (under the player’s name icon) to verify their participation. The Journal tracks each achievement with a timestamp, such as Pokémon caught and items received from a PokéStop.

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/pokemon-go-global-success-skills-john-mccarthy

by the Journal of e-Learning

This paper explores the design of a blended learning environment in a transition from face-to-face and seeks to determine whether learner characteristics and background together with blended learning design elements are significant factors for learning outcomes such as intrinsic motivation, satisfaction, knowledge construction and learning performance in blended learning. It is aimed at examining the learner characteristics and backgrounds such as age, gender, self-regulation, attitudes, family and social support as well as the management of workload in blended learning.

http://distance-educator.com/the-effects-of-instructor-control-of-online-learning-environments-on-satisfaction-and-perceived-learning/

by Educational Technology and Mobile Learning

Today we are sharing with you three excellent websites that will help you find the best free online classes or MOOCs from top trending universities. You can lay back in your coach, search for the courses that interest you and sign up to embark on a new exciting learning journey.

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2016/08/three-excellent-places-to-find-free.html

By Richard Chang, THE Journal

More than half of high school seniors attend schools that don’t offer computer science, according to a new analysis by Change the Equation, a nonprofit organization that aims to mobilize businesses to improve STEM learning. Only 22 percent of 12th graders say they’ve ever taken a computer science course, according to the analysis. Just 44 percent of seniors say they have access to any computer science classes, and less than a quarter of seniors have access to Advanced Placement computer science courses, the analysis said. To conduct its study, Change the Equation (CTEq) examined data from the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the “Nation’s Report Card,” which is given to seniors and includes survey questions for students, teachers and schools.

https://thejournal.com/articles/2016/08/17/half-of-high-school-seniors-lack-access-to-computer-science.aspx

By Sri Ravipati, Campus Technology

CMU researchers are working with local teachers to implement a pilot program that encourages students to use data, multimedia and technology to express ideas. Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) held summer workshops for Pittsburgh-area teachers to learn how to apply the concepts of data and technology fluency in schools. CMU researchers Jessica Pachuta, Jessica Kaminsky and Beatrice Dias led the workshop for 12 teachers from eight schools. With a 14-month, $593,000 planning grant from The Heinz Endowments, a Pittsburgh-based philanthropic organization, the researchers will create a pilot program for the teachers to implement at their schools. The grant will be used to develop “tools and methods that enable students to use data and technology for asking questions and exploring their environment, for telling cohesive stories, and for articulating opinions and arguments,” according to a CMU news release.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2016/08/19/carnegie-mellonled-project-promotes-data-and-technology-fluency.aspx

By Sri Ravipati, Campus Technology

The TeePeedU app uses AR technology to help students build real life connections across their campus. College students will soon be able to interact virtually in class and at sports games, with help from a new augmented reality app. TeePeedU is a free college social media app that aims to get students out of the dorm and connect with each other in real life. The name refers to the act of teepeeing, or stringing toilet paper trails around objects. TeePeedU allows students to teepee each other virtually by “dropping digital graffiti all over campus with everyone you want to know and hang out with,” according to the company. Users can leave photos of themselves around campus, which others can see through the app’s AR ecosystem.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2016/08/19/social-media-app-uses-augmented-reality-to-connect-college-students.aspx

By Jeff Linville, Mt. Airy News

Parents who choose to homeschool their children see a benefit there, and Morrison isn’t trying to talk them out of that belief. Instead, she wants to focus on what Mount Airy has to offer that they can’t give at home. Perhaps a parent is really good at history and English, but struggles with high school-level math. The student could attend MAHS for a math class, or take an online course with the school. Or the student might want to take chemistry at MAHS because of lab equipment that isn’t available at home.

https://mtairynews.com/news/43550/city-schools-reach-out-to-homeschoolers

By Sunne Wright McPeak, Sacramento Bee

There is much to celebrate in the Field Poll’s annual survey on the “digital divide” in California. The percentage of Californians with high-speed internet at home has risen to 84 percent in 2016 from 55 percent in 2008. But the divide between those who have broadband at home and those who do not is closing largely because of smartphones. The 2016 survey found that among the 84 percent with home broadband, 14 percent are connecting only through their smartphones. This percentage is a near doubling of smartphone-only users since last year. No doubt, smartphones are marvelous devices that provide access to information and online applications. But they are limited functionally for doing school homework, applying for jobs or college or taking online courses.

http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/california-forum/article96594082.html

By Gretchen Kernbach, ULoop

Something you weren’t often faced with in high school was the option to take online classes. Instead, you were forced to sit through lectures and busy work for eight hours a day, five days a week. Now that you have entered a university, online learning is quite popular. However, you may find yourself signing up for something you are not prepared for. So how do you know if online learning is for you?

http://www.uloop.com/news/view.php/210520/Take-This-Quiz-To-Find-Out-If-Online-Learning-Is-For-You

by Karen Everett Watson, Galt Herald Online

Students will have a number of options for credit recovery and be able to take remedial classes to bring up their math and reading scores. “Both high schools will have a computer lab with a teacher/mentor,” said Kaufman. “Students will be able to take online classes and campus classes. The online classes will be accessible in the labs and from the students’ homes.” College-level course work will also be accessible in these labs so students can go into college having already earned credits, according to Kaufman. This will also allow students to take courses not readily available in most high schools.

http://galtheraldonline.com/articles/2016/08/18/news/doc57b6128bcf775065525693.txt

http://www.ajc.com/feed/business/personal-finance/5-free-classes-you-can-take-to-build-your-resume/fCRP3W/

By Jarrett Carter, Education Dive

Stanford University pilots a new exhibit, ‘The @Stanford Project,’ which envisions a learning environment for undergraduate students learning, working, and serving to meet industrial and personal missions, rather than achieving proficiency in a major. The project challenges students to visualize the ways in which Stanford will evolve in its research, workforce development and philanthropic support, with the influences of technology and encouraging students to follow personal missions instead of professional objectives. Helping students to visualize missions early in their academic careers could spur new outcomes in international study and recruitment, startup innovation, and community outreach — all important elements of the 21st century college profile.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/stanford-seeks-the-why-in-the-student-experience/424419/