Welcome to Jayhawkville: Virtual school district engages KU education students

By Sara Shepherd, LJ World

The virtual town and its Jayhawkville United School District are complete with colorful maps including urban to rural schools, pictures of each building, profiles of their principals — foibles included — and graphs of demographics and test scores. You can also meet the school board members and executive team. With the click of a mouse, students “visit” Jayhawkville’s diverse schools, “meet” leaders and get a feel for each one’s unique circumstances. Joe Novak, a former principal and current coordinator of the KU School of Education’s master’s program in educational leadership, helped develop Jayhawkville and launched it in courses this spring. Each semester he expects Jayhawkville to get more in-depth and expand to be used in more classes.

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2015/may/25/new-online-tool-sends-ku-education-masters-student/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/3uuxyXn2528/

Online schools offer flexibility

By COLLIN BREAUX, News Herald

Along with everything else, education is going online. For students and families who feel they don’t fit in at a traditional brick-and-mortar school, enrollment in the Florida Virtual School is possible. The school is a free public K-12 institution which offers all instruction over the computer in the child’s home. The enrollment process, which can be done at the school’s website www.flvsft.com, is currently underway for the 2015-16 school year. For enrollment parents need the same documentation traditional schools require.

http://www.newsherald.com/news/education/online-schools-offer-flexibility-1.482326

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/0IHmBFuTJKM/

The secret to fighting digital distractions may be all about commitments, not willpower

By Jena McGregor, The Washington Post

It’s hard enough avoiding online distractions if you’re a working professional. The news alert about a favorite sports team, the insistent tug of social media sites, the seventh email from a group of co-workers chiming in about where to go for lunch. One study has shown that completion rates for such MOOCs are often less than 10 percent. It’s that concentration-challenged group of people that Cornell researcher Richard Patterson opted to study in a working paper recently published on the school’s Higher Education Research Institution Web site. (It has not yet been published in an academic journal.) Patterson, a PhD candidate in policy analysis and management at Cornell, saw an opportunity to apply behavioral economics research to online education.

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/life/tech/the-secret-to-fighting-digital-distractions-may-be-all-about/article_29a9f4d6-ac80-5ba9-bcb0-21628068ee03.html

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/0T2M6ChHQCU/

5 conditions that support great teaching

by eSchool News

Stakeholder group will develop report, advocate for conditions that are conducive to excellent teaching. The National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future will lead a collaborative, action-oriented initiative to support great teaching. It will culminate in the release of an upcoming report that will include action steps, policy and practice recommendations, as well as a retrospective look at what has happened in the teaching profession since 1996 following the release of NCTAF’s flagship report What Matters Most: Teaching for America’s Future.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/05/22/nctaf-great-teaching-097/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/XEo90u_IIz0/

Robots teach coping and programming

By Debra Winters, The Record

One New Jersey school district here has a new member of its teaching staff: Nao, an interactive robot that works with students who have autism and those with language impairments. It has been with Wayne Public Schools about three months, and advanced computer science students at Wayne Hills High School have been busy programming and learning about it. The robot, which cost about $8,000 and was obtained with federal funds, was created by a company called Alderbran and was initially researched by Wayne’s Pines Lake Elementary School Principal Jose Celis.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/05/21/robot-programming-schools-985/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/SOEc_qT9crQ/

4 Ways Digital Tech Has Changed K-12 Learning

By Matthew Lynch, THE Journal

Digital technology has taken the world by storm — particularly in the past decade. It makes sense that this trend would have an impact on K-12 learning because there is nothing in modern American society that digital technology has not touched. While the names of the mobile applications and computer programs may change, there are some foundational ways that technology has already changed the face of education forever.

http://thejournal.com/articles/2015/05/20/4-ways-digital-tech-has-changed-k12-learning.aspx

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/6Sdxq1YWmLs/

Context in E-Learning Design: From Routine to Remarkable

by Ethan Edwards, ATD

Instructional designers often throw up their hands in despair when faced with repetitive compliance training. Regulations often require employees to successfully complete periodic recertification in all sorts of areas, ranging from diversity to blood borne pathogens to corporate ethics. “I can’t do anything to make this interesting,” is the standard complaint. Other designers may grumble, “The content is set and we can’t change it.” Sometimes, the situation is even worse; SMEs and legal departments treat the content as though it is sacred text to be preserved and glorified—even if no one really understands it. Whatever the specific situation, learners often rebel when forced or at least expected to find the same thing interesting year after year. The result is training that learners try to avoid and designers try to excuse.

https://www.td.org/Publications/Blogs/L-and-D-Blog/2015/05/Context-in-E-Learning-Design-from-Routine-to-Remarkable

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/5kIuafuZF-I/

Metro schools boost graduation rates with online tools, tutors, nudges

by Rose French, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Like Riverdale, other high schools that have seen significant jumps in their graduation rates have also beefed up online learning and record-keeping. Going the extra mile and reaching out to parents when students are on the verge of failing has also helped. At Lanier High School in Gwinnett, the graduation rate went from 62.4 percent to 82 percent between 2011-14. Besides better online learning opportunities, the school has increasingly used assessments and other data to determine which students need the most help.

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-education/metro-schools-boost-graduation-rates-with-online-t/nmKz5/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/WPs866ZgGHk/

Best of the Best: Apple and Google Educator Programs

By Sarah Muthler, Edudemic

Can you imagine life without Google? How about without your iPad? Both Apple and Google products have become indispensable to many teachers. And both companies have designed programs for educators who want to make the best use of technology in their jobs. If you feel that you need more technological training, or if you want to take on a leadership role to help push your school into the modern, high-tech age, these programs might be for you. And they aren’t limited to classroom teachers. Librarians often need to be the go-to source for information technology, and principals might want to stay a step ahead of what is happening in the classroom. We’ve gathered the details on the Apple Distinguished Educator program and the Google Educator program. So whether you’re an Apple devotee or a Google aficionado, you’ll know how to take the next step in your educational journey.

http://www.edudemic.com/what-are-apple-distinguished-educators-and-how-can-i-be-one/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/lpVbRTvQNu0/

6 steps to a successful BYOD program

By Bridget McCrea, eSchool News

Bring your own device programs are evolving. It’s time to take a fresh look. Bring-your-own-device and one-to-one laptop/tablet implementations on K-12 campuses usually sound simply enough in theory—but they can actually be quite complex. Lenny Schad, chief technology information office at Houston Independent School District (HISD), has spearheaded a number of successful BYOD rollouts, and frequently distills advice to struggling districts. Here, he gives technology teams his top six strategies for ensuring a smooth implementation and long-term success for a K-12 BYOD initiative.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/05/20/byod-program-425/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/chDtGaeVaF4/

Harvard School of Ed Launches Free Online Library of Student Work

By Joshua Bolkan, Campus Technology

The Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) has launched the Center for Student Work, an online collection of exemplary student projects. A collaborative project between HGSE and K-12 education nonprofit Expeditionary Learning (EL), the free resource includes videos, writing samples and other work designed to provide teachers foundations to create their own projects. The searchable collection includes projects in English language arts, health and wellness, math, performing arts, science and technology, social studies, visual arts and world languages.

http://campustechnology.com/articles/2015/05/19/harvard-school-of-ed-launches-free-online-library-of-student-work.aspx

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/YtyEkRvDv54/

Succession planning for online courses

By Tara García Mathewson, Education Dive

When faculty create online courses but pass them off to other instructors to teach, emotions can run high. The Chronicle of Higher Education reports a University of Texas at Austin associate professor of classics took to her blog to complain when her chosen successor for a course she created did not get selected for the job and she only found out in passing. Because online courses are labor-intensive to create, colleges and universities are increasingly having to navigate the tricky hand-off between instructors so that courses can run longer than their initial creators teach them.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/succession-planning-for-online-courses/399532/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/PxLurk13sAM/

(Higher) Learning to Confidently Embrace the Cloud

by Steve Hall, EDUCAUSE Review

Moving some IT applications to the public cloud can benefit even small colleges, providing economies of scale not otherwise possible. The collaborative nature of the cloud means that academic institutions are highly susceptible to data loss — a vulnerability that makes data backup vital. IT looks for partners to help continuously improve business processes, adopt best practices, and help with professional development of the staff using the service.

http://www.educause.edu/ero/article/higher-learning-confidently-embrace-cloud

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/lw-XUEsMA78/

Penn State University Hacked

By Jeff Goldman, eSecurity Planet

The College of Engineering’s computer network was disconnected from the Internet in response to the breach.Penn State University recently disconnected the computer network for the College of Engineering from the Internet in response to what it described as “two sophisticated cyberattacks conducted by so-called ‘advanced persistent threat’ actors.” “Contingency plans are in place to allow engineering faculty, staff and students to continue as much of their work as possible while significant steps are taken to upgrade affected computer hardware and fortify the network against future attacks,” the university said in a statement. “The outage is expected to last for several days, and the effects of the recovery will largely be limited to the College of Engineering.”

http://www.esecurityplanet.com/network-security/penn-state-university-hacked.html

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/MnqtnNOw7Zg/

TwitterChat: Balancing the Urgency of Revenue Performance with Mission and Quality Online – May 27

by Ray Schroeder, Josh Kim (Dartmouth / Inside Higher Ed), Katie Blot (Blackboard), Debbie Cavalier (Berklee)

Challenged by complex and shifting funding models, higher education faces a growing urgency to balance mission and product mix to keep things afloat as enrollments and state funding decline. Adding to this complexity is the growing tension in the marketplace in which the value/currency of traditional degrees are challenged by micro-credentials and the emergence of CBE. How can institutions address these crises? Join UPCEA for this timely TweetChat by using the hashtag #HigherEdAhead on social media as online education leaders share experiences and resources and respond to your questions. A live question and answer session will occur on May 27th from 2-3PM EST.  Is this your first Twitter Chat? – It’s free, it’s fun, it’s fast, it’s a fire hose of information!  Explained at the URL below:

http://upcea.edu/tweetchat

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/0RBR8paoJdM/

Amazon Launches Free AWS Service for Educators and Students

By David Ramel, THE Journal

Amazon Web Services has debuted AWS Educate, a free service for educators and students that aims to prepare IT pros and developers for the cloud workforce. With cloud computing changing the way businesses work and driving innovation in organizations of all kinds, AWS said there is a need for more workers conversant in cloud technologies. “AWS Educate empowers educators with training, tools, and technologies to help students develop the skills to design, deploy and operate applications on the AWS Cloud.”

http://thejournal.com/articles/2015/05/14/amazon-launches-free-aws-service-for-educators-and-students.aspx

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/1Jo_JTvE_hw/

How (and Why) To Use Student Blogs

By Kristen Hicks, Edudemic

Blogging has come a long way– once a strange new buzzword, it’s now an important tool for business, education, and personal development. Having a blog doesn’t just mean putting personal diary entries out on the web for the world to see – it can be a way to learn more about yourself and any subject you choose to explore. Blogging is one of the easiest ways to create something meaningful with mixed media. That makes it a perfect fit for the classroom.

http://www.edudemic.com/blog-setup-video/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/e6l4t_FbrK0/

Alabama Schools Now Required to Offer Virtual Courses

by D. Frank Smith, EdTech Magazine

Alabama is stepping up its virtual classroom presence with new legislation that mandates that public school systems offer more online instruction options. More than 30 states now offer fully online public schools, and Alabama was among the first states to offer online coursework. The Evergreen Education Group’s annual report, “Keeping Pace with K–12 Digital Learning,” says Alabama has 51,809 students enrolled in virtual courses, the third-highest online enrollment in the country. But state lawmakers are saying that’s not enough. A bill passed in April by the Alabama House of Representatives would expand the state’s virtual classroom options, requiring all public school systems “to establish a policy to offer some level of virtual school for high school students by the 2016-2017 academic year,” according to AL.com.

http://www.edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2015/05/alabama-schools-now-required-offer-virtual-courses

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/21ABkYcjCVI/

Video Game Could Transform Middle School Students’ Online Learning

by Infozine

The Department of Education recently awarded a group of researchers at the University of Missouri $2.7 million to support the development of an educational video game for middle school distance learners. Through playing the game, students will learn lessons about water systems and practice scientific argumentation. Teachers can monitor students’ progress and intervene during the game to support the individual needs of each student.

http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/61899/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/Gmiaob5z42c/

Jacksonville BOE adopts policies for online learning, early course credits

By Laura Gaddy, Jacksonville News

The city school board approved a pair of policies Monday that will make it possible for students to take online classes off campus and to earn credits earlier than a traditional school schedule would allow. “It’s definitely a break from the norm,” Superintendent Jon Paul Campbell said. “We’re trying to get to a place where it’s more anyplace, anytime learning.” One of the two policies deals exclusively with online learning, and paves the way for educators in Jacksonville to develop their own web-based courses. The other policy establishes three options — one of which is online learning — students can use to earn high school credits ahead of schedule.

http://www.annistonstar.com/jacksonville_news/jacksonville-boe-adopts-policies-for-online-learning-early-course-credits/article_b2299b74-fdf3-11e4-9288-0fce4ec8d902.html

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/2IkG4nSRLwY/

TwitterChat: Balancing the Urgency of Revenue Performance with Mission and Quality Online – May 27

by Ray Schroeder, Josh Kim (Dartmouth / Inside Higher Ed), Katie Blot (Blackboard), Debbie Cavalier (Berklee)

Challenged by complex and shifting funding models, higher education faces a growing urgency to balance mission and product mix to keep things afloat as enrollments and state funding decline. Adding to this complexity is the growing tension in the marketplace in which the value/currency of traditional degrees are challenged by micro-credentials and the emergence of CBE. How can institutions address these crises? Join UPCEA for this timely TweetChat by using the hashtag #HigherEdAhead on social media as online education leaders share experiences and resources and respond to your questions. A live question and answer session will occur on May 27th from 2-3PM EST. Is this your first Twitter Chat? – It’s free, it’s fun, it’s fast, it’s a fire hose of information!  Explained at the URL below:

http://upcea.edu/tweetchat

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/5M4VD8G1r8w/

Young Students Learn Better with Mix of Virtual and Real Worlds

By Dian Schaffhauser, THE Journal

Young learners do up to five times better when instruction combines the real world with the virtual world. That’s the finding from Carnegie Mellon University, where researchers came up with a test to figure out how technology could best contribute to learning. “NoRILLA,” as the testing platform is called, is a mixed-reality set-up that bridges physical and virtual worlds. The system includes software and hardware components, including a computer depth camera (Microsoft’s Kinect for Windows) to provide personalized feedback while experimenting in the real world.

http://thejournal.com/articles/2015/05/11/young-students-learn-better-with-mix-of-virtual-and-real-worlds.aspx

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/qKthItXgAJk/

3 considerations for the device-agnostic class

By Bridget McCrea, eCampus News

The open question on U.S. campuses is not if students are bringing their own devices or how to connect them to the institutional network, but rather: how do you support all these personal devices at the point of instruction, in the classroom? How can educators can effectively design lessons and utilize software in an environment where their students are using myriad different devices, computers, and operating systems? According to some educational experts, the best approach to supporting BYOD for instruction is the “device-agnostic” class. Device-agnostic tools are applications that work across multiple systems without requiring any special customizations; they are compatible with most (or all) operating systems and can be used on various tablets, smartphones, and laptops.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/top-news/device-agnostic-classroom-677/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/febko3w9Dns/

NASA 3D printing challenge tests creativity and design skills

by eSchool News

A new 3D printing design contest from NASA is giving K-12 students the chance to design items that could ultimately be manufactured on the International Space Station. The program, called “Future Engineers,” challenges students to create a digital 3D model of a container for space. Astronauts need containers of all kinds,” according to the challenge’s website, “from advanced containers that can study fruit flies to simple containers that collect Mars rocks or store an astronaut’s food.” 3D printing gives astronauts the ability to fabricate necessities on the fly, even in space, opening up new opportunities for research and learning. The container could be intended for use on the International Space Station or for a different, even hypothetical, space mission.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/05/18/nasa-3d-challenge-470/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/MoDV_n9vwe8/

Coding in the Classroom: 16 Top Resources

By Joy Nelson, Edudemic

As cool as technology is, its intricacies and inner workings are sometimes intimidating, especially for young people who may be more interested in what technology can do for them rather than what they can do with technology. However, when students hurdle that obstacle and see the value of computer science — specifically coding — they gain a broadened perspective and the potential for a rewarding career in the tech field. The following resources will help you teach your students the basics of coding and will provide tips on how to keep kids interested as you go.

http://www.edudemic.com/coding-classroom-16-top-resources/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/hDnPkFHwiPE/

Bangor Township Virtual School gives students online learning opportunities

by Sam Easter, MLive

Julia Chase is enrolled in eight classes this semester through Bangor Township Schools. She takes algebra, English and U.S. history just like many of her fellow sophomores. Only Chase isn’t spending a single day in a traditional classroom. Rather, she’s one of 25 students enrolled in the Bangor Township Virtual School, an online learning option that sees students complete coursework in a non-traditional school environment. “You can work on it from here — that’s helpful,” Chase explained, sitting alongside a few friends and a laptop at the district’s administration building.

http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2015/05/bangor_township_virtual_school.html

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/23rkufNXFAw/

For Teachers, Learning to Code Becomes Learning to Learn Again

by Gerard Dawson, Edutopia

I used tech tools all day with little knowledge of their workings. And, despite my interactions with Jane, I had a typical fixed-mindset explanation for this: “I’m an English teacher. My brain doesn’t work that way.” What I was really saying was, “I forgot how to be a beginner.” A year ago, though, I became a beginner, an apprentice, a struggling learner. I decided to learn how to code. Immediately, the experience became less about designing websites and more about experiencing the growth mindset, improving confidence with technology, and learning that failure is part of the process.

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/learning-to-code-learning-to-learn-gerard-dawson

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/7eoagNT3iTU/

Inquiry in the Classroom: 7 Simple Tools To Get You Started

By Pamela DeLoatch, Edudemic

We know certain characteristics can be encouraged, but not taught, like curiosity. But teachers who use an inquiry based approach can provide techniques that help students learn the questions to ask that may spark a natural interest. As students process this new way of approaching projects, they and their teachers have numerous technological tools to make work easier, so more time can be spent with creative thinking, research and discussions, instead of with project paperwork.

http://www.edudemic.com/inquiry-in-the-classroom/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/z1LKX0aReoQ/

2015’s Top Education Technology Trends

By Kristen Hicks, Edudemic

Each year, the New Media Consortium and EDUCAUSE release the NMC Horizon Report, which looks at the technology most likely to shape education in the next five years. The 2015 report highlights a number of key changes that educators, those at the higher education level in particular, should be aware of.  A number of experts weighed in on the six technology trends that are making the biggest impact on education. If you read the report itself, you’ll see not only a description of what the trend is (which we’ve summarized below), but also a few examples of institutions or organizations that have already embraced it.

http://www.edudemic.com/education-trends-keep-tech-front-center/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/w90aSaUY5yA/

Video game could transform middle school students’ online learning

by Nathan Hurst, University of Missouri Columbia

With more middle school students learning online every year, experts have identified a growing need for high-quality educational approaches that take advantage of current technology. The Department of Education recently awarded a group of researchers at the University of Missouri $2.7 million to support the development of an educational video game for middle school distance learners. Through playing the game, students will learn lessons about water systems and practice scientific argumentation. Teachers can monitor students’ progress and intervene during the game to support the individual needs of each student.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-05/uom-vgc051415.php

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/tvvSXQXsZNo/

8 Must-Have Google Chrome Apps for Students

By Pamela DeLoatch, Edudemic

It’s not easy being a student. As classes, athletics, and extracurricular activities become more demanding, even the most conscientious students can have difficulty prioritizing and focusing on their work. Fortunately, for this technology savvy generation, there are a host of tools that can help students stay on top of their game. Google Chrome, the free web browser, offers applications (but if you don’t want the kids to laugh at you, be sure to call them apps), that function like software programs in the computer. With these apps, you and your students can get work done more quickly and easily. Although many apps are mostly for fun, others can be extremely effective in helping students stay organized and productive.

http://www.edudemic.com/8-must-have-google-chrome-apps-for-students/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/csvaLR3dTa8/

Intel grants $5M for computer science program

By Doug Oakley, The Oakland Tribune

McClymonds and Oakland Technical high schools in California will share a $5 million grant over five years to grow computer science and engineering programs, courtesy of tech giant Intel. With the Intel grant, the Oakland Unified School District this year has accepted about $28 million from organizations interested in sponsoring different programs this year including an $11 million grant from the Atlantic Philanthropies to develop pathways to careers in the health industry and a $5 million grant from the David and Lucille Packard Foundation for early learning. Intel will help the two schools develop curriculum, buy computers, train teachers and offer employee mentors and job shadowing programs. Officials hope it will produce 600 college ready graduates who will seek college degrees and careers in engineering and computer science.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/05/14/intel-computer-science-049/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/AH_Dw3jZxj0/

It’s time for every student to learn to code

By Alice Steinglass, eSchool News

Learning to code is about more than career readiness. It’s about helping students make sense of their digital world. Recently, there has been a lot of discussion around the importance of coding in the K-12 classroom. Should it be compulsory for all students? An elective? Reserved for those students considering a computer science major in college? The answer may come down to supply and demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2020, there will be 1.4 million computing jobs and only 400,000 computer science students to fill those roles. This represents a gap of one million jobs that will go unfilled, and amounts to a $500 billion opportunity lost.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/05/14/learn-code-639/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/gWuFHQRCuE0/

Getting IT and Libraries on the Same DAM Page

By David Raths, Campus Technology

Despite being a strategic priority for IT, digital asset management has been a slow process at Smith College. Here’s how IT and the library are working together to meet their DAM goals. Like many liberal arts colleges, Smith College (MA) has found progress on digital asset management (DAM) infrastructure slow going. “We have been talking about it for almost eight years,” said Thomas Laughner, director of educational technology services (ETS). DAM gained a higher profile four years ago when it was listed as one of eight priorities on an IT strategic plan. “That really got the ball rolling,” he said.

http://campustechnology.com/articles/2015/05/14/getting-it-and-libraries-on-the-same-dam-page.aspx

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/LcrNuvcOmIo/

Connecticut House Calls For Cheaper College Textbooks

by Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant

Alarmed that college textbooks now cost an average of $1,200 per year per student, the state House of Representatives voted unanimously Tuesday to create a pilot program to help bring down the costs. By a vote of 144 – 0 with seven lawmakers absent, the House called for a program for using online textbooks, which can cut the price by nearly 90 percent. The pilot will be conducted at the University of Connecticut and colleges in the Board of Regents for Higher Education system. “There is no question that there is a very urgent need to help students who are overwhelmed with the cost of college,” said Rep. Whit Betts, a Bristol Republican who serves as the ranking member of the legislature’s higher education committee. “I strongly endorse moving forward.”

http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-house-votes-college-textbooks-0513-20150512-story.htm

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/LU89UBWaxzg/