People as important to data security on campus as tech, California Community Colleges chief says

by Pat Donachie, Education Dive

Debra Connick, the vice chancellor of technology, research and information systems for California Community Colleges said in a recent interview with Ed Tech Magazine she hopes the system can improve the accessibility of its IT systems. Connick said proper data governance could help ensure the proper administrators have the information they need to make clear and informed decisions, but she stressed the importance of maintaining human processes and approaches to digital safety, saying people are just as essential as security tech in keeping college data secured. Connick also cited the utility of data systems to help keep costs reasonable and reduce the amount of unnecessary credits students take. She also espoused the benefits of initializing and growing the use of a centralized learning management system that can support robust communication between educators, students and administrators.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/people-as-important-to-data-security-on-campus-as-tech-california-communit/503355/

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Rural schools turn to high-tech teacher training solutions

by NICHOLE DOBO, Hechinger Report
In an isolated area deep in the Appalachian Mountains, finding enough teachers can be a challenge, to say the least. And once teachers arrive, schools have to contend with another problem. Educators must meet annual requirements that dictate how much time they spend improving their craft – even though teachers’ colleges aren’t often nestled in such remote locations. The courses are really focused on [teaching] real kids with real challenges. executive director of the Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative
One collective of 22 school districts in southeast Kentucky is working on a solution. The group is taking the idea of online delivery of teacher training and amplifying it, turning it into something that can be custom-fit for individual teachers and leaders. The goal is to create not just a replacement for, but an improvement on, the typical courses teachers take to improve their work.

Rural schools turn to high-tech teacher training solutions

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Today’s college freshmen have never lived without Smartphones, emojis

by Christina Cox, the Signal

Students entering college this year have grown up in a world where a phone is used for anything except voice communication. Instead, it is a video game, a direction finder, an electronic telegraph and a research library. For these students, conversations can be had through emotions, relationships can be found on eHarmony and jobs can be discovered on Monster.com. These are just some of the facts catalogued on Beloit College’s annual Mindset List for the Class of 2021 that was released Tuesday. Currently in its 20th year, the Mindset List aims to bridge the gap between generations and acts as a touchstone for teachers to have one-on-one chats and class discussions with students.

https://signalscv.com/2017/08/22/todays-college-freshmen-never-lived-without-smartphones-emojis/

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Sharing Lessons Learned from K-12 Education

by Emily Schwartz, ITHAKA S+R

For the past two years, I worked on the development of OERs in K-12 education. As the movement ramped up, it was exciting to be at the forefront, considering questions of costs and quality. I gained some important insights from this experience that are also applicable for the development and adoption of OERs in higher education. Some of the lessons are linked below.

http://www.sr.ithaka.org/blog/open-educational-resources/

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5 Steps to Implementing a New App in the Classroom

by Matthew Lynch, Tech Edvocate

Using a new app in the classroom is fun and exciting, but it can also be tricky. Finding the right app, making sure it works and setting it up can all take up time and frustrate teachers. Make implementing new apps in the classroom easier by following these five simple steps. Choosing the right app can make implementing a new app much easier. First, think about why you really need this app. Too many teachers use apps simply for the sake of using more technology in the classroom.  Instead, look for apps that add value to your teaching. Tons of apps can make everything from grading to classroom management easier. Consider what you need help with and find an app that will make your life easier, not harder.

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/5-steps-implementing-app-classroom/

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8 Things to Look For in a Student-Centered Learning Environment

By Emily Liebtag, Getting Smart

I value many different learning models and environments and honestly do not feel it is my role to judge or evaluate what is “good.” That said, from years of teaching in the classroom and countless visits and interactions with excellent educators worldwide, I’ve created a list of things I commonly observe in great student-centered learning environments. As the Nellie Mae Education Foundation describes, student-centered learning “engages students in their own success—and incorporates their interests and skills into the learning process.” Student learning is personalized, competency-based, happens anytime and/or anywhere, and students have ownership in their learning. I paired my personal list with thoughts from my teammates at Getting Smart to create a collection of “School Look Fors” based on our discussions and experiences in schools.

http://www.gettingsmart.com/2017/08/8-things-look-student-centered-learning-environment/

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A tale of two states’ computer science programs

by eSchool News
Computer science is becoming more essential to future jobs; but are students developing the skills they need? As computer science education grows across the nation, many states are making it a core subject and are counting it toward math and science requirements. But progress across states varies. Here’s a look at how two different states, California and Maine, are faring in their computer science efforts. In California, some think the state’s progress to make computer science a graduation requirement is too slow. An editorial in the San Diego Union-Tribune says the state’s is displaying “astounding lethargy” in its efforts to increase access to computer science. And in Maine, the Portland Press Herald notes that “not too long in the future, almost all jobs will require some fundamental skill with computing, and many of the best new jobs will require a mastery of it. Yet computer science remains a subject on the periphery

https://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/08/10/state-computer-science-programs/

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VR is great, but here’s why hands-on learning can’t disappear

BY LADISLAS DE TOLDI, eSchool Nes
Physically engaging with tangible toys is the best way to take a lesson that is taught on a computer screen and apply it to everyday skills. With 80 percent of teachers reporting that they support the use of technology in the classroom, it is important to integrate tools that best fit with a child’s learning abilities, as well as school curriculum. Just this spring, a tech trend spun through the nation and it seemed as though almost every elementary school child was holding a fidget spinner. It was reported that the momentum of these small, ball-bearing devices provide a pleasing sensory experience, and therefore help hold the attention of those with ADHD or Autism.

https://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/08/21/vr-tangible-physical-toys/

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Georgia Tech Launches Facility for Remote Users to Control Robot Swarms

By Joshua Bolkan, Campus Technology

The Georgia Institute of Technology is opening the “Robotarium” this month to allow users from around the world to test out their code on a rotating pair of robot swarms. The 725-square-foot facility features a 12-inch x 14-inch bowl-shaped court and is home to teams of wheeled and flying swarm robots that users can put their code to the test on after honing it on simulators provided by Georgia Tech. Passersby can see the robots in action through a window and users can watch video captured by motion-activated cameras on the Robotarium’s ceiling of the robots running their code.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/08/17/georgia-tech-launches-facility-for-remote-users-to-control-robot-swarms.aspx

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Do Laptops Help Learning? A Look At The Only Statewide School Laptop Program

by ROBBIE FEINBERG, NPR

Welsch learned what a lot of teachers, researchers and policymakers in Maine have come to realize over the past 15 years: You can’t just put a computer in a kid’s hand and expect it to change learning. Research has shown that “one-to-one” programs, meaning one student one computer, implemented the right way, increase student learning in subjects like writing, math and science. Those results have prompted other states, like Utah and Nevada, to look at implementing their own one-to-one programs in recent years. Yet, after a decade and a half, and at a cost of about $12 million annually (around one percent of the state’s education budget), Maine has yet to see any measurable increases on statewide standardized test scores. That’s part of why Maine’s current governor, Paul LePage, has called the program a “massive failure.”

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/08/18/536875865/15-years-later-how-did-it-go-with-maines-school-laptop-program

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GAME OF THRONES: SHOW’S LINGUIST CREATES ONLINE COURSE TO TEACH HIGH VALYRIAN

BY ALEX GILYADOV, IGN

You can now learn one of Game of Thrones’ ancient languages, High Valyrian, thanks to Duolingo. Quartz reports the company teamed up with the show’s linguist David J. Peterson to create a free online course that teaches Daenerys Targaryen’s mother tongue. You can try it out on Duolingo’s website now, and it will soon be available on iOS and Android devices. The course is free, with an option to pay for a subscription to remove ads. You’ll learn everything from how to simply say father, which is “kepa” in High Valyrian, to more complex phrases like “Daenerys praises the dragon,” which translates to “Daenerys zaldrīzī rijas.”

http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/08/18/game-of-thrones-shows-linguist-creates-online-course-to-teach-high-valyrian

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Metro Students Have To Take Online Courses Due To Teacher Shortage

by Jesse Knutson, News Channel 5

Hundreds of parents with children in Metro Nashville Public Schools had letters sent home this week telling them that their kids were having to take online courses in the classroom due to a teacher shortage. The district has had a tough time finding teachers for certain subjects, including math, sciences, exceptional education, English as a second language, and world languages. Because of that, students at Antioch, Whites Creek, and Cane Ridge high schools were told they would be taking online courses through a website called “Edgenuity.”

http://www.newschannel5.com/news/local-news/metro-students-have-to-take-online-courses-due-to-teacher-shortage

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Brown U Students Develop VR History Experience for Use in Education

By Joshua Bolkan, THE Journal

A group of students led by a virtual reality artist-in-residence at Brown University have created a VR experience that aims to bring a bit of history to life for middle and high school students. Beginning in May 2016, Adam Blumenthal led a team of 14 undergraduate students from more than a dozen majors (or concentrations, as Brown refers to them) in an independent study project designed to bring the Gaspee Affair to virtual reality. “They were great collaborators,” said Blumenthal, according to a university report about the project. “What I taught them was how an interactive media production works, from concept to almost completion.”

https://thejournal.com/articles/2017/08/17/brown-u-students-develop-vr-history-experience-for-use-in-education.aspx

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Google needs to pay Apple a small fortune to remain the default search engine on iOS

by Romain Dillet, Tech Crunch

Apple and Google could be the biggest frenemies in tech. While they both compete like there’s no tomorrow, they also partner on some very specific deals. For instance, Google is paying a ton of money to remain the default search engine on iOS. As CNBC first reported, according to a Bernstein analyst, Google could pay as much as $3 billion a year just to remain the default option in Safari.

https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/20/google-needs-to-pay-apple-a-small-fortune-to-remain-the-default-search-engine-on-ios/

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UPS is developing virtual reality tech to train its drivers

by Lucas Matney, TechCrunch

“Virtual Reality offers a big technological leap in the realm of driver safety training,” said UPS exec Juan Perez in a statement. “VR creates a hyper-realistic streetscape that will dazzle even the youngest of our drivers whose previous exposure to the technology was through video games.” While companies like Walmart have signed onto programs with enterprise-focused startups like Strivr Labs, UPS will be building its training materials in-house. Virtual reality may be a more immersive technology but, when done poorly, training videos can be just as unbearable as more traditional instructional materials. The big issue right now is that making custom, realistic VR content able to take advantage of everything the medium has to offer really isn’t worth the effort.

https://onlinelearningconsortium.org/about/olc-awards/olc-fellows/

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Network vulnerability analysis 101: Free online training

By Tim Greene, Network World
If you’re wondering whether your network is vulnerable or not, you haven’t been paying attention – everybody’s is. This free online course shows what it takes to effectively conduct network vulnerability assessments and analysis that will help you keep the hackers at bay. Protecting your network means first you have to discover and shore up its weaknesses, making it as difficult as possible for attackers to succeed. This course can help you systematically identify potential vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them. In partnership with PluralSight, Network World presents “Conducting Network Vulnerability Analysis”, step-by-step instruction that lays out both intrusive and non-intrusive methods of targeting systems, details how to leverage Internet-based resources and explains the intricacies of passive and active vulnerability scanning.

http://www.networkworld.com/article/3217327/lan-wan/network-vulnerability-analysis-101-free-online-training.html

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Bellevue students are learning in new ways thanks to virtual program

By Jesse Canales, News Channel 6

A new way to learn was added to a Texoma school as they kicked off the school year on Thursday. Bellevue High School students can now take classes online with a new virtual program. The students are taking new courses like German, Latin, and Chinese which were offered for the first time. Emily Largent, a sophomore, said she is happy she can finally take German after asking the principal all year to bring the foreign language course to her school. Largent was born in Germany and moved to the U.S. at the age of seven. She said she is ready to speak her native tongue once again.

http://www.newschannel6now.com/story/36162053/bellevue-students-are-learning-in-new-ways-thanks-to-virtual-program

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Free CBU courses popular

by Nikki Sullivan, Cape Breton Post

“Our initial idea was we’d be really happy if we got 25-30 people … and we had 1,000. It went absolutely crazy,” said Laura Baker, manager of distance online and distance learning at CBU. Last fall, the university decided to add open online learning courses which allows people to register for certain courses three different ways — credit, certificate and curiosity. Credit is for students who are registered at CBU and will count as credits toward their degrees. Certificate costs $75 and students receive a certificate saying they participated in the course. It is free to take courses as a curiosity student. Baker said an hour after posting the courses on Facebook she had about 300 email inquiries. “It’s like a taste of university and honestly, that’s kind of why it was started,” Baker explained. The classes are broadcast on Facebook live and archived for those registered to watch later.

http://www.capebretonpost.com/news/local/2017/8/17/free-cbu-courses-popular.html

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New study to explore effectiveness of online credit recovery classes

New study to explore effectiveness of online credit recovery classes

by Linda Jacobson

 

The American Institutes for Research (AIR) has received a $3.26 million federal grant to study whether online recovery classes in Algebra 1 and ninth-grade English are more or less effective than when students learn in the classroom, reports the Los Angeles Times. he study will focus on schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District, which has expanded online credit recovery classes in recent years in an effort to increase its graduation rate, and the sample will include roughly 3,000 students from 15 high schools. AIR has already conducted similar research in Chicago, where it found an online Algebra 1 course to be more rigorous that the face-to-face version, though students in both versions of the course graduated at the same rates.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/new-study-to-explore-effectiveness-of-online-credit-recovery-classes/449283/

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More students opting out of traditional schools, online classes see increase

by Marissa Kynaston, 13 Action News

Severe allergies can be difficult for anyone, but imagine going to school and being allergic to just about everything.  A girl in Nevada would have had to deal with that problem, if it weren’t for getting an education from the comfort of her own home. Sophia Riella had her first day of school, just like CCSD students across the valley, but Sophia didn’t have to change out of her pajamas.  Sophia is in her second year as a student at Nevada Connections Academy, a free online public school.  Her parents decided on this over a traditional school because of her severe allergies and autoimmune deficiency.

http://www.ktnv.com/news/more-students-opting-out-of-traditional-schools-online-classes-see-increase

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AI projects are taking off: What does this mean for the future of work?

By Mark Samuels, ZD Net

The robots are coming and the world of work is set to change forever: recent research from consultants PWC estimates a third of existing jobs are susceptible to automation, due to the use of robots and artificial intelligence (AI) by 2030. The survey adds more weight to a fast-growing body of work on the impact of AI. Take KPMG’s recent global CIO survey in conjunction with recruiter Harvey Nash, which found almost two-thirds of CIOs are investing or planning to invest in digital labour, which broadly covers robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence. A quarter of these technology chiefs have already see very effective results. The survey suggests digital leaders are investing in digital labour at four times the rate of other executives. These CIOs are also implementing digital labour solutions across the enterprise, in some cases at twice the rate of their less-pioneering peers.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/ai-projects-are-taking-off-what-does-this-mean-for-the-future-of-work/

 

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What are MOOCs?

by Dariusz, Merkle

The digital age has redefined many different aspects of what it means to be human. One of those areas is education, with the advent of online classes and online degrees. A specific type of online class is the MOOC, and it is a really interesting concept. No, MOOCs are not a goofy name you use disparagingly with your friends. Rather, they are well-respected and often very popular forms of online education.

https://themerkle.com/what-are-moocs/

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Acosta calls for national apprenticeship programs

BY ELLIE ASHFORD, CC Daily
Apprenticeship programs jointly developed by community colleges and businesses – and scaled up on a nationwide basis – could go a long way toward closing the nation’s skills gap, according to U.S. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta. “Our job is to ensure America’s workforce is prepared to meet the demands of a global and ever-changing economy,” Acosta told participants on Thursday at the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) board of directors summer retreat in Washington, D.C.

http://www.ccdaily.com/2017/08/labor-secretary-calls-national-apprenticeship-programs/

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Khan Academy launches online learning program to offset summer slide

By Emily Tate, EdScoop

LearnStorm’s six-week course aligns with the start of the school year to help strengthen students’ skills and get their minds right for the new year.

The flexibility of Khan Academy will be available to students and teachers in a new way this back-to-school season — and this particular classroom program is tailored toward rebuilding students’ confidence as they work to overcome the infamous “summer slide.” The nonprofit education company is launching LearnStorm — a free, online learning challenge — to relieve some of the pressure on teachers as students get acclimated to the new school year. Signups opened Tuesday, and beginning Sept. 12, students in grades 3-12 will have six weeks to work with their classmates — or independently — to strengthen their skills in science, math, history and grammar.

http://edscoop.com/khan-academy-launches-online-learning-program-to-offset-summer-slide

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How Technology is Now Empowering Educators

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

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‘Children shouldn’t waste their summer just climbing trees – they need to spend more time online’

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

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The Top 15 Traits Educators Need To Teach Successfully Online

by Robyn Shulman, Huffington Post

n a recent Global Shapers Survey, out of 25,000 young people internationally, 77.84% of students reported having taken online courses in the past. Online learning may be the future of education in various ways as our world connects through technology.

Students who take online education courses must have strong organization skills, self-motivation, and maintain flexibility. Teachers must also have many traits to successfully serve their students. Online teaching and learning isn’t for everyone.

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

 

 

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Why AI is going nowhere without help from colleges and universities

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/

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We’re not teaching the web correctly

by Mark Surman and Meghan McDermott, Brookings

In a world where the number of internet users is growing at breakneck speeds—and where the internet increasingly shapes all aspects of society—understanding the web is essential for nearly everyone. The internet is the world’s newest, most vital, public resource. It continues to expand exponentially. Now, three billion people are online, and new infrastructure and cheap hardware mean billions more will join in the coming years. Internet speeds are accelerating swiftly. And the Internet of Things is connecting the internet to homes, cars, and the infrastructure of cities.  An adequate education in web literacy would provide a framework for understanding the internet. It’s not just about learning to type or to use a computer or smartphone, nor is it about mastering a programming language like JavaScript. It’s about the gulf in between.

https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/were-not-teaching-the-web-correctly/

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Giving Data Meaning: Students Should Have A Say In What Analytics Tell You About Them

By Leif Nelson and Timothy D. Harfield, EdSurge

Embedded learning analytics are not like rotisserie ovens: you can’t set them and forget them. As in the case of proactive advising, the real impact from learning analytics comes more from the relationships it makes possible and the dialogue it provokes than from the technology itself. Institutions like Indian River State College, for example, are seeing tremendous gains in student success through faculty development programs that highlight the importance of learning analytics to inform teaching and learning practices. Between 2014 and 2016, online enrollment at the institution increased by 56 percent. And yet, average grades in online courses lagged behind traditional face-to-face courses by 7.5 percentage points. Since using LMS data in support of academic advising, and training faculty in the use of analytics to identify challenges and opportunities, IRSC has eliminated the achievement gap between online and in person courses, and increased online baccalaureate success rates by 11 percent.

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2017-08-13-giving-data-meaning-students-should-have-a-say-in-what-analytics-tell-you-about-them

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10 Edtech Tools for School Administrators

by Matthew Lynch, tech Edvocate

As administrators of a school, it is essential to be on the forefront of progressive changes for education. That means implementing educational technology into everyday work as well. Administrators won’t be using it to teach or help students with homework, but there are certainly many ways to use educational technology for the duties of administrators. Some administrators may be nervous about using new technology when they already have a tradition and routine set for their responsibilities. They may not feel confident in encouraging or training their teachers in how to use technology. But, there isn’t reason to fear. There are many easy-to-use educational technology resources for administrators.

10 ed-tech resources for school administrators

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6 Must Have Apps, Tools, and Resources for Gifted Children

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/

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Pick the Right Online Degree Program: A Checklist

By Marian Stoltz-Loike, US News

Research is a valuable way to figure out whether a particular online degree program suits your educational needs. Some programs have demo courses so you can explore the look and feel of the virtual classroom. But you can also check the school’s website or call to ask questions about a program to find the right fit. Ask about content, course delivery, faculty, student interaction and costs. Linked below is a checklist of six specific questions to focus on when choosing an online program.

https://www.usnews.com/education/online-learning-lessons/articles/2017-08-11/research-online-degree-programs-a-checklist-for-prospective-students

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New Tech Taps Blockchain to Secure Student Data

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

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