IDAHO DISTRICT TO PROVIDE ONLINE COURSES FREE TO HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES

By Tori Hart, Heartland
An Idaho school district is partnering with a company that provides educational services to give homeschooling families free access to online courses. The Twin Falls School District announced a partnership with Harmony Educational Services to offer homeschooling families the opportunity to enroll in online classes beginning with the fall 2017 school year. Homeschooling families pay nothing for the classes. The district pays Harmony for each student enrolled in the program, with varying costs for different grade levels and other services, including mentoring. For each student enrolled, the district with receive additional state funding, magicvalley.com reported in August.

\https://www.heartland.org/news-opinion/news/idaho-district-to-provide-free-online-courses-to-homeschool-families-in-exchange-for-state-funding

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=32069

Students list the top 5 benefits of a campus app

BY LAURA ASCIONE, eCampus News

The right campus app can help support students’ academic success. A new survey reveals that while 38 percent of students are somewhat or very worried they will not graduate on time, students also say their campus app helps them stay on top of their academic responsibilities. The 2017 Student Life and Technology survey comes from DubLabs, a provider of personalized campus mobile applications focused on the student experience. The survey aims to understand today’s postsecondary student experience and it reveals potential barriers to graduation and how students are leveraging campus resources to stay on track.

https://www.ecampusnews.com/campus-administration/top-5-benefits-campus-app/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=30135

MEL Science Launches Virtual Reality Chemistry Lessons

By Richard Chang, THE Journal

MEL Science, based in London, has launched a series of virtual reality (VR) chemistry lessons for K–12. The 3-year-old company this week released a MEL Chemistry VR app, featuring a virtual chemistry lab, for free on Google Daydream. This free version, which contains the first six chemistry lessons, is available at this MEL Science site. According to MEL Science, chemistry is filled with abstract concepts that may prove difficult for young students to understand. The best method for kids to learn is through hands-on interaction, so MEL Science developed these VR chemistry lessons to enliven molecular-level science and illustrate it on an immersive, life-sized level.

https://thejournal.com/articles/2017/06/15/mel-science-launches-virtual-reality-chemistry-lessons.aspx

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=29229

Online education program lets a cowgirl be a cowgirl

by Doug Clark, Spokesman-Review

Let me tell you a story about readin’, writin’, ridin’ and ropin’. The tale is as much about the modern cyber age we live in. Because of that, public school can be tailor-made for even online cowgirls like Evelyn Picking. Evelyn is 13. She lives on 100 acres of cowboy country, fine rolling ranchland just outside of Omak, Washington. She’s also part of a long line of ropers and rodeo wranglers. Leo Moomaw, for example, Evelyn’s great-grandfather, established his homestead here, breeding and raising quality stock for the professional rodeo circuit. Evelyn was introverted and lacking in confidence. Her grades suffered. Something had to be done. The answer came last October, when Evelyn started taking her classes through the Washington Virtual Academies (or WAVA). An online charter K-12 program, WAVA lets students take classes over the internet. One of dozens of similar programs, WAVA, which is free because it counts as public education, is monitored by the Digital Learning Department that was created in 2009.

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/may/30/doug-clark-online-education-program-lets-a-cowgirl/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=28541

Educational Technology Leadership and Practice in Higher Education: The Emergence of Threshold Concepts

by Adam Barger, Educause Review

Navigating the world of educational technology in higher education environments is an increasingly rewarding, yet challenging, endeavor. What must leaders know in order to thrive in the ever-changing space of educational technology? How can leaders and practitioners alike excel in cultivating and utilizing powerful educational technology applications, tools, and resources? In this blog, I explore these questions through the lens of threshold concepts as applied to technology in higher education teaching and learning. I propose three threshold concepts in our field, discuss their prevalence at the 2017 ELI Annual Meeting, and suggest their implications for leadership and practice.

http://er.educause.edu/blogs/2017/5/educational-technology-leadership-and-practice-in-higher-education

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=28328

Lacking a Teacher, NJ High School Offers Chemistry on Computers

By Richard Chang, THE Journal

The Atlantic City School District could not find a certified chemistry teacher to fill a key chemistry teaching position at its one high school last summer and fall. So the district turned to Edmentum, a provider of online courses, to fill the void. This year, four classes at Atlantic City High School are being taught via an online course, with backup support from an Earth science teacher who is not certified to teach chemistry. The full story can be found in The Press of Atlantic City. “This is the way of the future,” said Assistant Superintendent Sherry Yahn in an interview with The Press of Atlantic City. She added that the district is looking at other online programs.

https://thejournal.com/articles/2017/04/24/lacking-a-teacher-nj-high-school-offers-chemistry-on-computers.aspx

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=26856

Technology is key to reducing college education costs

by Brian Mulligan, the Irish Times

In 20 years’ time, fewer school leavers will go to college. Far more study options will be available, many on the internet – and much cheaper than what is offered now. Distance learning and work-based learning, including apprenticeships, will become more available, reducing the total cost of education by allowing school leavers to live at home and “earn while they learn”.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/technology-is-key-to-reducing-college-education-costs-1.3045100

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=26515

Using Google Cardboard to Simulate Virtual Learning Experiences

By Matthew Lynch, Tech Edvocate

The reason that many teachers strive for a more virtual experience instead of the traditional talking points is that the interaction makes the lesson more memorable to the students. Google Cardboard is an interesting and very low-cost solution to creating a virtual experience. You can compare it to the Oculus Rift, but without the $600 price tag for each unit. As the name suggests, the product is from Google, and it is made entirely of cardboard. You construct the equipment (fold the cardboard) into the shape of goggles. Download the app you want to use in your virtual reality lesson, and place the phone within the frame, and you can start seeing the world from the app. It helps you feel like you are in the locations being displayed or are experiencing the events taking place.

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/using-google-cardboard-simulate-virtual-learning-experiences/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=26311

10 Podcasts That Promote Reading

by Matthew Lynch, Tech Edvocate

Not all students enjoy reading, nor are all students visual learners. Using audiobooks in conjunction with hard copies has long been a practice in classrooms to engage all students. However, podcasts offer something more. For example, English teacher Michael Godsey used the popular podcast Serial in his classroom because “he was impressed by the critical thinking and engagement he saw from students. He also liked that students were having deep discussions about the stories with other adults who were listening to the same podcasts” (source). By using podcasts in conjunction with their transcripts, or by finding engaging podcasts that discuss books benefit students’ different learning styles. Podcasts bring together reading, writing, analysis, listening, language and many other ELA Common Core Standards (source). Here is a list of 10 podcasts that promote reading.

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/10-podcasts-that-promote-reading/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=25562

Silicon Valley staff beef up CV with tech courses, Artificial Intelligence big hit

by Swathyr Iyer, TNN

Latest data collected by the Indian wing of the Silicon Valley-based edu-tech startup, Udacity, Hyderabad, shows a rise in terms of the demand for specialised online tech courses.Artificial intelligence, deep learning, android development, machine learning, data analyst, full stack developer are some of the courses people in the city are now taking up. “This increased interest in learning specialised skills is a result of changes happening in the IT industry now and the slow recruitment and appraisal season across the sector this year,” said Ishan Gupta, managing director, India, Udacity.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/cheer-fizzles-out-silicon-valley-staff-beef-up-cv-with-tech-courses-artificial-intelligence-big-hit/articleshow/57834812.cms

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=25522