Block and tackle: How to mitigate a cyberattack on your school

BY JOHN LENCKOS, eSchool News

Cyber-attacks have been making headlines after massive data breaches at Fortune 500 companies. According to a recent report by the Business Continuity Institute[1] and the British Standards Institution, nearly nine in 10 businesses worldwide are worried about the threat of cyber-attacks. Recently, the panic has spread to educational institutions. Unfortunately, schools, colleges and universities are perfect targets, often possessing out-of-date security systems and a wealth of sensitive, monetizable student data.  Experts warn these attacks are likely to increase, and educational institutions are increasingly prioritizing investment in technology and systems to prevent cybersecurity breaches.

Block and tackle: How to mitigate a cyberattack on your school

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What Higher Education Experts Want You To Know About AI

by Meghan Bogardus Cortez, EdTech
Artificial intelligence is hitting universities, but it doesn’t mean professors are being replaced by computers. “So when we talk about AI, we imagine robots, we imagine science fiction, we imagine Skynet overthrowing the world. These are the things that we imagine, but the reality is that it’s not nearly that sexy,” said Kyle Bowen, the educational technology services director at Penn State, during EdSurge Live’s town hall on AI. “The reality is that some of the really interesting applications of this are people and computers working together to think about or to explore different problems or ideas,” Bowen added. Much like Microsoft’s Anthony Salcito, Bowen and other higher education influencers touted AI’s ability to make data analytics and student success initiatives even easier by drawing out the most actionable data.

https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2017/12/what-higher-education-thought-leaders-want-you-understand-about-ai

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Cybersecurity trends for 2018

by Debbie Garside, CSO Online

So, what exactly will 2018 have in store? McAfee Inc.’s recent threats predictions report identified five key cyber security trends to watch in 2018:

• An adversarial machine learning “arms race” between attackers and defenders
• Ransomware to evolve from traditional PC extortion to IoT, high net-worth users, and corporate disruption
• Serverless Apps to create attack opportunities targeting privileges, app dependencies, and data transfers
• Connected home devices to surrender consumer privacy to corporate marketers
• Consumer apps collection of children’s content to pose long-term reputation risk

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3241122/cyber-attacks-espionage/cybersecurity-trends-for-2018.html

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3 ways of leveraging STEM expertise for ed tech success

by Shalina Chatlani, Education Divev
When it comes to successful integration of technology — whether it’s a new learning management system across multiple campuses or video capture tools in the classroom — poor implementation or haphazard rollout can end up costing the institution more than the initial investment. Recently, for example, the state of Washington paid $2.6 million to settle a dispute after it canceled a contract with an ed tech company following its inability to effectively install a computer software program. But leveraging the talents of faculty and students with STEM skills in the ed tech decision making and adoption process may help alleviate some of the challenges. In some cases, as suggested by Virginia Tech CIO Scott Midkiff in conversation with Education Dive, integrating campus members can also cut costs the might come from hiring more IT staff and build technical expertise among technology users.

https://www.educationdive.com/news/3-ways-of-leveraging-stem-expertise-for-ed-tech-success/512544/

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4 exciting trends that will define the 2018 education industry

BY RICKY YE, eSchool News

The most hopeful potential impact of 2018’s edtech landscape is the opportunity for nurturing skills that will help students succeed in the future of work. Considering how robots could replace 38 percent of jobs in the U.S. over the next 15 years, it’s absolutely vital that we’re arming today’s students, from as early as kindergarten-age, with the ability to succeed once they enter the workforce. Let’s examine four key trends that are expected to shape the education industry this coming year:

4 exciting trends that will define the 2018 education industry

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Why small colleges should take the plunge into online education

By Pat Donachie, Education Dive

Though the future does not look bright for small, private institutions — which have seen a growing trend of closures due to a decline in enrollment and revenue — they may be able to stay afloat by tapping into can online courses and avoid a ‘precarious’ reliance on residential students, writes Robert Ubell, the vice dean emeritus of online learning at NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering argues for EdSurge. While many small schools view online courses as impersonal with the lack of mentoring and close relationships between educators and students, it’s inevitable schools ignoring digital opportunities will end up falling behind, he writes — especially as that pool of student enrollees becomes increasingly nontraditional and flexible online programs become more in demand.  Understanding the shift may be daunting, Ubell suggests modest investments in the right staff, online designers and recruiters, as well as a forward-thinking innovator and digital advocate on campus who can support the idea of online learning. He also suggests partnerships with third-party online program managers to handle technicalities, as sometimes such companies also commit to handling much of the initial cost.

https://www.educationdive.com/news/why-small-colleges-should-take-the-plunge-into-online-education/511785/

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STEM education is about hands on experiences

by Matthew Lynch, tech Edvocate

The processes of inquiry, reasoning and collaboration required in STEM learning are similar to any experiential activity; learning activities must be hands-on experiences. STEM classes also demand rigor and relevance in a curriculum, and the students who take these classes must learn to think critically as they use science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to solve real world problems through direct learning experiences. Reading does not provide the kind of authentic experiences that students need. Students aren’t likely to be motivated by reading content alone, and as a result, their overall academic performance will likely suffer.

STEM Education is About Hands on Experiences

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How to fix EdTech’s diversity problem

The vast majority of students with disabilities don’t get a college degree

by JACKIE MADER and SARAH BUTRYMOWICZ , Hechinger Report
About a third of the students with disabilities who enroll in a four-year college or university graduate within eight years. For those who enroll in two-year schools, the outcomes aren’t much better: 41 percent, according to federal data. The dismal outcomes aren’t because students with disabilities can’t handle the coursework. The vast majority of special education students can grasp rigorous academic content. Experts estimate that up to 90 percent should be able to graduate from high school meeting the same standards as general education students, ready to succeed in college and careers. But high schools often neglect to teach these students the soft skills that will help them in higher education — like how to study, manage their time and self-advocate.

http://hechingerreport.org/vast-majority-students-disabilities-dont-get-college-degree/

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10 free edtech tools for teachers

by Matthew Lynch, Tech Edvocate
Implementing edtech in your classroom while feeling constrained to your personal or professional budget is difficult. Luckily, there are plenty of edtech tools free for teachers! We scoured the internet and found over 100 free apps, websites, and educational programs. Here are our top 10.

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/10-free-edtech-tools-teachers/

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Building A.I. That Can Build A.I.

by Cade Metz, NY Times

They are a dream of researchers but perhaps a nightmare for highly skilled computer programmers: artificially intelligent machines that can build other artificially intelligent machines. With recent speeches in both Silicon Valley and China, Jeff Dean, one of Google’s leading engineers, spotlighted a Google project called AutoML. ML is short for machine learning, referring to computer algorithms that can learn to perform particular tasks on their own by analyzing data. AutoML, in turn, is a machine-learning algorithm that learns to build other machine-learning algorithms. With it, Google may soon find a way to create A.I. technology that can partly take the humans out of building the A.I. systems that many believe are the future of the technology industry.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/05/technology/machine-learning-artificial-intelligence-ai.html

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8 MUST-HAVE CLASSROOM PRESENTATION APPS AND TOOLS

by Matthew Lynch, tech Edvocate
It’s important for teachers to master the art of presenting engaging lectures that keep kids interested in the material as the weeks wear on. However, it’s equally important for students to master the same trade. As kids progress through school, higher education and, eventually, their professional lives, they’ll need tools besides PowerPoint to effectively pitch ideas and communicate dense material to seminars of bored classmates. We’re breaking down 8 must-have presentation apps to help both teachers and students find their inner aesthetic and create drool-proof, prize-winning presentations.

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/8-must-classroom-presentation-apps-tools/

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Bitcoin mania has students flocking to crypto classes at Stanford and other top computer science schools

by Ari Levy, CNBC

Cryptocurrencies use cryptography to secure transactions and track the transfer of digital money. “A lot of people are attracted to the huge valuations in these currencies,” said Dan Boneh, co-director of the Stanford Computer Security Lab and a professor of cryptography. Boneh said that security and cryptography represent the second-most popular subject in the university’s computer science department, behind only machine learning.  Across the country in Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon’s Vipul Goyal is using Boneh’s interactive online textbook for a class called Special Topics in Cryptography that the school is offering for the first time this year. About 20 students, mostly PhD candidates, are taking the class, which focuses on blockchain and cryptocurrencies. The trend is not just limited to these two universities: the University of California at Berkeley launched a class last year called the Cryptocurrency Decal, and in 2015 the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab established the Digital Currency Initiative.

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/30/crypto-classes-popular-at-stanford-cmu-thanks-to-bitcoin-craze.html

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Learning to Code Is Easy With These 5+ Apps

by Jeff Butts, Mac Observer
Programming can be a very rewarding endeavor, but most people don’t know how to get started. With so many options available, most of which quite frankly suck, folks need to know which educational coding apps are worth the space they take up on their iOS devices. The Terminal Tinkerer is coming to the rescue with my top five apps for learning to code.

https://www.macobserver.com/tips/quick-tip/learning-to-code-fun-easy-5-apps/

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USA Today: Students need to know this for media literacy

by MERIS STANSBURY, eSchool News

Students today are increasingly turning to online new sources to meet their research needs. Because of this, it is important for educators to teach students about trustworthy news sources and separating real news from fake news—but how can teachers impart these media literacy skills when trends in journalism are constantly shifting? In “Media Literacy: A Crash Course in 60 Minutes,” hosted by edWeb.net and sponsored by Mackin Educational Resources, Michelle Luhtala, Library Department Chair at New Canaan High School, CT, interviewed Greg Toppo, the National Education and Demographics reporter for USA Today, about today’s shifting trends in journalism and how teachers can help students identify reliable sources.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/03/10/ew-usa-today-media-literacy/

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Amazon extends AI development race to college classrooms

by Jarrett Carter, Education Dive

Amazon is betting that college students will help them to discover new frontiers with its Alexa technology, and is using college fellowship programs to recruit the nation’s best and brightest engineering students to develop intellectual property for the company. The Alexa Fund Fellows program is currently in schools like Carnegie Mellon University, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Southern California and Waterloo University. It pairs students with professors to help develop innovation in voice recognition technology and is backed by a $100 million investment from the company’s foundation.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/amazon-extends-ai-development-race-to-college-classrooms/437540/

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Proposed law: Minnesota schools could replace snow days with e-learning days

by KMSP

If there’s one thing Minnesota students look forward to each winter, it’s a snow day. No school and tons of fresh snow to play in – what could be better? Well, Minnesota lawmakers are now considering a bill that would keep school closed on days of inclement weather, but keep class in session. H.F. 1421 would give school districts the option to hold up to 5 “e-learning days” that would replace the typical no-school snow days and count as a day of instruction.

http://www.fox9.com/news/239154677-story

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Phone battery quick-charge breakthrough? Meizu says it’s zero to full in 20 minutes

By Liam Tung, ZD Net

Chinese smartphone maker claims breakthrough in charge times with new Super mCharge tech. Chinese smartphone maker Meizu has shown off its new Super mCharge tech fully charging a 3,000mAh battery in 20 minutes. Meizu unveiled the new battery tech on Tuesday at Mobile World Congress, offering a peek at the next generation of its mCharge quick-charging technology for lithium-ion batteries. That performance compares with Qualcomm’s recently announced Quick Charge 4.0 tech in the new Snapdragon 835 processor, which in tests with a 2 750mAh battery delivered a 50 percent charge in 15 minutes, or an estimated five-hour charge in five minutes.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/phone-battery-quick-charge-breakthrough-meizu-says-its-zero-to-full-in-20-minutes/

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How to Create a Makerspace in Any Space

BY DRMATT, Tech Edvocate

Makerspaces are spaces for hands-on interactive learning. These spaces have become popular in many communities, schools, and libraries due to their emphasis on creative learning and STEAM subjects. Both educators and parents have seen the impact of makerspaces on the ability of children to learn twenty-first-century skills. These spaces have sprung up across the country and can be found in a variety of locations. The primary aspect of any makerspace is the fact that creative hands-on learning opportunities are provided to users.

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/how-to-create-a-makerspace-in-any-space/

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Florida Virtual School model shows online learning can be engaging

by Tara García Mathewson, Education Dive

The eSchool Media and Xirrus Innovate to Educate awards program has identified the Florida Virtual School as a community winner for its strategy engaging elementary students in the online learning environment. According to eSchool News, the ClassTime model uses live video lessons to get students and teachers interacting online twice per week while students are expected to work independently with their parents three times per week. Students can collaborate with each other and their teachers using discussion tools, online voting, chat boxes and breakout rooms, and FLVS elementary principal Sarah Sprinkel said every lesson begins with an engagement activity that helps develop relationships.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/florida-virtual-school-model-shows-online-learning-can-be-engaging/436354/

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