The 10 ‘Prime Directives’ of repairing and upgrading tech

By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, ZD Net

Now, I’m not going to try to fool you into thinking that I’m some “fixing guru” or “tech ninja.” I’m not. While I have a pretty high success rate when it comes to resuscitating things, I’ve had plenty of failures, too, and I’ve been responsible for letting the magic smoke out of a lot of devices by doing something daft. But, over that time, I’ve built up a set of rules that I keep in mind when fixing things. I call them the “Prime Directives,” not because I’m a huge Star Trek fan, but because they’re important, and bad things tend to happen when I violate them.

I present them here in no particular order.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/the-ten-prime-directives-of-repairing-and-upgrading-tech/

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=35054

Loop Learnings: A Year of Insights from Digital Learning Leaders

by  By Michael Sano, EdSurge

“There is an entire network of amazing educators and leaders willing to share their insights.” -Brad Washington, Assistant Provost for Online Programs, Notre Dame de Namur University.  Small is strong. That’s one hypothesis about why Loop works so well. We have two hyper-focused cohorts. One is specifically for instructional designers and the other is for deans, directors and provosts leading digital learning initiatives around the country. The cohort model provides an organic value to the discussions, much like seminars among graduate cohorts.

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2017-12-15-loop-learnings-a-year-of-insights-from-digital-learning-leaders

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=34809

ARE LIBRARIES THE KEY TO TEACHING DIGITAL LITERACY?

by Matthew Lynch, Tech Edvocate

Public libraries and school libraries are crucial for teaching digital literacy. Libraries offer much more than books. Today’s libraries are technology hubs where anyone can access and use technology daily. As more technology emerges and the amount of online content grows, libraries are at the forefront of teaching library patron’s digital literacy. Digital literacy extends beyond the classroom walls. Public libraries are essential for teaching digital literacy to the public. For example, American Library Association (ALA) explains, “Pew research […] shows the connection between library support of digital literacy skills and employment. Contributing to the economic health of the community, and the economic success of individuals, are major reasons that teaching digital literacy skills is important.”

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/libraries-key-teaching-digital-literacy/

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=34669

Getting Ready For The Unknown But Critical Effect Of AI In Online Learning

by Moodle News

Getting Smart, the book turned education and “learning design” consulting company, recently released a report on the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education and professional development. The report, titled “Ask About AI: The Future of Work and Learning,” is part of a campaign to have a broader and more inclusive discussion on the matter. Perhaps the best contribution of AI to education, the report concludes, is a change in the “innovation mindsets” of people and organizations, where an increased focus on “Competency-based systems” is likely. While we can expect the presence of AI to be an overall positive for all in the long term, a transition period is seemingly overdue, where the level of positive impact can be dampened by furthering prevailing social and geographical disparities. “Massive dislocations” and “widening income gaps” are challenges whose effects could come close to “existential threats.”

Getting Ready For The Unknown But Critical Effect Of AI In Online Learning

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=34609

8 MUST HAVE DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP APPS, TOOLS, AND RESOURCES

by Matthew Lynch, Tech Edvocate
Teachers should not only be digital citizens themselves, but they must also teach their students how to be mindful digital citizens. As technology takes a prominent role in education, it is up to educators to make sure students know how to research, interact, and collaborate online safely and appropriately. Fortunately, there are valuable resources that can help educators teach digital citizenship skills that are relevant, educational, and fun. Below, we are listing eight must have digital citizenship resources for students and classrooms.

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/8-must-digital-citizenship-apps-tools-resources/

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=33191

Cyberlearning Research Report Peeks into Future of Ed Tech

By Dian Schaffhauser, THE Journal

People researching education technology and learning science — cyberlearning — populate the landscape. A new report from the Center for Innovative Research in Cyberlearning has undertaken the ambitious project of sifting through what those researchers are exploring to uncover the major trends and help us understand where education — pre-K-12 and post-secondary — may be headed over the next decade or two. According to “Cyberlearning Community Report: The State of Cyberlearning and the Future of Learning with Technology,” this work stretches beyond research on whether 1-to-1 programs work or if gaming can accelerate improved learning outcomes. Among the questions those hundreds of research projects are attempting to answer are these: How will students “use their bodies and minds to learn what will be important in the 21st century, such as collaboration, scientific argumentation, mathematical reasoning, computational thinking, creative expression, design thinking and civic engagement?”

https://thejournal.com/articles/2017/10/23/cyberlearning-research-report-peeks-into-future-of-ed-tech.aspx

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=33101

This laptop-bricking USB stick just got even more dangerous

by Zack Whittaker, ZD Net

Remember that USB stick that would destroy almost anything in its path, from laptops, photo booths, kiosks, to even cars? Now there’s a new version, and it’s even more dangerous than before. The makers of the USB Kill stick have created a more powerful version with a higher voltage and amp output, and a three-times faster pulse rate of up to 12 times a second. And, with microUSB, USB-C, and Lightning adapters, the USB Kill claims to be able to kill iPhones, iPads, and other devices, like phones, tablets, and digital cameras. USB Kill also comes in an “anonymous” model, which looks like an ordinary black USB stick — unlike the regular version that includes branding. This is another reason why you shouldn’t plug in USB sticks you find on the street. USB Kill still costs €49.95, or about $53 at the time of writing.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/this-weaponized-usb-stick-gets-even-more-dangerous/

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=25157

The 2 edtech fields with the most potential under Trump

BY BRIAN PEDDLE, eCampus News

Edtech investors and users could see significant growth in specific areas if the Trump administration sees its campaign rhetoric through.Though it’s too early to predict what impact the administration’s higher ed policies will have on the education technology sector, last year’s electoral campaign and executive actions in the early weeks of the administration may offer some insight into education priorities, pointing attention—and, potentially, funding—toward workforce development and institutional accountability. Neither area is a major departure from longstanding trends in higher education, but the administration’s emphasis will create opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors alike.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/trump-microsite/2-edtech-fields-potential-trump/

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=24704

2+2+2 articulation programs offer new model for higher ed access

by Jarrett Carter, Education Dive

A 2+2-2 model for early college programs in New Jersey is creating a pathway to help students earn master’s degrees in the same amount of time it would normally take to obtain a bachelor’s degree. The articulation agreement between St. John Vianney High School, Brookdale Community College, and Georgian Court University awards an associate degrees to high school graduates through dual enrollment programs, after which they enroll in the community college for two years to complete their bachelor’s degree, before moving on to the university to complete their master’s degree. Proponents of the model say that this allows for students to reduce tuition costs by two years or more, provides high level credentials in less time, and addresses any concerns that students graduating from college two years early might not be socially or emotionally ready to enter the workforce.

http://www.educationdive.com/news/222-articulation-programs-offer-new-model-for-higher-ed-access/437366/

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Largest Coalition of Coding Bootcamps to Publish Data on Job Outcomes

By Sri Ravipati, Campus Technology

Fifteen coding bootcamps, or accelerated computer programming programs, have formed a new coalition and announced their commitment to publish student graduation and job placement data in a single, standardized framework. In a move to be fully transparent, the 17-member Council on Integrity in Results Reporting (CIRR) is also mandating truth in advertising disclosures on all outcomes data promoted in marketing and admissions materials. CIRR members will release graduation and job placement data on a semi-annual basis. The first round of results from 2016 will be published on March 29, in accordance with CIRR definitions, documentation and validation requirements. The reporting will be publically available on the individual members’ websites.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/03/02/largest-coalition-of-coding-bootcamps-to-publish-data-on-job-outcomes.aspx

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=24473

5 Incredible Online Courses for WordPress Beginners

by WP Explorer

Fortunately, the WordPress community is thriving, and there are many people out there willing to help you learn the ropes. A quick Google search reveals thousands of articles and tutorials, along with dedicated YouTube channels such as WPCrafter, Tyler Moore, and WPBeginner. These resources are fantastic, but often you’ll find the best way to make progress is to take part in a more structured course. That’s why we’re going to recommend five excellent online courses for WordPress in this article. Each is designed with beginners in mind, and will arm you with the knowledge you need to start creating your own websites.

http://www.wpexplorer.com/online-courses-wordpress-beginners/

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=24398

Online course helps aid workers help women and girls

by United National Population Fund

An online course for humanitarians is raising new awareness about women’s needs and vulnerabilities in emergency-affected communities around the world. “It acted as an eye opener, and it made me realize that gender-based violence can happen to anybody,” said Rebecca Oketch of Fortress of Hope, a girls’ rights organization in Kenya. “Now I treat survivors with dignity and respect rather than victim-blaming.” The free UNFPA course, Managing Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies, helps humanitarian workers understand the risks women and girls face in crisis settings. It also encourages better support for survivors of violence and helps to prevent violence from happening in the first place.

http://www.unfpa.org/news/online-course-helps-aid-workers-help-women-and-girls

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=24359

They’re here–robots are teaching your children

by eSchool News

Classes in a suburban Los Angeles elementary school were successfully taught by teacher robots during the 2015-2016 school year. Unbeknownst to parents, all first-grade classes in a suburban Los Angeles elementary school were successfully taught by teacher robots during the 2015-2016 school year. Only one parent was in on the secret. John Miller*, whose family moved to the area from Silicon Valley and whose son Jack enrolled as a new first-grade student last school year, first approached the district superintendent three years ago with a radical idea. “We’ve been working on some super cool artificial intelligence (AI), and in lab tests, the AI robots demonstrated instructional capability,” Miller said. “I wanted to see if they could teach real students, because we’ve seen robots help children with social-emotional learning.”

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/01/27/robots-teaching-children/

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=23567

Goshen Community Schools green-lights new online academy

By JOHN KLINE, Goshen News

School Board members took a major step toward the planned establishment of a new online academy for the school corporation during their meeting Monday evening. During the meeting, the board approved a request by Angela Piazza, assistant superintendent of secondary education for the corporation, to enter into a three-year, $44,400 contract with the Edmentum company to begin the process of establishing the corporation’s new Goshen Online Academy. The board has been considering establishment of such an online academy since early September 2016 when Piazza first brought the proposal up for discussion. “We haven’t yet designed what our program alternative would look like, but we would like approval to go ahead and purchase the curriculum so we can get training and start thinking about how we might utilize it,” Piazza said in making the request Monday. With the Edmentum curriculum, the class range would begin at fourth grade and continue through 12th grade, though the corporation’s main focus would be through 10th grade.

http://www.goshennews.com/news/local_news/goshen-community-schools-green-lights-new-online-academy/article_0bb04439-b80c-5ecb-9acd-bdae803bf610.html

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=23482

Five Apps that Make Learning to Code Fun

BY MATTHEW LYNCH, Tech Edvocate

One concept that has become really popular in the last 10 years is the idea that everyone should be able to code. Despite this, the need for programmers is growing much faster than the number of people learning to code. The majority of people either have tried and failed to learn or have just avoided learning code. There is this idea that coding is too complicated, that it is only for a person who thinks a certain way. The way that coding has been taught in the past does not help either; it is tough to learn when you can barely understand the jargon the teacher uses during class. The following are five free apps that will teach you to code without making it feel like a complete bore.

http://www.thetechedvocate.org/five-apps-that-make-learning-to-code-fun/

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=23182

7 e-learning trends for educational institutions in 2017

By Livia Mihai, IT Pro Portal

Here are seven e-learning trends that could shape the EdTech landscape in 2017. In an attempt to answer these questions, we could look around us, assess what has been working so far in terms of education technology, and take some educated guesses on what could be working in the near future. Without further ado, here are seven e-learning trends that could shape the EdTech landscape in 2017.

http://www.itproportal.com/features/7-e-learning-trends-for-educational-institutions-in-2017/

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=22967

STEM Day Website Offers Masses of Classroom Activities

By Dian Schaffhauser, THE Journal

First, there was Hour of Code. Now there’s Siemens STEM Day. A makeover of the traditional Siemens Science Day, the new event is intended to encourage teachers to spark student interest in new forms of science, technology, engineering and math. The event, which doesn’t have a specific day assigned to it yet, comes with the chance to win a $10,000 “possibility” grant for use in creating a new fab lab or outfitting the classroom with gadgets. Promoted by Discovery Education and the Siemens Foundation, the STEM Day website offers 134 activities to be used in the class, which can be filtered by grade level, STEM category or career path (energy, healthcare, IT and manufacturing).

https://thejournal.com/articles/2017/01/10/stem-day-website-offers-masses-of-classroom-activities.aspx

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=22720

New Google Classroom features make it easier to learn, teach, manage and build

by Andrew Garrett, Google

Google Classroom is designed for everyone involved in a student’s education. More than 20 million educators and students use it to teach and learn together, as do administrators who oversee how this tool is used across classrooms, and developers who are building educational technology for the next generation. As everyone heads back to school to start the new semester, we’re releasing new Classroom updates designed specifically for each of these groups.

https://blog.google/topics/education/new-google-classroom-features-make-it-easier-learn-teach-manage-and-build/

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=22642

Report: Librarians Say Info Literacy Is Important, They Don’t Have the Tools to Teach It

By Joshua Bolkan, Camus Technology

Nearly all librarians (97 percent) say information literacy contributes to workforce success and more than four in five (83 percent) say it affects college graduation rates, and yet 44 percent said their library does not support information literacy as much as it should, according to a new survey from ProQuest. The survey polled more than 200 librarians from university, community college, high school and public libraries. Other key findings include: Only 21 percent of librarians said their users recognize information literacy’s effect on lifelong success. Thirty-four percent said their users do not and 33 percent said they weren’t sure; 91 percent of those surveyed said they rely on one-on-one in-person consultations to reinforce literacy skills.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/01/05/report-librarians-say-info-literacy-is-important-they-dont-have-the-tools-to-teach-it.aspx

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Students: Dodging high textbook costs becoming art form

BY MERIS STANSBURY, eCampus News

At Bluefield College in Virginia, students can pay one flat, discounted fee that allows them to receive all their required textbooks before classes start. “It’s no wonder that colleges and students need to think outside the box when it comes to textbooks; they represent a staggering cost that just seems to get worse,” says Chris Manns, managing director of the price-comparison websites CheapestTextbooks.com and TextbookRentals.com. Both free services aim to help students locate the cheapest prices for millions of books. One study by the Student Public Interest Research Groups showed that the cost for college textbooks has risen 73 percent over the last decade – more than four times the inflation rate.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/featured/featured-on-ecampus-news/high-textbook-costs/

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