Weigh an Accelerated Online Degree Program

by Chris Foley and Jan Holloway, US News

You can go back to school – on your own time, at your own pace, in your own place. If you want to earn a credential quickly and potentially reduce costs, accelerated online learning may be an option to consider. Accelerated degree programs online come in various formats but generally enable you to earn a credential more quickly than in a traditional postsecondary program. These can consist of multiple shorter course terms throughout the year instead of semesters, competency-based learning, credits for past life and military experience or combined degrees such as 4+1 bachelor’s-master’s programs, which reduce the total time needed to earn both.

https://www.usnews.com/education/online-learning-lessons/articles/2017-07-21/weigh-an-accelerated-online-degree-program

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=29932

What Would An Online-First Academic Library Look Like?

By Joshua Kim, Inside Higher Ed

Steven Bell wrote a great piece called What Academic Librarians Can Learn from Retail’s Meltdown. It is always fun when ideas and trends also catch the interest of a colleague, and that independently you both try to make sense of what you both are seeing. That was the case with Steven’s article, as I only caught his thinking after I had written something similar in Classroom Utilization, Online Learning and Retail Store Closings. Steven asks a provocative question in his piece: “What would an online first operation look like for an academic library?” I’m sure that my colleagues in the academic library world talk about Steven’s question all the time. Not being in the academic library world, I don’t really know how the academic library community is answering Steven’s question. Having the benefits of ignorance, I thought I’d take a crack at how I’d answer Steven’s query: What would an online-first operation look like for an academic library?

https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/technology-and-learning/what-would-online-first-academic-library-look

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=29917

Weigh Noncredit, For-Credit Online University Courses

By Jordan Friedman, US News

Many noncredit online courses, experts say, allow working adults to prep for certification exams in various fields. Many prospective online students aim to change careers or earn a promotion, but there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to get there, experts say. That might involve deciding between an online course or program that’s for college credit and one that’s not.That distinction is more relevant to some prospective online students than others, experts say. But for those making a choice, here are four factors to consider.

https://www.usnews.com/higher-education/online-education/articles/2017-07-20/decide-between-noncredit-for-credit-online-university-courses

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=29907

What 10 Years of K-12 Online Professional Development Taught New Hampshire

By Stan Freeda, EdSurge

Educators, especially those of you in rural communities—you shouldn’t have to go out and find good professional development on your own. Your state should provide it. But where do state administrators start? In the rural state of New Hampshire, online professional development empowers educators to take ownership of their own growth and learning. Through consistent support and feedback and flexibility in scheduling, the OPEN NH program, run by the Office of Educational Technology at the New Hampshire Department of Education since 2005, offers high-quality, seven-week online professional development courses that focus on content and pedagogical knowledge, and emphasize active learning. By 2011, about 10% of NH teachers had participated in the 175 courses offered by OPEN NH—and currently, the program has expanded to offer over 300 courses.

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-07-23-what-10-years-of-k-12-online-professional-development-taught-new-hampshire

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=16413

Beaumont teen tries online public school program

by Leah Durain, KBMT

A Beaumont teen, who’s an aspiring actress, says taking high school classes online has created great flexibility in her schedule. Isabelle Scott is a remarkable 16-year-old. She’s already published two children’s books and added big projects to her acting resume like ABC’s American Crime and an NBA app commercial. Scott wants to be get into the film industry one day and she’s hitting the pavement hard now Recently, the teen was met with a dilemna: how to juggle classes at Hamshire Fannett High School and make it to acting gigs. “I kept missing school for acting,” said Scott.

http://www.12newsnow.com/news/local/beaumont-teen-tries-online-public-school-program/279786843

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=16411

Classblox Takes on Khan Academy, Kaplan With Live Online Classes

by Karis Hustad, Chicago Inno

Shaily Baranwal’s startup, Elevate K12, focused on providing digital instruction and online resources to the millions of at-risk students across the US. And it worked–since launching in 2008, Elevate K12 provided over 1 million hours of online instruction and had an average of 35 percent increase in student test scores. Now she’s taking lessons learned from instructing at-risk students and going after the millions of non-at-risk students around the country. Her latest product is called Classblox, and it offers on-demand, online classes taught by a real teacher. Students take hour long virtual, interactive classes from vetted teachers in subjects ranging from Chinese to ACT prep. Her aim is to reach middle class students, especially in rural and under-resourced suburbs, who are seeking additional learning opportunities that they may not have access to close to home.

http://chicagoinno.streetwise.co/2016/07/22/classblox-takes-on-khan-academy-kaplan-with-live-online-classes/

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=16408

Arkansas invests $65 mil. in ultra high-speed internet for schools

By Chad Hunter, Times Record

Fort Smith schools are the first to connect to Arkansas’ improved high-speed Internet system designed to offer speeds 40 times faster than the current statewide average. The $65 million initiative for improved broadband service in Arkansas schools kicked off at a small ceremony held Wednesday afternoon at the Fort Smith School District’s Rogers Center. “This is a big day for Arkansas,” Arkansas Department of Information Systems Director Mark Myers said. “That equipment is expensive and that connection is expensive, but it’s what the students of Arkansas deserve.”

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/07/20/arkansas-internet-695/

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15 Online Resources That Help Improve Essay-Writing Skills

By Julie Petersen, THE Journal

Throughout the journey from kindergarten to 12th grade, students are supposed to gain appropriate vocabulary and grammar skills that need to be successfully implemented into essay writing. Here are some effective online tools that can help you make the art of essay writing more attractive for your students.

http://thejournal.com/Articles/2015/06/25/15-Online-Resources-That-Help-Improve-Essay-Writing-Skills.aspx

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Can Teachers Author Their Own Textbooks on the Fly?

By David Raths, THE Journal

What happens when a school throws out the textbooks and tells teachers that they are going to become authors themselves by creating curriculum in real time as the semester progresses? That’s what the String Theory School, a charter school in Philadelphia and one of only 37 Apple Distinguished schools in the country, is discovering. Why not eliminate those bulky backpacks full of books and instead send teachers straight to iTunes U to find, customize or create their own lessons aligned to standards as they go? “The teachers themselves could expertly design it, align it with standards and have it be personalized for the students,” said DiPaulo, speaking at an ISTE conference presentation in Philadelphia in late June.

http://thejournal.com/articles/2015/07/14/can-teachers-author-their-own-textbooks-on-the-fly.aspx

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Why The Future Of Education Involves Badges

By LindsayH, Edudemic

Higher education institutions are abuzz with the concept of Open Badges. Defined as a symbol or indicator of an accomplishment, skill, quality or interest, Open Badges are not only a hot topic as of late, but are also debated by some critics as the latest threat to higher education. A closer look at this emerging trend reveals benefits for traditional institutions and alternative learning programs alike. Some advocates have suggested that badges representing learning and skills acquired outside the classroom, or even in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), will soon supplant diplomas and course credits.

http://www.edudemic.com/future-of-education-badges/

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How (And Why) Visual Design Matters In e-Learning

By Katie Lepi, Edudemic

The use of visual, engaging content is a regular topic around these parts, isn’t it. Getting your students interested and keeping them engaged is a challenge for every teacher in every subject and at every age level. That said, when you’re putting together your class materials, do you give a ton of thought to how things look? The answer is probably yes – with an overwhelming answer being that obviously, content matters more. That said, the handy infographic linked below proposes using the laws of visual perception -aka the Gestalt principles – in e-learning design.

http://www.edudemic.com/visual-design-matters-in-e-learning/

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from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/SklvUKBvEK0/

Three (BIG) Barriers to Student Participation in xMOOCs

by Online Learning Insights

Though there are a variety of factors that contribute to low completion rates, I suggest that three barriers, 1) technology, 2) poor usability & course design, and 3) anonymity contribute significantly to low student participation levels and completion—barriers that deter, discourage and in some cases intimidate students. Also, in some instances, barriers one and two are potential barriers in closed, online classes (as those offered as for-credit courses at public and private institutions).

http://onlinelearninginsights.wordpress.com/tag/technology-as-barrier-to-online-learning/

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Here are the 12 most popular free online courses for professionals

by Business Insider

Want to gain an edge in your working life? Learning new skills online doesn’t cost you anything but time. Want to gain an edge in your working life? Learning new skills online doesn’t cost you anything but time. Based on data from online education platform Coursera, we compiled a list of the 12 most popular, free online classes for working professionals.

http://business.financialpost.com/2014/07/14/from-the-basics-of-programming-to-financial-markets-here-are-the-12-most-popular-free-online-courses-for-professionals/

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