How Game-Based Learning Can Help Students of All Ages Learn

By Melissa Nott, Edudemic

In school, kids play during recess and work during class. But some of the biggest names in psychology, including Jean Piaget and Jerome Bruner, believe that play is a child’s work. The best way to teach kids, they say, is through hands-on, active learning. But with state benchmarks and performance-based teacher evaluations hanging above our heads, it’s hard for educators to imagine spending precious academic time playing games with kids. That’s where game-based learning (often confused with gamification, which isn’t quite the same thing) comes in. With this approach, learning and play aren’t at odds with each other; in fact, games are the vehicle and environment for learning.

http://www.edudemic.com/game-based-learning-help-learn/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=15402

MOOCs move from free to fee as skills demand grows

by Natalie Marsh, PIE News

Career development continues to be a large motivation for students to enrol in MOOCs, meaning demand for credit certification is growing. In response, a number of providers have introduced fees for a handful of course certifications and assessment services.Implementing a business model that charges a small fee for certain courses is, “a move that is slowly redefining MOOCs’ role in the global marketplace of online education” according to “State of the MOOC” , an article by Online Course Report, a content and resource base for online courses. “MOOC providers realised early on that they could offer more for less by marketing courses from top-tier schools as much cheaper than universities could market a traditional college degree,” it states. Citing data from Class Central, the feature found 4,550 MOOCs were made available in January this year, over twice the number offered in January 2015 (2,150).

http://thepienews.com/news/moocs-move-from-free-to-fee-as-skills-demand-grows/

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=15400

Sought-after Duo Craig Chee and Sarah Maisel Are Now Offering Online Courses on the Ukulele, Exclusively Through ArtistWorks

by Business Wire

Renowned duo Craig Chee and Sarah Maisel have partnered with ArtistWorks exclusively to launch online Video Exchange® ukulele lessons for the first time. Known for their ability to make the ukulele accessible to players of all interest levels, and for their combined experiences teaching, Chee and Maisel offer lessons geared towards all levels and abilities, beginning today on ArtistWorks.com. When they’re not teaching, the couple can be found performing around the globe, and headlining some of the largest ukulele festivals in the world.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160324006043/en/Sought-after-Duo-Craig-Chee-Sarah-Maisel-Offering

Share on Facebook

from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=15397

10 ways to ensure maximum tech effectiveness at your institution

By Andrew Barbour, eSchool News

With an abundance of tech solutions and tools, IT must ensure systems support their institutions’ goals effectively and affordably. Here’s how. Just two years ago, higher ed CIOs were scrapping for a seat at the table. Now they’re firmly in the hot seat. In that short span, IT has become so central to campus operations that its performance has a direct impact on the quality of teaching and learning. Furthermore, with the consumerization of IT, faculty and student expectations have risen dramatically, leaving IT little room for error, whether in the wireless network or the LMS interface. To thrive within this cauldron, IT must develop policies and best practices to help it evaluate, implement, and then re-evaluate the systems on campus.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/technologies/maximum-tech-effectiveness-569/

Share on Facebook



from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/vXt3s1_XGsI/

Want to personalize learning? Try personalizing PD first

By Dennis Pierce, eSchool News

At a special Blended Learning Summit, Connecticut’s Meriden Public Schools shared its keys to ed-tech success. One of these is to tailor staff development to individual teachers’ needs. In Meriden, Conn., school district leaders are rethinking traditional approaches to instruction. For the past five years, the district has had a “no zero” grading policy to encourage the completion of all student work. Middle school students can take online courses for high school credit, and high school students can design their own studies with the help of a faculty advisor. “We put students at the center of everything we do,” said Superintendent Mark Benigni.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/03/20/personalize-learning-pd-905/

Share on Facebook



from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/OIflRM1VCpk/

Why and how communicators should create infographics

By Tess Pajaron, ragan.com

Visual storytelling captures attention and delivers messages that stick in viewers’ minds. Here are some fundamental approaches, along with tools to streamline the process. Together with the predicted rise of content marketing, it’s likely that during the next couple of years we’ll witness a growing interest in brand infographics. Infographics are a smart content feature. They provide lots of valuable information and tips in a visually inspiring form. How can you create great infographics that will captivate your audience and clearly communicate your message?

http://www.ragan.com/Main/Articles/49461.aspx

Share on Facebook



from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/ANpC0q2rBjQ/

What the 26 Billion-Thing Internet of Things Portends for IT

By David Nagel, THE Journal

There will be 26 billion “things” making up the Internet of Things within six years, according to a report released by Gartner. The implications for IT are profound — in particular for data center operations. “IoT threatens to generate massive amounts of input data from sources that are globally distributed,” said Joe Skorupa, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner, in a statement released to coincide with the report. “Transferring the entirety of that data to a single location for processing will not be technically and economically viable. The recent trend to centralize applications to reduce costs and increase security is incompatible with the IoT. Organizations will be forced to aggregate data in multiple distributed mini data centers where initial processing can occur. Relevant data will then be forwarded to a central site for additional processing.”

http://thejournal.com/articles/2014/03/18/what-the-26-billion-thing-internet-of-things-portends-for-it.aspx

Share on Facebook



from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/46Ic2VRZ6AI/

Google Fiber Shortlist Cities Eyeing Free Gigabit Internet for Schools

By Leila Meyer, THE Journal

Google Fiber is the company’s fiber optic Internet infrastructure being implemented in select cities throughout the United States. Google Fiber is already in place in Kansas City and is set to roll out in Provo, UT and Austin, TX next. Cities on the shortlist for potential future rollouts include Atlanta, GA; Charlotte, NC; Nashville, TN; Salt Lake City, UT; San Antonio, TX; Phoenix, AZ; Portland, OR; Raleigh-Durham, NC and San Jose, CA. Google provides free gigabit Internet to public and nonprofit organizations such as schools, libraries and community centers selected by the city as part of the company’s Community Connections program. Schools can use Google Fiber to provide students with access to online learning resources, as well as for collaboration and communication.

http://thejournal.com/articles/2014/02/21/google-fiber-shortlist-cities-eyeing-free-gigabit-internet-for-schools.aspx

Share on Facebook



from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/3iHL4K1U0Fo/

How Has Technology Changed Younger Students?

By Katie Lepi, Edudemic

As mobile device usage has exploded, some people are questioning the proper use of these devices among children. Most teachers and parents agree that this technology is a valuable tool—but are students too “plugged in”? How much screen time is too much. Although schools sometimes struggle to manage smartphone usage in class, they are also embracing the technology as 17% of schools require the use of tablets or other devices in the classroom. Parents seem supportive of the technology with 90% saying that mobile devices make learning fun and 76% believe that tablets encourage curiosity. Even though 71% of parents believe mobile devices provide irreplaceable learning opportunities for their children, 43% still say they need help finding the best apps for education, and 62% worry about the devices as distractions when not used properly.

http://www.edudemic.com/how-has-technology-changed-younger-students/

Share on Facebook



from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/NJodseXDv5I/