Greenville’s virtual learning programs report success

By Emilee Nielsen, Greenville Daily News

The landscape of learning is changing rapidly and Greenville Public Schools officials are working to stay ahead of the curve. The first semester of the year saw 177 students signed up for classes through the program. Students can choose to take their entire class load online or they can choose to take some classes in a traditional classroom setting. A total of 205 students enrolled at the beginning of the second semester. A total of 21 students are graduating from the Legacy program in coming weeks. “We’re currently meeting with incoming students interested in the Legacy program for the fall. There are quite a few,” Long said. “It’s a program that’s continuing to grow.” Taylor Townes, 17, told board members how the Legacy Learning program is the reason she’s graduating high school and headed to Ferris State University.

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=27759

Digital learning: how to keep your students switched on

by Leonard Haux, the Guardian

Digital learning is growing in sophistication. It can be developed for fully online remote learning courses, or added to traditional classroom-based courses as blended learning. But how do you ensure it adds value, and avoid the risk of miscommunication? As an instructional designer, one of the most common things I hear when meeting with academics is that their students don’t engage with online activities. There are a number of reasons for this, but the most fundamental is that they see no reason to do it. If you want a student to engage in an online activity, you need to ensure they understand the task, and its meaning and relevance.It might be that an activity will help a student learn about themselves, do better work in their job, or maybe it will give them practise for a final exam.

https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2017/may/11/digital-learning-how-to-keep-your-students-switched-on

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=27744

College Board: 115-Point Rise with Free Khan Academy Online Class

by 2Paragraphs

The College Board anointed Khan Academy the king of score improvement, releasing data that credit 20 hours spent on the free Official SAT Practice with an average 115-point score lift on the new SAT. The study considered nearly 250,000 test takers using Khan Academy program. Even those students with a less rigorous commitment showed improved scores, with students spending 6-8 hours of Khan practice jumping 90 points on average. The Official SAT Practice at Khan Academy uses video lessons, tips, and practice questions to prepare students for the standardized tests. Khan and The College Board are paired in what they call the “College Readiness Project.” Khan Academy says: “We’re here to help you support your students and children on their path to college. ” Here is Khan Academy founder Sal Khan announcing the results.

http://2paragraphs.com/2017/05/college-board-115-point-rise-with-free-khan-academy-online-class/

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=27734

Three Ways the Maker Movement Can Be More Inclusive of Women and People of Color

By Suzette Duncan, Edsurge

Although most of the educators I know who self-identify as makers are women, some of them cite a lack of women in STEM fields and related pursuits as the very reason they are now makers. They are trying to change the landscape by encouraging young women and girls to become makers also. When I speak with people of color with about making, some discuss the lack of diversity when attending maker events. They rarely, if ever, see themselves represented. As a teacher and a woman of color, I am interested in shaping a Maker movement that reflects the diversity of people interested in creating, building, hacking, and tinkering.

http://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-05-23-three-ways-the-maker-movement-can-be-more-inclusive-to-women-and-people-of-color

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=15903

Teen to graduate high school with bachelor’s degree, no college debt

by Bob Johnson, MLive

When Rachel Klammer finishes the last course she is currently enrolled in at Saginaw Valley State University, she will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in literature. Just a few weeks earlier, the 19-year-old Frankenmuth teen received her high school diploma. She follows in the footsteps of her sister, Sarah, who a year ago accomplished the same feat of graduating high school while earning a 4-year college degree. “It feels great that I’m done with undergrad,” Rachel Klammer said. “It’s kind of like I’ve just added four years to my life because all of my other friends are just starting college and I’m already starting my masters.” How did she and her sister do it? Rachel Klammer, who describes herself as “sort of a nerd,” began taking college classes at age 14 after enrolling in a program called the Paris Academy of Co-Secondary Education, or PACE. PACE is a dual enrollment program that allows students of any age to attend college or career-technical/CTE classes.

http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2016/05/teen_graduating_high_school_wi.html

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=15900

Technology can be the big disruptor and innovator in education

by Ashish Dhawan and Namita Dalmia, Economic Times

Technology has a huge potential to disrupt the education space in all three categories: (i) student’s preparation (ii) educator’s effectiveness and (iii) administration’s efficiency. Personalised tools help students learn and progress at their pace. Such tools, when integrated with the classroom, allow teachers to track the learning data of each child and provide individual intervention.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/education/technology-can-be-the-big-disruptor-and-innovator-in-education/articleshow/52378695.cms

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=15898

TwitterChat: Balancing the Urgency of Revenue Performance with Mission and Quality Online – May 27

by Ray Schroeder, Josh Kim (Dartmouth / Inside Higher Ed), Katie Blot (Blackboard), Debbie Cavalier (Berklee)

Challenged by complex and shifting funding models, higher education faces a growing urgency to balance mission and product mix to keep things afloat as enrollments and state funding decline. Adding to this complexity is the growing tension in the marketplace in which the value/currency of traditional degrees are challenged by micro-credentials and the emergence of CBE. How can institutions address these crises? Join UPCEA for this timely TweetChat by using the hashtag #HigherEdAhead on social media as online education leaders share experiences and resources and respond to your questions. A live question and answer session will occur on May 27th from 2-3PM EST.  Is this your first Twitter Chat? – It’s free, it’s fun, it’s fast, it’s a fire hose of information!  Explained at the URL below:

http://upcea.edu/tweetchat

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from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/0RBR8paoJdM/

Amazon Launches Free AWS Service for Educators and Students

By David Ramel, THE Journal

Amazon Web Services has debuted AWS Educate, a free service for educators and students that aims to prepare IT pros and developers for the cloud workforce. With cloud computing changing the way businesses work and driving innovation in organizations of all kinds, AWS said there is a need for more workers conversant in cloud technologies. “AWS Educate empowers educators with training, tools, and technologies to help students develop the skills to design, deploy and operate applications on the AWS Cloud.”

http://thejournal.com/articles/2015/05/14/amazon-launches-free-aws-service-for-educators-and-students.aspx

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from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/1Jo_JTvE_hw/

How (and Why) To Use Student Blogs

By Kristen Hicks, Edudemic

Blogging has come a long way– once a strange new buzzword, it’s now an important tool for business, education, and personal development. Having a blog doesn’t just mean putting personal diary entries out on the web for the world to see – it can be a way to learn more about yourself and any subject you choose to explore. Blogging is one of the easiest ways to create something meaningful with mixed media. That makes it a perfect fit for the classroom.

http://www.edudemic.com/blog-setup-video/

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from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/e6l4t_FbrK0/

The 8 Key Elements Of Digital Literacy

By Jeff Dunn, Edudemic

Many teachers have added ‘digital literacy’ as number four on the list of literacies their students should have (or be working towards, in most cases). Reading, writing, and math are now followed by digital literacy. Obviously, depending on the grade level you teach, your students will have different abilities in each of the four areas, so your expectations and your teaching approach may differ quite noticeably from your colleagues. But the nagging question still remains for many teachers – what exactly is digital literacy?

http://www.edudemic.com/digital-literacy/

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from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/XhZI5Xk6qn0/

Why MOOCS Might Be Just Right for Schools

by Mark Boxser and Anant Argarwal, Huffington Post

Eighteen months ago at a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos the star was not Bill Gates of Microsoft or Larry Summers of Harvard, but 12-year-old Khadijah Niazi of Lahore, Pakistan, who captivated the audience by talking about a trend that could revolutionize education. She is one of millions who have improved their education by taking a Massive Online Open Course (MOOC). Certainly Khadija is an exceptional teenager, as we found out when we met her at the Global Education & Skills Forum in Dubai a year later. She was only 10 years old when she took an Artificial Intelligence online course. But, however preternaturally gifted she is, she underlines the fact that MOOCs may be more appropriate for pre-university learners (K-12), than simply as a means of taking university courses online.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-boxser/why-moocs-might-be-just-r_b_5365503.html

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from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/ayzA4Uwx3MM/

Basic computer classes offered for children ages 3 to 7

By Debbie Manis, Orlando Sentinel

Little Clickers computer classes will be offered at the Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St., for children ages 3 to 7 and their caregivers. The classes will teach basic computer skills and internet safety for young children. Lessons will include the parts of a computer, basic searching, how to drag-and-drop and staying safe online. The sessions will help build a foundation for learning more advanced computer skills in the future, while also helping instill confidence and ease with A certificate of completion will be given to participants. The three-week youth laptap lab program is funded by the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/os-lk-education-notes-052114-20140520,0,3566381.story

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