Competency-based education programs are set to skyrocket

BY LAURA DEVANEY, eSchool News

New report forecasts that more than half a million students will be enrolled in competency-based education programs by 2020. The number of students enrolled in competency-based education programs is expected to reach more than 500,000 by 2020–meaning it will have more than doubled from the roughly 200,500 enrollments in 2015. By 2020, students age 25 and older will account for approximately 44 percent of the tertiary education student population, meaning the potential for the competency-based education market is huge, according to technology research and advisory company Technavio.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/alternative-pathways/competency-education-skyrocket/

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=19466

In the marketplace: New STEM courses and online resources

BY LAURA DEVANEY,eSchool News

Remaining a tech-savvy educator means keeping on top of the myriad changes and trends in education, how technology can support those trends, and how teaching and learning can best benefit from near-constant change. Below, we’ve gathered some of the latest and most relevant marketplace news to keep you up-to-date on product developments, teaching and learning initiatives, and new trends in education.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/news/marketplace-new-stem-courses-online-resources/

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=19458

How artificial intelligence is changing online retail forever

by Babak Hodjat, Tech Crunch

Artificial intelligence is all around us, from searching on Google to what news you see on social media to using Siri. And with the momentum around AI growing every day, it’s not surprising that some of the most innovative retail sites have recently been experimenting with the use of AI, as well. Businesses that ignore this growing trend will find themselves playing catch-up for years.

https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/11/how-artificial-intelligence-is-changing-online-retail-forever/

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=19446

A new bill could make college textbooks more affordable

By Allison Pohle, Boston.com

Getting college students to do their readings isn’t only a struggle because of the subject matter — some students don’t do the readings because they can’t afford their textbooks. About 65 percent of college students skipped buying a textbook because it was too expensive, according to a 2014 survey from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. It’s no wonder why. The average college student spends about $1,200 on textbooks each year, but a new bill, titled the Affordable College Textbook Act, might change that. Introduced last week in the U.S. Senate, the bill would establish a grant program for universities to create textbooks that anyone could access online for free. The legislation “will help pressure the traditional college textbook market to come up with cheaper alternatives and innovations,” Dick Durbin, a U.S. senator from Illinois who is sponsoring the bill, said in a statement.

http://www.universitybusiness.com/news/new-bill-could-make-college-textbooks-more-affordable

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=14088

District adding online classes

By Abby Armbruster, Daily Journal:

Another local school plans to offer online courses, so students can take classes that aren’t typically offered or they don’t have room for in their schedule.But Indian Creek High School’s program will differ from others because local teachers will build the curriculum for the courses, such as finite mathematics and marine biology. Online classes are becoming the norm for local school districts, including Franklin’s GrizLab credit recovery program, Center Grove’s Global Campus and Greenwood’s Indiana Online Academy program. Now, six Nineveh-Hensley-Jackson teachers are taking a year to put together their own online program by creating the curriculum from scratch.

http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/local_story/District-adding-online-classes_1444780612

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=14085

An online education provides many benefits, but it’s not for everyone

By: Argonaut (U Idaho) Editorial Board

Technology is a defining characteristic of the 21st century. It is now so intertwined with every day life, it’s no surprise that educational institutions are trying to integrate increasing amounts technology into education. The University of Idaho has stressed the importance of this combination by working on a distance education plan in hopes of being able to provide more students, both undergraduate and graduate, with the opportunity to receive online degrees. It’s an opportunity for expansion that the UI simply can’t miss. This could be a tremendous opportunity for individuals who are interested in earning a degree but are unable to relocate to a university campus. The university offers more than 20 online degree options for graduate students, but undergraduates are currently unable to acquire a degree online. Expanding the university’s online degree program would not only help students who are unable to get to campus, but also increase UI’s educational outreach and influence.

http://www.uiargonaut.com/2015/10/12/accessing-online-education/

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=14082

Lawrence gets waiver for snow-day teaching

by Mike James, The Independent

Lawrence is one of 13 Kentucky school districts granted waivers to allow the use of online or other non-traditional instructional formats when school is canceled because of weather or emergency. “Last winter’s harsh weather created a significant hardship for both teachers and students alike. Many of our districts were forced to close for several days or weeks at a time, which not only disrupted instruction, but also extended the school year for many,” said Education Commissioner Terry Holliday. “While we hope that this winter will not bring the same challenges, now students in the approved districts will be able to carry on with learning — even when inclement weather keeps them out of the classroom.” The waiver allows the district up to 10 days of such instruction, Superintendent Robbie Fletcher said. The days will count as regular attendance days and the district will not have to make them up.

http://www.dailyindependent.com/news/article_c71c13b4-5352-11e4-a864-2764aa585cad.html

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Report: New revelations about campus IT trends

By Meris Stansbury, eCampus News

Survey provides a national snapshot of campus IT spending, cloud tech, and outlook for the future. Almost one in every five dollars spent on campus IT investments are made outside of centralized IT; in other words, almost $4 billion is spent in non-managed, non-measured, and redundant IT spending each year on campus technology. This is just one of many illuminating findings of a recent MeriTalk survey—sponsored by VMware and Carahsoft—of over 150 IT professionals at public and private institutions across the U.S.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/technologies/campus-it-trends-096/

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from Educational Technology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uis/edtech/~3/MRbefjLn17s/

Study says college students addicted to technology

by WCSC

Researchers surveyed more than 150 college students, and 60 percent of them said they are addicted to their cell phones and spend on average eight to 10 hours a day on it. Rachael Anderson is a licensed professional counselor and a coordinator of Augustana Student Counseling Services. “It’s not anything formal according to psychology,” Anderson said. “You can’t get diagnosed with a cell phone addiction, but I can kind of get what they are saying; which is that this is something that I need and I feel really lost without it.” In addition to looking up from your phone during the day, Anderson suggests keeping it off of your night stand. “Studies have consistently shown that (cell phones) will completely wreck your sleep patterns,” Anderson said. “So you really need to find a time where you put down the cell phone before you go to bed.”

http://www.live5news.com/story/26763562/study-says-college-students-addicted-to-technology

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