What We're Reading & Watching
OLC Innovate – Online Learning Consortium – April 10–13 (Denver, CO), April 23–25 (online)
OLC Innovate, a joint conference presented by OLC and MERLOT, provides a path for innovators of all experience levels and backgrounds to share best practices, test new ideas, and collaborate on driving forward online, digital, and blended learning.
ASU + GSV Summit – April 14–17 (San Diego, CA)
The ASU+GSV Summit, co-founded by Michael Moe and Deborah Quazzo, began in 2010 with a collaboration between Global Silicon Valley (GSV) and Arizona State University (ASU). Our north star is that ALL people have equal access to the future, and we believe that innovations at scale in “Pre-K to Gray” learning and skills are critical to achieving that end.
Untangling the Bungled FAFSA Launch – Inside Higher Ed
Politics, priorities and a set of unforced errors unraveled the Education Department’s best-laid plans for a federal aid overhaul. Critics say they should have seen it coming.
State of Higher Ed LMS Market for US and Canada: Year-End 2023 Edition – On EdTech
Updates on the institutional LMS market for North America (US and Canada) higher education.
Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies: Enhancing Learning Across Diverse Courses – Faculty Focus
Culturally responsive teaching is a crucial student-centered approach that is critical in today’s multicultural and diverse educational environment. The idea is to recognize that every student brings a unique perspective and strength into the classroom. Furthermore, it recognizes that every student’s learning is different.
What Brings Gen Z to the Library? – EdSurge
Gen Zers, born between 1997 and 2012, spend a lot of time online, consuming and creating digital content. Ninety-two percent check social media daily. But they still like print, and they still like to go to the library, according to a survey of Gen Z and Millennial public library use and media consumption released by the American Library Association last fall. With Gen Z now making up a substantial portion of today’s college students, their attitudes toward libraries have implications for higher education.
Do Adults Without Degrees See the Value of College? – Higher Ed Dive
New research commissioned by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation focuses on how 18- to 30-year-olds without college diplomas view higher education.
Biden Signs FY 24 Budget for Education Department, Other Agencies – Higher Ed Dive
The bipartisan and bicameral agreement keeps the maximum Pell Grant award at $7,395 for the 2024-25 school year.
How Universities Can Prepare Graduates for an AI-Driven World – Higher Ed Dive
Colleges should focus on teaching the life skills that will outlast inevitable technological changes, the president of High Point University contends.
How Do Students Respond to AI Generated Questions? – Higher Ed Dive
A study on AI-generated questions in higher education sponsored by VitalSource provides crucial insights into student learning behavior, shaping the future of formative practice through innovative tools.
Udemy Reports Surge in Demand for AI, IT and Leadership Training – Higher Ed Dive
Workers are interested in applying new tech skills, as well as developing “human” skills that AI can’t replace, according to the latest data from the learning platform.
AI Digital Agents: Sending Advanced Computer Agents on Personal Tasks – Inside Higher Ed
This is not science fiction, rather it is science fact that we increasingly are sending artificial intelligence (AI) agents on our personal and professional tasks.
University of South Florida Launching AI College – Inside Higher Ed
The University of South Florida has announced it is launching a college focused on artificial intelligence (AI).
When Bots Go to Class – EdSurge
Ferris State U. plans to use chatbots to put its curriculum to the test, and other colleges are looking at ways to use AI to improve the student experience.
Debunking Common Misconceptions About Microlearning – litmos
Discussions around microlearning have continued to increase among L&D professionals, particularly when trying to identify delivery formats that are efficient and engaging. However, like any good instructional delivery format, there are times when selecting microlearning may make sense for your learners and other times when it does not. In this article, the author will attempt to debunk misconceptions related to the utility of microlearning as an effective delivery format.
What Is Remote Proctoring And How Does It Prevent Cheating? – eLearning Industry
Remote learning and working are more prevalent than ever, and educational institutions and companies are faced with another challenge. How are they going to prevent students and interview takers from cheating? Read on to discover the benefits of remote proctoring and how it can be used to prevent cheating.
Bring Technology Within Reach for Higher Ed Students – EdTech Magazine
An EDUCAUSE report shows students appreciate choice when it comes to learning modalities, but network connectivity is key to support hybrid and online instruction.
Strategies And Techniques For Creating Compelling And Engaging eLearning Content – eLearning Industry
This guide aims to equip educators and content creators with essential strategies to captivate learners and enhance educational outcomes in digital environments.
New Tech Tools to Try
DeepL Translator
This technology is particularly effective for complex language pairs as they capture context and develop realistic and fluent translations (can translate phrases or documents).
Animoto
Animoto is a video-creation platform that helps users create professional-looking videos using photos, video clips, music, and text.
Pending Changes to Inclusive Access Programs – The Teaching Online Podcast University of Central Florida – Episode 157
In this episode, hosts Tom and Kelvin summarize the current issues surrounding proposed changes to “inclusive access programs” for digital instructional materials and how this affects the affordability work of digital education professionals.
How is the ‘College is a Scam’ Narrative Influencing Who Goes to Campus? (Doubting College, Ep.3) – EdSurge Podcast
There’s growing skepticism of higher education, complete with popular memes on social media that “college is a scam.” Experts in policy and marketing have some suggestions on how to counter that narrative.
How Growing Skepticism of College is Making Students Savvier Edu Shoppers (Doubting College, Ep. 2) – EdSurge Podcast
In part two of our podcast series Doubting College, which explores the growing skepticism of higher ed, we talk to students and counselors at a public high school about how students are thinking through their choices after graduation.
How to Prepare Faculty for the AI Revolution – with Chirag Tailor, CEO & Co-Founder, Instructify – EdUp Experience, Episode 839
It’s YOUR time to #EdUp
In this episode, your guest is Chirag Tailor, CEO & Co-Founder, Instructify
How can Instructify’s AI platform save faculty time & enhance student learning? Why must higher education embrace AI to remain competitive? What do educators need to know about AI assistants?
The IT Leadership Workforce in Higher Education, 2024 – EDUCAUSE
The newly released report seeks to map the current contours of the technology leader workforce, understand its current challenges and opportunities, and reflect on what it all might mean for building a stronger workforce and—ultimately—a stronger higher education for the future.
The State of Continuing Education 2024 – Modern Campus in partnership with UPCEA, the EvoLLLution, and CAUCE
Online continuing education programs saw improved staffing and increased support from institutional leadership in the last year, but still face many challenges, according to a new report released Tuesday.
Policies and Laws: How they’re impacting college enrollment – Gallup / Lumina Foundation
This report to uncovers “how major policy shifts factor into students’ enrollment decisions and whether students prefer to attend colleges in states with more or less restrictive policies in these areas.”
Digital Scholarly Journals Are Poorly Preserved: A Study of 7 Million Articles – Eve, M.P. in the Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication
This study unveils that there is an “alarming preservation deficit” occurring among published works being digitally preserved in archives.
5 Trends In Online Orientation For 2024, Innovative Educators, April 1, 2024, 3:00-4:00pm EDT
In response to the pressing challenge of evolving online orientation programs, this webinar merges insights from the 2023 Student Voice survey by Inside Higher Ed and College Pulse with Innovative Educators’ two decades of experience in developing online educational strategies. Our goal is to provide participants with strategies to meet the diverse and dynamic needs of today’s students.
The rapidly changing landscape of higher education demands that orientation programs not only keep pace but also proactively adapt to the evolving trends. Understanding that a one-size-fits-all approach is no longer viable, our expert panel will delve into five critical trends in online orientation. Participants will leave with practical strategies for integrating the latest trends into their orientation programming. The focus will be on ensuring that these programs are not just informative, but also highly engaging and motivating, resonating with the unique needs and interests of today’s students.
Information Webinar: STARTALK Digital Learning Institute for Critical Language Educators, Online Learning Consortium, April 17, 2024, 1:00pm CST
Join us for an informational webinar highlighting the upcoming Digital Learning Institute for Critical Language Educators. This webinar will showcase an overview of the Institute, including hands-on learning experiences, integration of industry standards, and opportunities for professional growth. Funded by the National Security Agency STARTALK program, the Institute will also provide language educators the opportunity to showcase their work, earn a digital credential from the Online Learning Consortium, network with other critical language educators, and receive a stipend upon completion. With limited spots available, interested educators are encouraged to apply soon to elevate their teaching and contribute to the broader language education community.
The Student-Success Journey: Amping up Orientation, The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 17, 2024, 2:00pm EST
The objective of the college orientation has changed since its humble beginnings as a preview of college life for students. Now orientations are an opportunity for colleges to share their principles with students and promote respect and inclusivity.
What We’re Presenting
Using Your Student’s Voices to Inform Your Learning Ecosystem, WCET in partnership with leaders from Academic Partnerships, Wiley University Services, and East Tennessee State University, April 25, 2024, 2:00pm EDT
Leaders from Academic Partnerships and Wiley University Services (who have recently combined strengths as a single company), and East Tennessee State University will share student-driven data and actionable insights regarding:
- meeting online learners’ distinct needs
- supporting and empowering online faculty
- opportunities to enhance both campus and online learning experiences
Don’t miss this important free presentation on Thursday, April 25 from 2pm to 3pm ET.
To register for Using Your Student’s Voices to Inform Your Learning Ecosystem, click here.
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What is Bloom's Digital Taxonomy? Learn how educators are reframing Bloom's Taxonomy through the lens
