A state appeals court has ruled that the University of Missouri system does not have to release course syllabi, as they are the intellectual property of the faculty and therefore exempt from the state’s open-records law, the Columbia Daily Tribune reports.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Why I’m Asking You Not to Use Laptops
At a teaching workshop last week, a new faculty member asked me how I felt about students using laptops in the classroom. I replied, “I ask students not to use laptops in my classroom—unless a student tells me they need or strongly prefer a laptop to take notes (for any reason), in which case we make that work.” She looked relieved to have this endorsement of a learning zone with fewer electronic distractions.
By Anne Curzan
Read more.
http://chronicle.com
By Anne Curzan
Read more.
http://chronicle.com
Free Digital Textbook Publisher to Produce 10 New Titles by 2017
Rice University’s OpenStax College, a project that publishes free digital textbooks, will use $9.5-million in grants to produce 10 new books by 2017, the university announced on Monday.
The aim of the project, started in 2012, is to provide low-cost textbooks to students who have trouble affording titles that can cost hundreds of dollars. OpenStax has published a handful of books—written and peer-reviewed in-house and accessible free online—for common courses that enroll the most students nationally.
The new textbooks, combined with four titles to be published next year, will bring the total to 21 titles by 2017. According to the university, OpenStax’s existing library has saved students upward of $13-million.
by Andy Thomason
Read more.
http://chronicle.com
The aim of the project, started in 2012, is to provide low-cost textbooks to students who have trouble affording titles that can cost hundreds of dollars. OpenStax has published a handful of books—written and peer-reviewed in-house and accessible free online—for common courses that enroll the most students nationally.
The new textbooks, combined with four titles to be published next year, will bring the total to 21 titles by 2017. According to the university, OpenStax’s existing library has saved students upward of $13-million.
by Andy Thomason
Read more.
http://chronicle.com
How Students Learn From Games
In the second of a three-part series, a professor looks at the use of simulation games in the classroom
Kurt Squire first recognized the learning potential of games in 1987 in his history class in high school. When his teacher asked the students if they knew the differences between English and Spanish colonization strategies in the Caribbean, he was the only one who knew the answer (the Spanish sailed galleons and held forts across the Caribbean for transporting gold, while the English sought to establish permanent settlements). But Squire hadn’t been reading ahead in the textbook: He had inadvertently learned the history of Caribbean colonization from spending countless hours playing a video game called Sid Meier’s Pirates! on his Commodore 64 computer.
Today Squire is a professor of digital media in curriculum and instruction at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and director of the Games+Learning+Society Center at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery. His research interest, sparked in that classic single-player video game released all the way back in 1987, focuses on the design of games for learning and their impact.
By James M. Lang
Read more.
http://m.chronicle.com
Kurt Squire first recognized the learning potential of games in 1987 in his history class in high school. When his teacher asked the students if they knew the differences between English and Spanish colonization strategies in the Caribbean, he was the only one who knew the answer (the Spanish sailed galleons and held forts across the Caribbean for transporting gold, while the English sought to establish permanent settlements). But Squire hadn’t been reading ahead in the textbook: He had inadvertently learned the history of Caribbean colonization from spending countless hours playing a video game called Sid Meier’s Pirates! on his Commodore 64 computer.
Today Squire is a professor of digital media in curriculum and instruction at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and director of the Games+Learning+Society Center at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery. His research interest, sparked in that classic single-player video game released all the way back in 1987, focuses on the design of games for learning and their impact.
By James M. Lang
Read more.
http://m.chronicle.com
Today's Lesson: Life in the Classroom Before Cellphones
Although I had taught for more than 20 years, I didn’t realize that I had forgotten what it was like to teach in a classroom without cellphones until I came up with a plan to relive those halcyon days. It was near the end of the semester, and I offered one point of extra credit per class period for my psychology students who turned off their cellphones before class and put them on the front desk.
I was sure that no students would part with their phones for such a meager offering. Wrong: Virtually all my students did. They even said they loved the idea, so the next semester I offered all my classes the same deal for the entire semester, and participation continued unabated. In fact, much to my surprise, after the first few days, when I walked into my classes all the cellphones were already on the table in the front of the room.
By Louise Katz
Read more.
http://m.chronicle.com
I was sure that no students would part with their phones for such a meager offering. Wrong: Virtually all my students did. They even said they loved the idea, so the next semester I offered all my classes the same deal for the entire semester, and participation continued unabated. In fact, much to my surprise, after the first few days, when I walked into my classes all the cellphones were already on the table in the front of the room.
By Louise Katz
Read more.
http://m.chronicle.com
How Streaming Media Could Threaten the Mission of Libraries
Digital music has made it easier to buy and share recordings. But try telling that to librarians.
In March 2011, the University of Washington’s library tried to get a copy of a new recording of the Los Angeles Philharmonic playing a piece by Gustavo Dudamel, a popular composer, that the library could lend to students. But the recording was available only as a digital download, and Amazon and iTunes forbid renting out digital files.
So the librarians contacted the Philharmonic to see if there was some way they could get a copy of the Dudamel album that they could loan out like a compact disc. The orchestra referred them to a distributor, which referred them to the publisher, Universal Music Publishing Group. At first the corporation said it couldn’t license the Dudamel recording to the university, according to the librarians. Later it offered to license 25 percent of the album for two years in exchange for a licensing fee plus a $250 processing fee.
by Steve Kolowich
Read more.
http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus
In March 2011, the University of Washington’s library tried to get a copy of a new recording of the Los Angeles Philharmonic playing a piece by Gustavo Dudamel, a popular composer, that the library could lend to students. But the recording was available only as a digital download, and Amazon and iTunes forbid renting out digital files.
So the librarians contacted the Philharmonic to see if there was some way they could get a copy of the Dudamel album that they could loan out like a compact disc. The orchestra referred them to a distributor, which referred them to the publisher, Universal Music Publishing Group. At first the corporation said it couldn’t license the Dudamel recording to the university, according to the librarians. Later it offered to license 25 percent of the album for two years in exchange for a licensing fee plus a $250 processing fee.
by Steve Kolowich
Read more.
http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Majority Of Digital Media Consumption Now Takes Place In Mobile Apps Posted yesterday by Sarah Perez
U.S. users are now spending the majority of their time consuming digital media within mobile applications, according to a new study released by comScore this morning. That means mobile apps, including the number 1 most popular app Facebook, eat up more of our time than desktop usage or mobile web surfing, accounting for 52% of the time spent using digital media. Combined with mobile web, mobile usage as a whole accounts for 60% of time spent, while desktop-based digital media consumption makes up the remaining 40%.
By Sarah Perez
http://techcrunch.com/2014/08/21/majority-of-digital-media-consumption-now-takes-place-in-mobile-apps/?ncid=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29
http://techcrunch.com
Empowered Educators Inspire Students to be Life-long Learners
As many students head back to school over the next few weeks, they face ever-increasing pressure - to perform well on standardized tests (including Common Core in much of the U.S.), to meet parent and teacher expectations, and to prepare themselves for higher education and a fast-changing job market. Yet when students are inspired, those pressures can quickly take a back seat to deep, meaningful learning.
http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_in_education/archive/2014/08/20/empowered-educators-inspire-students-to-be-life-long-learners.aspx
http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_in_education
Friday, August 22, 2014
Why Students Should Own Their Educational Data
Designing a textbook or lecture with the average student in mind may sound logical. But L. Todd Rose, who teaches educational neuroscience at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, argues that doing so means that the lesson is designed for nobody.
In a TEDx talk last summer, the professor explained that most learners have a “jagged profile” of traits when it comes to learning. One student might have an affinity for science but have below-average reading skills. Yet standard teaching practice assumes at least average skills across the board. “Because our science textbook assumes every kid is reading on grade level, we’re in trouble,” he said in the talk. “For her, science class is first and foremost a reading test, and it’s doubtful that we will ever see what she’s truly capable of.”
by Jeffrey R. Young
Read more.
http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus
In a TEDx talk last summer, the professor explained that most learners have a “jagged profile” of traits when it comes to learning. One student might have an affinity for science but have below-average reading skills. Yet standard teaching practice assumes at least average skills across the board. “Because our science textbook assumes every kid is reading on grade level, we’re in trouble,” he said in the talk. “For her, science class is first and foremost a reading test, and it’s doubtful that we will ever see what she’s truly capable of.”
by Jeffrey R. Young
Read more.
http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Three Myths about Hybrid and Online College Courses
As many educators recognize, hybrid and online courses are increasing in higher learning institutions. Yet in spite of this, lack of encouragement among some professors and administrators for this type of instruction means the supply is not necessarily keeping up with the demand. Some colleges are reluctant to increase the number of online and hybrid courses because of misconceptions about their utility.
By Janet Michello
Read more.
http://www.evolllution.com
By Janet Michello
Read more.
http://www.evolllution.com
10 Types of Learners You Can Run Into When Imparting Online Training
The most challenging aspect of imparting effective online training is targeting the many learners taking the same program. Understanding the different types of learners, summed up in following categories, is beneficial to any designer looking to create personalized eLearning courses.
By Karla Gutierrez
Read more.
http://info.shiftelearning.com/
By Karla Gutierrez
Read more.
http://info.shiftelearning.com/
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Simple Screencasting Tips
Does anyone visit Second Life anymore? Perhaps not, or at least not often. But video tutorials are still very helpful, which makes screencasting a useful skill to develop.
We’ve covered screencasting in this space before, beginning with this introductory guide. It’s still well worth a look, even nearly five years later, and the basic workflow for screencasting hasn’t changed much.
by Amy Cavender
Read more.
http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/
We’ve covered screencasting in this space before, beginning with this introductory guide. It’s still well worth a look, even nearly five years later, and the basic workflow for screencasting hasn’t changed much.
by Amy Cavender
Read more.
http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/
Monday, August 11, 2014
Gear Up for College With These Essential Virtual Tools
Students can find apps and online resources to help with everything from note-taking to citations.
As you gather your back-to-school essentials and prepare to start your freshman year of college, your virtual backpack is one item that should make your list.
In this increasingly digital age, there is a plethora of networks, platforms and tools aimed squarely at college students – one of the most information-hungry demographics. Not all tools are created equal, of course. Certain programs are easier to use, possess better integration across multiple platforms or offer more useful features with a premium subscription.
The following tips are your guide to a selection of the best applications and online tools for your virtual college backpack to help you study smarter from the moment you arrive on campus.
By Brian Witte
Read more.
http://www.usnews.com/education
As you gather your back-to-school essentials and prepare to start your freshman year of college, your virtual backpack is one item that should make your list.
In this increasingly digital age, there is a plethora of networks, platforms and tools aimed squarely at college students – one of the most information-hungry demographics. Not all tools are created equal, of course. Certain programs are easier to use, possess better integration across multiple platforms or offer more useful features with a premium subscription.
The following tips are your guide to a selection of the best applications and online tools for your virtual college backpack to help you study smarter from the moment you arrive on campus.
By Brian Witte
Read more.
http://www.usnews.com/education
Portfolio Assessments Help Online Students Earn Credit
Online students can get credit for work experience by documenting their knowledge.
In the decade before she decided to get her online bachelor’s degree in business administration from Golden Gate University, Bethany Meyer spent most of her days in California working as a human resources professional in the restaurant industry.
When it came time to enter her program, she realized she knew plenty of the material covered in her required courses. The problem: she had the work experience – not the academic credit – to prove it.
Meyer’s school adviser suggested she try something called portfolio assessment, a process that would allow her to gain credit for a specific course by documenting what she already knew.
By Devon Haynie
Read more.
http://www.usnews.com/education
In the decade before she decided to get her online bachelor’s degree in business administration from Golden Gate University, Bethany Meyer spent most of her days in California working as a human resources professional in the restaurant industry.
When it came time to enter her program, she realized she knew plenty of the material covered in her required courses. The problem: she had the work experience – not the academic credit – to prove it.
Meyer’s school adviser suggested she try something called portfolio assessment, a process that would allow her to gain credit for a specific course by documenting what she already knew.
By Devon Haynie
Read more.
http://www.usnews.com/education
A virtual analysis - Pilot study put blended-format courses to the test
A new analysis of four blended-format courses taught last fall offers practical guidance for faculty members interested in fresh pedagogical approaches.
The pilot study led by the Bok Center for Teaching and Learning and released today after months of checks and balances showed that students responded most to lesson structure and execution, placed a premium on person-to-person interaction, and found redundancies between in-class and online instruction.
By Michael Patrick Rutter
Read more.
http://news.harvard.edu
The pilot study led by the Bok Center for Teaching and Learning and released today after months of checks and balances showed that students responded most to lesson structure and execution, placed a premium on person-to-person interaction, and found redundancies between in-class and online instruction.
By Michael Patrick Rutter
Read more.
http://news.harvard.edu
UPenn Professors Say MOOCs the Future of MBA Programs
According to a recent study by two professors from University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, online learning could benefit students in ways separate from the benefits gained from traditional classroom learning.
The study, titled “Will Video Kill the Classroom Star? The Threat and Opportunity of MOOCs for Full-Time MBA Programs,” looked at the video technology used for massive open online courses (MOOCs), which the authors call “SuperText”, and discovered that it could make MBA courses 40% cheaper to produce.
By Kristin Decarr
Read more.
http://www.educationnews.org
The study, titled “Will Video Kill the Classroom Star? The Threat and Opportunity of MOOCs for Full-Time MBA Programs,” looked at the video technology used for massive open online courses (MOOCs), which the authors call “SuperText”, and discovered that it could make MBA courses 40% cheaper to produce.
By Kristin Decarr
Read more.
http://www.educationnews.org
Motivate and Engage Online Learners All Semester Long
These 10 strategies can help keep learners on track to successfully finish your online course.
Recently I remembered the summer when I took swimming lessons with my grandmother. One hot day in July, she asked me to jump off the side of the pool and swim to her. I knew she would be there to catch me, so I jumped all in. As I swam closer to her, she began to move backwards, encouraging me to continue swimming until I reached her. Just before I thought I would drown, she picked me up out of the water and said how proud she was of my accomplishment. I only then realized I swam the entire length of the pool. It was her encouragement that allowed me to achieve a goal I thought would be impossible.
For many learners, taking an online course can be like diving into the pool. They may feel they require a whole new skill set to stay afloat, and it's important that you help guide and motivate them from that first splash to the finish line. How will you encourage them to continue achieving the goals that they may think are too challenging? Here is a set of techniques and strategies that can be used all semester long to get your learners swimming with ease.
By Paul Beaudoin
Read more.
http://campustechnology.com
Recently I remembered the summer when I took swimming lessons with my grandmother. One hot day in July, she asked me to jump off the side of the pool and swim to her. I knew she would be there to catch me, so I jumped all in. As I swam closer to her, she began to move backwards, encouraging me to continue swimming until I reached her. Just before I thought I would drown, she picked me up out of the water and said how proud she was of my accomplishment. I only then realized I swam the entire length of the pool. It was her encouragement that allowed me to achieve a goal I thought would be impossible.
For many learners, taking an online course can be like diving into the pool. They may feel they require a whole new skill set to stay afloat, and it's important that you help guide and motivate them from that first splash to the finish line. How will you encourage them to continue achieving the goals that they may think are too challenging? Here is a set of techniques and strategies that can be used all semester long to get your learners swimming with ease.
By Paul Beaudoin
Read more.
http://campustechnology.com
The Rise of the Helicopter Teacher
A week before the first paper was due, a young woman in my class raised her hand and asked where the rubric was.
Shamefaced and stuttering, I had to admit that I had no idea what a rubric was. She helpfully explained that this was a set of guidelines explaining what I expected them to write, how I expected them to write it, and how each aspect of the paper would be evaluated. A set of boxes that students could check off to guarantee that they had met my expectations. For all intents and purposes, in other words, an outline for the paper.
by Steven Conn
Read more.
http://chronicle.com/section/Blogs
Shamefaced and stuttering, I had to admit that I had no idea what a rubric was. She helpfully explained that this was a set of guidelines explaining what I expected them to write, how I expected them to write it, and how each aspect of the paper would be evaluated. A set of boxes that students could check off to guarantee that they had met my expectations. For all intents and purposes, in other words, an outline for the paper.
by Steven Conn
Read more.
http://chronicle.com/section/Blogs
Can Universities Use Data to Fix What Ails the Lecture?
John R. Barker paces the front of the lecture hall, gesturing at slides with a laser pointer and explaining to a room full of undergraduates how scientists use data to make predictions about global climate change.
At the moment Mr. Barker, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Michigan, is facing a climate crisis of his own: The atmosphere in this lecture hall is dead.
The students are supposed to be following along with the slides on their computers while taking notes using a program called LectureTools. It was designed to collect data on how students are reacting to lectures—in theory, giving professors a window into what is going on in the heads of their students.
By Steve Kolowich
Read more.
http://m.chronicle.com
At the moment Mr. Barker, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Michigan, is facing a climate crisis of his own: The atmosphere in this lecture hall is dead.
The students are supposed to be following along with the slides on their computers while taking notes using a program called LectureTools. It was designed to collect data on how students are reacting to lectures—in theory, giving professors a window into what is going on in the heads of their students.
By Steve Kolowich
Read more.
http://m.chronicle.com
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Are Courses Outdated? MIT Considers Offering ‘Modules’ Instead
People now buy songs, not albums. They read articles, not newspapers. So why not mix and match learning “modules” rather than lock into 12-week university courses?
That question is a major theme of a 213-page report released on Monday by a committee at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology exploring how the 153-year-old engineering powerhouse should innovate to adapt to new technologies and new student expectations.
By Jeffrey R. Young
Read more.
http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus
That question is a major theme of a 213-page report released on Monday by a committee at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology exploring how the 153-year-old engineering powerhouse should innovate to adapt to new technologies and new student expectations.
By Jeffrey R. Young
Read more.
http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Why This Professor Is Encouraging Facebook Use in His Classroom
Facebook and academe aren’t exactly friends. Over the years, the social-media company has been the source of ethically questionable research, the purveyor of uncomfortable teacher-student interactions, and, of course, the consummate classroom distraction, scourge of lecture halls the world over.
At least on that last note, however, one researcher says higher education has unfairly maligned the social-media behemoth. Kevin D. Dougherty, an associate professor of sociology at Baylor University, has spent the last two and a half years measuring how the Facebook group he created for his introduction-to-sociology course affected student performance. He found that students who participated in the online group enjoyed the course more, felt a stronger sense of belonging, and got better grades than those who did not participate.
by Avi Wolfman-Arent
Read more.
http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus
At least on that last note, however, one researcher says higher education has unfairly maligned the social-media behemoth. Kevin D. Dougherty, an associate professor of sociology at Baylor University, has spent the last two and a half years measuring how the Facebook group he created for his introduction-to-sociology course affected student performance. He found that students who participated in the online group enjoyed the course more, felt a stronger sense of belonging, and got better grades than those who did not participate.
by Avi Wolfman-Arent
Read more.
http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus
Monday, August 4, 2014
Learning Revolution: Interest In Online And Distance MBAs Grows
Interest in online and distance learning programs has risen for the second consecutive year - adding weight to the online MBA revolution.
The online learning revolution continues to gather steam, as the number of MBA applicants seeking online and distance study has increased for the second consecutive year, while interest in full-time MBA programs has remained roughly flat.
Widening pools of MBA candidates are seeking more flexible study options, spurring business schools to roll out more online programs and distance learning options.
By Seb Murray
Read more.
http://www.businessbecause.com
The online learning revolution continues to gather steam, as the number of MBA applicants seeking online and distance study has increased for the second consecutive year, while interest in full-time MBA programs has remained roughly flat.
Widening pools of MBA candidates are seeking more flexible study options, spurring business schools to roll out more online programs and distance learning options.
By Seb Murray
Read more.
http://www.businessbecause.com
Twitter Chat: How to Develop Good Online Learning Habits
During a U.S. News Twitter chat, experts discussed ways students can engage with online courses.
Online learning has increasingly become an option for students seeking to earn a degree without having to quit their jobs or relocate to campus. Successful online students must often balance school with work and family commitments, as well as interact with classmates and professors in a virtual environment.
By Devon Haynie
Read more.
http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education
Online learning has increasingly become an option for students seeking to earn a degree without having to quit their jobs or relocate to campus. Successful online students must often balance school with work and family commitments, as well as interact with classmates and professors in a virtual environment.
By Devon Haynie
Read more.
http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education
Open Badges for Higher Education
Higher Education institutions are being challenged as never before. Parents, students and legislators are questioning the return on investment for a college education because many degrees are only loosely linked to employability after graduation. Increasingly, the degree itself is not as critical as the skill set behind it. Employers are searching for specific skills to fit their business needs and often find the pool of recent college graduates lacking. At the same time, online education providers are flooding the market with convenient, accessible, less expensive or even free course offerings. While these classes may or may not be on a degree path, they offer students the opportunity to spend their time and money building the specific skills they need to compete in the marketplace. Some online education providers are traditional colleges trying to woo students more interested in a more convenient learning experience while upgrading their skills. Learning, skills and knowledge extend well beyond what is represented on the college transcript for many non-traditional students (who now comprise a majority of total college enrollments).
Read more.
http://www.pearsonlearningsolutions.com
Higher Education institutions are being challenged as never before. Parents, students and legislators are questioning the return on investment for a college education because many degrees are only loosely linked to employability after graduation. Increasingly, the degree itself is not as critical as the skill set behind it. Employers are searching for specific skills to fit their business needs and often find the pool of recent college graduates lacking. At the same time, online education providers are flooding the market with convenient, accessible, less expensive or even free course offerings. While these classes may or may not be on a degree path, they offer students the opportunity to spend their time and money building the specific skills they need to compete in the marketplace. Some online education providers are traditional colleges trying to woo students more interested in a more convenient learning experience while upgrading their skills. Learning, skills and knowledge extend well beyond what is represented on the college transcript for many non-traditional students (who now comprise a majority of total college enrollments).
Read more.
http://www.pearsonlearningsolutions.com
Oculus Rift DK2 Gets Torn Apart, Revealing Its Samsung Innards
You may not be able to get your hands on the very-much-backordered second generation Oculus Rift, but you know who did? iFixit — the guys who tear apart pretty much every device they can get their hands on to get a better look at the hamster wheels inside.
So what’d they find?
It’s pretty much all good news — especially for people who like to repair things on their own.
While Oculus still hasn’t publicly announced when they plan to sell these things to consumers (instead of limiting sales to developers and people who are willing to say they’re developers), this second gen prototype already shows significant improvements on the engineering front.
By Greg Kumparak
Read more.
http://techcrunch.com
So what’d they find?
It’s pretty much all good news — especially for people who like to repair things on their own.
While Oculus still hasn’t publicly announced when they plan to sell these things to consumers (instead of limiting sales to developers and people who are willing to say they’re developers), this second gen prototype already shows significant improvements on the engineering front.
By Greg Kumparak
Read more.
http://techcrunch.com
BlendKit 2014: Choose Your Own Teaching and Learning Adventure
If you’ve ever read a Choose Your Own Adventure book, then you know how awesome it is to make choices in what’s usually a static environment that lead to dynamic, customized outcomes. And that’s just what it was like (minus the dinosaurs and the time travel) for participants in the third cohort of BlendKit 2014, an open online course recently hosted by Canvas Network.
By Melissa Loble
Read more.
http://voice.instructure.com
By Melissa Loble
Read more.
http://voice.instructure.com
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