Educational Software Exploration Framework during COVID-19

Educational Software Exploration Framework during COVID-19

A framework for implementing a successful technology plan in the short-term during virtual learning.

Since it became imminent that institutions of Higher Education would be holding classes virtually and possibly extend international course offerings in the Spring/Summer 2020 semester, Instructional Designers and Technologists have been exploring and experimenting with various technology solutions. Eventually, it’s become a question of which ones to promote and which ones to abandon.

In addition to domestic testing in North America, exploring academic technologies for the international students returning to their home countries has become a key piece to the puzzle. Selecting the right tools should be designed around engaging students, faculty, alumni, and staff located in various regions of the world. 

Next comes the critical part of instituting a framework for success. The following areas will help guide your framework.

• Know your audience: Over the years, Teaching & Learning units and faculty have encountered challenges with students attempting to complete their coursework while abroad traveling or working. Now is the time to call on those experiences. Maybe some websites where inaccessible, videos did not load, proctoring software did not function as expected, or connectivity was an issue. Those bits of information and learning best practices will be key in designing a framework for your technology implementation. A great arsenal in your abroad-test-kit. 

• Know your testers: The technology testers you identify could include your international students, staff, faculty, and alumni currently located abroad. Having a diverse group of testers will ensure a comprehensive report. Engage them early and be transparent on your testing goals.

• Go small, think big: Seeking now technologies and solutions that will address your immediate need may be tempting. However, sticking with your infrastructure of a Learning Management System coupled with your Office suite and video conferencing solution might be all you need. 

• Invest in your current stock: Institutions do need to reinvest in current solutions through increased support and maintenance.

• Polish your best practice notes: Realizing that you may have to abandon most of the innovations you have instituted over the years in your online programming may be daunting. In most instances, that sleek modern media studio you built last year may be inaccessible now. However, the best practices you created for that new space can be transferable in a Do-It-Yourself home studio. Now is the time to polish those best practice pages.

• Post COVID-19: Prepare to use current experiences and best practices to build for a post COVID-19 world.

By Charles Wachira

https://twitter.com/charlestwachira/status/1267187407696379905

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How Technological Innovation In Education Is Taking On COVID-19

How Technological Innovation In Education Is Taking On COVID-19 via @forbes https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeanneallen/2020/03/13/how-technological-innovation-in-education-is-taking-on-covid-19/

10 technology trends to watch in the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19: 10 tech trends getting us through the pandemic https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/10-technology-trends-coronavirus-covid19-pandemic-robotics-telehealth/ via @wef

Colleges Aren’t Reopening in the Fall

Colleges Aren’t Reopening in the Fall
Don’t be misled by presidents who say otherwise

Over the past few weeks, hundreds of colleges have made statements about their plans for the fall semester. While most express some level of uncertainty, others have included promises to reopen on schedule. Radford University, in Virginia, for example, proudly announced that it will fully reopen on August 3, with no listed contingency plans. The president of Nicholls State University, in Louisiana, said “we’re back on our campus” in the fall. And Nova Southeastern University, in Florida, has vowed — in bold font — that the fall semester will be on campus.

By Robert Kelchen MAY 18, 2020

Read more:
https://www.chronicle.com/article/Colleges-Aren-t-Reopening-in/248803?utm_source=cr&utm_medium=en&utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_1239472&cid=cr&source=ams&sourceId=2823099

https://www.chronicle.com/

A Quick-Start Guide to Teaching from Home by Andrew Ng

A guide for educators to transition from teaching in the classroom to teaching online with minimal planning and effort.

Recent events have accelerated digital transformation in higher education, requiring educators to quickly shift from teaching live in classrooms to teaching online in their living rooms in the span of weeks. Redesigning an in-person class into a high-quality online offering with limited access to equipment is no easy task, and many of us simply don’t have the time to do so, given the unprecedented circumstances. 

Read more: https://blog.coursera.org/learn-and-take-action-with-three-new-teach-outs-from-jhu-emory-and-the-university-of-michigan/

https://blog.coursera.org/

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Here’s a List of Colleges’ Plans for Reopening in the Fall

The coronavirus pandemic has left higher-education leaders facing difficult decisions about when to reopen campuses and how to go about it. The Chronicle is tracking individual colleges’ plans. Currently the vast majority say they are planning for an in-person fall semester.

Read more: https://www.chronicle.com/article/Here-s-a-List-of-Colleges-/248626
https://www.chronicle.com/

By Chronicle Staff APRIL 23, 2020
(Last updated at 6:40 p.m. Eastern time on May 19.)

Dawn of the Age of Digital Learning

Moving From B.C. to A.D.
The Coronavirus has instantly forced 1.6B students and teachers online. Effectively, more than 90% of total enrolled learners and educators around the world have been thrown into the deep end of the online learning pool and told to sink or swim.

By Michael Moe

https://medium.com/gsv-ventures/dawn-of-the-age-of-digital-learning-4c4e38784226