Data has been growing on a massive scale, in everything from business, engineering, science, entertainment, and policy, transforming the way we think about the world. On the education front, many initially viewed data as a disruption, and not an ally, to the classroom. And as the American higher-ed system has faced a myriad of post-recession challenges, such as shrinking budgets and increased competition, educators have had to rethink and reimagine what they do – including embracing the potential of technological “trends” like data analytics in the era of the digital classroom. Check out four key facts behind the big data…
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Future Classrooms and the Power of Big Data and Little Data
This Week: Top Headlines in Education
Starting today, we’ll be putting together a regular roundup of the best education stories on the web – everything from new tech trends and tools in the classroom, success stories and tips on personalized learning and OEM, and higher ed and K-12 research findings. This week, get a look at the Department of Education’s latest gainful employment data, a national report on K-12 funding priorities and challenges, three ways to prove the ROI of open education, and more. Education Dept. Releases Gainful Employment Data The earnings data show that graduates of certificate programs at public institutions earned nearly $9,000 more…
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The Top 5 EdTech Trends in Higher Education for 2015
1. BYOD Emphasizing its effectiveness in facilitating personalized learning, the 2015 NMC Horizon Report names BYOD a key trend making a significant impact on higher education. The report outlines a Bradford Network Study that revealed 85% of the responding educational institutions currently allow students to use their own devices on campus, with 52% actively integrating those devices into the learning experience; “The link between the use of personal devices and increases in productivity gets stronger each passing year as more organizations adopt BYOD policies.” 2. Flipped Classroom The flipped classroom model is continuing to make drastic improvements to higher education,…
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Why Educators are the Driving Force of Change in Education
Education technology is a fast-paced industry, continuously evolving to meet the challenges of 21st century education. Every now and again, a concept comes to light that claims to ‘revolutionize’ or ‘transform’ education as we know it. Over the years, as a result of these recurring promises that often fail to deliver, we’ve become cynical of far-reaching statements offering an alternative to our familiar ‘one size fits all’ approach to education. But regardless of the innovation that technology puts forward, as Sir Ken Robinson states, “teaching is a creative profession”, and one that requires an innovative mindset that will “mentor, stimulate,…
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Lessons in Success: Why Self-Assessment Matters
Every success story is different. Richard Branson was a dyslexic child who struggled in school whose net worth is now at 4.8 billion dollars. Steve Jobs was a free spirit and college drop-out who went on to revolutionize the computer industry. Oprah Winfrey went from the very depths of poverty and abuse to a multi award-winning talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. What do these stories have in common? Many would say perseverance, ambition, confidence… But without regular self-assessment and reflection, our stories, extraordinary or not, never reach their full potential. While important in every aspect of life and…
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How Personalization is Transforming the Higher Education Landscape
How Personalization is Transforming the Higher Education Landscape Just as 21st century education is facing a complete reformation in the face of continuing technological advancements, higher education is undergoing its own transformation. With adaptive learning platforms moving with increasing speed into the instructional field, personalization is beginning to reveal its innovative abilities to drive dynamic and adaptive instruction. With a personalized learning environment for every student, adaptive systems place the focus on meeting the skill requirements of an overcrowded graduate pool. Tailoring the learning experience to each student’s specific learning criteria, personalization engines support every single student towards mastery of…
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5 Habits of Highly Innovative Educators
#1. Connect Constantly Regardless of the many curveballs that may be thrown their way during a typical school day, innovative educators are always connected. With a base camp on Twitter, they move from hashtag to hashtag, sharing, connecting and learning, branching out regularly to other social media platforms to expand their reach. Embracing helpful feedback, discovering exciting concepts, and constructing new ideas, these educators then attempt to import their new-found expertise to the classroom, turning theory into practice, and ideas into movements. #2. Self-Assess Hourly With every class delivered, innovative educators try to make time for self-assessment. Analyzing each lesson,…
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Pedagogy and Technology: Integrating the 5 C’s of 21st Century Education
Beginning with the 4 C’s, the key skills of 21st century education have been multiplying, with additions like compassion, culture and connectivity regularly making the cut. Encompassing the core values of 21st century learning, these C’s are fundamental in our understanding of changing pedagogy, and the role that technology plays. A powerful tool to drive these essential skills, adaptive technology maintains a focus on the primary C’s of 21st century education, incorporating each overlapping element in a non-linear path. With others embedded within, the following five skills remain central to personalized learning and it’s efforts in preparing students for 21st…
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Mobile World Congress 2015: Combining Innovation for Better Education Solutions
On March 2nd, the annual Mobile World Congress is being held in Barcelona. The thrilling four-day event is set to welcome tech-thusiasts from all walks of life, showcasing and exploring “the edge of innovation.” “Connecting billions of people to the transformative power of the Internet and mobilising every device we use in our daily lives”, last year’s MWC opened its doors to over 85,000 attendees, 4,500 CEO’s, 1,800 exhibitors, and 3,900 press members representing 1,700 media outlets from 84 countries. Next generation learning platform, Fishtree, is set to make an appearance at the event, exhibiting its incredibly innovative software that…
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Technology for the Sake of Technology: The Problem with SAMR
When it comes to technology integration in schools, many are looking to the SAMR model for guidance. The Substitution Augmentation Modification Redefinition model offers an insight into how technology can be integrated into the teaching process, following the steps outlined. However, many educators are now turning away from the model, highlighting its over-emphasis on replacing traditional teaching methods, and its lack of focus on learning outcomes. Following the model’s guidelines, many educators suggest we are losing sight of why we are using technology in the first place, making it a case of technology for the sake of technology. Once technology…
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