digital learning

Universities reimagine teaching labs for a virtual future — from edtechmagazine.com by Renee Morad
Schools are replacing take-home lab kits with more advanced virtual options that allow students to access industry-grade equipment.

Excerpt:

Soon after, engineering professors at Morgan State began using more advanced virtual lab options, which allowed students to access industry-grade lab equipment. The students could use an oscilloscope, a digital multimeter, a power supply and a function generator. The students logged on remotely to a cloud-based platform and followed the instructor’s video feed to get real-time guidance and feedback.

As the global pandemic forced professors and department chairs to adapt to a new learning frontier, it shined a spotlight on new methods to remotely replicate the in-person lab experience. It shifted the university lab from a traditional learning center to a futuristic innovation hub.

From DSC:
Also interesting here, see:

Also relevant here, see:

U San Diego Nursing Students to Learn Clinical Skills in VR — from campustechnology.com by Rhea Kelly
Excerpt:
The University of San Diego is rolling out virtual reality technology in its nursing curriculum to help prepare students for real-world clinical scenarios. The VR tools will enable students to learn and practice clinical skills in a low-risk setting, as well as reduce their anxiety when interacting with live patients, according to a news announcement.

Sticky learning: Digital brain dumps with Flipgrid and Socrative [ditchthattextbook.com]

On 03/11/2022, in digital learning, education technology, learning, Learning Experience Design, learning theories, memory, pedagogy, tools, vendors, by Daniel Christian

Sticky learning: Digital brain dumps with Flipgrid and Socrative — from ditchthattextbook.com

Excerpt:

Retrieval practice is powerful. It can be an easy practice to incorporate in class. Plus, there are some great digital tools that are made for this kind of practice.

In this post, you’ll learn …

What a “brain dump” is and how to do it
How to do video brain dumps with Flipgrid
How to do text brain dumps with Socrative
Why you don’t need tech to do brain dumps
Where you can find more info and research behind brain dumps

Resetting the learning function to a virtual-first approach [Webb & Tweedie; chieflearningofficer.com]

On 03/11/2022, in content development, aggregation, repositories, corporate / business world, corporate universities / corporate training, digital learning, training / L&D, Virtual Reality (VR) / worlds / learning, by Daniel Christian

Resetting the learning function to a virtual-first approach — from chieflearningofficer.com by Stephanie Webb, Bob Tweedie

Excerpts:

We recommend embracing a “virtual-first” learning approach, supercharging the empathy in our proven learning toolkit with design thinking, and intentionally incorporating more human connection into learning through the direct involvement of learners’ managers.

“Just as some companies have adopted a “remote-first” employment model, learning teams need to move to a “virtual-first” approach to design to provide the level of predictability needed to produce high-quality work for learners and the business.”

This Hilarious AR App Teaches Kids Financial Responsibility — from vrscout.com by Bobby Carlton

Excerpts:

Adventures with Zeee Bucks is a mobile AR experience that is designed to help youngsters sharpen their financial skills by earning and saving Zeee bucks, and even help them save real money.
…
You can download the app today for free on the iOS and Android stores.

Students Often Prefer In-Person Classes . . . Until They Don’t [Samson]

On 03/10/2022, in colleges, community colleges, content development, aggregation, repositories, digital learning, distance education, education technology, elearning, engagement / engaging students, face-to-face, flipping -- inverted learning, future of higher education, game-changing environment, higher education, human-computer interaction (HCI), instructional design, law schools, learning, learning ecosystem, Learning Experience Design, Learning from the Living [Class] Room, learning preferences, Michigan, online learning, online media, student-related, teaching & learning, teaching online, United States, universities, usability, user experience (UX), by Daniel Christian

Students Often Prefer In-Person Classes . . . Until They Don’t — from er.educause.edu by Perry Samson, Professor in the Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering at the University of Michigan.
.

You Sleuth is a family-friendly outdoor game that requires a moderate amount of walking. You can play by yourself or with a group of friends or family. If you are looking for something new that will stimulate your mind while sneaking in a little exercise and fresh air then register today. Read the rest of the FAQ for more details about how You Sleuth works.

From DSC:
What might this look/work like for learning-related applications? Also, if you are studying to be an actor or actress, might there be some new opportunities for you here!? If you are a writer, might there be some new sorts of collaborations opening up here? As the next version of the internet is developed, what new affordances/opportunities might exist in this area?

From DSC:
After checking out the following two links, I created the graphic below:

Readability initiative > Better reading for all. — from Adobe.com
We’re working with educators, nonprofits, and technologists to help people of all ages and abilities read better by personalizing the reading experience on digital devices.
The Readability Consortium > About page

Also related/see:

Microsoft Education Unveils Expanded Literacy, Accessibility Tools for Students and Teachers — from thejournal.com by Kristal Kuykendall
Announcing an expanded literacy portfolio to reach every learner — from educationblog.microsoft.com by Paige Johnson
What Kids Are Reading — from renaissance.com

Why the World’s First Virtual Reality High School Changes Everything [Steve Grubbs]

On 03/01/2022, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, 3D, A/V -- audio/visual, accreditation, attention, Augmented Reality (AR), change, changing business models, collaboration, communities of practice, content development, aggregation, repositories, copyright/ownership/NFTs, creativity, credentialing, cryptocurrencies, digital audio, digital learning, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, distance education, education, education technology, elearning, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, entrepreneurship, experimentation, future, game-changing environment, global / globalization, graphics, homeschooling/homeschoolers, ideas, immersion, innovation, instructional design, interactivity, K-12 related, learning, learning ecosystem, Learning from the Living [Class] Room, learning hubs & pods & microschooling, learning preferences, learning spaces, Metaverse, multimedia, new business models, online learning, online media, online tutoring, parents/guardians, participation, platforms, simulations, social learning / networks, student-related, teachers, teaching & learning, teaching online, tools, United States, vendors, virtual field trips, virtual K-12 schools, Virtual Reality (VR) / worlds / learning, virtual tutoring, vision/possibilities, wearables, web-based collaboration, Web3, XR - extended reality, youth, by Daniel Christian

Why the World’s First Virtual Reality High School Changes Everything — from steve-grubbs.medium.com by Steve Grubs

Excerpts:

The recipe required key ingredients to happen. In addition to an accredited school to manage students, admissions and the for-credit learning, it also needed a platform. That’s where EngageVR comes in. There are other platforms that will ultimately host schools, perhaps AltSpace, Horizon or others, but the first is on Engage.
…
The bottom line is this: creators, coders, educators, entrepreneurs, investors, corporations, parents and students all played a role in finally bringing the first global virtual reality high school to life. It won’t be the last school to open in the metaverse, but to all those involved in this inaugural launch — the Neil Armstrongs of your age — a special tip of the hat today for having the vision and the willingness to launch a better and more equitable era of education.

Also see:

World’s First Metaverse VR High School Speech & Debate Tournament Announced for March — from victoryxr.com
NFT in Edu: What Does the Future Hold? — from gettingsmart.com by Rachelle Dené Poth
Geo Guessing Is Even More Fun In VR On The Meta Quest — from vrscout.com by Kyle Melnick

Triumphs and Troubles in Online Learning Abroad [Ubell]

On 02/27/2022, in Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, colleges, digital learning, Europe, higher education, India, learning ecosystem, Learning from the Living [Class] Room, online learning, UK, universities, by Daniel Christian

Triumphs and Troubles in Online Learning Abroad — from edsurge.com by Robert Ubell

Excerpt:

In Canada, for example, about two-thirds of colleges offer online degrees—and many have for years. While here in the U.S., a far smaller number grant degrees online.

I thought it would be good to do some digging to explore a more nuanced appreciation of the status of virtual instruction outside the U.S.

From DSC:
I would also like to mention that there’s a lot happening in Australia and in India along these lines, and likely in many other countries as well. But I think that one can only cover so much in one posting. 🙂

A new hybrid learning methodology [Brinkerhoff & Boon]

On 02/24/2022, in business, corporate / business world, corporate universities / corporate training, digital learning, India, instructional design, learning, learning ecosystem, Learning Experience Design, personalized/customized learning, platforms, training / L&D, workplace, by Daniel Christian

A new hybrid learning methodology — from chieflearningofficer.com by Robert O. Brinkerhoff, Edward L. Boon
The proliferation of digital learning transfer platforms offers the opportunity for a new and impact-enhancing hybrid: learning programs that are at the same time standardized and personalized.

Excerpt:

Such a program in the context of our example of the global manufacturing company training its shop floor managers might have the following elements, all created with the expertise of a centralized corporate L&D function:

Classroom-style presentations on video with breakout room discussion options embedded for local facilitation.
Facilitator’s guides (translated into local languages) for leading the classroom breakouts.
Coaching tools and resources for managers to conduct one-on-ones.
A library of brief videos of good (and bad) examples of managers interacting with direct reports with second-language subtitles.
Guidelines for facilitating periodic virtual check-in meetings (schedules weekly, bi-weekly, etc. to be decided locally).
Assignments, with associated resources, for learners to complete by requesting coaching sessions with their manager.

We propose that the proliferation of digital learning transfer platforms (also known as learning experience platforms or LXPs) offers the opportunity for a new and impact-enhancing hybrid: Learning programs that are at the same time standardized and personalized.

Along the lines of corporate training / Learning & Development (L&D), see:

Workplace Learning Insights from Experts — from upsidelearning.com

Storytelling for impact — from nationalgeographic.org; a collaboration between National Geographic and Adobe
Visualize and communicate powerful stories that inspire change

Excerpt:

Stories can change the world.
Learn from world-class National Geographic photographers, videographers, and visual designers in a series of Storytelling for Impact online courses. Created in partnership with Adobe, this series will teach you how to use compelling photography, video, graphics, and audio to tell stories in the most impactful ways to inspire change.

Offered for both educators and youth ages 16–25, these short, free, self-paced online courses are designed to guide learners to visualize and communicate powerful stories that inspire action.

Ready to harness the power of storytelling?

Is there a skills gap in learning design? — from neilmosley.com by Neil Mosley

Excerpt:

Another deficiency in higher education has also been the dearth of support there is for learning design. Roles such as Learning Designer or Instructional Designer have been relatively niche in UK higher education, they have tended to exist only in online or distance education settings.

This seems to be changing a little and there’s been more of these roles created over the past two years. Hopefully, as a result of growing recognition of the design and planning work that’s needed in higher education as the teaching and study experience grows in complexity.

Whilst broadly positive, this has thrown up another problem – the inconsistency and variability of skills amongst those that might refer to themselves as a Learning or Instructional Designer.

From DSC:
Though this is from the UK, these perspectives and the issues Neil raises are also very much present here in the United States. Neil raises some important questions, such as:

Aare the Learning Designers and/or Instructional Designers getting the training that they need?
What’s expected of them?
Are they utilized properly?
How do you scale their work?
How do you get professors and teachers to think of *designing* their learning experiences?

Addendum on 2/19/22:

A time for learning experience designers — from thetechedvocate.org by Matthew Lynch

And if the last two years have taught us anything, it’s that this collective movement toward learning experience design will be essential to help striving students go on better, more productive, and personally meaningful educational journeys. Indeed, we must help spread the word that education is more than a collection of classes. It may include classes, but it is so much more. At its best, it is a carefully and thoughtfully crafted and curated family of experiences that can help striving students change their lives!

A whole new world: Education meets the metaverse [brookings.edu/research]

On 02/17/2022, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, 3D, A/V -- audio/visual, Bias | Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DE&I), communications, content development, aggregation, repositories, creativity, digital learning, distance education, experimentation, future, game-changing environment, human-computer interaction (HCI), ideas, immersion, innovation, instructional design, learning, learning ecosystem, Learning Experience Design, Learning from the Living [Class] Room, learning hubs & pods & microschooling, learning preferences, learning spaces, learning theories, Metaverse, multimedia, platforms, play, teachers, teaching & learning, vendors, Virtual Reality (VR) / worlds / learning, vision/possibilities, XR - extended reality, by Daniel Christian

A whole new world: Education meets the metaverse — from brookings.edu by Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Jennifer M. Zosh, Helen Shwe Hadani, Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, Kevin Clark, Chip Donohue, and Ellen Wartella

Excerpt:

The metaverse is upon us. Soon it will be as omnipresent as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook (now Meta). As technology advances to bring us new immersive and imaginary worlds, how we educate children and prepare teachers must also advance to meet these new opportunities. When education lags the digital leaps, the technology rather than educators defines what counts as educational opportunity. This is largely what happened with the introduction of “educational” apps designed to be used on smartphones and tablets meant for adults. Today, as the metaverse infrastructure is still under construction, researchers, educators, policymakers, and digital designers have a chance to lead the way rather than get caught in the undertow. To leverage the potential of the metaverse as a 3D, global, interconnected, immersive, and real-time online space, we need new ways to connect the physical world with augmented and virtual reality (VR) experiences.

In the end, we challenge those creating educational products for the metaverse to partner with educators and scientists to ensure that children experience real human social interaction as they navigate virtual spaces, children’s agency is supported as they explore these spaces, and there is a real eye to diversity in the representation and access to what is created.

Also relevant/see:

The metaverse can provide a whole new opportunity for education. Here’s what to consider — from fastcompany.com by Stephen Fromkin
The cofounder of Talespin looks at an existing immersive learning program that delivers results and says our next priority should be getting it into the hands of as many learners as possible through the metaverse.

Some solid video editing applications for the Mac

On 02/17/2022, in Adobe, Apple, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, corporate universities / corporate training, digital audio, digital learning, digital storytelling, digital video, higher education, K-12 related, learning ecosystem, skills, story, storytelling, tools, training / L&D, United States, vendors, by Daniel Christian

Best Video Editing Software for Mac — from futurism.com by the editorial team at Recurrent Media, Futurism’s owner
Must-have software for creators in the age of YouTube.

Excerpt:

— Best Overall: Apple Final Cut Pro
— Best for Professionals: Adobe Premiere Pro 2022
— Best Budget: iMovie
— Best for Speed: Adobe Premiere Rush 2022
— Best Mid-Priced: Adobe Premiere Elements 2022

From DSC:
I appreciated the Specs, Pros, and Cons sections for each of the tools that made their cut. I also appreciated that they covered tools that could address a variety of audiences and budgets.

Also relevant/see:

What is WeVideo Classroom and How Can It Be Used for Teaching? Tips and Tricks — from techlearning.com by Luke Edwards
WeVideo Classroom makes video editing in class and remotely more education focused

WeVideo Classroom is the education spin-off of the famous video editing platform that is specifically aimed at teachers and students.

WeVideo is a very simple to use yet powerful [cloud-based] video editor which can be used by teachers to help students learn the art of video editing. Until this latest release, that meant using external tools or in-classroom teaching to get projects set and marked.

The idea behind WeVideo Classroom is to integrate all the tools into the editor itself so that teachers can set project assessments, monitor them, comment and ultimately mark them for student feedback.

Learning Ecosystems

Sticky learning: Digital brain dumps with Flipgrid and Socrative [ditchthattextbook.com]

Resetting the learning function to a virtual-first approach [Webb & Tweedie; chieflearningofficer.com]

You Sleuth = The game of Clue + Augmented Reality (AR). DC: What might this look/work like for learning-related applications?

Triumphs and Troubles in Online Learning Abroad [Ubell]

A new hybrid learning methodology [Brinkerhoff & Boon]

Is there a skills gap in learning design? [Mosley]

A whole new world: Education meets the metaverse [brookings.edu/research]

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