Photo-realistic VR tour Oof the Palace Of Versailles now available free on SteamVR — from vrscout.com by Kyle Melnick
On 10/07/2019,
in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, 3D, education technology, educational games / serious games, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, Europe, immersion, innovation, platforms, vendors, virtual field trips, Virtual Reality (VR) / worlds / learning, XR - extended reality,
by Daniel Christian
On 09/18/2019,
in adjunct faculty, Adobe, Apple, Asia, Australia, blogs / blogging / vlogging, Canada, Canvas - and other Instructure-related items, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, collaboration, colleges, communications, community colleges, content development, aggregation, repositories, corporate / business world, corporate universities / corporate training, digital audio, digital learning, digital photography, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, Europe, faculty/staff, global / globalization, Google, higher education, India, internet, IT in HE, law schools, learning, learning ecosystem, media/film, Microsoft, multimedia, new media literacies, online learning, platforms, podcasting, productivity / tips and tricks, professional development, social learning / networks, social media, teachers, teaching & learning, teaching online, technologies for your home, technology (general), tools, training / L&D, trends, UK, United States, universities, vendors, web-based collaboration, workplace,
by Daniel Christian
Per Jane Hart on LinkedIn:
Top 200 Tools for Learning 2019 is now published, together with:
- Top 100 Tools for Personal & Professional Learning 2019
- Top 100 Tools for Workplace Learning 2019
- Top 100 Tools for Higher Education 2019
PLUS analysis of how these tools are being used in different context, new graphics, and updated comments on the tools’ pages that show how people are using the tools.
On 09/14/2019,
in Asia, Australia, Canada, collaboration, colleges, community colleges, Europe, higher education, India, IT in HE, law schools, leadership, learning ecosystem, online learning, quality, strategy, teaching online, UK, United States, universities, vendors,
by Daniel Christian
The Global Landscape of Online Program Companies — from by Doug Lederman
New trove of data suggests a bigger, more complex, more varied ecosystem of companies that work with colleges to take their academic programs online.
Excerpt:
A new dataset promises to give college leaders, company officials and others involved in the online learning landscape much more information about who offers what programs, how they manage them and where the money is flowing, among other factors.
And the company behind the new data, Holon IQ, published a report today that gives a new name to the large and diversifying category of providers that are working with colleges to take their programs online: OPX, instead of OPM, for online program management companies. (More on that later.)
Also see:
Also see:
- Multi-Faculty Collaboration to Design Online General Studies Courses — from facultyfocus.com by B. Jean Mandernach
Excerpt:
While this type of autonomy in course design makes sense for the face-to-face classroom, it may be less practical–and less effective–in the context of online education. Simply put, development of a high-quality online course takes considerable time and advanced knowledge of online pedagogy. If multiple faculty members are teaching the same course online (as is often the case with general studies or other high-demand courses), it is not an efficient use of departmental time, resources, or budget to have multiple faculty developing their own online classroom for different sections of the same course.
On 09/03/2019,
in 21st century, A/V -- audio/visual, communications, corporate / business world, emerging technologies, Europe, global / globalization, innovation, internet, mobile technologies, technologies for your home, technology (general), vendors, web-based collaboration, workplace,
by Daniel Christian
What to expect at IFA 2019, Europe’s colossal tech show — from digitaltrends.com by Josh Levenson
Excerpt:
This week, the world’s leading manufacturers will take to the stage at IFA 2019 in Berlin, Germany, to showcase their latest innovations. Here’s what you need to know about this year’s show, including when it’s set to start, how long it will run for, where it’s held, the schedule, and all the devices we’re expecting to see unveiled by the likes of LG, Sony, Samsung, and more.
On 08/15/2019,
in Asia, Australia, Canada, communications, Europe, geography / geology, global / globalization, Google, graphics, higher education, homeschooling/homeschoolers, India, innovation, K-12 related, languages and translation, multimedia, online learning, online media, society, sociology, tools, UK, United States, vendors,
by Daniel Christian
Take a tour of Google Earth with speakers of 50 different indigenous languages — from fastcompany.com by Melissa Locker
Excerpt:
After the United Nations declared 2019 the International Year of Indigenous Languages, Google decided to help draw attention to the indigenous languages spoken around the globe and perhaps help preserve some of the endangered ones too. To that end, the company recently launched its first audio-driven collection, a new Google Earth tour complete with audio recordings from more than 50 indigenous language speakers from around the world.
Architect paints famous cities around the world in watercolor and the result is awesome — from themindcircle.com
On 06/15/2019,
in 21st century, Asia, Australia, Blockchain, corporate universities / corporate training, credentialing, education, education technology, elearning, emerging technologies, Europe, future, future of higher education, global / globalization, higher education, India, internet, law schools, learning, learning agents, learning ecosystem, Learning from the Living [Class] Room, lifelong learning, Microsoft, personalized/customized learning, platforms, tools, training / L&D, UK, United States, universities, vendors,
by Daniel Christian
Blockchain: The move from freedom to the rigid, dominant system in learning — from oeb.global by Inge de Waard
In this post Inge de Waard gives an overview of current Blockchain options from industry and looks at its impact on universities as well as philosophises on its future.
Excerpt:
I mentioned a couple of Blockchain certification options already, but an even more advanced blockchain in learning example has entered on my radar too. It is a Russian implementation called Disciplina. This platform combines education (including vocational training), recruiting (comparable with what LinkedIn is doing with its economic graph) and careers for professionals. All of this is combined into a blockchain solution that keeps track of all the learners’ journey. The platform includes not only online courses as we know it but also coaching. After each training, you get a certificate.
TeachMePlease, which is a partner of Disciplina, enables teachers and students to find each other for specific professional training as well as curriculum-related children’s schooling. Admittedly, these initiatives are still being rolled out in terms of courses, but it clearly shows where the next learning will be located: in an umbrella above all the universities and professional academies. At present, the university courses are being embedded into course offerings by corporations that roll out a layer post-university, or post-vocational schooling.
Europe embraces blockchain, as can be seen with their EU Blockchain observatory and forum. And in a more national action, Malta is storing their certifications in a blockchain nationwide as well. We cannot deny that blockchain is getting picked up by both companies and governments. Universities have been piloting several blockchain certification options, and they also harbour some of the leading voices in the debate on blockchain certification.
Also see:
Also see:
- 7 blockchain mistakes and how to avoid them — from computerworld.com by Lucas Mearian
The blockchain industry is still something of a wild west, with many cloud service offerings and a large universe of platforms that can vary greatly in their capabilities. So enterprises should beware jumping to conclusions about the technology.
On 06/12/2019,
in analytics, Artificial Intelligence/Agents/LLMs/and Related, Asia, Australia, Canada, career development, cost of getting a degree, Cost of legal services - including access, Daniel S. Christian, data related items, education, education technology, emerging technologies, Europe, future of higher education, game-changing environment, health, higher education, human-computer interaction (HCI), India, innovation, intelligent systems, internet, IT in HE, law schools, learning ecosystem, Learning from the Living [Class] Room, marketing/social marketing, MBA, Microsoft, MOOCs -- Massive Open Online Courses, more voice more choice more control, multimedia, new business models, online learning, pace of change, platforms, social learning / networks, social media, society, storytelling, student-related, technologies for your home, technology (general), tools, trends, UK, Uncategorized, United States, vendors, voice recognition / voice enabled interfaces, web-based collaboration, workplace,
by Daniel Christian
Excerpts:
From DSC:
That last one reminded me of why I think the Living from the Living [Class] Room vision is so powerful…
On 05/30/2019,
in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, Amazon, Apple, Artificial Intelligence/Agents/LLMs/and Related, Asia, Australia, bots, Canada, change, consortiums, corporate / business world, data related items, emerging technologies, Europe, Facebook / Meta Platforms, future, game-changing environment, Google, human-computer interaction (HCI), ideas, India, IT in HE, law schools, leadership, legal technologies, legislatures / government / legal, Microsoft, pace of change, platforms, political science, society, tools, trends, UK, United States, vendors, workplace,
by Daniel Christian
10 things we should all demand from Big Tech right now — from vox.com by Sigal Samuel
We need an algorithmic bill of rights. AI experts helped us write one.
Excerpts:
- Transparency: We have the right to know when an algorithm is making a decision about us, which factors are being considered by the algorithm, and how those factors are being weighted.
- Explanation: We have the right to be given explanations about how algorithms affect us in a specific situation, and these explanations should be clear enough that the average person will be able to understand them.
- Consent: We have the right to give or refuse consent for any AI application that has a material impact on our lives or uses sensitive data, such as biometric data.
- Freedom from bias: We have the right to evidence showing that algorithms have been tested for bias related to race, gender, and other protected characteristics — before they’re rolled out. The algorithms must meet standards of fairness and nondiscrimination and ensure just outcomes. (Inserted comment from DSC: Is this even possible? I hope so, but I have my doubts especially given the enormous lack of diversity within the large tech companies.)
- Feedback mechanism: We have the right to exert some degree of control over the way algorithms work.
- Portability: We have the right to easily transfer all our data from one provider to another.
- Redress: We have the right to seek redress if we believe an algorithmic system has unfairly penalized or harmed us.
- Algorithmic literacy: We have the right to free educational resources about algorithmic systems.
- Independent oversight: We have the right to expect that an independent oversight body will be appointed to conduct retrospective reviews of algorithmic systems gone wrong. The results of these investigations should be made public.
- Federal and global governance: We have the right to robust federal and global governance structures with human rights at their center. Algorithmic systems don’t stop at national borders, and they are increasingly used to decide who gets to cross borders, making international governance crucial.
This raises the question: Who should be tasked with enforcing these norms? Government regulators? The tech companies themselves?
Photograph of Multicolored “Cloud” Galaxy by Amateur Photographers Combines 1,060 Hours of Exposure — from thisiscolossal.com by Andrew Lasane
Excerpt:
A group of French amateur astrophotographers called Ciel Austral (“Southern Sky”) have shared a 240-megapixel image of the Large Magellan Cloud (LMC). Constructed using 4,000 images, the seamless collage required over 1,060 hours of exposures. Together, the images form a massive digital poster with colorful explosions and pockets of cosmic dust that resemble watercolors dripped and blown across an inky black surface.
The individual photos that make up the 14,400-pixel-wide image were captured between July 2017 and February 2019 using a 160mm refracting telescope at an observatory in Chile that is owned by the photographers. The colors in the image are not what you would see if you traveled 163,000 light years to get LMC. Ciel Austral used special filters that (based on which elements are present) highlight parts of the visual spectrum. The resulting swirling hues are best appreciated in close-ups like the ones below. To see the full size image in all of its glory, head over to the Ciel Austral website.
From DSC:
Again I say, “Glory to God in the highest!”