education reform

In our litigious society, higher ed needs to tread carefully…

On 01/20/2011, in change, changing business models, cost of getting a degree, education reform, innovation, legislatures / government / legal, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, online learning, online media, student-related, by Daniel Christian

CSU students’ tuition suit now a class action — from SF Gate by Nanette Asimov, Chronicle Staff Writer

A longshot legal complaint by five students who accused California State University trustees of illegally raising tuition in 2009 is now an official class-action lawsuit on behalf of 200,000 students demanding their money back. At stake is $40 million in refunds for students at a time when CSU is facing at least a $500 million cut in state funding that could bring on layoffs, course reductions and even higher tuition. The lawsuit claims CSU illegally raised tuition for fall 2009 because students had already paid that semester’s bill.

From DSC:

I certainly hope that this is a longshot legal complaint — both now and forevermore. However, in our litigious society, I’m not so sure.

When someone is now paying the price of a house for an education, expectations greatly increase. When the employment situation is tough, will students come back to sue? Don’t get me wrong, I am not in support of this at all — and I think it would be misplaced anger. However, I can see it happening more and more unless the price can be brought back down. It’s like steam in a tea kettle, turn down the temp (i.e. price), and there is less steam (i.e. anger). But it’s not just that — reducing the price of education via innovative means will hopefully be a win-win situation for all involved.

Recent/related items:

The (Un)employment Chronicles: Voices of the Degreed and Jobless — from The Huffington Post
Share Your Story — Majoring In Debt — from The Huffington Post
Unemployed Woman Sues College For Tuition — from The Huffington Post

Tagged with: change • cost of getting an education • education reform • higher education • legislation • new business models in he • online learning • online media • student expectations • student-related • Walmart of Education

Georgia Tech Center to explore 21st century universities — from CampusTechnology.com by Dian Schaffhauser

The Georgia Institute of Technology is setting up a new center specifically to serve as a living laboratory for testing new forms of education. Driven by the growth of social networking, online learning, and other developments, the Center for 21st Century Universities will enable faculty at the Atlanta institution to experiment with new approaches to curriculum and its delivery. According to former College of Computing Dean Rich DeMillo, who will lead the center, it will also work with national and international groups involved in higher education reform. The first item on the center’s agenda is to develop a seed grant program for promising early proposals.

Tagged with: 1:1 • 21st century • 24x7x365 • blended learning • customized learning • digital learning • education reform • educational gaming • educational technology • emerging technologies • future of higher education • game-changing environment • hybrid learning • ideas • innovation • leadership • online learning • personalized learning • social learning • social media • social networking • teaching & learning • vision

Tagged with: budgetary • education reform • grants • K-12

How will technologies like AirPlay change education? 24x7x365 access on any device is one possibility..

On 01/17/2011, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, 3D, A/V -- audio/visual, Apple, Daniel S. Christian, digital audio, digital learning, digital photography, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, disruption, distance education, e-books, e-readers, education, education reform, education technology, educational games / serious games, elearning, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, entrepreneurship, flipping -- inverted learning, future, future of higher education, game-changing environment, higher education, homeschooling/homeschoolers, human-computer interaction (HCI), informal learning, innovation, interaction design, interactivity, interface design, internet, IT in HE, K-12 related, learner profiles, learning, learning ecosystem, learning spaces, lifelong learning, media/film, mobile learning, mobile technologies, multimedia, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, new media literacies, online learning, online media, online tutoring, play, simulations, social learning / networks, teaching & learning, technologies for your home, technology (general), telepresence, training / L&D, transmedia, ubiquitous learning, user experience (UX), user interface design, videoconferencing, Virtual Reality (VR) / worlds / learning, web-based collaboration, webinars, by Daniel Christian

Addendum on 1-20-11:
The future of the TV is online — from telegraph.co.uk
Your television’s going to get connected, says Matt Warman

Tagged with: 1:1 • 21st century • 24x7x365 • 3D • A/V • Apple • blended learning • corporate training / universities • Daniel S. Christian • digital audio • digital learning • digital storytelling • digital textbooks • digital video • disruption • distance ed • e-books • e-learning • e-readers • education reform • educational technology • engagement • engaging students • entrepreneurship • flipping -- inverted learning • future • future of higher education • games • higher education • homeschooling/homeschoolers • human-computer interaction (HCI) • hybrid learning • informal learning • innovation • interaction design • interactivity • interface design • internet • iPad • iPhone • iPod • IT • Keeping students engaged • kiosks & digital displays • learner profiles • learning • learning spaces • Lifelong learning • Media/film • multimedia • online learning • online media • play • podcasting • simulations • social learning • teaching & learning • technologies for the home • telecommunications • telepresence • training • transmedia • TV • ubiquitous learning • user experience • user interface design • UX • videoconferencing • virtual reality / worlds / learning • visualizing information • vodcasting • Walmart of Education • web-based collaboration • webinars

This post may be related / helpful to the previous posting (1-15-11) about the Detroit Public Schools!

On 01/15/2011, in blended learning, budgets, education reform, hybrid learning, K-12 related, online learning, by Daniel Christian

A Big Idea: Blended CBO — from EdReformer.com by Tom Vander Ark

The nation received a friendly ‘C’ in the annual state of the nation last week. We need quality at scale and there is finally a way achieve it.

More than two million students learn online. The scaled providers (Apex, K12, Connections, Florida Virtual, NC Virtual, and Lincoln Interactive to name a few) could triple in size given 60 days notice and do it with consistent quality. We’ve never had an opportunity like that; it’s only local and state policy that stands in the way of better learning opportunities for several million kids and fast.

Community–based organizations (CBO) build powerful sustained relationships with youth, engage them in developmental activities, and connect them to youth and family services. Many of them are frustrated by working around struggling schools.

If we combine the two assets—online instruction and powerful community connections—we get one big scalable idea: blended CBOs. A blended school model incorporates online learning and onsite support in ways that are often more flexible and cost effective than traditional schools.

Michael Robbins, Department of Education’s Office of Faith-Based Partnerships, is interested in expanding the educational impact of CBOs. He thinks blended CBOs is a big idea. Over breakfast at DC’s Tabard Inn, Michael and I sketched out a couple ways this idea could scale:

Tagged with: blended learning • education reform • hybrid learning • K-12 • online learning

Here in Michigan…we will pay for this, one way or another. How can we best help out?!

On 01/15/2011, in Australia, budgets, economics, education reform, Europe, global / globalization, India, K-12 related, Michigan, online learning, open courseware and systems, relationships, UK, United States, by Daniel Christian

Half of Detroit’s schools may close — from good.is

Financial mismanagement and declining enrollment are ringing a death knell for Detroit’s schools. According to Detroit Public School Emergency Manager Robert Bobb, to close a $327 million budget deficit, he’ll need to shut half of the city’s campuses over the next two years.

Under the plan, the 142 current schools in the district would be reduced to 72 by the 2012-13 school year. What will happen to the students attending those schools? Bobb plans to shift them over to the remaining campuses, raising class sizes to 62 students per teacher.

From DSC:
Seriously…this is crazy and completely unfair! Those of us who have more resources need to step in and help out. But how can we best do this? How can folks outside of the Detroit area make a solid, helpful impact? Coming from the tech side of the house, I’d like to see us offer FREE materials…online.

That assistance could come from private corporations, individuals, colleges, universities or for-profit organizations such as K12 Inc. Another idea along the lines of individuals, is to allocate $1-$5 billion from the amounts being donated by some of the nation’s wealthiest people. Use those funds to make outstanding educational materials that engage our youth. Then we could offer those incredibly-well done, multimedia-based, interactive, engaging, highly-sophisticated materials FREELY to anyone who wants access to them — whether inside or outside the United States. This would be a massive undertaking from a curricular, instructional design, programming, production, etc. standpoint. But WOW! What a difference it could make to level the playing field!

Perhaps working with vendors, some of the funding could be used for loaning out the devices needed to “play” and interact with the materials, and perhaps some other funding could be allocated to the city of Detroit to provide wireless access throughout the city and surrounding suburbs.

Also see:

The $600 billion challenge– from Fortune

Bill Gates, Melinda Gates, and Warren Buffett are asking the nation’s billionaires to pledge to give at least half their net worth to charity, in their lifetimes or at death. If their campaign succeeds, it could change the face of philanthropy.

The Giving Pledge

…and the list goes on…

Tagged with: Australia • budgetary • economics/business • education reform • Europe • India • K-12 • Michigan • online learning • open • relationships • UK • United States

100+ online resources that are transforming education [Mashable]

On 01/15/2011, in change, changing business models, dangers of the status quo, digital textbooks, disruption, education reform, education technology, elearning, new business models, online learning, online media, open courseware and systems, publishing, tools, vendors, by Daniel Christian

100+ online resources that are transforming education — from Mashable

Tagged with: disruption • e-learning • education reform • internet • languages • new publishing models • online learning • online media • open • publishing • tools • vendors

“Predicting the future of the Internet is easy: anything it hasn’t yet dramatically transformed, it will.”

On 01/15/2011, in change, disruption, education reform, education technology, game-changing environment, internet, by Daniel Christian

“Predicting the future of the Internet is easy: anything it hasn’t yet dramatically transformed, it will.” — from Chris Dixon

The Internet has gone through fits and starts – in particular the dot com crash of 2000 disillusioned many – but every year we see it transform industries that previously sauntered along blissfully denying its existence (emphasis DSC). Already transformed: music, news, advertising, telecom. Being transformed: finance, commerce, TV & movies, real estate, politics & government. Soon to be transformed (among many others): healthcare, education, energy.

From DSC:
I used to think education was “on-deck” — but not anymore. It’s at bat.

Tagged with: change • disruption • education reform • educational technology • game-changing environment • internet

Is the Google-fication of education underway?

On 01/10/2011, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, analytics, education, education reform, Google, innovation, online learning, personalized/customized learning, by Daniel Christian

Is the Google-fication of education underway? — from cnnmoney.com by Scott Olster (emphasis below from DSC)
Among tablets and 3D TVs at CES, one-size-fits-all learning is facing a digital death knell.

Excerpt:

Similar to the way that Google collects data based on its users’ search patterns, Knewton collects data from every student that has taken one of its courses and uses it to improve its courses. Eduational content that achieves better student results will then be ranked higher in the system and be used more often. Ideally, the system becomes smarter and better over time.

“It’s like a giant recommendation engine on steroids,” says Ferreira.

The data that the company collects could potentially prove useful to educational researchers.

“We’re still trying to map out the way people learn. Collecting more data rather than looking at course grades is a welcome change,” says Miller.

Tagged with: 1:1 • 21st century • 24x7x365 • analytics • customized learning • education • education reform • Google • innovation • online learning • personalized learning

A New Culture of Learning

On 01/10/2011, in change, education reform, education technology, future, game-changing environment, higher education, innovation, K-12 related, learning ecosystem, pace of change, play, social learning / networks, social media, teaching & learning, vision/possibilities, by Daniel Christian

Original posting from:
A New Culture of Learning — weblogg-ed.com

Addendum on 1-31-11:
I just saw this posting from Catherine Lombardozzi on the Learning Journal blog, as she comments on Thomas’ & Seely Brown’s book. She concludes:

“I’m thinking that the new culture of learning doesn’t replace the old, it enriches it.”

See:
http://learningjournal.wordpress.com/2011/01/30/thenew-culture-of-learning/

Tagged with: connect • Connectivism • education reform • educational technology • future • higher education • innovation • K-12 • learning ecosystem • pace of change • play • social • social learning • teaching & learning • vision

Governors will guide the shift to digital learning

On 01/07/2011, in budgets, change, digital learning, education reform, K-12 related, leadership, legislatures / government / legal, online learning, by Daniel Christian

Governors will guide the shift to digital learning — from EdReformer.com by Tom Vander Ark

State leadership matters in education (as mentioned in National Journal), now more than ever.

States are broke. While revenues lag, costs continue to escalate (as a result of automatic pay increases, cost of living adjustments, and public pension payments) requiring several more years of painful cutbacks. Without strong state leadership, these cuts will have a disproportionate impact on low-income students.

It’s clear that a decade of standards-based reform has fallen short of expectations. Implementing real college and career ready standards that provide smooth transition to earning college credits will be a central challenge of this decade.

The pivot to personal digital learning holds the promise of customizing and extending learning, ensuring that every student receives quality instruction, and making schools more efficient. However, the shift requires state and local leadership.

Tagged with: budgetary • change • digital learning • education reform • K-12 • leadership • legislation • online learning

Policy, Fiscal Challenges Confront State Officials

On 01/04/2011, in budgets, business side of he, education, education reform, future of higher education, game-changing environment, higher education, K-12 related, legislatures / government / legal, by Daniel Christian

Policy, Fiscal Challenges Confront State Officials — from EdWeek.org by Sean Cavanagh

Governor Jerry Brown addresses the audience after he was sworn-in as
California’s 39th Governor in Sacramento, Calif. on Jan. 3.
Brown has warned school officials to expect deep reductions
as the state struggles with a $28 billion two-year deficit.
—Anne Chadwick Williams/AP

Also see:

Higher Education Faces Deep Cuts In Some States — from the HuffingtonPost.com
Colleges to Confront Deep Cutbacks — from The Chronicle
In states where new governors pledge no new taxes, higher-education budgets will suffer
States Coax Veteran Professors to Retire as Budget Cuts Loom — from Bloomberg.com

Tagged with: budgetary • education reform • future of higher education • game-changing environment • higher education • K-12 • legislation

Time for education innovation

On 01/03/2011, in education, education reform, game-changing environment, generational differences, global / globalization, trends, by Daniel Christian

Time for education innovation— from edReformer.com by Tom Vander Ark (emphasis DSC)

The growth of media and communications technology, the rise of a new generation of students and teachers equipped to use technology, and the shifts within schools and educational systems themselves create new fertile ground for education innovation. Taken all together these major changes can be understood as The Big Shifts in education.

The Big Shifts are comprised of the Technology Shift, the Global Shift, and the Learning Shift.

Tagged with: education • education reform • game-changing environment • generational differences • Global learning • innovation • trends

10 blended high school models

On 12/27/2010, in blended learning, education reform, education technology, hybrid learning, K-12 related, by Daniel Christian

10 blended high school models — from EdReformer.com by Tom Vander Ark

Blended high schools incorporate multiple modes of learning to prepare students for college and careers. Blended learning is a shift of instructional responsibility for at least a portion of the day to an online environment to boost learning, staffing, and or facilities productivity. Following are 10 blended high school models in operation or development…

Tagged with: blended learning • education reform • educational technology • hybrid learning • K-12

A Dickens of a Year

On 12/27/2010, in change, dangers of the status quo, education reform, future, game-changing environment, innovation, by Daniel Christian

A Dickens of a Year — from neXtedu
Quoting from this posting:

“My take is that in 2020, with perfect hindsight vision, 2010 is going to be viewed as the year when education change and innovation launched into orbit. Many have said that we need a “Sputnik” moment in education—I think we just had a Neil Armstrong “one small step for man-one giant step for mankind’ year for the learning industry.

Tagged with: change • dangers of the status quo • education reform • future • game-changing environment • innovation

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Learning Ecosystems

100+ online resources that are transforming education [Mashable]

“Predicting the future of the Internet is easy: anything it hasn’t yet dramatically transformed, it will.”

Is the Google-fication of education underway?

Time for education innovation

A Dickens of a Year

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