disruption

Another example of what happens when you don’t innovate

On 01/08/2011, in change, disruption, emerging technologies, innovation, by Daniel Christian

Blockbuster vs. iTunes/Netflix…now Barnes & Noble vs. Borders:

See “Digital Divide Propels Barnes & Noble Past Rival” — from NPR by Lynn Neary

The digital divide has created a chasm between the nation’s two biggest bookstore chains: While Borders is trying to hold off bankruptcy, Barnes & Noble announced Thursday its best holiday sales season in more than a decade.

“Thrilled” was the word Barnes & Noble Chief Financial Officer Joseph Lombardi used to describe the mood at his company. Holiday sales at BarnesAndNoble.com were up 78 percent over last year; store sales increased by almost 10 percent. While sales of hardcover books were better than expected, Lombardi made it clear that Barnes & Noble’s popular e-readers, the Nook and the Nook Color, were behind the good news.

Tagged with: change • emerging technologies • innovation

Test-prep company Knewton takes online courses to next level: university

On 01/07/2011, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, disruption, higher education, online learning, personalized/customized learning, by Daniel Christian

Test-prep company Knewton takes online courses to next level: university — from VentureBeat.com by Matt Bowman

Knewton, a company that provides personalized help to boost scores on tests such as the GMAT, is taking online education to the next level: It will now power actual university math programs for Arizona State University (ASU) students.

The announcement marks a shift for the New York based startup company, which to date had only provided test-prep programs. ASU’s decision to use online, instructorless remedial education raises the question of just how much new technologies could disrupt the traditional university model.

ASU students who score below a certain threshold on the math portions of a preliminary assessment will be required to use the Knewton-powered adaptive-learning program. The web-based program will generate homework assignments based on each student’s individual proficiency levels and learning styles, and adapts as students score better in a certain type of problem. Based on the data from the online program, ASU will also provide virtual and in-person tutoring. Once students demonstrate college readiness in mathematics, they will advance into ASU instructor-led math courses. The university hopes this will boost retention and graduation rates.

Tagged with: 1:1 • 24x7x365 • customized learning • disruption • higher education • online learning • personalized learning

Apple launches Mac App Store today

On 01/06/2011, in Apple, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, computer science, disruption, innovation, programming, by Daniel Christian

Apple launches Mac App Store today — from Apple.com; also see this article at FastCompany.com

Excerpt from the FastCompany.com article:

The arrival of the App Store is causing much debate online about the changing nature of PC software. Much as the iOS App Store is the key to the iPhone and iPad’s success, and beats its competitors app store efforts, the Mac App Store has massive potential to upend the PC software vending market. Early indications suggest Mac Apps will sell for less than the traditional price brackets Mac software’s been sold at for decades. This could revolutionize the Mac market, turning it into something that could really allow Macs to challenge the traditional Windows market dominance in enterprise or at home–particularly as it’s a one-stop-shop for games, utilities and so on, and even handles updates in a way Windows can’t challenge.

Also see:
How the Mac App Store Changes Everything — from Mashable.com

Tagged with: Apple • cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related • computer science • disruption • innovation • programming

Virtual classrooms: Online education is changing school hours, buildings, interactions

On 12/28/2010, in change, dangers of the status quo, disruption, future, game-changing environment, K-12 related, leadership, online learning, strategy, virtual K-12 schools, by Daniel Christian

Virtual classrooms: Online education is changing school hours, buildings, interactions — from mlive.com / The Grand Rapids Press by Dave Murray

Online education gathered steam in the past decade. But in the next 10 years, experts predict, it will have a profound influence on every aspect of education.

The size and shape of buildings. The hours they operate. The types of interaction students have with teachers and classmates — whether across the room or across the state.

“We’re finally reaching the tipping point,” said Jamey Fitzpatrick, president of Michigan Virtual University, which provides online courses to students in 400 districts, including in West Michigan. “Right now, we’re just scratching the surface. We will soon be able to transform every child’s education.”

About a quarter of all students will be enrolled in Internet-based classes within five years, and at least half of all high school classes will be offered through computers before the next decade ends, national experts predict.

Tagged with: change • disruption • future • K-12 • leadership • online learning • strategy • virtual schools

Michael Horn: Transforming Thomas Jefferson’s successful education system

On 12/23/2010, in change, disruption, education, education reform, future, United States, by Daniel Christian

Tagged with: change • disruption • education • education reform • future • United States

Challenges Seen in Moving to Multimedia Textbooks

On 12/17/2010, in change, dangers of the status quo, digital audio, digital learning, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, disruption, multimedia, online learning, online media, telecommunications, by Daniel Christian

Challenges Seen in Moving to Multimedia Textbooks — from edweek.org by Katie Ash
Supporting the use of multimedia-rich and interactive textbooks in K-12 will require much more digital bandwidth

“Right now, as long as all we’re doing is PDF files, the bandwidth and infrastructure in Virginia isn’t going to be a problem,” says Lan W. Neugent, the assistant superintendent of technology, career, and adult education for the Virginia Department of Education.

“But we’re going to see books become multimedia extravaganzas,” he says, “and the minute that happens, then suddenly the bandwidth is going to be pitiful.”

Tagged with: blended learning • change • dangers of the status quo • digital audio • digital storytelling • digital textbooks • digital video • disruption • hybrid learning • interactivity • multimedia • online learning • online media • telecommunications

NIXTY: Education Engine for the Web (our interview with Robert Scoble)

On 12/07/2010, in change, changing business models, disruption, education technology, emerging technologies, social learning / networks, tools, vendors, by Daniel Christian

Tagged with: change • disruption • educational technology • emerging technologies • exchanges • game-changing environment • new business models in he • social learning • tools • vendors

Themes for next summer’s New Media Consortium’s (NMC) Conference

On 11/19/2010, in analytics, Augmented Reality (AR), change, dangers of the status quo, digital audio, digital learning, digital photography, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, disruption, education technology, educational games / serious games, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, future of higher education, game-changing environment, geography / geology, higher education, immersion, innovation, internet, IT in HE, leadership, learning ecosystem, learning spaces, mobile learning, mobile technologies, multi-touch, multimedia, online learning, online media, open courseware and systems, social learning / networks, staying relevant, strategy, teaching & learning, tools, trends, ubiquitous learning, videoconferencing, Virtual Reality (VR) / worlds / learning, vision/possibilities, by Daniel Christian

The 2011 NMC Summer Conference includes four themes:

Threads in these themes include, but are not limited to, the following:

Emerging uses of mobile devices and applications in any context
Highly innovative, successful applications of learning analytics or visual data analysis
Uses of augmented reality, geolocation, and gesture-based computing
Discipline-specific applications for emerging technologies
Challenges and trends in educational technology
Projects that employ the Horizon Report or Navigator in any capacity

Challenge-based learning
Game-based learning
Digital storytelling as a learning strategy
Immersive learning environments
Open content resources and strategies
New media research and scholarship
Challenges and trends in new media and learning

Fostering/Supporting/budgeting for innovation
Supporting new media scholarship
Collaboration as a strategy
Learning space design, in all senses of the words
Use, creation, and management of open content
Experiment and experience; gallery as lab, lab as gallery
Challenges and trends related to managing an educational enterprise

Designing for mobile devices in any context
Social networking — designing, monitoring, maximizing social tools
Experience design
Creating augmented reality
Creating the next generation of electronic books
Optimizing digital workflows
Strategies for staying current with new media tools

Tagged with: analytics • augmented reality • change • dangers of the status quo • digital audio • digital citizenship • digital learning • digital photography • digital storytelling • digital textbooks • digital video • disruption • educational gaming • educational technology • emerging technologies • engagement • future of higher education • game-changing environment • gesture / gesturing • higher education • immersion • innovation • internet • IT • leadership • learning ecosystem • learning spaces • Mobile learning • mobile technology • multi-touch • multimedia • ocw • online learning • online media • social learning • social media • social networking • staying relevant • strategy • teaching & learning • tools • trends • ubiquitous learning • videoconferencing • virtual reality / worlds / learning • vision

Online education disrupting traditional academic models

On 11/17/2010, in dangers of the status quo, disruption, library / librarians, online learning, by Daniel Christian

.The centre of academic life at most universities is the library.

The rows and rows of dusty, hastily-mended bound books and journals hint at a vast world of knowledge and draw a link between generations of students who have roamed the halls.

But students in the engineering department at the University of Texas in San Antonio (UTSA) do not get that experience. Instead, they download whatever they want to any one of the terminals or their laptops.

In September, the UTSA opened the first completely bookless library on a university campus in the US.

The sleek glass library seats 80 people and holds 425,000 e-books and 18,000 e-journal subscriptions. And there is no need to share because all these budding engineers can read the same text at the same time.

Tagged with: dangers of the status quo • disruption • library / librarians • online learning

Ten Questions Internet Execs Should Ask & Answer

On 11/17/2010, in business, digital video, disruption, global / globalization, innovation, internet, leadership, mobile technologies, pace of change, social learning / networks, social media, strategy, by Daniel Christian

— from Morgan Stanley by Mary Meeker; original resource from George Siemens

Question Focus Areas

Globality
Mobile
Social Ecosystems
Advertising
Commerce
Media
Company Leadership Evolution
Steve Jobs
Ferocious Pace of Change in Tech
Closing Thoughts

Tagged with: business • corporate / business world • digital video • disruption • global • innovation • internet • leadership • mobile technology • pace of change • social • social networking • strategy

Cisco’s recent product announcements

On 11/16/2010, in corporate / business world, digital audio, digital learning, digital video, disruption, distance education, education technology, emerging technologies, online learning, telepresence, tools, vendors, videoconferencing, web-based collaboration, workplace, by Daniel Christian

Also see:

What is the New Workspace? — from Cisco by John Gaudin
Take wikis, videos, phone calls, document sharing, same time editing, application sharing, messaging, conferencing, workflow, think of all aspects of your work and imagine it digital and integrated with any other tool you’d use, accessed from any device regardless of operation system and location. Is your workspace really the device you’re on, or is it what that device ultimately connects into and enables you to do?

Tagged with: corporate / business world • digital audio • digital video • disruption • distance ed • educational technology • emerging technologies • online learning • telepresence • tools • vendors • videoconferencing • web-based collaboration • workplace

“It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.”

On 11/12/2010, in change, changing business models, dangers of the status quo, disruption, future of higher education, game-changing environment, organizational change, staying relevant, by Daniel Christian

Quote from W. Edwards Deming:
“It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.”

— I saw this quote over at Edupunks, Distance Learning, and Biology

Tagged with: change • dangers of the status quo • disruption • future of higher education • game-changing environment • new business models in he • organizational change • staying relevant

Washington’s 2-year colleges out to beat high cost of textbooks

On 11/08/2010, in changing business models, cost of getting a degree, digital textbooks, disruption, new business models, open courseware and systems, publishing, textbooks, by Daniel Christian

Tagged with: cost of getting an education • digital textbooks • disruption • new business models in he • new publishing models • ocw • publishing • textbooks

Another example that supports what Clayton Christensen/Michael Horn have been saying…

On 11/06/2010, in change, changing business models, disruption, future of higher education, game-changing environment, reinvent, staying relevant, technologies for your home, trends, by Daniel Christian

From DSC:
All of us must constantly reinvent ourselves — if current trends continue, this will become truer with each day that passes for the rest of our lifetimes.

The article below points out yet another example of how the entrenched incumbents who don’t reinvent themselves ultimately lose customers, and therefor relevancy. It is very difficult to make a right turn from our traditional “bread and butter” business models and methods of doing business. But if an organization is to stay atop its field, it must reinvent itself. This is not a message for just the corporate world — it is a message for those of us within higher education.

Cable TV Bleeds Subscribers, Internet TV Cleans Them Up — from FastCompany.com by Austin Carr

Staying Relevant

Tagged with: change • disruption • future of higher education • game-changing environment • reinvent • staying relevant • technologies for the home • trends

How to pick the right education and career path for the future 30 years

On 11/03/2010, in career development, change, disruption, future, higher education, student-related, trends, workplace, by Daniel Christian

How to pick the right education and career path for the future 30 years — from ILookForwardTo blog

1. Identify broad future trends.
2. Identify jobs that will be automated.
3. Identify jobs that will be outsourced.
4. If in doubt, pick a versatile degree.
5. Pick the right specialization

From DSC:
I don’t know much about this blog; however, what resonated with me from the above posting was this quote:

This world is different from the one your parents grew up in, and the world in 30 years will be unimaginably different from that of today.

Tagged with: career development • change • disruption • future • higher education • student-related • trends • workplace

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