A vision of the future Smart Classroom — Daniel S. Christian
On 03/12/2010,
in 21st century, 3D, Apple, Augmented Reality (AR), blended learning, change, colleges, computer science, convergence, creativity, dangers of the status quo, digital audio, digital learning, digital storytelling, digital video, disruption, education technology, educational games / serious games, elearning, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, face-to-face, faculty, future, future of higher education, game-changing environment, generational differences, geography / geology, global / globalization, higher education, hybrid learning, innovation, internet, learning, learning ecosystem, learning spaces, liberal arts, online learning, online media, pace of change, participation, passions, pedagogy, smart classrooms, strategy, teaching & learning, teaching online, training / L&D, videoconferencing, virtual field trips, Virtual Reality (VR) / worlds / learning, visualizing information, web-based collaboration, webinars,
by Daniel Christian
Obama ed-tech plan goes live online — from Education Week
The National Educational Technology Plan was released today by the U.S. Department of Education, and you can view our coverage of it here. Also, check out Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s speech about the plan given at the annual meeting of the American Association of Publishers.
On 03/04/2010,
in blended learning, blogs / blogging / vlogging, change, creativity, digital audio, digital learning, digital storytelling, digital video, disruption, education technology, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, expectations, face-to-face, future, game-changing environment, generational differences, innovation, internet, K-12 related, learning ecosystem, pace of change, pedagogy, smart classrooms, strategy, student-related, teaching & learning,
by Daniel Christian
From DSC:
For those of us in higher education, what occurs in K-12 affects us, as it affects our incoming students’ expectations. We need to prepare now for our students of tomorrow! And congratulations to those of you in K-12 who are working hard to keep your students engaged, growing, challenged, participating, and learning!
On 03/04/2010,
in cost of getting a degree, legislatures / government / legal, policy, strategy, student-related,
by Daniel Christian
Addendums from 3/5/10:
- Thousands protest financing cuts, tuition increase in US — from news.xinhuanet.com
- March on Everywhere! — from InsideHigherEd.com
- California Students Protest Education Cuts — The New York Times
On 03/02/2010,
in future of higher education, game-changing environment, learning ecosystem, legislatures / government / legal, mobile learning, new business models, online learning, online media, online tutoring, open courseware and systems, strategy, student-related, teaching & learning, teaching online, web-based collaboration,
by Daniel Christian
Harnessing America’s Wasted Talent — from Peter Smith
“President Obama offered America and the world renewed hope for a better tomorrow. With decades of experience in alternative forms of higher education, Peter Smith grabs that optimistic spirit and seizes the moment to reveal to us the exciting age of Web-based teaching and learning, which is opening access to untold numbers of learners while harnessing the previously wasted talents of millions of people in America and billions around the world. Those seeking insights, a vision of the future, and a chance to join this educational revolution should look forward to Harnessing America’s Wasted Talent.”
—Curtis J. Bonk, professor, Indiana University, and author, The World Is Open: How Web Technology Is Revolutionizing Education
“Anyone who wants to understand where American higher education is headed should read Harnessing America’s Wasted Talent. Peter Smith’s vision of the future of higher education is based on several decades of experience—at the national, state, and international levels. He brings a rare perspective that will interest students, educators, politicians, and those American business leaders who are worried about the future of our workforce and the health of our democracy.”
—Charles Kolb, president, The Committee for Economic Development
“Harnessing America’s Wasted Talent is a must-read for those of us concerned about the increasing economic and education gaps in our country. Peter Smith takes on an important American disconnect: the need for an educated workforce and the fact that most working Americans lack a college degree. Drawing upon his experience in higher education and politics, Smith dissects the problem and presents a contemporary, practical plan to enhance the learning capacity of our country.”
—Joseph B. Moore, president, Lesley University
Table of Contents
Part One: The Law of Thirds.
1 Wasted Talent.
2 Maxed Out: Why Colleges Can’t Meet This Challenge.
3 The Paradox of Personal Learning.
Part Two: Dangerous Conceits.
4 Different Strokes for Different Folks.
5 Learning Is More Than “Strictly Academic”.
6 You Can’t Get There from Here.
Part Three: From Access to Success: A New Ecology of Learning.
7 The End of Scarcity: Education’s Emerging Long Tail.
8 Game Changers: New Media and the Open Education Resource Movement.
9 Reaching the Middle Third: Talent-Friendly Colleges for the Twenty-First Century (C21Cs).
Conclusion: A New Ecology of Learning.
On 03/02/2010,
in education technology, strategy,
by Daniel Christian
Good news from the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation — from 1 to 1 Schools blog
I frequently hear negative press regarding laptop initiatives and it seems like the positive stuff is quietly released. Jeni Corn and Phil Emer from the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation recently reported preliminary findings from their evaluation of NC 1:1 Learning Collaborative to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee. I’m pleased to say that they have positive results to report. I’m fortunate to be able to visit several of these schools this month and I look forward to observing classes and hearing the stories of the leaders, teachers and students.
On 02/24/2010,
in budgets, business side of he, change, changing business models, dangers of the status quo, disruption, future of higher education, game-changing environment, policy, strategy,
by Daniel Christian
From DSC:
One of the questions mentioned on this posting from learn.5tein.com (which was focused on higher ed), was Question #2:
- What do we provide them that they can’t get anywhere else?
Great question for all of us in higher education to be able to (continually) answer. Also, I would add another question:
- How does my organization of higher education keep from becoming a commodity? What distinctive value is my organization bringing to the table?
The Online Learning Imperative: A Solution to Three Looming Crises in Education — from all4ed.org by Governor Bob Wise with assistance from Robert Rothman
Excerpt:
CRISIS #2: The funding cliff—declining local, state, and federal revenues mean changing the education content-delivery model
Faced with a declining revenue base, any enterprise must make a choice: continue doing the same with less and hope to weather through, or innovate and institute changes that result not only in survival but in growth (emphasis DSC). Public education and the U.S. automobile industry face a common challenge: declining revenues and lackluster results. In the case of the auto industry, the consumer has finally said that the end product is not acceptable. This raises the bar even higher, forcing companies to operate with less revenue while also improving outcomes.
Some might argue that a rapid expansion of education funding could accelerate improvements in outcomes. The reality is that the current economic recession has taken the issue of continually increasing revenues off the table (emphasis DSC). The only issue for policymakers is how to apply limited funding in a more cost-effective manner that also boosts student outcomes—in short, a reengineering of how education is delivered (emphasis DSC).
Also see:
Press release: First school system in Idaho to require online learning — from Virtual High School Meanderings blog
Currently Michigan, Alabama and New Mexico require all graduating students statewide to take an online course. Sugar-Salem is the first district in Idaho to adopt such a policy.