game-changing environment

eLearning predictions for 2011 and beyond — from Web Courseworks.com by Jon Aleckson

Excerpts:

This summer I attended the 2010 Distance Teaching and Learning Conference in Madison, Wisconsin. Some very interesting topics came up in the facilitated Think Tanks, and I wanted to share some of the predictions that were developed from these active group discussions regarding where eLearning will go in the next ten years.

…

Below you will find a table that summarizes the different opportunities and challenges that were predicted to arise in the next ten years by the participants in the conference Think Tanks and by [Jon Aleckson].

	Opportunities	Challenges
*Learner*	Bridging informal and formal education Movement between schools to obtain courses needed for custom degrees Increase in shared knowledge among students and learners Networking and learning from each other Resumes will include informal and formal learning experiences acquired via the Internet	Developing standards to gauge education and competency from multiple sources Providing an authoritative, reliable source for information (e.g. not just Wikipedia) Physical and psychological distance from other learners and instructors. Quality measures for informal and formal professional development attained on the Internet.
*K-12 Instruction*	Reducing barriers to funding, certification, credit and accreditation Increase access to quality education for all students Open “course” concept to new blends of delivery and teaching Providing for more game-based learning experiences and techniques for a variety of learning styles Using new technology in the classroom	Defining online and blended education Development of technical infrastructure, internet access and equipment Maintaining the custodial function of school Acquiring funding for bold Internet delivered experiences for the classroom Allowing use of new technology in the classroom
*Corporate Training*	Just-in-time learning Greater access to information Peer coaching Cloud training Ability to reach those previously unreachable	Intellectual property rights Resistance to using open content Peer review of resources Unknown impact of open universities Technical challenges related to size of offerings and rapidly changing technology
*Content*	Tools allowing for easier collaboration and interaction Richer media experience (videos and simulations) Content repositories & Learning Object distribution and searchability Movement away from static textbooks as primary resource	Growing tension between standard core content and differentiation of content Where will content for curriculum come from? What part will student-generated content play? More copyright issues
*Learning Environment*	Customized learning spaces, i.e. personal learning environments (PLEs) Customization of content presentation and access eReaders and eBooks providing better and more interactive content (just in time) Changing paradigm of “bounded courses” to unbounded courses where learning is a continuous process that can occur anywhere and at any time	Determining fit and purpose of new tools and pedagogical approaches Standards for smart phones/mobile apps Issues with accreditation, privacy and copyrights Universal access to technology, equipment, and the internet
*Faculty*	More involvement and collaboration with online and distance learning initiatives More part-time faculty teaching for several institutions Faculty practices and entrepreneurs Changing role of faculty and PD instructors	What will the primary role of faculty be? Faculty segmentation into master teachers, mentors, researchers, tutors, etc. Changing of promotion and tenure to accommodate different roles Changing pay structure
Administration & Management	Continued growth of open education with some program stabilization Improved learner focus Increased blending/blurring of traditional on-campus with online options More collaboration with other administrators to influence policy makers	Managing and maintaining growth How to blend on and off campus learner programs Regulatory and accreditation issues Student accountability issues (plagiarism/doctoring) Improving faculty/ instructor readiness
*International Perspectives*	Providing access to education even to remote, rural, and developing areas Promote intercultural mixing and diversity through education Improving educational access in segregated societies Sharing resources and co-producing content to reduce cost Serve new growing customer groups Informal learning, sharing own learning with others via internet (e.g. blogs, wiki)	Technological infrastructure of societies Understanding of different people and places Eliminating the “we and they” thinking Illiterate audiences International/cultural conflicts Developing culturally aware curricula Differences in cost of education and fees Selecting suitable types of content delivery Refiguring content for different learner communities

Tagged with: 24x7x365 • accreditation • adjunct faculty • blended learning • career development • content • Content aggregration • content repositories • copyright / royalty-free • corporate / business world • corporate training / universities • customized learning • e-books • e-learning • e-readers • faculty-staff • formal learning • future • future of higher education • game-changing environment • games • global • hybrid learning • informal learning • leadership • learning ecosystem • learning spaces • online learning • open • personalized learning • PLE • strategy • training • trends • ubiquitous learning

How my predictions are faring — Ray Kurzweil, October 2010

On 12/27/2010, in future, game-changing environment, by Daniel Christian

How my predictions are faring — by Ray Kurzweil, October 2010

How my predictions are faring In this essay I review the accuracy of my predictions going back a quarter of a century. To my knowledge, a comprehensive exercise along these lines is reasonably unique. Included herein is a discussion of my predictions from The Age of Intelligent Machines (which I wrote in the 1980s), all 147 predictions for 2009 in The Age of Spiritual Machines (which I wrote in the 1990s), plus others. Perhaps my most important predictions are implicit in my exponential graphs. These trajectories have indeed continued on course and I discuss these updated graphs below.

My core thesis, which I call the “law of accelerating returns,” is that fundamental measures of information technology follow predictable and exponential trajectories, belying the conventional wisdom that ?you can‘t predict the future. There are still many things — which project, company or technical standard will prevail in the marketplace, or when peace will come to the Middle East — that remain unpredictable, but the underlying price/performance and capacity of information is nonetheless remarkably predictable. Surprisingly, these trends are unperturbed by conditions such as war or peace and prosperity or recession.

From DSC:
As a beginning futurist, I am very interested in Ray’s work. However, I am also highly suspect of ever linking up the words “spiritual” and “machine” — and, in fact, this makes me wonder what agenda(s) may be underlying some of these perspectives.

Tagged with: future • game-changing environment

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

Well, it finally happened…I wondered when this day would come.

On 12/22/2010, in future of higher education, game-changing environment, higher education, new business models, publishing, by Daniel Christian

Publisher rewrites the book on degrees — from timeshighereducation.co.uk by Hannah Fearn
Publishing giant Pearson has announced details of its plans to offer degrees in a range of vocational subjects from 2012.

From DSC:
I remember giving a presentation over at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) a few years ago for a Blackboard Users Conference. In that presentation, I remember asking how long would it be before publishers started offering their own degrees…? They have the Subject Matter Experts (SME’s), they have the graphic designers, web designers, the programmers, the project managers, etc. That is, they already have the table set in terms of content creation.

If anyone thinks this isn’t a game-changing environment within higher education, I challenge you to explain to me how you can still cling to — and adequately support — that perspective.

Tagged with: future of higher education • game-changing environment • higher education • new business models in he • new publishing models • publishing

What goes up…must come down. A paper re: the costs of obtaining a degree in higher education, by Daniel S. Christian

On 12/22/2010, in accreditation, budgets, business side of he, changing business models, cost of getting a degree, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, future of higher education, game-changing environment, leadership, new business models, strategy, traditional / tradition, United States, by Daniel Christian

Abstract
A perfect storm has been building within higher education. Numerous, powerful forces have been converging that either already are or soon will be impacting the way higher education is offered and experienced. This paper focuses on one of those forces – the increasing price tag of obtaining a degree within higher education. It will seek to show that what goes up…must come down. Some less expensive alternatives are already here today; but the most significant changes and market “corrections” appear to be right around the corner. That is, higher education is a bubble about to burst.

Tagged with: accreditation • adding value/not a commodity • budgetary • business side of he • change • cost of getting an education • dangers of the status quo • Daniel S. Christian • future of higher education • game-changing environment • leadership • new business models in he • nontraditional • perfect storm • strategy • traditional • United States • Walmart of Education

How might some of this apply to the “chalkboards of the future”?

On 12/10/2010, in digital textbooks, game-changing environment, innovation, learning spaces, new business models, new media literacies, publishing, smart classrooms, textbooks, by Daniel Christian

— from Touch User Interface

Tagged with: digital learning • digital textbooks • emerging technologies • game-changing environment • innovation • learning spaces • new media literacies • new publishing models • publishing • smart classrooms • textbooks

One Teacher’s Take: How Holly Mortimer Took Her Teaching Career Online

On 12/10/2010, in career development, elearning, game-changing environment, K-12 related, online learning, professional development, teachers, teaching online, by Daniel Christian

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Also see:

The online learning story — from Edutopia.org

Tagged with: career development • e-learning • game-changing environment • K-12 • online learning • professional development • teachers • teaching online

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

Report on education technology investments

On 12/07/2010, in assessment, change, education technology, future of higher education, game-changing environment, innovation, online learning, trends, virtual K-12 schools, by Daniel Christian

Report on education technology investments — from Education Stormfront

Student advancement will be determined by mastery of subject, not the time spent in class. Through real time and ongoing assessment, the ability to do on-the-fly prescription and “one-on-one” instruction is made possible. “Adaptive Technology” which is used with overwhelming success at companies like Amazon and Netflix, is being incorporated in learning technology that is getting smarter and more personalized with each click. Dreambox Learning is a window to the future showing remarkable results with kids playing math games and learning at an incredibly fast rate. Agilix/Brain Honey is in part a next generation learning management system (LMS) and in part a next generation learning platform that has great traction.

An exceprt from the report at:
http://www.nextupresearch.com/Site/NEXT_up!_files/neXtup%2012.5.10.pdf

The “quiet” growth has been impressive. Currently there are 1.5 million K-12 students online with either a virtual class or blended mode, up from zero students 10 years ago. 38 States have virtual Charter School laws and Alaska has a statewide online program. “Innovator Dilemma” guru Clayton Christensen estimates that 50% of all K-12 classes will be online by 2019.

From DSC:
Thanks crudbasher for publishing this posting. What I found interesting was the amount being invested in the Kno tablet — $46 million. Wow. Change is around the corner…again.

Tagged with: assessment • change • educational technology • future of higher education • game-changing environment • innovation • K-12 • online learning • trends • virtual schools

The Role of Educator in a Digital World

On 12/03/2010, in Canada, change, future, game-changing environment, using teams, by Daniel Christian

From DSC:
Stephen’s presentation here reminds me of the need for teams — no one person can do it all anymore.

Tagged with: Canada • change • future • game-changing environment • roles • Using teams

Gartner: The PC industry blew it

On 12/01/2010, in change, dangers of the status quo, future of higher education, game-changing environment, innovation, by Daniel Christian

From DSC:
We don’t want to be looking at a similar article — albeit directed at institutions of higher education this time — a few years from now. Innovation and being willing to experiment with new models/approaches/pedagogies/delivery mechanisms is key. We don’t have to have all the answers (as the answers/most optimal solutions will be in constant flux as well), but we need to be willing to change.

Tagged with: change • dangers of the status quo • game-changing environment • innovation • willingness

Digital Learning Now — Vision/Roadmap

On 12/01/2010, in dangers of the status quo, digital learning, education reform, game-changing environment, K-12 related, leadership, legislatures / government / legal, strategy, trends, by Daniel Christian

Also see:

Jeb Bush and Bob Wise Unveil 10 Elements of Quality Digital Learning — from capitalsoup.com
The 10 Elements of High Quality Digital Learning outline the roadmap for local, state and federal officials to integrate digital learning in education. The Digital Learning Council unites a diverse group of more than 100 leaders in education, government, philanthropy, business, technology and policy to develop the policies to advance digital learning.
Bush-Wise Statement on High Quality Digital Learning — from edreformer.com
Digital Learning Council Releases ‘Road Map’ to Ed. Overhaul — edweek.org

Tagged with: dangers of the status quo • digital learning • education reform • game-changing environment • K-12 • leadership • legislation • strategy • trends

A National Primer on K-12 Online Learning (Version 2)

On 12/01/2010, in education technology, engagement / engaging students, game-changing environment, K-12 related, leadership, online learning, organizational change, strategy, trends, by Daniel Christian

A National Primer on K-12 Online Learning — iNACOL

What does an online course look like?
How do students interact with their teacher?
What qualifications and training are required of teachers?
Does online learning really work?
What state or school district policies are needed to implement online learning?

The National Primer on K-12 Online Learning provides a comprehensive overview of online learning by examining the basics about online teaching and learning, evaluating academic success, professional development, technology and other topics.

Tagged with: educational technology • engagement • game-changing environment • K-12 • leadership • online learning • organizational change • strategy • trends

The Coming Age of the Teacherpreneur

On 11/30/2010, in creativity, dangers of the status quo, education reform, entrepreneurship, future, game-changing environment, innovation, teachers, teaching & learning, vision/possibilities, by Daniel Christian

The Coming Age of the Teacherpreneur — from edweek.org by Barnett Berry & the TeacherSolutions 2030 Team
In an excerpt from a forthcoming book on the future of education, a group of accomplished educators envisions new roles for teacher leaders.

Excerpt:

Ultimately, teacherpreneurship is about propagating a new culture of innovation and creativity in a sector of education that has been woefully lacking in one. Most importantly, teacherpreneurship is not promoting a free-market vision for the profit of a few—but rather how our society can invest substantially in teachers who can expertly serve millions of children and families who are not in the position to choose a better school somewhere else or find the most erudite online teacher anytime, anywhere. Teacherpreneurship is all about the public good, not private gain.

Tagged with: creativity • dangers of the status quo • education reform • entrepreneurship • future • game-changing environment • innovation • teachers • teaching & learning

“Air Play” for learning –> 7 things you should know about “The HyFlex Course Model”

On 11/30/2010, in blended learning, dangers of the status quo, game-changing environment, hybrid learning, learning ecosystem, online learning, by Daniel Christian

11/9/10

Abstract:
HyFlex is a course design model that presents the components of hybrid learning in a flexible course structure that gives students the option of attending sessions in the classroom, participating online, or doing both. Students can change their mode of attendance weekly or by topic, according to need or preference. Models like HyFlex, which present multiple paths through course content, may work well for courses where students arrive with varying levels of expertise or background in the subject matter. Courses built on the HyFlex model help to break down the boundary between the virtual classroom and the physical one. By allowing students access to both platforms, the design encourages discussion threads to move from one platform to the other.

The “7 Things You Should Know About…” series from the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) provides concise information on emerging learning technologies. Each brief focuses on a single technology and describes what it is, where it is going, and why it matters to teaching and learning. Use these briefs for a no-jargon, quick overview of a topic and share them with time-pressed colleagues.

Let's take the best of both worlds -- online learning and face-to-face learning

From DSC:
Sounds like “Air Play” for learning to me! 🙂

Tagged with: blended learning • dangers of the status quo • game-changing environment • hybrid learning • learning ecosystem • online learning

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eLearning predictions for 2011 and beyond