[The Week in Education and Technology is a weekly summary of news, events, and ideas related to education, technology, and culture.]
Notable Quote
That’s a real fundamental question about the higher education system right now. People say, “The only way you can exist as a college is to be rich.” Imagine if we said that about all of society: “The only individuals who have real meaning and should persist are the ones who have the greatest net worth.”
Bernard Bull, President Goddard College
Things That Caught My Attention
K-12
There’s plenty of talk these days about how we can best prepare students for successful futures. One educator thinks the key is instilling an entrepreneurial mindset. Angela Miceli, who teaches in Chicago, says that this mindset includes:
- Communication and collaboration
- Creativity and innovation
- Critical thinking and problem solving
- Future orientation
- Opportunity recognition
- Comfort with risk
- Initiative and self-reliance
- Flexibility and adaptability
Another popular trend is early-college high school, or having students take college courses for dual-credit while they are still completing their high school studies. A recent policy brief from the American Institutes of Research shows that there are a number of lasting benefits related to this practice.
Our research shows that early colleges are an effective way to increase rates of college-going and college completion, and that the return on the investment in these programs is positive for both the student and society at large,” Kristina Zeiser, one of the lead AIR researchers on the project, said in a written statement. “As these programs grow across the country, our brief offers some considerations for policymakers and others who seek to improve outcomes for all students.
Higher Education
A prominent theme of late is the financial struggle faced by many smaller liberal arts universities. This week, we have examples of two universities at different points in their journey toward financial/institutional reorganization and success.
Hardin Simmons University, a private Baptist University in Texas, announced that it would be cutting a number of programs and faculty positions to aggress its $4 million deficit. A big part of its cuts will come through the elimination of the Logsdon School of Theology, which will be folded into the Cynthia Ann Parker College of Liberal and Fine Arts.
At the same time, we have an update on President Bernard Bull’s work to right the ship at Goddard College. A year ago, the institution was in deep debt and struggling to keep its doors open. Fast forward and they have balanced their budget and put together a framework for an innovative future and, hopefully. full re-accreditation.
Overall, I think it’s really important for universities to realize just how competitive the market is. One source of that competition for four-year colleges is the rise of community colleges offering bachelor’s degrees.
Almost half of the states (23) now allow community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees to help meet workforce demands, increase access to educational and career advancement opportunities, address college affordability, and increase degree attainment rates, according to a new report from the Education Commission of the States.
Learning Design, Learning Theory, and Educational Technology
In other news, let’s just say that the Thoma Bravo proposed acquisition of Instructure is an entertaining spectacle.
There are also several new “trends” lists to bookmark. These include:
- IT Trends to Watch as Higher Education Moves into a New Decade
- 6 Ed Tech Trends to Watch in 2020
- Annual Trends Report — Chronicle of Higher Education
I also enjoyed reading this report on the future of assessment. The report lists five principles and targets for assessments by 2025. According to the report, they should be (1) Authentic, (2) Accessible, (3) Appropriately automates, (4) Continuous, and (5) Secure.
And, lest it’s fallen off your radar, remember that voice-Enabled technology is changing the contours of higher education.
Technology and Finance
On the technology front, we have a steady stream of reports about continued advancements in AI. As an example, this week we have a chatbot capable of near-human conversation, an AI that can perfectly dub videos in Indic languages, and one that can intelligently crop videos for any screen size.
And finally, is there a paradigm shot on the horizon for smartphones. One reporter certainly thinks so, writing that the future is going to be foldable.
Research Articles and Posts for the Week
TEL Library Posts You May Have Missed
This Week’s Trends in Education and Technology (February 7-13)
Episode 13: AI Disruptions for Education in the Coming Decade
Education Futures 10: Obstacles and Opportunities for Disruption in Education
Episode 14: 5 Possible Futures(for Higher Ed) Beyond the Horizon
K-12 Education
The Lasting Benefits of Early College High Schools: Considerations and Recommendations
Strong Returns for Early-College High Schools
How to Teach Artificial Intelligence
Can Online Learning Mitigate Rural Schools’ Biggest Challenges?
Preparing students for the future of work: An educator’s perspective
Helping Grads Tell Their Story: The Case for Extended Transcripts
Higher Education
Tracking Community College Bachelor’s Degrees
Income share agreements: College students promise investors a piece of their paycheck
Diary of a Small College’s Fight For Survival
Don’t discount the power of students’ acquaintances to expand supports and horizons
HSU cuts faculty and programs to address $4 million deficit
An Indian University Is Trying To Innovate What Students Learn — And How They Learn
Need-based financial aid is largely an every-university-for-itself affair
Arizona’s top court agrees to review lawsuit over rising tuition at public universities
Annual Trends Report — Chronicle of Higher Education
Learning Design, Learning Theory, and Educational Technology
How Voice-Enabled Technology is Changing the Contours of Higher Education
Colleges turn to technology for the future of academic innovation
Instructure CEO Dan Goldsmith Resigns and New Approach for Bravo Acquisition
The future of assessment: five principles, five targets for 2025
Instructure Accepts Higher Takeover Offer From Thoma Bravo
Thoma Bravo Is Said to Fail to Win Support for Instructure Deal
IT Trends to Watch as Higher Education Moves into a New Decade
6 Ed Tech Trends to Watch in 2020
Labor Trends, Workforce Readiness/Education
Media, Publishing, and Cultural Trends
Cengage and McGraw-Hill navigate challenging merger delay
Can Democracy and Free Markets Survive in the Coming Age of AI?
Caribbean-like lagoons give homebuyers beach benefits without risk
Technology and Financial Trends
Smartphones: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, Fold leading to foldable future
Google’s new AI can intelligently crop videos for any screen size
5 reasons why impact investments and market-creating innovations go hand-in-hand
Your phone talks about you behind your back. These researchers are listening in
This AI can perfectly dub videos in Indic languages
Fully autonomous truck goes unaided coast to coast in an American first
Google says its chatbot is capable of near human conversation
