Melissa’s November Insights
Online Education in the News
Faculty Attitudes on Technology
College and university leaders are continuously faced with decisions related to technology. Which tools are the most effective? How do they affect the quality of online teaching and learning? A new study seeks input on these and other questions from faculty members.
- Who
- Inside Higher Ed (IHE) and Gallup
- What
- 2016 Survey of Faculty Attitudes on Technology – This new study provides a look at how faculty members view a wide range of technologies for teaching and learning. Topics covered include cybersecurity, open access journals, online education, textbooks, social media, and more.
- When
- This is the fifth year for Inside Higher Ed’s survey of college faculty members focused on technology. The latest report was released on October 24th.
- Where
- You can download the report online.
- Why
- College budgets are limited, so leaders need to make the most of the tools available and invest in technology resources that will make a positive impact. Faculty members are on the front lines in both campus-based and online courses. Their feedback in this study helps to shape future learning environments.
- More Info
- IHE’s free webinar will provide a detailed analysis of the study on November 29th
Conference Updates
WCET Annual Meeting
This annual meeting of the WCET (WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies) focuses on “practice, policy, and advocacy of technology-enhanced learning in higher education.” The program features a keynote presentation from Jaime Casap, Google’s Education Evangelist, as well as a host of sessions on topics ranging from open educational resources and adaptive learning to state authorization and social media.
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Kara Monroe
@knmtweetsThe more tech we add, the more important the relationship between faculty and learner.
Melissa’s Insight
Technology helps us extend our reach, but are we making the most of the possibilities? The connection between students and instructors continues to be a critical part of the learning process, and not something that is easily developed online. -
Joellen E Shendy
@JoellenShendyDon’t ask what you want to be, but “What problem do you want to solve?” skills for next generation workers.
Melissa’s Insight
The workplace is changing, and changing fast. It’s becoming clear that continuous learning is required for job and career success, especially as our students prepare for work that doesn’t exist today. This alternative approach to career decision-making not only sets the stage for finding meaningful work, but also opens the door for a wide range of work environments and learning goals. -
Whitney Kilgore
@whitneykilgoreThe C’s of change include culture, collaboration, and courage! Go forth and be courageous change agents.
Melissa’s Insight
The cry for change in higher education is ongoing. What can each of us, in our individual roles in higher education, do to make it happen? Look for opportunities within your classes, institutions, communities, and professional association to collaborate.
EDUCAUSE Annual Conference
This conference has been appropriately described as “massive” with more than 7,000 attendees and 275 exhibitors. The audience includes information technology professionals, faculty members, and instructional designers who are interested in innovative technology, learning analytics, improving the student experience, and more. EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association for IT professionals working at colleges and universities.
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EDUCAUSE
@educauseThe Top 10 IT Issues for 2017
Melissa’s Insight
Online education requires much more than just making course materials available in a learning management system. EDUCAUSE tracks the top issues related to academic technology, which include: 1) information security and 2) student success and completion. Your schools are working hard to keep the tech you are using safe, up-to-date, and effective. -
Elizabeth Ellis
@liz_isabellaNooooo… don’t say Digital Natives.
Melissa’s Insight
Digital native or digital immigrant? These terms are sometimes used in education circles to describe young, tech-savvy students (natives) and older, not-so-savvy students. Fortunately, this approach is being challenged as we see a wide variety of online students whose technology experience and skills don’t correspond to age. We are all continuously learning in an age where tech tools change, becomes obsolete, and emerge at a fast pace. Don’t limit yourself with a label!
Don’t Miss Dates!
November 7-11
National Distance Learning Week
The U.S. Distance Learning Association (USDLA) organizes this week long celebration of distance learning that takes place at all levels of education, in business and industry, and the military. Check USDLA’s calendar of events for a list of free webinars. Many colleges and universities also sponsor events and showcase their online programs during this week.
November 17
National Take a Hike Day
One of the challenges of working and learning online is the sedentary lifestyle that comes from spending too much time at the computer. Have you heard that sitting is the new smoking? Take a break on Thursday, November 17th and get outside for a hike in the Fall weather. The American Hiking Association encourages us to share pictures of our hikes on social media – #takeahike, #nationalhikeday.
November 1-30
National Career Development Month
The National Career Development Association sponsors this annual celebration with career-related activities. Contact your school’s Career Center to find out about special webinars and other awareness events. Consider setting up an appointment with a counselor for a career development check-up, to get on track with your career goals.
Academic Deadlines
MidTerm Exams and Grades: If you are enrolled in online courses on a traditional semester schedule (i.e., 15-16 weeks), your Fall term is in full swing. Look ahead through the remainder of your course to make sure you understand the expectations and timelines related to completion. If your courses are on a more accelerated schedule (e.g., 8- or 10-weeks) it’s even more important to make time for a progress review and plan for the future.
Spring Registration: it may seem too soon to worry about next semester, but … the holidays are right around the corner and January is closer than you think. Take some time now to review your degree plan and make sure you are ready to register for spring classes. Spring course schedules and active registration will be open soon at your school if they aren’t already!
