USDLA Newsletter 2017 (07-18-2017)

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Dr. Farhad Saba Founder, Editor USDLA Hall of Fame Inductee Dr. John G. Flores, USDLA CEO / Executive Director Associate Editor OFFICIAL USDLA SPECIAL EDITION FEATURED ARTICLE OF THE WEEK Download Report The Envisioning Report for Empowering Universities This is a report by the expert pools of the EMPOWER programme established by EADTU to cover the latest trends and developments in new modes of teaching. New modes of teaching and learning create new opportunities for enhancing the quality of the learning experience in on campus programmes, reaching […] Keep Reading Share this article: RESEARCH-BASED ARTICLES OF THE WEEK Distance Learning: A Game ChangerPrevious research identified a variety of special populations which may be serviced through online learning activities. These have included the military, Native Americans, prisoners, remote occupations, and others. This paper focuses the growing role of distance learning opportunities for student and professional athletes. Special attention is directed at the rules and regulations at the high […] Keep Reading Share this article: A National Study of Online Learning Leaders in US Higher EducationOnline learning in US higher education continues to grow dramatically. The most recent estimates indicate that about 30% of all students enroll in at least one online course (Allen & Seamen, 2016). As this important type of academic offering has become increasingly important to institutions of higher education, Presidents and Provosts have frequently established leadership […] Keep Reading Share this article: Open, Online, and Blended: Transactional Interactions with MOOC Content by Learners in Three Different Course FormatsDuring the 2013-14 academic year, Harvard University piloted the use of MOOCs as tools for blended learning in select undergraduate and graduate residential and online courses. One of these courses, The Ancient Greek Hero, combined for credit (Harvard College and Harvard Extension School) and open online (HarvardX) groups into a single online unit, marking the first […] Keep Reading Share this article: MOOCs and open education: Possible roles, pedagogical practices, personalization, and pending trends.In this article, Professors Curtis J. Bonk, Mimi Miyoung Lee, Thomas C. Reeves, and Thomas H. Reynolds discuss the events that led to their recently edited book on MOOCs and Open Education Around the World as well as a special journal issue on this same topic. They reflect on the role of MOOCs and open […] Keep Reading Share this article: IN THE NEWS Report: Top 5 Vendors in Global AR Education MarketTechnavio predicts the worldwide AR in education market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of more than 82 percent by 2021. Campus Technology Keep Reading Share this article: WGU to Honor More than 10,000 Graduates at 33rd Semi-Annual CommencementSALT LAKE CITY Western Governors University (WGU) will recognize more than 10,000 graduates at the university’s 33rd semi-annual commencement ceremony on July 15 at the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City. The ceremony, which will be streamed live online will begin at 9:45 a.m., MDT. While all WGU graduates […] Keep Reading Share this article: Video Gives Us a Peek Into the Future of How AR and VR Will Work TogetherWe’re all waiting for the day when you can put on a singular, tether-free headset and experience all the VR that VR/AR/MR have to offer and NormalVR, a small but focused group of passionate immersive media creators just gave us a peek into what’s possible when you mash it all together. Road to VR Keep Reading Share this article: Why You Should Worry About Losing Net NeutralityDo you use the Internet? Then you have some work to do right now. The new FCC chairman, Ajit Pai, is leading a dangerous effort to roll back net neutrality rules that keep Internet service providers (ISPs) from engaging in data discrimination, like slowing down Internet speeds for some content and charging a fee for fast […] Keep Reading Share this article: Benefits of a Pro Supporter 2x More Newsletters Monthly Abstracts Archived Content Support & Subscribe

United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), 76 Canal Street,Suite 301, Boston, MA 02114

USDLA Newsletter 2017 (07-10-2017)

A newsletter from earlier in the week.

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Dr. Farhad Saba Founder, Editor USDLA Hall of Fame Inductee Dr. John G. Flores, USDLA CEO / Executive Director Associate Editor OFFICIAL USDLA SPECIAL EDITION FEATURED ARTICLE OF THE WEEK Download Report 2025 Online Education Plan for the Florida State University System Steering Committee This white paper was prepared to address Tactic Access 2.1.4 within the 2025 Online Education Strategic Plan for the Florida State University System. The plan was developed upon the request of the Online and Innovation Committee of the Florida Board of Governors. The […] Keep Reading Share this article: RESEARCH-BASED ARTICLES OF THE WEEK Higher Education Faculty Perceptions of Open Textbook AdoptionThe high cost of tuition and textbooks can have a negative impact on potential students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Open Educational Resources (OER) offers students a way to save educational costs while utilizing high-quality open textbooks. Up until now, there have been few studies focused on a specific provider of open textbooks. This study investigates […] Keep Reading Share this article: Evaluating NTU’s OpenCourseWare Project with Google Analytics: User Characteristics, Course Preferences, and Usage PatternsAs freely adoptable digital resources, OpenCourseWare (OCW) have become a prominent form of Open Educational Resources (OER). More than 275 institutions in the worldwide OCW consortium have committed to creating free access open course materials. Despite the resources and efforts to create OCW worldwide, little understanding of its use exists. This paper reports OCW project […] Keep Reading Share this article: Study Protocol for a Scoping Review on Social PresenceIn the field of e-learning and distance education, there has been a significant amount of research activity surrounding the construct social presence. However, a scoping review on social presence has yet to be conducted. Therefore, the purpose of this brief review is to provide an overview of the research protocol developed for a scoping review […] Keep Reading Share this article: The Incorporation of Quality Attributes into Online Course Design in Higher EducationA survey was designed incorporating questions on 28 attributes (compiled through a literature review) and considered to be quality features in online academic courses in higher education. This study sought to investigate the ongoing practice of instructional designers and instructors in the United States with respect to their incorporation of these quality best practices into […] Keep Reading Share this article: IN THE NEWS OU brings astronomical telescopes to students in their homeThe OU Faculty of STEM is celebrating the inauguration of its remotely-controlled robotic telescopes, which will bring astronomy and space science to life for students whenever and wherever they are in the world. For almost half a century, the OU has been developing the latest digital technology to enhance the learning experience of students. The […] Keep Reading Share this article: University of Minnesota should go all in with online learningThis would not be just about the school’s future but about the state’s. The alternative is a hollowing-out, faster than you might think. Star Tribune Keep Reading Share this article: Building Real Community Online with Free AppsGiving students “voice, choice and connectivity” will help them gain a sense of belonging in a group even when they’re states and countries apart. Campus Technology Keep Reading Share this article: 3 big ways today’s college students are different from just a decade agoRecent data shows just how much college students, and their experiences, have changed in just a few short years. eCampus News Keep Reading Share this article: Benefits of a Pro Supporter 2x More Newsletters Monthly Abstracts Archived Content Support & Subscribe

United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), 76 Canal Street,Suite 301, Boston, MA 02114

USDLA Newsletter 2017 (06-26-2017)

A newsletter from earlier in the week.

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Dr. Farhad Saba Founder, Editor USDLA Hall of Fame Inductee Dr. John G. Flores, USDLA CEO / Executive Director Associate Editor OFFICIAL USDLA SPECIAL EDITION FEATURED ARTICLE OF THE WEEK Download Report LATEST ONLINE COLLEGE STUDENTS RESEARCH SHOWS CHANGING ATTITUDES AND EXPECTATIONS OF ONLINE EDUCATION Findings from The Learning House, Inc. and Aslanian Market Research report reveal that colleges need to adapt to a more sophisticated online student. The Learninghouse Keep Reading Share this article: RESEARCH-BASED ARTICLES OF THE WEEK A Concierge Model for Supporting Faculty in Online Course Design Individualized approaches to online course design benefit faculty in numerous ways. Using a concierge model approach, this paper describes the working principles and steps used in course development. The general approach directly addresses many inherent problems with instructional design processes, which often highlight discrepancies in preparation and background between instructional designers and faculty as a subject […] Keep Reading Share this article: A Comparative Typology of Student and Institutional Expectations of Online Faculty Online faculty must uphold institutional expectations for their performance. Typically, online institutions have specific guidelines for faculty-to-student interactions; yet, student expectations of faculty may not necessarily align with institutional requirements. This study included a typological analysis of institutional requirements for online faculty in terms of student engagement. Then, student comments regarding faculty performance expectations were […] Keep Reading Share this article: Exploring Open Educational Resources for College Algebra It is estimated that the average student spends around 1200 USD on books and supplies every school year; thus, textbook affordability has become more and more of a challenge for students. Replacing traditionally expensive learning resources with open educational resources (OER) can have a great impact in the reduction of cost for post-secondary education and […] Keep Reading Share this article: The Adoption of an Open Textbook in a Large Physics Course: An Analysis of Cost, Outcomes, Use, and Perceptions Assigning open textbooks in college and university courses can help students save money on increasingly expensive commercial textbooks, and recent research shows that this savings can often be achieved with little to no sacrifice in textbook quality or student learning outcomes. We add to this body of research by examining the use of an open […] Keep Reading Share this article: IN THE NEWS Center for Online Innovation in Learning announces spring 2017 grant recipients UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Center for Online Innovation in Learning at Penn State has announced it will fund four new projects through its Research Initiation Grant Program. The goal of the COIL grant program is to provide seed money for Penn State researchers to gather preliminary evidence to pursue external funding for larger studies […] Keep Reading Share this article: These are the top 10 workforce skills students will need by 2020 Today’s workforce, as nearly everyone knows, is increasingly global. And with that global nature comes fierce competition students will need an arsenal of workforce skills in order to stand out from their peers. eCampus News Keep Reading Share this article: Benefits of a Pro Supporter 2x More Newsletters Monthly Abstracts Archived Content Support & Subscribe

United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), 76 Canal Street,Suite 301, Boston, MA 02114

USDLA Newsletter 2017 (06-19-2017)

A newsletter from earlier in the week.

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Dr. Farhad Saba Founder, Editor USDLA Hall of Fame Inductee Dr. John G. Flores, USDLA CEO / Executive Director Associate Editor OFFICIAL USDLA SPECIAL EDITION FEATURED ARTICLE OF THE WEEK Download Report Promises and pitfalls of online education Online courses have expanded rapidly and have the potential to extend further the educational opportunities of many students, particularly those least well-served by traditional educational institutions. However, in their current design, online courses are difficult, especially for the students who are least prepared. These students learning and persistence outcomes […] Keep Reading Share this article: RESEARCH-BASED ARTICLES OF THE WEEK Tracking the Money for Open Educational Resources in South African basic Education: What We Don’t KnowLimited research has been done to date on the extent of public funding of Open Educational Resources (OER) within basic education (K-12 equivalent) in South Africa. As claims have been made about the potential cost reductions that come with using OER, this study aimed to establish a benchmark of public spending on educational resources, uncover […] Keep Reading Share this article: Incentivizing the Production and Use of Open Educational Resources in Higher Education InstitutionsSubstituting open educational resources (OER) for commercially-produced textbooks results in demonstrable cost savings for students in most higher education institutions. Yet OER are still not widely used, and progress toward large-scale adoption in most colleges and universities has been slow. This article reviews the literature informing financial and other issues that affect OER adoption. It […] Keep Reading Share this article: Designing quality into direct-assessment competency-based educationBackground Meeting the nation’s need for 60% of its working age population to hold postsecondary education by 2025 is not possible through traditional educational institutions and formats. They simply do not have the “seats” available. Students, employers, and regulatory agencies are actively exploring educational alternatives, such as competency-based education, rightfully expecting assurances of quality. Methods […] Keep Reading Share this article: Implications for educator preparation programs considering competency-based educationThe competency-based educational (CBE) model has been implemented in numerous colleges and universities across the United States since its inception. While some of these institutions have elected to adopt CBE within a limited number of academic departments or programs, others have chosen to build their entire curriculum in such a way that requires all students […] Keep Reading Share this article: IN THE NEWS Optical Communication at Record-High SpeedSoliton frequency combs generated in optical microresonators allow to transmit data at rates of more than 50 terabits per second publication in Nature Science and Technology Research News Keep Reading Share this article: Blackboard Achieves AWS Education Competency StatusWASHINGTON, June 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Blackboard Inc., a leading education technology company for teaching, learning and student engagement, today announced that it has achieved Amazon Web Services (AWS) Education Competency status. This designation recognizes that Blackboard has demonstrated technical proficiency and success building cloud-hosted educational solutions for clients. Blackboard Keep Reading Share this article: Facebook, an Online Learning Platform?New Facebook features intended for developers could, if expanded, turn the social networking site into an online learning platform. Inside Higher Ed Keep Reading Share this article: Benefits of a Pro Supporter 2x More Newsletters Monthly Abstracts Archived Content Support & Subscribe

United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), 76 Canal Street,Suite 301, Boston, MA 02114

USDLA Newsletter 2017 (06-12-2017)

A newsletter from Monday’s inbox.

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Dr. Farhad Saba Founder, Editor USDLA Hall of Fame Inductee Dr. John G. Flores, USDLA CEO / Executive Director Associate Editor OFFICIAL USDLA SPECIAL EDITION FEATURED ARTICLE OF THE WEEK Download Report The Internet of Things Connectivity Binge: What Are the Implications? Despite wide concern about cyberattacks, outages and privacy violations, most experts believe the Internet of Things will continue to expand successfully the next few years, tying machines to machines and linking people to valuable resources, services and opportunities Pew Research Center: Internet & Technology Keep Reading Share this article: RESEARCH-BASED ARTICLES OF THE WEEK Moving Technology-Enhanced-Learning Forward: Bridging Divides through Leadership A study of academics and professional staff engaged in the emerging field of Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) reveal three areas of significant difference in reference to perspectives about TEL. These differences rest on the following individual characteristics: 1) research areas and competencies, 2) academic level, and 3) attitudes towards teaching. While the number of respondents […] Keep Reading Share this article: Adaptive or Transactional Leadership in Current Higher Education: A Brief Comparison Higher education institutions operate in a complex environment that includes influence from external factors, new technologies for teaching and learning, globalization, and changing student demographics to name a few. Maneuvering such complexity and change requires a leadership strategy that is flexible and supportive. This paper reviews two leadership theories in reference to this need: adaptive […] Keep Reading Share this article: Blended learning citation patterns and publication networks across seven worldwide regions The field of international blended learning (BL) is primed to benefit from stronger communication and collaboration. Collaboration is currently limited, and regions vary greatly in terms of citations. However, BL is growing worldwide and each region is an important part of the community. The goal of this research is to explore where the most impactful […] Keep Reading Share this article: Offering Authentic Learning Activities in the Context of Open Resources and Real-World Goals: A Study of Self-Motivated Online Music Learning Many users of online open education resources (OERs) are learners seeking insights into problems encountered as they pursue their everyday interests and activities. As well as benefitting from intrinsic motivation, such authentic learning activity provides context that helps the learner absorb and integrate the meaning of the knowledge. The purpose of this study was to […] Keep Reading Share this article: IN THE NEWS Independent Report Charts Sustainable Future for [Athabasca] University The much-anticipated report of the Third Party Review of Athabasca University has been released at an event on the university’s main campus in the northern Alberta town. Today also marks the beginning of the annual convocation ceremonies, marking the completion of the educational careers of many of the university’s students. The university’s Board Chair sees […] Keep Reading Share this article: Digital Citizenship + Liberal Arts = Students Empowered for Life Students often attempt to navigate the Internet without being given the space to intentionally think about and understand how the digital world works, how it influences their lives, and how they in turn can influence its direction. Liberal arts colleges emphasize preparing students to be lifelong learners, creative and critical thinkers, and engaged members of […] Keep Reading Share this article: The Future of Work: the number of jobs is not the only thing at stake Most of the discussion about the future of work focuses on how many jobs robots will take from humans. But this is just a (small) part of the change to come. As we explained in our previous blog, technology is reshaping the world of work not only by automating production but also by facilitating connectivity […] Keep Reading Share this article: Ivy Tech Extends Partnership With Blackboard To Drive Enrollment, Retention And Student Success WASHINGTON, June 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system, is extending its partnership with Blackboard through 2020 to further support enrollment growth, enhance the student experience and increase retention. Blackboard Keep Reading Share this article: Benefits of a Pro Supporter 2x More Newsletters Monthly Abstracts Archived Content Support & Subscribe

United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), 76 Canal Street,Suite 301, Boston, MA 02114