What Are the Emerging Trends in Higher Education?

Getting There: Innovations in Education
Getting There: Innovations in Education
What Are the Emerging Trends in Higher Education?
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It’s that time of year again for the inevitable prediction pieces. It takes a brave person to try and divine what’s ahead these days. I was able to convince Kris Astle, Global Education Strategist at SMART Technologies to have a go. As you will hear, she puts together some pretty strong, and positive, outlooks for campuses in the coming months and years.

Kris covers the gamut—the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), the persistence of remote learning models, and the importance of technology in reshaping user behavior. She emphasizes the need for higher education to adapt and meet the changing demands of students—leveraging technologies like AI, collaborative tools, and Smart solutions to enhance the learning experience. She also touches on the concept of “high flex” education and the emergence of micro-credentialing, highlighting the importance of personalized, accessible, and efficient learning pathways. Have a listen.

Kris Astle, Global Education Strategist at SMART Technologies

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Addressing the student mental health crisis in higher education

Addressing the student mental health crisis in higher education
Getting There: Innovations in Education
Addressing the student mental health crisis in higher education
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This episode of Innovations in Education highlights the concerning state of student mental health, which persists even as the pandemic subsides. Statistics from the 2020-2021 school year reveal that over 60 percent of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health problem, while another national survey found that nearly three-quarters reported moderate or severe psychological distress.

To address this crisis, the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, initiated the “We Are Made to Connect” Tour, promoting social connection as crucial to well-being. Additionally, higher education groups are advocating for increased focus on college student mental health, recognizing the unique challenges faced by different student demographics. Some institutions are proactively partnering with mental health providers, like Mantra Health, to offer comprehensive support services. The article emphasizes that investing in student mental health is vital for academic and economic success, and it suggests several actions that education leaders can take to address this pressing issue. Ultimately, the hope is that increased mental health awareness and support will benefit students and society as a whole.

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Why Higher Ed IT Leaders Need to Be Cognizant of Policy Changes

Getting There: Innovations in Education
Getting There: Innovations in Education
Why Higher Ed IT Leaders Need to Be Cognizant of Policy Changes
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Jarret Cummings, EDUCAUSE Senior Advisor for Policy and Government Relations, speaks to the current state of innovation in higher ed, the impacts of federal policy and government relations, and why higher ed leaders need to be cognizant of policy changes.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Importance of Policy and Compliance: The conversation underscores the increasing significance of policy and compliance issues, particularly in the realm of higher education and IT. Institutions, regardless of their size or type, must navigate evolving regulations and cybersecurity concerns.
     
  • How to Engage with Professional Organizations: Staying informed about policy changes is crucial. Institutions are encouraged to engage with organizations like Educause to keep track of policy developments, share knowledge, and adapt to new requirements effectively.
  • Future Policy Trends: Jarret hints at the continuous evolution of policy issues in the higher education sector, such as cybersecurity and web/mobile app accessibility regulations. He anticipates that the regulatory landscape will continue to change, influenced by political shifts and government initiatives. For details, listen in!
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Data Smart: Workforce Trends and Action Planning in Cybersecurity and Privacy

Getting There: Innovations in Education
Getting There: Innovations in Education
Data Smart: Workforce Trends and Action Planning in Cybersecurity and Privacy
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Joe Potchanat, Director of the EDUCAUSE Cybersecurity Program, talks on the new opportunities for improvement and awareness when it comes to cybersecurity and shares best practices for higher ed IT leaders to stay on the defensive.

Three Takeaways:

  • User Education is Key: Joseph underscores the significance of user education in higher education institutions. He highlights that cybersecurity risks, particularly ransomware, often originate at the end-user level. This includes students, faculty, staff, and contractors. It’s essential for everyone in the institution to have a good understanding of the risks they face and actively contribute to cybersecurity solutions.
  • Data Minimization Matters: Joseph advises institutions to practice data minimization. By only collecting and retaining necessary data, they can reduce their exposure to potential breaches. He explains that even anonymized data can be pieced together to identify individuals, so minimizing data collection is a proactive step in safeguarding information.
     
  • Privacy and Cybersecurity Go Hand in Hand: While cybersecurity focuses on the “how” of protection, privacy concerns address the “why.” Joseph highlights the growing importance of privacy in the field of cybersecurity. Balancing the need for security with individuals’ privacy rights is critical, and organizations should consider the implications of collecting and using personal data.
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Entering An Age of Institutional Resiliency

Getting There: Innovations in Education
Getting There: Innovations in Education
Entering An Age of Institutional Resiliency
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Betsy Reinitz, Director of the CIO and Senior Technology Leader Program for EDUCAUSE, discusses the concept of institutional resilience in higher education and its connection to digital transformation and data-informed culture.

Topics include:

What is Institutional Resilience: The conversation revolves around the concept of “institutional resilience” in higher education, which refers to an institution’s ability to anticipate, respond to, and adapt to rapidly changing circumstances while maximizing opportunities and minimizing the impacts of unforeseen events. This concept emerged as a response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for higher education institutions to adapt quickly to remote learning and other changes.…Read More

Welcome to Educause 2023

Getting There: Innovations in Education
Getting There: Innovations in Education
Welcome to Educause 2023
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I’m glad you found your way here to eCampus News Live exclusive coverage of the 2023 Educause conference being held in Chicago October 8th through 10th. My name is Kevin Hogan. I’m content director for eCampus News, and I’m excited to get out to the Windy City and meet up with folks again in person to talk about the latest and greatest in higher Ed.

The state of the student body

The state of the student body
Getting There: Innovations in Education
The state of the student body
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This episode of Innovations in Education, hosted by Kevin Hogan is sponsored by Renkus-Heinz, the sound solution that delivers crystal clear audio to every corner of the classroom.

In this episode of Innovations in Education, Mark McCormack, Senior Director of Research and Insights at EDUCAUSE, breaks down the recently released 2023 Students and Technology Report: Flexibility, Choice, and Equity in the Student Experience and what it says about higher ed’s need for new learning modalities. The report draws on data from EDUCAUSE’s 2023 Student Survey, representing 1,951 students from across 10 U.S. institutions. In this conversation, Mark underscores the importance of flexibility and choice in the student experience and their demands for more personalized, adaptable learning environments. Online and hybrid learning modalities have become integral, enabling students to tailor their educational journey to fit their needs. This emphasis on flexibility is not only a response to the challenges posed by the pandemic but a broader recognition of the diverse needs and circumstances of today’s students. Mark also emphasizes that equity is another essential aspect going forward. As higher ed institutions embrace new modalities, it’s imperative to ensure that all students have equal access to these opportunities.

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How Data Can Help

Getting There: Innovations in Education
Getting There: Innovations in Education
How Data Can Help
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Understanding the Unique Support Needs of Community College Students


This episode of Innovations in Education, hosted by Kevin Hogan is sponsored by Renkus-Heinz, the sound solution that delivers crystal clear audio to every corner of the classroom.

Community colleges play a pivotal role in providing accessible and quality education to a diverse range of students. However, as many of us are aware, the challenges faced by these students can differ significantly from those at traditional four-year institutions. From juggling work and family responsibilities to navigating financial constraints, community college students often find themselves in unique situations that demand equally unique solutions. In this episode, we’re going to unravel the intricacies of the support landscape for community college students with Alex Leader, Chief Impact Officer for Watermark, a software platform designed for higher education institutions to help them collect and use data to gain insights into how programs can be improved to support student success.

The Future of Canvas

Getting There: Innovations in Education
Getting There: Innovations in Education
The Future of Canvas
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Instructure’s senior leadership discusses the course of one of the world’s leading open-source learning management systems.

On this special edition of Innovations of Education, host Kevin Hogan sits with CEO Steve Daly, CPO Shiren Vijiasingam, and Vice President of Global Strategy Ryan Lufkin to lay out post-pandemic strategies for the company.

What the metaverse means for higher education

Getting There: Innovations in Education
Getting There: Innovations in Education
What the metaverse means for higher education
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In this episode of Innovations in Education, Silicon Valley veteran and serial entrepreneur Eric Pulier, founder and CEO of a virtual spaces company called Vatom, discusses the potential of AR/VR platforms for institutes of higher learning.

From guiding students through immersive life-like, real-world modules to gamifying the learning experience, schools can now engage students in more thoughtful ways and gain key insights on learning types and student behaviors, all through the simple scan of a QR code and use of web browser or mobile device.

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