Hundreds of colleges investing in this new student skills program

Growing fields will need students skilled in areas such as cloud computing and big data.

data-cloudMore than 300 colleges and universities across the globe have been enrolled in an IBM program that grants students access to skills to handle new workloads like big data, cloud, mobile, and social.

The explosion of data and the cloud has fueled the need for employees with specialized talent. Between now and 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a faster-than-average increase in employment opportunities for computer and information research scientists.

This means that employers in every industry are seeking job candidates who possess the skills to use the hardware that can uncover insights from data to solve problems, act on findings, enter new markets, and gain a competitive advantage.…Read More

Cloud survey finds reliability, security top concerns

Results reveal cloud service adoption is on the rise

cloud-surveyA recent survey found that cloud adoption within the enterprise has grown steadily, but that security and compliance remain key considerations when evaluating in-house and service provider options.

Among cloud services, infrastructure-as-a-service remains the principal driver, though Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) offerings are being considered to address the needs of an increasingly global and mobile workforce.

The survey, conducted by Redshift Research and sponsored by NaviSite, Inc., was aimed at IT decision makers across the U.S. and U.K. to help understand their use of cloud computing, vendor selection process and principal concerns over migrating to a cloud based infrastructure.…Read More

Five signs you may need a new LMS

Key trends in learning, new tech features are redefining the higher-ed classroom—be ready

LMS-change-signsAccording to the EDUCAUSE Center for Analysis and Research, 15 percent of U.S institutions are planning to replace their existing Learning Management System solutions within the next three years.

One of the reasons for institutions are planning to replace their LMS’ is because though these systems have been around since the late 1990s, only recently have they begun to evolve with dynamic capabilities that tap into eLearning’s true potential made possible by today’s internet technology.

The Center also found that the average lifespan of an LMS is eight years, so the percentage of institutions replacing their systems should continue to rise in the near future.…Read More

What it takes for cloud tech to become FERPA-compliant

Cloud solution industry giant discusses its new software’s features needed to meet applicable FERPA requirements

cloud-security-ferpaIn the recent wake of Apple’s Cloud security breach, as well as multiple security hacks into campuses across the country, cloud solutions providers are saying that the next step in cybersecurity means becoming independently-verified FERPA compliant.

Turning Technologies, a partner for learning engagement and assessment services, announced its latest release, TurningPoint Cloud, has been independently verified for Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) compliance. The American Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) issued an official letter of notice that TurningPoint Cloud successful addressed FERPA issues with relevance to the collection, use and protection of education records.

This compliance, independently verified, will hopefully usher in a new level of security for campus IT solutions.…Read More

Company takes next steps in LMS development

Cloud-based LMS integrates social media, key features of online learning

LMS-cloud-wiziqWizIQ, an online education company, has introduced the WizIQ LMS—a learning management system (LMS) that the company notes is a fully integrated, cloud-based social learning platform.

“The WizIQ Learning Management System is the only fully-integrated, cloud-based social learning platform available in the industry right now,” Harman Singh, founder and CEO of WizIQ Learning Management System, said. “WizIQ’s LMS provides educators with a comprehensive, hassle-free platform aligned with the latest best practices in online learning, making it the next-generation of LMS.”

Colleges and universities, high schools, and training and tutoring centers can use the online learning platform to create and deliver self-paced, live online or blended courses—without the need for third-party plug-ins or added costs to support advanced features, noted the company, and aims to support any number of students with a flexible, SaaS-based pricing model.…Read More

Harvard’s ‘active’ system helping other universities improve outcomes

Learning Catalytics, an active learning system developed at Harvard, has led to big improvements for students at the University of North Carolina

active-learning-harvard

Some students at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill have been improving their test scores by more than 3 percentage points on average in the past year, and it’s largely the result of a Harvard-created software that emphasizes active learning.

The software, which is called Learning Catalytics, was implemented by Professor Kelly Hogan, the Director of Instructional Innovation for the College of Arts and Sciences and the Senior Lecturer in the Biology Department, in her non-majors Biology class in the fall of 2013.…Read More

Report: New revelations about campus IT trends

Survey provides a national snapshot of campus IT spending, cloud tech, and outlook for the future

campus-IT-cloudAlmost one in every five dollars spent on campus IT investments are made outside of centralized IT; in other words, almost $4 billion is spent in non-managed, non-measured, and redundant IT spending each year on campus technology.

This is just one of many illuminating findings of a recent MeriTalk survey—sponsored by VMware and Carahsoft—of over 150 IT professionals at public and private institutions across the U.S.

Other findings include those about department communication, centralizing solutions, the use of cloud technology, and the trends IT leaders believe will be important to invest in now for the future.…Read More

New cloud SRS technology has big classroom potential—here’s why

Cloud-based SRS tech relieves financial headaches, but has it’s own share of worries, say faculty and students

SRS-clicker-studentClickers, once the popular ‘it’ classroom tech tool, have come under scrutiny from cash-strapped students required to pay for these sporadically used devices. Now, say students and faculty, it’s all about a web SRS—and for a good reason.

With textbook prices constantly on the rise, the students say the last thing they want to invest in are more classroom materials; clickers being one of these many materials required for lecture participation on campuses today. These Student Response Systems (SRS) allow students to actively participate in lecture presentations by submitting responses to class-wide questions using hand-held devices.

The pros of clickers, up until recently, have been their ability to allow instructors to initiate, receive and accurately process student participation during lectures in a fast and effective way. For example, in a study conducted on the University of Wisconsin System Project, researchers Robert Kaleta and Tanya Joosten found that the use of classroom clickers improve attentiveness and student engagement in the classroom, since students do not feel the same pressure submitting a response via clicker compared to raising their hand in a lecture hall.…Read More

This innovation is rocking higher-ed IT

New cloud infographic reveals the technology is transforming institutions

cloud-technology-institutions Cloud computing is nothing new, but how higher education institutions are using the technology has certainly become innovative. By using data storage for everything from student loan information to class schedules, having an ease of sharing between universities, and moving critical systems to better implement BYOD practices, higher education is quickly becoming the leaders in cloud technology…but what are some specifics in how they use it?

“The reality for IT in higher education is that the overall environment continues to increase in complexity with issues such as BYOD,” says Vivántech. “Limited resources at private colleges and reduced state allocations at public institutions result in calls for IT departments to do more with same or less budget.  Day-to-day pressures of managing IT services leaves less time to focus on strategic plans. Recruiting and training specialized skill sets such as DBA’s is becoming more difficult. These issues, in conjunction with elevated expectations of students and faculty, are pushing institutions to find better and more cost effective ways to provide technology services.”

One of the major ways to complete these goals is with cloud technology.…Read More

Textbook publishers transform into ‘learning companies’

Textbook publishers like McGraw-Hill Education and Pearson are in the middle of a transformation – and it’s not just a transition to eBook-versions of their familiar products.

textbook-publishers
Waterhouse described adaptive learning as a ‘sweet spot.’

In a recent interview with eCampus News, Lloyd “Buzz” Waterhouse, CEO of McGraw-Hill Education, predicted that by the end of this year, 38 percent of the company’s products will be digital and only one-third of its offerings will be traditional textbooks.

“That’s a pretty big migration for us from a few years ago,” Waterhouse said. “In about three years, I expect the majority of the company will be digital, and I don’t mean just eBooks. We sell a lot of them, and they’re important, but I don’t believe eBooks are the end game.”

The impact of these changes goes far wider than just a publisher’s bottom line or line of products.…Read More

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