The Guzman Monthly

December 2014 | Volume 1, Issue 12

Index

• Welcome

• About the author

• News (2 slides)

• Apps & Tools (2 slides)

• Online Learning (2 slides)

• MOOCs

• Academic Leadership (2 slides)

• Faculty Development (2 slides)

• Student Learning (2 slides)

• New Ways of Learning (4 slides)

• Upcoming Movie & TV Trailers

Welcome to this last issue for 2014 of “The Guzman Monthly”. In this publication I will collect and list some recent articles on higher education issues, online learning best practices, deliver some tools/app suggestions* and links to interesting news/videos on the web published in the past month. Planned release schedule is between the last week of the past month and the first full week of the current month.

* Suggestions on apps will mainly be based on my exposure or research of said apps on iOS mobile devices. Feel free to suggest other apps for my review. My intention is to have the apps be similar in functionality each month.

My name is Tony Guzman and I serve as the Director of Online Programs at the University at Buffalo (UB) School of Social Work (SSW).

I also oversee the UB SSW Podcast series: inSocialWork®. Feel free to listen to some of our podcasts.

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tguzman/Scoop.it!: http://www.scoop.it/t/the-future-of-higher-education-by-tony-guzman-1Twitter: https://twitter.com/professor_tg

News

I had to pleasure to meet Ralph Baer a few years ago when he came to campus to speak with our students and then a group of us took him out to lunch. Quite the innovator and engineer. Sad to hear of his passing.http://www.wired.com/2014/12/ralph-baer-obituary/

Recent updates to Desire2Learn LMS includes game-based learning features. Hoping this gets noticed by other LMS providers.http://campustechnology.com/articles/2014/12/09/d2l-updates-brightspace-with-game-based-learning-service_0.aspx

This article looks at the IT needs within Higher Education come 2015 and beyond. Does this ring true to those of you in Higher Ed. IT departments?http://campustechnology.com/articles/2014/12/11/hiring-outlook-in-higher-education-it.aspx

News (cont.)

U. Texas enhances their online program offerings to help reach 5000 underserved students.http://campustechnology.com/articles/2014/12/10/u-texas-el-paso-expands-distance-programs-for-underserved-students.aspx

Lynn University has deployed an iPad initiative that is changing education for their faculty and students. Who of you use an iPad in your teaching and learning?http://campustechnology.com/articles/2014/12/18/using-ipads-to-lower-the-cost-of-a-degree.aspx

WOW! This is an extremely cool concept and I wish them all the best in getting their company up and going!https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=808271952535755

Apps & Tools

This infographic describes the “Internet of Things” and what the future may hold.http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/11/a-beautiful-visual-explaining-internet.html

This is an interesting approach to helping students figure out which colleges to apply to. Anyone try this out yet?http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/11/28/find-your-match-data-companies-transform-college-applications

Next version of Lync will now be known as “Skype for Business” combining the best features of Lync with those of Skype. Interesting that it took Microsoft this long to combine both products since they purchased Skype years ago.http://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2014/11/11/skype-business-brings-best-skype-lync-due-2015/

Apps & Tools (cont.)

Translation Preview is available for Skype. To register visit this site: http://www.skype.com/en/translator-preview/

This Technology Compass helps educators pick from a current list of tools for use in a specific type of academic activity. Has anyone used these for those goals?http://iteachu.uaf.edu/online-training/grow-skills/choosing-the-best-technology/

Sony has been in the news lately for other reasons, but here is a product that many professors are very happy about. Sony Digital Paper allows for annotations on PDF files so the faculty can markup student submissions and hand them back in their online courses. Anyone have one already?http://campustechnology.com/articles/2014/12/15/review-sony-digital-paper.aspx

Online Learning

This article continues to discuss the issues around Competency-based education and how it is the disruptive innovation in online higher education today.https://www.educause.edu/ero/article/got-skills-why-online-competency-based-education-disruptive-innovation-higher-education

This article shares a synopsis of some the points George Siemens shared at Online Educa Berlin 2014 regarding online learning. Great read. Thoughts?http://www.online-educa.com/OEB_Newsportal/george-siemens-moocs-elearning-online-educa-berlin/

This article focuses on recent research that shows that taking online courses in high school help prepare students for higher levels of success in college. What do people think?http://campustechnology.com/articles/2014/12/02/online-courses-in-high-school-could-help-with-college-prep.aspx

Online Learning (cont.)

What will the eTextbook of tomorrow look like?http://campustechnology.com/articles/2014/12/03/whats-next-for-e-textbooks.aspx

This article broadens the definition of incivility for the online classroom and then shares ideas on how to avoid it. Has anyone successfully tried this before?http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/deal-incivility-online-classroom/

MOOCs

Will this task force start another revolution in higher education or re-purpose one that has already started?http://newsoffice.mit.edu/2014/revolution-higher-education-sanjay-sarma-1117

IEEE has joined edX. Anyone engineers taken MOOCs yet?https://www.edx.org/blog/ieee-joins-edx

Purdue has joined edX as well. Curious to see what 2015 holds for MOOCs and partnerships like edX.https://www.edx.org/blog/purdue-university-joins-edx

Academic Leadership

Switzerland universities do quite well in World Rankings for Higher Education. This article addresses some of the reasons why this is the case. Thoughts?http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2014/oct/01/switzerland-university-rankings-invest-research-science

This article describes some of the outcomes from the recent “College Opportunity Day of Action”. I would be interested to see higher college completion rates be supported by federal funding and enhanced technologies. Thoughts?http://campustechnology.com/articles/2014/12/04/white-house-pokes-colleges-ed-tech-companies-to-help-more-students-graduate.aspx

This article shares seven principles to use in any faculty development center. These same principles can be used in other assessments and in preparing for accreditation of any program. Thoughts?http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/faculty-development/communicate-value-faculty-development-center/

Academic Leadership (cont.)

This article identifies some ways we can better serve students who have learning disabilities on our campuses.

http://campustechnology.com/articles/2014/12/18/how-colleges-can-better-serve-students-with-learning-disabilities.aspx

Faculty Development

For those educators struggling with the “close to the end of term” struggles that students bring at this time, this article is for you!http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/believe-students-timely-reminder/

As end of term evaluations start to come in, faculty tend to dread receiving them because of some of the hurtful comments. This article gives 7 suggestions on how to better approach them.http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/faculty-evaluation/cruel-student-comments-seven-ways-soothe-sting/

This infographic displays “What would America look like as 100 college students?”. Interesting statistics. Any surprises?http://postsecondary.gatesfoundation.org/student-stories/america-as-100-college-students/

Faculty Development (cont.)

This article shares some ideas of what could be a strong emphasis for change during the next year in teaching and learning. Ideas?http://campustechnology.com/articles/2014/12/17/what-to-change-about-teaching-and-learning-in-2015.aspx

Part 1 of the list of Top 14 articles on Faculty Focus for 2014.http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-and-learning/14-popular-articles-2014/

Part 2 of the Top 14 articles on Faculty Focus for 2014.http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-and-learning/14-popular-articles-2014-part-2/

Student Learning

This article addresses critical thinking and who should be teaching it to our students. Do you teach your students to think critically in your course and for that subject?http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/instructional-design/unlocking-mystery-critical-thinking/

This article addresses the importance of the middle school years in preparing for high school and college.http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/college_bound/2014/12/focus_on_middle_grades_pivotal_to_high_school_success.html

This article shares some skills that every learner should be able to do. How many can you do?http://usergeneratededucation.wordpress.com/2014/12/06/universal-skills-all-learners-should-know-how-to-do/

Student Learning (cont.)

This article gives some excellent tips for college bound students on how to get the most out of your college career.http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/10/how-to-reap-the-most-out-of-college-or-any-education/

This article addresses ideas on how to help your students learn how to self-assess their work. Great read. Anyone have thoughts on this?http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/developing-students-self-assessment-skills/

This article tackles three main concerns students having regarding attending college. Thoughts?http://www.impatientoptimists.org/Posts/2014/12/Addressing-Students-Concerns-in-Higher-Ed

New Ways of Learning

This article explains Heutagogy and how to best design with this type of learning in mind.http://leolearning.com/blog/heutagogy-designing-for-self-directed-learners/

This infographic describes what the eLearning trends of 2015 might be.http://blog.talentlms.com/elearning-trends-follow-2015-infographic/

This interview article shares some thoughts on using gamification techniques within your grading. Anyone doing this already?http://chronicle.com/blognetwork/castingoutnines/2014/11/25/41-interview-linda-nilson/

New Ways of Learning (cont.)

This infographic combines Bloom’s Taxonomy to the Depth of Knowledge model. Anyone using this?https://www.mentoringminds.com/blooms-and-depth-of-knowledge-infographic

This article and video help instructors figure out how to best “flip” their course, regardless of subject matter or grade level. Any flippers out there care to share their experiences?http://www.edutopia.org/blog/flipping-the-non-flippable-classes-jon-bergmann

This article shares some excellent YouTube channels useful for the classroom. Any educators care to share their experience with using YouTube in the classroom?http://edtechreview.in/trends-insights/insights/1686-resourceful-youtube-channels-for-teachers-and-educators

New Ways of Learning (cont.)

13 Higher Ed. tech tools and approaches to watch in 2015.http://www.educationdive.com/news/13-higher-ed-tech-tools-and-approaches-to-watch-in-2015/336102/

This infographic lists trends in personalized learning for 2015.http://www.personalizelearning.com/2014/12/10-trends-to-personalize-learning-in.html

This article share five predictions for active learning in 2015. The article is written by the social media strategist for the Echo360 product. Anyone using this product, willing to share their experience?http://blog.echo360.com/5-active-learning-predictions-for-2015

New Ways of Learning (cont.)

Here are 10 examples of gamification tools that could be used in your classroom. Most of these are K-8 examples but some can certainly be used in high school and college environments.http://www.yukaichou.com/gamification-examples/top-10-education-gamification-examples/

This article shares 10 pedagogical innovations compiled by faculty from the Open University in the UK. Any on this list that your are already a proponent for?http://www.ecampusnews.com/top-news/pedagogical-innovations-2015-588/

This article shares the Connected Learning model and its principles for learning and how to design your course to follow the model. Anyone using this already?http://www.teachthought.com/learning/6-design-principles-connected-learning/

Upcoming Movie & TV Trailers

Marvel’s Agent Carter Sneak Peek, Premiere Date: 1/6/2015http://youtu.be/V13W9gQ_1GA

Person of Interest – If-Then-Else Preview, Premiere Date: 1/6/2015http://youtu.be/BOellal73JA

12 Monkeys: Extended Preview, Premiere Date: 1/16/2015http://youtu.be/fGGtWE12w8s

Justice League: Throne of Atlantis Official Trailer, Release Date: 1/27/2015http://youtu.be/donPLB1xaBw

Full Favorite Trailer playlist on my YouTube channelhttp://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp4nJo9D2kEs3McWG18x5UmIcSsVhNjq0

Thanks for checking this monthly newsletter out and hope to see around again next time!