The Guzman Monthly

July 2015 | Volume 2, Issue 7

Index

• Welcome

• About the author

• News (3 slides)

• Apps & Tools (3 slides)

• Online Learning

• MOOCs

• Administration Issues (2 slides)

• Faculty Development (3 slides)

• Student Learning

• New Ways of Learning (2 slides)

• Upcoming Movie & TV Trailers

Welcome to the next issue 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.

To view previous newsletters please visit my slideshare page: http://www.slideshare.net/TJtheTiger

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®, and the Technology in Social Work Resource Center. Feel free to listen to some of our podcasts and review our resources.

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

Oral Roberts U. using telepresence robots to help potential students tour the campus and attend classes.http://campustechnology.com/articles/2015/07/01/telepresence-robots-attend-campus-tours-and-more-at-oral-roberts-u.aspx

Despite efforts to shrink the gap in STEM disciplines, a large on still exists. This article shares some of the results of a recent study and hopefully we can leverage the results to help shrink the gap in the future.http://campustechnology.com/articles/2015/06/29/report-despite-equity-push-stem-gaps-persist.aspx

This infographic shares the expected business skills in 2020. Actually, most of these have a general education foundation and are not so different from those expected in 2000 or 2010, in my opinion. Any surprises?http://www.inc.com/graham-winfrey/the-most-important-work-skills-in-2020.html

News (cont.)

This article shares some of the research a colleague of mine has been collaborating on in the end-of-life scenarios and how EMTs should handle them.http://www.buffalo.edu/ubreporter/research/news.host.html/content/shared/university/news/ub-reporter-articles/stories/2015/07/waldrop_first_responders.detail.html

This announcement makes me excited to see the fruits of this labor. Hope this helps the K-12 sector in the NYC area.http://campustechnology.com/articles/2015/07/14/nyu-gets-3.5-million-in-initiative-to-train-500-nyc-stem-teachers.aspx

This article presents survey results on the question: What are the best recruitment strategies for engaging teenagers during their college decision and choices?http://chronicle.com/article/TeenagersColleges-Are-of/231703/

News (cont.)

Oregon is now the second state to offer free community college for those students who meet a certain criteria. Hoping this becomes a federal program for students in every state to benefit from.http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-33425-oregon_will_become_second_state_to_offer_free_comm.html

This article shares how the APU project on updating the Internet Learning Journal has now expanded.http://campustechnology.com/articles/2015/07/28/moving-course-apps-from-traditional-to-media-rich-interactive-designs.aspx

In this opinion piece the author shares why they believe that higher education is on “it's last legs”. Agree or disagree?http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeb-harrison/academia-redux-then-and-n_b_7829364.html

Apps & Tools

The latest update to iTunes U allows for threads, gradebook and submissions. Interesting to see how this progresses for them.http://campustechnology.com/articles/2015/06/29/apple-adds-discussions-homework-hand-in-and-a-grade-book-to-itunes-u.aspx

This list of app resources pertains to faculty using iPads to teach in K-12 and beyond. How many of these are you using?http://www.teachthought.com/technology/resources-for-teaching-with-ipads/

This article shares some quick steps to help you find out who has been viewing and sharing your LinkedIn posts.http://www.ferreemoney.com/how-to-find-who-shared-your-linkedin-posts/

Apps & Tools (cont.)

This HTML5 web-based app is a strong contender to succeed GarageBand. Any musicians out there trying this tool already?http://thenextweb.com/apps/2015/07/04/this-song-is-called-mic-is-writing-an-article/

This web tool helps make teaching concepts come to life in the classroom.http://campustechnology.com/articles/2015/07/08/bringing-location-based-learning-to-life.aspx

This article shares how to use Google Hangouts for Education. This can be a solid alternative for when virtual classroom spaces are not available.http://gho4edu.weebly.com/

Apps & Tools (cont.)

This article shares a tool called “CiteFast” to help students cite their sources in either APA, MLA or Chicago. Any users of this out there?http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2015/07/citefast-incredibly-easy-citation-tool-for-students.html

This article lists various tools to help any person or organization using social media.http://stephenslighthouse.com/2015/07/21/top-100-social-media-tools-resources-you-can-benefit-from-today/

With the release of Windows 10 this week, this is a good review to read as you consider upgrading or not.http://www.wired.com/2015/07/windows-10-review/

Online Learning

This article shares some of the ways that gamification methods help engage your online students more effectively and how these can help create a better online community.

http://tech.co/gamification-online-communities-2015-06

This article shares some great tips on using Direct Instruction model in an online course.

http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/rethinking-direct-instruction-in-online-learning

MOOCs

Open edX can now be found from Amazon Web Services. This is the open source platform of edX allowing anyone to use it for their own online courses.http://campustechnology.com/articles/2015/06/25/open-edx-now-available-from-amazon-web-services-marketplace.aspx

This newly developed model helps show when someone will drop out of a MOOC course. Wonder if there is a way to tweak this model for regular online courses.http://campustechnology.com/articles/2015/07/01/mit-researchers-develop-model-to-predict-mooc-dropouts.aspx

Duke U. survey results share that MOOCs are a solid supplement to higher education.http://campustechnology.com/articles/2015/07/06/survey-moocs-supplement-traditional-higher-ed.aspx

Administration Issues

Latest update on the America’s College Promise Act of 2015 bill. If this passes this would help many low income students to accomplish at least an associates degree and hopefully move onto a bachelors as well.http://campustechnology.com/articles/2015/07/09/lawmakers-tout-new-legislation-to-make-community-college-free-for-eligible-students.aspx

This article shares some insights from Sir Ken Robinson on how to “fix our education system”.http://www.businessinsider.com/ken-robinson-education-should-be-like-farming-not-manufacturing-2015-7

This infographic (and brief article) shares 5 tips on being a good instructional designer.http://elearninginfographics.com/secrets-successful-instructional-designer-infographic/

Administration Issues (cont.)

This article shares on how colleges receiving state aid are updating their reporting to show graduation and placement results to maintain their state aid levels.http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2015/07/28/states-to-colleges-prove-youre-worth-it

This article shares some thoughts of what educational technology may look like in the coming years and the overall impact to education.http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/06/29/what-education-technology-could-look-like-over-the-next-five-years/

This article, while emphasizing on K12 sector, shares some insights from recent workshops and conferences about what today’s schools need to be considering to be ready for tomorrow’s learners.http://langwitches.org/blog/2015/07/27/professional-development-21st-century-education-preparing-todays-school-for-tomorrows-future/

Faculty Development

This article shares a faculty members experience and some research on what works best when teaching in a cohort style. How many of these have you tried?http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-and-learning/keep-calm-and-teach-best-practices-for-teaching-cohorts

This article shares the importance of creating a course map and how it can positively influence your student's learning outcomes in the course (as well as your own teaching satisfaction levels).http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/instructional-design/how-a-course-map-puts-you-on-track-for-better-learning-outcomes

This article shares some results from a study indicating how often will a student give a fraudulent excuse to their instructor. Interesting. How do you handle extension requests?http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-and-learning/research-highlights-how-easily-readily-students-fabricate-excuses-2

Faculty Development (cont.)

This article shares an ice breaker activity called the interest inventory. How many are using this tool? If yes, how is it going?http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-teaching-strategies/first-day-of-class-activity-the-interest-inventory

Purdue looking to add student mentoring to their tenure requirements. Thoughts?https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/07/20/purdue-moves-make-mentoring-undergraduates-criterion-tenure

This article shares ideas that can be applied from the effectiveness of wearable fitness devices to student assessments and engagement in their courses.http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/educational-assessment/what-fitness-bands-can-teach-us-about-classroom-assessment

Faculty Development (cont.)

STEM focused faculty call for a revamp and reboot of how STEM disciplines are taught in the higher education settings.http://campustechnology.com/articles/2015/07/22/stem-teaching-needs-reboot.aspx

This article gives some great ideas on how to have your social media campaign be a success!http://www.inc.com/ed-zitron/8-tips-to-running-an-actually-successful-social-media-campaign.html

This article shares some results from a study conducted to find, and encourage, faculty collaborating and sharing their best practices in higher education settings.http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/faculty-development/where-does-innovative-teaching-come-from/

Student Learning

This article shares some ideas on how to help your students succeed in your classroom.http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/instructional-design/three-tools-for-supporting-student-success/

This article challenges faculty to consider modifying their syllabi to be more learner-centered. Thoughts?http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-classroom-management/a-learner-centered-syllabus-helps-set-the-tone-for-learning/

Paul LeBlanc, president of SNHU, sees technology as central to the next evolutionary step in higher education. Thoughts?http://campustechnology.com/articles/2015/07/28/how-it-will-elevate-educational-access-and-quality.aspx

New Ways of Learning

Latest report from NMC for K-12 sector shows that blended learning is the leading trend in educational technology.http://hechingerreport.org/blended-learning-emerges-as-a-leading-trend-in-education-technology-report-says/

This article shares some reasons to introduce collaborative learning spaces within your learning institution.http://www.emergingedtech.com/2015/07/reasons-research-schools-need-collaborative-learning-spaces/

U. of Adelaide, in southern Australia, is looking to no longer have traditional lectures in their courses. Can we truly do away with them on the whole?http://www.afr.com/technology/apps/education/university-of-adelaide-is-phasing-out-lectures-20150629-ghxgoz

New Ways of Learning (cont.)

This article shares results from surveyed faculty and employers regards to the preparedness of today’s college students. I do not find this surprising but what can we do to change this for a positive impact?http://campustechnology.com/articles/2015/07/27/survey-most-profs-find-hs-grads-unready-for-college-or-work.aspx

This article shares to slow addition of social media degrees in higher education. May take would be enhancing marketing, sales and advertising degrees to have this as a concentration. Wonder if the author searched for that type of option.http://www.socialmediatoday.com/social-business/aweiner/2015-07-27/higher-education-slowly-catching-social-media-world

This article shares some details on the value of mindfulness in your student's learning (and even your own teaching).http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-and-learning/the-power-of-mindfulness-in-the-classroom/

Upcoming Movie & TV Trailers

Fantastic Four, Release Date: 8/7/2015https://youtu.be/AAgnQdiZFsQ

Fear the Walking Dead Trailer, Premiere Date: 8/23/2015https://youtu.be/WDxew5SguVw

Full Favorite Movie Trailers playlist on my YouTube channelhttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp4nJo9D2kEs3McWG18x5UmIcSsVhNjq0

Full Favorite TV Trailers playlist on my YouTube channelhttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp4nJo9D2kEtMvp3l9Jx5HemMXMxIocwR

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