Monthly Archives: December 2013

12/06

7 Important Trends in Education

Posted 12/06/2013 in Uncategorized

Our world is constantly changing. Everything from the latest discoveries in medicine, to ground-breaking innovations in aircrafts. Our learning systems, too, are changing. In order to assure that we receive the best possible learning tools and systems, we must keep up with the latest trends in education technology. According to the Post University, there are 7 higher education trends that have built momentum around the way we teach and learn. These include: • Online education innovation will accelerate: Such strategies will feature several key benefits for students –namely, robust support services, high interaction with instructors and students, and outcome-based learning. Much of this innovation will continue to be led by smaller institutions, for-profits, and community colleges, which have spearheaded many online education developments to date. • The adult learner population will continue to grow: The U.S. Department of Education’s 2010 statistics show that approximately 25 percent of college students nationwide are over age 20. As a result, adult learners will continue to become a crucial part of the overall future of higher education. Educational institutions will be under increasing pressure to better meet the needs of adult learners, who must balance work, school, and life’s other responsibilities. • The traditional […]

12/04

The Search for a Better Online School System

Posted 12/04/2013 in Uncategorized

More and more universities are looking for a better solution for their online courses. Colleges such as the University of Oregon are searching for better online systems that would improve their existing online platforms for students. Diane Dietz, a reporter for The Register-Guard, reports that, “Both the UO and OSU are in the process of seeking better systems.” Dietz explains that colleges are looking for platforms that “would, ideally, be easy for students to navigate, robust enough to hold and run course content such as videos or even learning games, and within the universities’ means.” The problem, universities report, is the question of whether online courses meet quality standards. The University of Oregon and OSU are both looking for ways to get and maintain quality. Along with 17 other public institutions, they came together for from a Personalized Learning Consortium. Within this group, they attempt to create specific standards and outcomes from courses such as English, economics, pre-calculus, biology and psychology. On another note, OSU has found a separate way to measure quality standards. Dietz claims, “Quality Matters, a Maryland –based nonprofit group, offers a means to evaluate and certify the design of online courses. Five OSU online courses are […]