BLOG: UK Online Principles, Priorities, Wild Possibilities - Jay Miller, UKnow

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, from 2013 to 2019, online enrollment across the United States grew 30%. Interestingly, during that same time, overall enrollment and institutions of higher learning declined by 4%. In the five years preceding the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, online degree completions increased by more than 40%; completions from on-campus programs were flat. Growth notwithstanding, concerns about online education abound. 

https://uknow.uky.edu/campus-news/blog-uk-online-principles-priorities-wild-possibilities

Law students report online learning gains, but in-person still wins out - Karen Sloan, Reuters

Students surveyed this spring by AccessLex Institute and Gallup had better things to say about their remote or hybrid classes than they did a year ago, indicating that law schools improved their online offerings during the two-year pandemic and that students are more open to learning remotely. In-person instruction still takes the prize: Among surveyed students who took most or all of their classes remotely this year, 72% rated their program as either good or excellent, compared to 78% of those who took classes in person. But that’s a much smaller gap than in 2021, when 57% of online J.D. students and 76% of in-person students gave their program high marks.

https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/law-students-report-online-learning-gains-in-person-still-wins-out-2022-05-18/

Warren Buffett: 3 Things in Life That Separate Successful People From Everyone Else - Marcel Schwantes, Inc.

The mega mogul has uttered countless inspiring and prophetic statements over the decades. Here are three that have captured my attention:

1. "It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently."

2. "You will move in the direction of the people that you associate with. So it's important to associate with people that are better than yourself."

3. "It is not necessary to do extraordinary things to get extraordinary results."

https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/warren-buffett-3-things-in-life-that-separate-successful-people-from-everyone-else.html

Lifelong Learning for a Changing Workforce - Jim Shea, Inside Higher Ed

Where higher education fails America is in its inability to recognize, or perhaps failure to address, the fact that in a knowledge-based economy, there are workforce and employee needs that only America’s knowledge providers—our universities—can provide, and that state universities in particular have an ethical responsibility that they are failing to meet. That failure is both morally questionable and socioeconomically damaging to the nation and its people. State universities must step up to address employer demand for tailored, knowledge-based degrees to help employees meaningfully advance in their careers, Jim Shea writes.

https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2022/05/18/its-time-rethink-workforce-development-opinion

An Analysis of Workforce Intermediaries, Part I - George Lorenzo, Workforce Monitor

This is the first part of a Workforce Monitor analysis of workforce intermediaries (WIs). We begin with a definition of WIs paraphrased and mashed up from some of the current research: 

WIs are entities who provide education and training advisement, support, and delivery services to workers and employers. Although there is no formal count, WIs number in the unknown thousands and embody an enormous landscape of companies, organizations, institutions, and partnerships who offer numerous and varied services to learners, employers, and the overall workforce development academic community. Basically, workforce intermediaries (WIs) form the multi-faceted connections between job seekers and workers and employers.

https://wfmonitor.com/2022/05/18/an-analysis-of-workforce-intermediaries-part-i/

Motivator in Chief: Getting the Most from Your Team - Knowledge at Wharton

One of managers’ primary responsibilities is motivating their teams to do their best work — and feel a sense of fulfillment in the process. A motivated team is a highly engaged one; its members are better at handling uncertainty, solving problems, and applying high levels of creativity and innovation to their work. They’re also much more likely to stick around. Motivation can be driven by intrinsic reasons (e.g., a desire to learn or be challenged) or by extrinsic ones (e.g., a desire to gain status or earn a financial bonus). Not every team member is going to be motivated in the same way, and the role of a manager is to discover team members’ motivation preferences and then meet those preferences.

https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/motivator-in-chief-getting-the-most-from-your-team/

The online learning phenomenon impacts higher education; 17.3M students enrolled in 2021 - Maria Caitriona, Associated Press

During the pandemic, 98% of universities in the U.S. switched to remote learning. Since then, more students are continuing with online study, with 17.3 million students in the U.S. studying online in 2021 – either full-time or partially. Research from Bay Atlantic University found that: 85% of students agreed that online learning helped improve their critical thinking and problem solving; 60% of students agreed that online learning helped improve further soft skills; 63% of students committed to online learning because it aligned better with their lifestyle.

https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2022/05/23/apc-the-online-learning-phenomenon-impacts-higher-education-17-3m-students-enrolled-in-2021/#.Yo5miI5Okd4

14 Equity Considerations for Ed Tech - Reed Dickson, Campus Technology

In considering a particular ed tech tool, faculty typically examine one key question: Does the chosen app address their unique pedagogical needs? In design terms, this begins with the learning experience (LX) of students — but often extends toward the teaching experience (TX), and even the user experience of technologists, instructional designers and administrators. Collectively, I call these the "pedagogical experience" (PX) of an e-learning tool. TAXI is a vehicle to drive us toward four kinds of equity considerations: 1) tech equity; 2) accessibility equity; 3) experiential equity; and, 4) identity equity. TAXI is not an attempt at anything definitive. 

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2022/05/12/14-equity-considerations-for-ed-tech.aspx

Is Hybrid Learning Here to Stay in Higher Ed? - Daniel Lempres, EdSurge

Perry Samson, a professor of climate and space sciences at the University of Michigan, has been experimenting with remote education and student engagement for years—since well before the pandemic. He created a tool that allows him to receive more instantaneous feedback from students. Once the pandemic forced most teaching online, Samson used that tool to better understand his students’ attitudes about in-person and remote learning, publishing his findings in Educause Review. Samson’s findings highlight the varied opinions students hold of remote learning.

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2022-05-12-is-hybrid-learning-here-to-stay-in-higher-ed

Credential Train Is Leaving the Station—Get on Board - Ray Schroeder, Inside Higher Ed

In 1997, Sylvia Manning, then VPAA of the University of Illinois system, later president of the Higher Learning Commission, declared, “The online learning train is leaving the station—get on board or be left behind!”  Now, decades later, Manning’s message is true for alternative credentialing programs in higher education. An equally large—or larger—positive impact is anticipated for higher education with widespread adoption of credentialing that is shorter-term, less expensive, more timely and more career-centric than traditional full-length degree programs. The public demand is clear. It is for shorter, less expensive, more relevant certificates and certifications that have value in the workforce marketplace.

https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/blogs/online-trending-now/credential-train-leaving-station%E2%80%94get-board

Post-pandemic, four years of college steadily loses its appeal - Jessica Dickler, CNBC

More than two years into the pandemic, nearly three-quarters, or 73%, of high schoolers think a direct path to a career is essential in postsecondary education, according to a survey of high school students. The likelihood of attending a four-year school sank from 71% to 51% in the past two years, ECMC Group found. Now, some 42% say their ideal postsecondary plans would require three years of college or less, while 31% said it should last two years or less. Even before the pandemic, students were starting to consider more affordable, direct-to-career alternatives to a four-year degree, said Jeremy Wheaton, ECMC Group’s president and CEO.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/16/post-pandemic-four-years-of-college-steadily-loses-its-appeal.html

How Can We Get More Women in Tech — and Support Their Growth? - Lauren Harrison, Noelle Knell, Gov Tech

A champion of bringing more women into the gov tech workforce, Executive Director of Enterprise GRC and Resiliency Anushree Bag talks about attracting women to the job and guiding them through a career path.  The gap between the number of women and men in technology roles, particularly in government, is not a new topic. Organizations and nonprofits exist throughout the country to get women and girls interested in — and committed to — STEM subjects. 

https://www.govtech.com/workforce/how-can-we-get-more-women-in-tech-and-support-their-growth

The Some College No Credential Population Rose to 39 Million in the U.S - IBL News

The number of Americans without a college credential but some college credits continues to increase. In July 2020, this segment was up 3.1 million from the 36 million in 2019. These data were issued by the National Student Clearinghouse’s Research Center this week on its last annual progress report. The National Student Clearinghouse warned that “if these trends continue, a growing number of U.S. workers lacking education credentials risk being left behind in the twenty-first-century economy.”

https://iblnews.org/the-some-college-no-credential-population-rose-to-39-million-in-the-u-s/

How metaverse can significantly enhance learning experiences of working professionals - Akanksha Tripathi, People Matters

The substantial multimodal interaction that the Metaverse will aim to enable through virtual avatars, immersive video, and spatial audio can help augment one's learning experience. Today, when travel in several industry sectors is limited due to safety and budget constraints, the Metaverse provides us with a platform to even share a cup of tea with our teams located in various corners of the world.

https://www.peoplematters.in/article/training-development/how-metaverse-can-significantly-enhance-learning-experiences-of-working-professionals-33999

Pros And Cons Of Using Informal Learning In Your Compliance Online Training Course - Christopher Pappas, eLearning Industry

Informal education usually refers to things you learn unconsciously. For example, infants learn to speak informally. They listen to the adults around them speak, and they pick up words, syntax, and intonation. When they go to school and learn to read and write, that’s more formal. In a work setting, mentorship programs are largely informal. Employees shadow a senior colleague and learn by watching them. It’s largely an offline experience though, so what are the benefits and downsides of digitizing this process? And can you encourage your employees to engage in impromptu training experiences without compromising the objectives? Let’s delve into some of the pros and cons of using informal learning in your compliance online training course.

https://elearningindustry.com/pros-cons-using-informal-learning-compliance-online-training

Clarifying the Alternative: Why Higher Ed Needs to Better Define Microcredential Skills - Dennis Di Lorenzo, Modern Campus

“A digital marketing certificate from one institution means something very different than a digital marketing certificate from another,” Di Lorenzo says. “If I’m someone trying to understand what my next move is regarding my career, I don’t think people are asking ‘what is the value of the credential’ but ‘what am I going to learn?’” Asking employers to invest more in their own employees who need to upskill or reskill is going to show them some of that process.  However, the responsibility to ensure there is a return on that investment falls on the institution. Finding a way through the layers of complexity to get a clearer picture of what goes on in higher ed is critical to employers.  

https://moderncampus.com/blog/defining-microcredentials-illumination.html

Lindenwood U. to pay $1.65 million to settle claim online classes 'subpar' - Katie Kull, St. Louis Today

U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White approved a $1.65 million settlement Wednesday between the St. Charles university and a class action group of students led by Dylan Martin, of Eldon, Missouri. Each student will receive roughly $185, and the students' attorneys will receive roughly $550,000. "We think this is a fair and reasonable settlement," Lindenwood's attorney Kyle Seelbach said in a hearing. The suit against Lindenwood was one of several filed across the country by students who claimed they overpaid when classes went online. A similar class action case filed by Washington University students was dismissed by a federal judge in March.

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/lindenwood-u-to-pay-1-65-million-to-settle-claim-online-classes-subpar/article_5d251402-a1ae-5c5d-88df-3a9fe77bc766.html

What Is the Metaverse's Future in K-12 and Higher Ed? - Brandon Paykamian, GovTech

Over recent months, K-12 schools and universities have adopted AR/VR ed-tech tools for hands-on science courses, activities and skill development, among other growing uses. For example, the University of Michigan joined several other institutions this year in adopting AR/VR tools for technical skill-building courses, while workforce development officials in Arkansas described plans last month to expand the state’s use of VR for career exploration and training for K-12 students.

https://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/what-is-the-metaverses-future-in-k-12-and-higher-ed

Financial aid administrators call for student loan system reforms - Jeremy Bauer-Wolf, Higher Ed Dive

NASFAA helped develop more than two dozen recommendations on components like loan plan design and servicer oversight. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, along with a cadre of 21 higher education organizations, developed recommendations to improve the federal loan system. More than two-dozen resulting suggestions range from how to streamline loan plans to how to better oversee servicers. 

https://www.highereddive.com/news/financial-aid-administrators-call-for-student-loan-system-reforms/623741/

Forget Unpaid Internships. Instead, Colleges Should Offer Work-Based Courses. - Kevin Fauzie, EdSurge

Colleges have already come up with a model for this by offering work-based courses, which pair students with businesses and other organizations to solve real-world problems. With COVID-19 normalizing remote work, creating this kind of program is easier than ever. Business schools at several leading universities, including Stanford, MIT and Berkeley, include an increasing number of work-based courses in their curriculum, allowing students to work on various challenges, such as growing a startup or reducing homelessness in California.

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2022-05-09-forget-unpaid-internships-instead-colleges-should-offer-work-based-courses

How Metaverse will transform future learning? - Sachin Gupta, Financial Express

As technology progresses, bringing us new immersive and imagined worlds, so must our methods of educating children and preparing teachers to handle these new challenges. It also provides new opportunities for students, instructors, and parents to communicate. Students and teachers have more flexibility in timing the curriculum, conducting meetings, and supplementing practical learning experiences because of virtual universe technologies and blended learning approaches.

https://www.financialexpress.com/education-2/how-metaverse-will-transform-future-learning/2517004/