Education 2.0 & 3.0

Colleges are taking advantage of a business opportunity and an education need in the marketplace.

"Exposing students to online learning long before they reach college is practical. This point paints online learning as a life skill of sorts – something for kids to understand before entering the real world as adults, much like balancing a bank account or learning how to create a resume. Without a solid understanding of online learning before graduation, students are less prepared for what they will face academically following high school."

"Picture a big, beautiful college campus: Dorms dotting the landscape, students rushing across the quad. Tools and technology that help enhance classroom instruction — not replace it. These are probably the main aspects of what you think of when you consider a traditional college experience."

Want to know how to Create Engaging Online Courses? Check 4 tips for engaging your online students and help them improve learning retention.

In order to choose a university and gauge the value of a potential distance learning courses and programs that you intend to..

Technology is helping higher education maintain (or even increase) the services they provide without raising tuition and other costs

"In a study of faculty experiences using lecture capture systems in the classroom, responses reveal 10 primary themes around how the technology is impacting the education process."

"When it comes to students selecting a higher education institution, the reputation of the institution is everything. Students are increasingly dependent on both the physical and digital environment in which they study. Technology and access to personalized digital tools to support their learning and teaching is now a standard part of the college or university experience."

"Establishing effective communication in online classes can be challenging. Learn how to use technology to create an effective online learning environment. Assimilate five essential steps to enhance your online communication."

Kirsten Drickey provides some concrete advice for leveraging your teaching experience and subject matter expertise by teaching online courses beyond the academy.

Want to know how to Evaluate The Learnability Of Online Courses? Check a case study that showcases how to Evaluate The Learnability Of Online Courses.

Recent data shows just how much college students, and their experiences, have changed in just a few short years.

Want to know how to conduct a Learning Management System Needs Analysis? Check 10 factors to consider for a Learning Management System Needs Analysis.

"What is Digital Pedagogy? Digital pedagogy focuses specifically on the use of technology to break down learning barriers and enhance students’ learning experiences. By definition, its existence dates back to the earliest use of digital tools in classrooms -- however, larger awareness of the need for digital pedagogy has emerged only in the last decade or so, in recognition of the changing relationship between students and computers, handheld devices, social media, and more. For instance, according to one 2013 study, today’s undergraduate students use their computers an average of 123 minutes per day -- yet spend only six minutes per day on email [1]. This changing portrait of student habits points towards a serious need for critical approaches by instructors regarding the use of technologies to engage their students, regardless of a class’ subject or mode of instruction. An effective digital pedagogy thus starts not with a static list of tools, but with fundamental learning goals and strategies, to which appropriate technology is added to strengthen student outcomes and objectives."

CBE programs may offer a better financial option and increased academic flexibility for students, many of whom are older and have extensive work experience.

Online classes must engage students quickly and get them into a class rhythm. Using the check-in quiz as your first assignment does just that.

An infographic delves into recent education trend data to explain why blended learning is taking off.

If you're looking to pursue online education to help boost your career, here are a few things to consider before enrolling.

"To take full advantage of all the internet has to offer, schools need to have reliable, speedy connections. When teachers don’t know if a program will crash midway through class – or work at all – they are often hesitant to use online programs to enhance lessons."

I'm confident then about the potential of technology-enabled learning. However, I’ve grown increasingly less confident that the institution of higher education can play a major role in realising this potential. Evidence is mounting that the institution of higher education, as it is currently designed, is largely ill-suited to developing and leveraging more advanced uses of…

Online learning is on the rise at private colleges and universities, with 61 percent offering fully online degree programs in some fields.

"In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Goode to discuss the opportunities provided by Faculty Learning Communities (FLC’s), an established method of small-group faculty development... She also shares with us many of the positive outcomes and benefits from FLC’s and how they can be implemented at any institution."

If the outcome from online courses is uneven, it's little wonder. Most instructors aren't exactly up to speed on what to expect, according to a new report from the Online Learning Consortium