Education IT News For VARs — January 2, 2015
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
In news, wireless kiosks are helping students get connected, iPads are helping keep tuition costs down, and Talent LMS provides 10 online learning trends to watch in 2015. Also, President Barack Obama’s initiatives in education technology are measured, and technology is aiding special education classrooms.
Wireless Kiosks Keep Initiatives Running 24/7
This article from Ed Tech Magazine examines how kiosks can help students stay connected, even after school. The digital kiosks are equipped with touch-screen computers and double as wireless hotspots.
Lynn University Initiative Shows iPads Can Lower Costs
Campus Technology reports 99 percent of students and 97 percent of faculty at Lynn University say university-issued iPads have significantly enhanced the overall learning experience. One way the devices save money is through iBooks created by Lynn faculty, which are typically free, and the university is in the process of transitioning the rest of its bookstore online, where students can save at least 40 percent on textbooks.
Ten Online Learning Trends To Watch in 2015
This article from Ed Tech Magazine examines the top trends in online learning for 2015, laid out in an infographic from Talent LMS, a cloud-based learning management system. Among the top trends are gamification, Big Data, personalization, m-learning, a focus on ROI, APIs (application programming interfaces), automation, augmented learning, corporate MOOCs (massive open online courses), and cloud learning management solutions.
Measuring The Results Of President Obama’s EdTech Record
This article from Education Week examines how well President Obama has done in addressing the E-rate program, providing needed federal money for technology, and unveiling the ConnectED initiative to link tech companies with schools. Overall, according to the article, Obama gets mixed reviews in holding up his end of the EdTech bargain.
How Technology Can Help Students With Special Needs
This article from edSurge examines the role that technology can play in a special education classroom to assist students with special needs. Assistive technology makes it possible for students with special needs to function as well as other students, using color-coding, large fonts, voice recognition, touch screens, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices, and other technologies to allow them access to computers.