Academic Support in Higher Education

I have spent a great deal of time reading, studying and analyzing the methods higher education employs in meeting the requirements of students.  If my analysis is correct higher education is failing to meet the needs of a 21^st century student.  The problem appears to be a lack of focused leadership.   Many colleges and universities are investing significant funds in trying to meet the needs of students but the efforts are doomed to failure because everyone seems to imagine the student as they were and do not understand a student in today’s university environment.   Most colleges and universities are continuing to deliver support and instruction using methods that have been available for over 25 years.   

Examples of this might be ignoring that consumerization and mobility have transformed student access to information.   In an era where over 95% of the students own a smartphone and laptop we find computer labs and libraries unchanged.   Further the impact of social networks have revolutionized the way we interact.  Today’s student does not know a time when you could not logon to a network and get to any information worldwide. Universities have failed to capitalize on this technology.   I was at a university graduation where the student speaker was listing the things that impacted her success and one of the top three was Google.

It is time to rethink our student support services.  I do not think funding is the issues, we have committed more than enough funds for student support.  I do think it is a leadership issue, are there Presidents and Provosts that will require their colleges and universities to rethink the student support process.  Future post will address ideas to be debated.

It has been awhile since Translational Technologies has been an active blog.  I have just completed my EdD program with an emphasis in Education Technologies.    My goal is to ensure the blog remains active for the foreseeable future.    As a CTO at a research university I am interested in creating a seamless support system for students.  It became clear in my doctoral program that  many university IT decision makers do not understand the requirements of a mobile world where knowledge is available anywhere at any time.  I have often listened to individuals discuss how faculty have remained aloof to the changes of the past several decades.  I learned as a student this is also true of many IT departments.  It is not uncommon to find university IT departments using the same facilities and academic software designed to support higher education over a decade ago.   I hope to encourage a discussion of what is relevant to today’s student and what ecosystems can be created that encourage a seamless teaching and learning environment.   It is refreshing to be writing a blog again and not spending all my time focused on coursework and research.

Christensen on change in higher education

An interesting article from Inside Higher Education  on actions university leaders must address in the next few years  to remain relevant.

Social Media in Higher Education

Mashable offers an interesting Infographic on the Use of social media in higher education

Future of Higher Education - Larry Summers

Larry Summers recently wrote an Article for the New York Times titled "What You (Really) Need to Know" . The article looks at the University today and discusses changes that should be considered to remain relevant.

Universities Responsibilities

Two recent articles in the New York Times points out the importance of the freedom of access to information. The first was an article by OP-ED columnist by Thomas Friedman that challenged readers to understand the importance of ubiquitous access information. The article suggests the growth of the Internet produced two important outcomes, the first was access to information and the second was economic growth. It is clear Universities were critical to the development of the Internet by becoming anchors of the Internet 2 project and leading the effort to ensure information was available to the general population. The new university based project GigU expects to do the same for economic development. The challenge to universities is to transform and innovate, MITx online access to education is an excellent model for others to replicate.

The second article was a letter to the editor by Vince Cerf, titled Internet Access Is Not a Human Right. Cerf points out that technology is an enabler of rights and must be available to everyone to ensure the expansion of freedom in the world. It is amazing how social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook provide access to what is really happening in real time. Universities must continue to be the spokesperson to demand that emerging technologies are allowed to remain open and available to everyone everywhere. Cerf states Internet access must become a civil right.

The two articles challenge university leadership to remain committed in their resolve to ensure the Internet is allowed to grow and not be restricted by others who would like to control information for profit or political gain. Universities should be proud of the success they have achieved in their investments in technology to support the growth of the Internet. Universities should be congratulated on the leadership that ensured everyone has equal access to information.

Future of Libraries

David Weinberger offers a view of the future of libraries and the role information technology plays in assisting patrons identifying the right resource. Weinberger is co-director of the Harvard Library Innovation Lab.

Top 10 Educational Technology Developments of 2011

Brian Farrell offers the Top 10 Educational Technology Developments of 2011. Take a minute to read developments that will impact you in the near future.

A New Business Model

Chief Academic Officers need to be aware of technology changes taking place this fall with learning management systems (LMS). In the past few months we have been introduced to three new contenders; the first was a product from Instructure called Canvas, a second is from Pearson called Open Study and the last is a startup called CourseKit. All three offer students and faculty services from the cloud, IT departments no longer have to purchase servers, buy an application or hire a support staff. All three systems support collaboration through social networking, providing the faculty and students a Facebook like experience. Early responses from universities that have implemented the products are positive and a common response is the LMS in easy to use, intuitive.

Open Study and CourseKit are offering LMS services at no cost to the University. The two LMS systems offer faculty a choice of many third party applications and the cost of the service is added to the cost of the textbook a student purchases. The business model looks like Apple’s iTunes. All three LMS systems offer services today, Canvas is installed at several major universities and Open Study and CourseKit were introduced in Fall 2011. All three products offer Academic support departments need to review the new offerings to see if there is a fit with their university.

Cloud based LMS systems appear to be following the same path that Google and Microsoft offered with campus email systems. Previously, the two services required significant investments in applications, hardware and support staff. The new model removes all three cost from the university budget. Imagine two of your largest expenses will be gone, you will be able to reinvest in other important projects.