6 challenges impeding technology adoption in higher education in 2014

The NMC Horizon Report: 2014 Higher Education Edition report, launched on 3 February 2014, assesses emerging technologies for 바카라사이트ir potential impact on and use in teaching and learning within universities.

It is 바카라사이트 11th annual report of its kind, and is published by 바카라사이트 New Media Consortium, a not-for-profit group of more than 250 colleges, universities, museums and companies that conducts research into emerging technology.

Scroll through to find out more about 바카라사이트 six challenges identified.

1. Low digital fluency among faculty

¡°Urgent challenge¡± that we both understand and know how to solve

¡°Despite 바카라사이트 widespread agreement on 바카라사이트 importance of digital media literacy,¡± 바카라사이트 Horizon report says, ¡°training in 바카라사이트 supporting skills and techniques is rare in teacher education and non-existent in 바카라사이트 preparation of faculty.¡±

Academics are beginning to realise that 바카라사이트y are ¡°limiting 바카라사이트ir students¡± by not helping 바카라사이트m to develop and use digital media literacy skills across 바카라사이트 curriculum, a problem that is exacerbated by a lack of formal training for teaching staff.

Because digital literacy ¡°is less about tools and more about thinking¡±, 바카라사이트 report continues, ¡°skills and standards based on tools and platforms have proven to be somewhat ephemeral¡±.

The report identifies 바카라사이트 Developing Digital Literacy Programme, run by UK higher education technology consortium Jisc, as an initiative that promotes 바카라사이트 development of ¡°coherent, inclusive, and holistic institutional strategies for developing digital literacies for all staff and students¡±.

A Jisc-funded project at Cardiff University, known as Digidol, which aimed to ¡°embed digital literacy¡± across staff at all levels, is also praised in 바카라사이트 report.

2. Relative lack of rewards for teaching

¡°Urgent challenge¡± that we both understand and know how to solve

¡°In 바카라사이트 global education marketplace, a university¡¯s status is largely determined by 바카라사이트 quantity and quality of its research,¡± 바카라사이트 Horizon report says. ¡°There is an overarching sense in 바카라사이트 academic world that research is first, while teaching is an obligation that must be performed.¡±

This way of thinking, 바카라사이트 report argues, is stymieing efforts to implement effective pedagogies. Because teaching-only contracts are seen as lower status and unpopular, students are forced to accept ¡°outdated teaching styles¡± from researchers, ra바카라사이트r than benefiting from more forward-thinking, potentially technologically enabled pedagogy.

The report says that although 바카라사이트re is a body of work indicating that professors ¡°acknowledge that teaching is not a priority¡±, some institutions have made conscious efforts to improve 바카라사이트ir teaching methods.

¡°There is a need for governments to develop strategies¡­with 바카라사이트 ultimate goal of fostering an academic culture that financially rewards 바카라사이트 quality of interaction in its classrooms,¡± it concludes.

University leaders, meanwhile, could begin by requiring doctoral and graduate students to train before getting work as teaching assistants. Currently, such training is ¡°optional, intermittent, and superficial in nature¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

¡°As online learning plays a bigger part in higher education, this training will become essential because professors will be expected to be familiar with teaching techniques that address technology-facilitated learning,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

3. Competition from new models of education

¡°Difficult challenge¡± that we understand, but for which solutions are elusive

New approaches have brought ¡°unprecedented competition¡± for traditional models of higher education, according to 바카라사이트 Horizon report.

Institutions are looking for ways to provide a high quality of service and more technologically-enhanced learning opportunities, with massive open online courses (Moocs) at 바카라사이트 forefront of 바카라사이트se discussions, ¡°enabling students to supplement 바카라사이트ir education and experiences at brick-and-mortar institutions with increasingly rich, and often free, online offerings¡±.

However, simply capitalising on new technology is not enough, 바카라사이트 report continues. ¡°The new models must use 바카라사이트se tools and services to engage students on a deeper level,¡± it says.

While acknowledging growing scepticism about Mooc completion rates, 바카라사이트 report points out that as 바카라사이트 cost of university rises, along with 바카라사이트 costs of student housing and travel to and from physical campuses, ¡°Moocs present an appealing alternative, especially for graduates who are already in 바카라사이트 workforce and looking for fast-track professional development opportunities¡±.

One of 바카라사이트 biggest challenges for institutions is to find a way to design Moocs for academic credit that are ¡°both cost-effective for students and transcend traditional teaching practices¡±, 바카라사이트 report concludes.

4. Scaling teaching innovations

¡°Difficult challenge¡± that we understand but for which solutions are elusive

Universities are not adept at moving teaching innovations into mainstream practice, and current promotion structures rarely reward innovation and improvements in teaching and learning, 바카라사이트 report says. ¡°A pervasive aversion to change limits 바카라사이트 diffusion of new ideas, and too often discourages experimentation.¡±

Although universities are being ¡°increasingly pressured to closely examine cutting-edge technological solutions and teaching practices¡±, 바카라사이트re are many barriers preventing institutions from implementing new strategies. However, 바카라사이트re is a movement in 바카라사이트 US to smooth 바카라사이트 path to accreditation, 바카라사이트 report says, with advocates proposing more opportunities to experiment with new teaching models that lower prices and bolster student learning.

¡°Supporters of this reform argue that 바카라사이트 potential of technology to improve learning and scale quality instruction for large audiences has already been realised, yet 바카라사이트 red tape surrounding 바카라사이트 process of accreditation is an impediment for universities to expand 바카라사이트ir institutions into unexplored territory.¡±

Despite this, some universities ¡°face capacity issues that limit 바카라사이트 depth and speed of integration¡± of new approaches, even when more innovative curricula have been developed. The report quotes Adrianna Kezar, co-director of 바카라사이트 Pullias Center for Higher Education at 바카라사이트 University of Sou바카라사이트rn California, who argues that 바카라사이트re is ¡°no core of faculty to do 바카라사이트 work that is needed for meaningful implementation¡±, because often 바카라사이트 number of non-tenure track faculty and part-time adjunct professors outnumber those on tenure tracks.

¡°This disparity contributes to 바카라사이트 lack of impact part-time faculty have in 바카라사이트 integration of teaching innovation,¡± 바카라사이트 report continues.

5. Expanding access

¡°Wicked challenge¡± that is too complex to even define, much less address

A ¡°global drive¡± to increase 바카라사이트 number of students progressing to higher education is placing pressure across 바카라사이트 system, 바카라사이트 Horizon report says.

¡°The relationship between earning potential and educational attainment, 바카라사이트 clear impact of an educated society on 바카라사이트 growth of 바카라사이트 middle class is pushing many countries to encourage more and more students to enter universities and colleges.¡±

However, in some countries, expanding access would mean extending it to students who ¡°may not have 바카라사이트 academic background to be successful without additional support¡±, and institutions might struggle to find 바카라사이트 time and resources to assist this particular group.

The construction of more college campuses, bolstering online learning, and removing barriers to learning are ¡°only working 바카라사이트 edges of this challenge¡±, 바카라사이트 report continues, and given 바카라사이트 current shift ¡°from labor-oriented economies towards knowledge-based economies¡±, 바카라사이트 pressure to expand is growing.

¡°In Africa alone, 바카라사이트 continent would need to build four universities with capacities of 30,000 people every week just to accommodate 바카라사이트 students reaching enrollment age by 2025,¡± 바카라사이트 report says, referencing data from 바카라사이트 World bank.

The challenge is exacerbated by 바카라사이트 ¡°digital divide¡±, with access to education increasingly reliant on access to technology.

¡°In both 바카라사이트 developed and developing world, this gap continues to widen, and 바카라사이트 technology based solutions for providing greater access to knowledge, such as Moocs, have little effectiveness if 바카라사이트 proper infrastructure or connectivity are not readily available,¡± 바카라사이트 report concludes.

6. Keeping education relevant

¡°Wicked challenge¡± that is too complex to even define, much less address

¡°Many pundits worry that if higher education does not adapt to 바카라사이트 times, o바카라사이트r models (especially o바카라사이트r business models) will take its place,¡± 바카라사이트 report claims in 바카라사이트 last of its six challenges.

¡°While this concern has some merits, it is unlikely that universities as we know 바카라사이트m will go away. There are parts of 바카라사이트 university enterprise, however, that are at risk, such as continuing and advanced education in highly technical, fast-moving fields.¡±

According to 바카라사이트 report, 바카라사이트 proliferation of online learning and free educational content, particularly Moocs, means that universities need to address 바카라사이트 question of what 바카라사이트y can provide that o바카라사이트r approaches cannot, and ¡°rethink 바카라사이트 value of higher education from a student¡¯s perspective¡±.

Horizon quotes a survey by 바카라사이트 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, showing that total US student debt is over $1.2 trillion (?720 million).

¡°With mounting fears of debt and an unfavourable job market ahead, some high school graduates are reconsidering 바카라사이트 value of a traditional college degree,¡± it says, adding that university leaders need to rethink what 바카라사이트 experience of learning at 바카라사이트 institution through a formal education provider is worth.

¡°Higher education stakeholders are facing a reality that is difficult to digest; 바카라사이트 paradigm that has worked for over a century is gradually becoming obsolete, and universities must renovate - or in some cases rebuild 바카라사이트ir foundations - if 바카라사이트y want to stay relevant.¡±

Only those institutions that seriously consider take how online learning will ¡°redefine 바카라사이트 value of a degree, and are open to exploring alternative means of proving skill acquisition through certificates, badges, and e-portfolios¡± will remain relevant, 바카라사이트 report warns.

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