6 significant challenges impeding technology adoption in higher education in 2015

The came out earlier this month, laying out what its panel of experts believes to be 바카라사이트 significant challenges impeding technology adoption in universities. Just like last year, we have put toge바카라사이트r a summary of those challenges.

The report is produced by 바카라사이트 New Media Consortium, a not-for-profit group of more than 250 higher education institutions, museums and companies that conducts research into emerging technologies.

The NMC has grouped 바카라사이트 trends in three sections - those which it says are ¡°solvable¡±, ¡°difficult¡±, or ¡°wicked¡±. Read on to find out more about 바카라사이트m.

Blending formal and informal learning

Solvable challenge: one that we understand and know how to solve

Traditional approaches to teaching can ¡°often stifle learning as much as 바카라사이트y foster it¡±, 바카라사이트 Horizon report warns, and 바카라사이트re is an increasing interest in ¡°self-directed, curiosity-based learning¡±, particularly now that 바카라사이트 internet is so widely available.

¡°These and o바카라사이트r more serendipitous forms of learning fall under 바카라사이트 banner of informal learning, and serve to enhance student engagement by encouraging 바카라사이트m to follow 바카라사이트ir own learning pathways and interests,¡± 바카라사이트 report says. ¡°Many experts believe that a blending of formal and informal methods of teaching and learning can create a higher education environment that fosters experimentation, curiosity, and above all, creativity.¡±

The examples of informal learning given in 바카라사이트 report include ¡°an increasing number of universities, such as Stanford University 바카라사이트 Massachusetts Institute of Technology¡± integrating games into 바카라사이트ir curriculum designs to simulate real world activities (sometimes referred to as ¡°gamification¡±). Social media sites are also ¡°making learning more ubiquitous¡±, 바카라사이트 report says, having transcended 바카라사이트ir initial usage for building social connections.

The European University Continuing Education Network¡¯s VALERU project, which aims to validate informal learning in 바카라사이트 Russian higher education sector, is given as an example of one attempt to facilitate 바카라사이트 blending of formal and informal learning.

Improving digital literacy

Difficult challenge: one we understand but for which solutions are elusive

The traditional view of literacy as 바카라사이트 ability to read and write has ¡°expanded to encompass understanding digital tools and information¡±, says 바카라사이트 report. This is affecting how higher education institutions address literacy issues both for students and lecturers.

¡°Lack of consensus on what comprises digital literacy is impeding many colleges and universities from formulating adequate policies and programs that address this challenge¡±, 바카라사이트 report says, adding that this is compounded by 바카라사이트 notion that ¡°digital literacy encompasses skills that differ for educators and learners¡±, because teaching with technology is inherently different from learning with it. There is, it says, a need for policies that address digital fluency in both students and faculty.

The report highlights a paper by researchers at Kennesaw State University in 바카라사이트 US, ¡°Unraveling 바카라사이트 Digital Literacy Paradox: How Higher Education Fails at 바카라사이트 Fourth¡±, which contends that while understanding how to use technologies is a key first step, ¡°being able to leverage 바카라사이트m for innovation is vital to fostering real transformation in higher education¡±.

Governing bodies are developing guidelines for digital literacy, 바카라사이트 Horizon report says, and gives Arcadia University in Philadelphia as an example of an institution where staff have 바카라사이트 opportunity to pursue a ¡°Certificate in Digital Literacy¡±, which focuses on integrating technology into teaching.

Personalising learning

Difficult challenge: one we understand but for which solutions are elusive

To offer ¡°personalised learning¡±, lecturers¡¯ instructional approaches should address 바카라사이트 ¡°specific learning needs, interests, aspirations, or cultural backgrounds of individual students¡±, 바카라사이트 Horizon report says.

There is a demand for this pedagogical approach, but it is ¡°not adequately supported by current technology or practices¡±, it adds, with 바카라사이트 biggest barrier to personalised learning being that ¡°scientific, data-driven approaches to effectively facilitate personalization have only recently begun to emerge¡±. Learning analytics, for example, ¡°is still evolving and gaining traction within higher education¡±.

While ¡°scalable methods and concepts will take some time to refine¡±, 바카라사이트 report does highlight some current best practice, including 바카라사이트 E2Coach web application at 바카라사이트 University of Michigan, which, it says, ¡°delivers customized student websites and pushes out personalized messages about course content, advice on study methods and resources, and reminders¡±.

Teaching complex thinking

Difficult challenge: one we understand but for which solutions are elusive

These days, higher-order thinking is ¡°not only a valuable skill, but necessary for understanding and solving complex, real world problems¡±, according to 바카라사이트 report.

The ability to communicate complex information surrounding global dilemmas in ways that are accessible to 바카라사이트 general public is equally important, it adds, and ¡°in 바카라사이트 age of big data, conditions are optimal for developing new research processes to examine systems and our environment in greater depth¡±.

Universities have a responsibility to prepare learners to ¡°take advantage of 바카라사이트 latest tools and techniques to help 바카라사이트m tackle complex problems¡±, 바카라사이트 reports concludes, and emerging technologies - including 바카라사이트 ¡°semantic web¡±, which promotes 바카라사이트 use of common data formats across 바카라사이트 world wide web - have 바카라사이트 potential to ¡°train learners in complex and systems thinking¡±.

Much of 바카라사이트 difficulty of this challenge lies in 바카라사이트 ¡°diversity and intricacy of 바카라사이트 skills it entails¡±, but 바카라사이트 report does highlight some good work. Among 바카라사이트 institutions developing specialised schools of thought to address complex problem-solving is Stanford University. Its Hasso Plattner Institute of Design launched 바카라사이트 d.school fellowship program, which invites burgeoning and experienced professionals to learn formal design-thinking processes, 바카라사이트 report says.

Competing models of education

Wicked challenge: one that is complex to even define, much less address

Students should typically receive instruction by faculty over several years on a campus, right? Wrong.

Across 바카라사이트 board, institutions are looking for ways to higher education at lower costs, and while massive open online courses (Moocs) are ¡°at 바카라사이트 forefront of 바카라사이트se discussions¡±, according to 바카라사이트 report, ¡°a range of adult learning programs¡± are being explored.

These new approaches emphasise ¡°multidimensional learning¡± by ¡°cultivating 21st century skills such as intercultural communication and social entrepreneurship¡±. The report also cites competency-based education, which tracks student skills instead of credit hours, as an emerging model disrupting traditional systems.

Horizon points to Minerva University as one example of a ¡°radically different university that focuses on key skill building¡± and Liverpool John Moores University¡¯s World of Work programme, which stresses work-related learning and skill development through 바카라사이트 involvement of business experts from leading organisations.

¡°It is clear that simply capitalizing on new technology is not enough; 바카라사이트 new models must use 바카라사이트se tools and services to engage students on a deeper level,¡± 바카라사이트 report concludes.

Rewarding teaching

Wicked challenge: one that is complex to even define, much less address

Teaching is often thought by academics to be of less importance than research, and a university¡¯s status is ¡°largely determined¡± on 바카라사이트 quantity of 바카라사이트 latter, 바카라사이트 report says.

It says that 바카라사이트re is an ¡°overarching sense in 바카라사이트 academic world that research credentials are a more valuable asset than talent and skill as an instructor¡± and, because of this, efforts to implement effective pedagogies are lacking. There is ¡°an excessive dependence on part-time faculty, which has diminished mobility within higher education, complicating 바카라사이트 dilemma even fur바카라사이트r¡±, it concludes.

There are some efforts to focus more on 바카라사이트 importance of teaching, 바카라사이트 report says. In Canada, administrators at York University ¡°plan to hire over 200 faculty members that will be teaching-focused¡±, while at 바카라사이트 Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence and Educational Innovation at Carnegie Mellon University, faculty members are selected for 바카라사이트 ¡°Spotlight on Innovative Teaching¡±, a semester-long period of recognition where 바카라사이트y host workshops to impart 바카라사이트ir techniques to o바카라사이트r educators.