Cross-published on EDUKWEST Europe. Pope Francis officially launched Scholas.Social at a dedicated event in Vatican City. Scholas.Social is a new global, multi-religious and multi-cultural network that aims to connect schools through collaboration, encounter and shared interest. The platform enables students and teachers across the globe to share projects and learn from each other. They can ask for help which can be given in different ways, from sharing the project over monetary or resource donations to volunteering in the project. This way, Scholas.Social takes a page from the crowdfunding playbook but adds non-monetary ways to support, as well. Scholas was conceived last year when Pope Francis gave out the task to create an online platform that would transform the way students learn and is modelled after two projects he ran as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. The project was handled by software development company Globant which was responsible for the front-end development, Line64 which was responsible for the back-end and Google which integrated its educational tools Google Apps for Education into the network. Besides uploading and sharing or supporting school projects, users of the platform can earn badges for their help and participation. The general mission behind the Scholas project is to foster a culture of encounter by introducing a different concept of education. Video Further Reading TECHNOLOGY FOR EDUCATION: Scholas presented at the Vatican Scholas.Social, its digital platform to connect schools world wide | Press Release Links scholas.social | Twitter

This infographic by OnlineUniversities helps explain how tablets are changing the face of education and also provides some interesting analysis about the potential of this mobile device in teaching and learning. From: OnlineUniversities.com

Rosetta Stone announced a partnership with Acesse Corporation, an Internet marketing and advertising service provider with small business clients across the globe. Under the partnership, Rosetta Stone will provide its language learning products Rosetta Stone Language Learning V3 for Business and Rosetta Stone Advanced English for Business to Acesse’s 400.000 customers through a new continuing education product called Acesse University. Besides language training Acesse University will offer courses in Internet marketing, business fundamentals and technical skills, aiming to provide entrepreneurs and small business owners with the skills needed to stay competitive in a global market. Full Release after the break. (Thomson Reuters ONE via COMTEX) -- Rosetta Stone and Acesse Corporation Partner in Landmark Global Deal Rosetta Stone accelerates growth of its Enterprise & Education business by providing language-learning solutions to 400,000 small business owners and entrepreneurs through Acesse University September 9, 2014 (Arlington, VA) - Rosetta Stone Inc. (NYSE: RST), the world's leading provider of education technology and language-learning solutions, today announced a partnership with Acesse Corporation to bring Rosetta Stone's award winning language solutions to more than 400,000 small business owners and entrepreneurs worldwide through Acesse's soon-to-launch continuing education product, Acesse University. The partnership will position Rosetta Stone to further its growth in the corporate and enterprise sectors by expanding its reach in the valuable small business market, and will strengthen the company's presence in newer geographies, including China. Serving 400,000 entrepreneurs and small business owners around the world, Acesse University will enable its members to stay competitive in today's dynamic global economy by offering courses that will improve their business acumen. Highlights of the curriculum include Internet marketing, business fundamentals, technical skills, and language training. Two solutions from the brand new Rosetta Stone® Language Learning Suite-Rosetta Stone Language Learning V3 for Business and Rosetta Stone Advanced English for Business-will be offered in the Acesse University platform. "In an increasingly global marketplace, language abilities impact individual and organizational success, and businesses are looking for effective solutions," said Judy Verses, President of Global Enterprise & Education at Rosetta Stone. "Our partnership with Acesse will touch small business owners across the globe, and help them achieve language skills that are critical to reaching their business goals." Over the past five years, Acesse has helped entrepreneurs by providing them with high quality, affordable, and easy to use products and services in a digital environment where there is constant change. The upcoming launch of Acesse University will fortify Acesse's position in the rapidly evolving digital space by providing entrepreneurs with a continuous learning environment to establish and grow their businesses. "As the global landscape continues to become increasingly connected, understanding multiple languages will become more important for small businesses," explained Bob Kinsella, CEO at Acesse. "Our language-learning partnership with Rosetta Stone, as well as the other courses available through Acesse University, will give our members a competitive edge so they can accomplish their business goals and surpass their competition." About Rosetta Stone Rosetta Stone Inc. (NYSE: RST) is dedicated to changing the way the world learns. The company's innovative technology-driven language, reading and brain fitness solutions are used by thousands of schools, businesses, government organizations and millions of individuals around the world. Founded in 1992, Rosetta Stone pioneered the use of interactive software to accelerate language learning. Today the company offers courses in 30 languages, from the most commonly spoken (such as English, Spanish and Mandarin) to the less prominent (including Swahili, Swedish and Tagalog). Since 2013, Rosetta Stone has expanded beyond language and deeper into education-technology with its acquisitions of Livemocha, Lexia Learning, Vivity Labs, and Tell Me More. Rosetta Stone is based in Arlington, VA, and has offices around the world. For more information, visit www.rosettastone.com. "Rosetta Stone" and related trademarks used herein are the property of Rosetta Stone and are used and/or registered in the United States and other countries. About Acesse Corporation Acesse Corporation was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. Acesse is a global leader engaged in a daily race to provide our small business partners with high-quality, affordable, and easy to use products and services in an environment where there is constant change. Acesse is a valued and trusted partner to small business owners in their goal to reach economic prosperity and achieve their dreams. For more information, visit Acesse at www.marketing.acesse.com, Twitter, or Facebook. Rosetta Stone Media Contact: Michelle Alvarez malvarez@rosettastone.com 703-387-5862 Acesse Corporation Media Contact: Sara Summers pr@corp.acesse.com 612-460-4700 This announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Rosetta Stone via Globenewswire HUG#1854555

What technology will we be using in the classroom 3, 5, or 10 years or more from now? This visualization attempts to organizing a series of emerging technologies that are likely to influence education in the coming decades. Click here for enlarged version. Courtesy Edudemic

We are delighted to announce that Nicolas de Santis will deliver his keynote at our event Multilingualism in Europe next week. Nicolas de Santis is President & Secretary General of Gold Mercury International, the global foresight think tank and global governance award organisation founded in 1961. De Santis is a global vision strategist and internet entrepreneur, advising companies and governments on sustainably driven corporate and brand visions, business model innovation and cultural transformation. In the 1990s de Santis worked for the European Union and where he advised on issues relating to European identity and the launch of the Euro currency. Prior to joining Gold Mercury, Nicolas was an internet entrepreneur, who started influential and high profile internet companies, such as opodo.com which he left in 2003. In 2013 he launched Brand EU Centre which labels itself as the unofficial brand of the European Union, aiming to improve the management of the European Union as a global brand. In his presentation de Santis will focus on the state of English as the defacto unofficial language of the EU. Brand EU believes English would not act as a barrier to other European languages, but instead be the path for a stronger and more adept EU. Using English across Europe will first of all, make information sharing more efficient, and it will allow citizens to communicate with their neighbouring countries freely, and it will exist complementary to national languages which, as always will hold onto the cultural diversity of Europe. Brand EU will make their position paper available for the public to download at the day of the event. Based on his decades of experience in European politics as well as Internet entrepreneur, I am very much looking forward to de Santis’ keynote opening the event. Should you be interested in joining us on September 17 in London, our co-organiser Macmillan Digital Education has made sure to provide us with a sizeable venue and thanks to our sponsors Speexx and busuu tickets are free. However, seats are limited and we only have a few of them left. Please reserve your tickets on time as we cannot admit guests without a valid ticket.

Today I am happy to announce that we have confirmed two additional speakers for our event on Multilingualism in Europe this Wednesday. I would like to introduce Mrs Florence Mele, the Director of Studies at ESCP Europe London Campus and Mr. Nicholas Niggli, the Head of the Economic, Trade and Finance Section at the Embassy of Switzerland in the UK. Online Ticketing for EDUKWEST Live - Multilingualism in Europe powered by Eventbrite Prof. Mele holds an MSc Computing Science from Birkbeck College University of London. Prior to her work at ESCP Europe she worked in different positions across Europe, notably in Paris, the Rome area and southern Italy. ESCP Europe is the world’s oldest business school and has educated generations of leaders and entrepreneurs.With its five campuses in Paris, London, Berlin, Madrid, and Torino, ESCP Europe’s true European Identity enables the provision of a unique style of cross-cultural business education and a Global Perspective on international management issues. In her presentation Florence Mele will focus on the role foreign languages play for employability, leadership and the future of work as well as cultural awareness and concrete implications for the workplace in a global economy. In his capacity as the Head of the Economic, Trade & Finance Section at the Embassy of Switzerland in the UK, Nicholas Niggli leads a diplomatic team that represents, promotes and defends Switzerland’s economic, trade, finance, science and business interests in the United Kingdom. Previously, Niggli was part of Switzerland’s trade diplomacy and was based at the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the WTO & EFTA. There he covered the Doha Development Round, the International Services Agreement plurilateral negotiations (TISA), Accessions to the WTO as well as budget, administration and institutional issues. In his presentation Nicholas Niggli will provide the connection between his own life as a member of a multilingual and multicultural family and how Switzerland as a country is handling the four official languages in its education system, administration and economy.

Professors are excited about many of the trappings of digital teaching and scholarship. Others increase their work loads, stress them out, and scare them, a survey by Inside Higher Ed and Babson Survey Research Group shows. A PDF can be downloaded here; the text of the report can be viewed here. Read more here.

The NIU Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center is seeking an Instructional Design Coordinator to join the Center staff. Primary Responsibilities: Keep current with present and emerging distributed learning systems and distributed learning pedagogies. Offer high-level individual and group consultations on instructional design and course transformation suitable for distributed learning. Design, develop, and deliver programs on distributed learning tools and techniques for faculty, teaching staff and teaching assistants. Design and develop quick guides, informational materials, and tutorials on distributed learning techniques. Assist faculty and academic units with developing distributed learning programs’ quality related policies and procedures, and implementation strategies. Represent the Center in meetings with academic and support units at NIU and other institutions on issues related to learning management systems, distributed learning, etc. Collaborate with Center staff on various programs, resources and services offered by the Center. Work closely with the Director on various activities related to the mission of the Center as assigned. Qualifications: Master’s degree in education, instructional technology or related fields is required. Doctoral degree or experience in teaching in a higher education environment is preferred. At least 1-year experience with learning management systems and online pedagogies suitable for a higher education environment is required. Knowledge of instructional design principles, pedagogical techniques, and use of instructional technologies suitable for online teaching is required. Experience in designing, developing, maintaining and delivering educational tutorials in multiple media format for a higher education audience is required. Ability to work closely with clientele at various academic units to assess distributed teaching, learning and related needs, and find effective solutions to address those needs is required. Excellent communication skills, planning and organizational abilities, problem solving skills, and ability to work collaboratively and collegially in a team environment is required. Experience in using Windows, Mac, office productivity tools, online teaching tools, and social networking tools for teaching purposes is required. Ability to research online teaching, curricula, and online quality related policies and procedures, and assist academic units with those policies and procedures is preferred. For more information or to apply, please visit http://www.niu.edu/facdev/positions/idcoord12.shtml

Coursera announced its entrance into the Brazilian / Portuguese MOOC market through partnerships with the University of São Paulo (USP), the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), the Lemann Foundation and the web portal R7. Brazil represents Coursera’s fifth largest user base behind the US, India, China and UK. USP and UNICAMP will both create courses for Coursera in the fields of finance and entrepreneurship which will be available in 2015. In the meantime Coursera’s global translator community is working on the localization of 28 courses, being available by the end of this year. Besides coordinating these translation efforts, the Lemann Foundation is also creating teacher professional development courses for K-12 teachers. Obviously Coursera is not entering uncharted territory, nevertheless Coursera states in the accompanying press release that it is "the first open online education provider to partner with Brazil's top universities" and at least TheNextWeb swallowed the bait. Long before Coursera even got interested in Latin America, the local MOOC platform Veduca had started out by translating popular courses from leading universities in Portuguese. In June of last year Veduca announced a partnership with USP, creating two courses with certification in Basic Physics and Probability & Statistics. In October Veduca then announced the world’s first open online MBA in Engineering and Innovation with the option to gain an official certification validated by the Brazilian Ministry of Education. Today both USP and UNICAMP host MOOCs on Veduca with USP offering already 26 courses and UNICAMP five. Given the relatively small amount of funding Veduca raised compared to Coursera, $1.25 million vs. $85 million, Veduca will face some stiff competition in the coming years. I always pointed out that Veduca has an advantage on the technology side with two patents related to MOOCs and that it is primarily a tech startup, not an education startup. Interestingly, Coursera’s co-founder Daphne Koller now describes her startup the same way. The partnership deals also show that universities still tend to not wanting to commit to just one MOOC provider, a trend we saw early on with Coursera and edX which both signed partnerships with (the same) leading universities. For now nothing is decided. There is still a huge portion of Brazilians who are not connected to the Internet. Veduca has the advantage of a working certification process through partnerships with test centers and its focus on specialized courses catering to Brazilian key industries. Yet, the partnership with R7, a popular web portal in Brazil, could drive more interest to Coursera, especially among first time Internet users who are often using web portals to navigate and search the Internet. Disclosure: Our supporter Macmillan Digital Education is an investor in Veduca. Further Reading University of Sao Paulo (USP) and State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) Join Coursera as First University Partners in Latin America to Create Online Courses for Portuguese Speakers in Brazil and Around the World | Press Release Olá! Coursera Partners With Top Latin American Institutions | Coursera Blog Related Links Veduca builds Video Lecture Platform for Latin America Veduca and University of Sao Paulo offer MOOCs with Certification Veduca Builds Out its Lead as the Latin American MOOC Platform EDUKWEST #102 with Carlos Souza of Veduca

Recently I was invited by Chicago State University Center for Teaching & Research Excellence to lead a workshop for CSU faculty on the use of Web 2.0 technologies in the classroom. To accompany this hands-on workshop titled Using Web 2.0 Tools in the Classroom to Engage and Inspire Students offered August 28, 2012, I prepared an online interactive handout with links to many samples and online resources. During this session, several common Web 2.0 technologies were introduced and participants were then given the opportunity to further explore selected technologies and begin designing an activity that leverages chosen technology. If interested in taking a closer look, the handout is available at http://j.mp/csuweb20 Photo courtesy jeremywilburn on Flickr