by University of Michigan The University of Michigan announced a partnership today with global nonprofit online learning destination edX, further expanding the university’s experimentation with digital learning and learning analytics. Under the name MichiganX, the university will launch at least 20 new courses on edX over the next two years that leaders from the Office of Digital Education and Innovation say will draw upon the breadth of U-M’s 101 academic programs ranked in the top 10 and align with strategic institutional priorities such as interdisciplinary collaborations, diversity and inclusion, access and affordability, and internationalization. Three of the first courses will focus on finance, learning analytics and data science ethics. http://ns.umich.edu/new/releases/23184-u-m-joins-edx-as-charter-member Share on Facebook

by Ellen Wexler, Chronicle of Higher Ed When refugees want to enter higher education, they often lack the paperwork. But in the past few months, some online universities have been reaching out to those students, telling refugees that they don’t have to provide comprehensive records to enroll and offering free tuition. The University of the People, an online degree program based in the United States, is one of those institutions. Founded in 2009, the university charges students a $100 examination fee for each course as well as a one-time application fee. Last month the university announced that it would admit 500 Syrian refugees, including those without official transcripts and documentation. The refugees will be able to study either business administration or computer science, and those who cannot afford the examination and application fees may apply for scholarships. http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/can-online-education-help-refugees-earn-degrees/57456 Share on Facebook

by Liam Jackson, Penn State A general education course at Penn State has been revamped to include interactive videos designed to teach students about conservation and sustainability. The course, Global Parks and Sustainability (GEOG 001), will be taught online in spring 2016 by Erica Smithwick, associate professor of geography in Penn State’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. The course is designed to teach students about global trends and patterns in conservation management in different park environments, including national parks, provincial or state parks, and privately managed conservation areas. By traveling virtually to these park landscapes, students will have the chance to learn about key social and environmental processes affecting sustainability, including climate change, biodiversity and environmental policies, and how these factors pose challenges to local communities and the environment. http://news.psu.edu/story/372878/2015/10/05/academics/interactive-videos-used-explore-complexities-conservation-online Share on Facebook

by Business World India The digital wave in the country has transformed the entire education ecosystem, making it more tech-oriented and student-friendly. As technology seeped into every aspect of life, it was only a matter of time for it to penetrate one of the most important facets of one’s existence i.e. education. Online learning presents various benefits such as easy accessibility, on-the-go learning, flexibility and convenience to name a few. These are the main reasons behind the increasing inclination of people towards this mode. In fact, it has quickly become a default way of studying and has evolved from being an option to being a need. Digitisation of the education landscape is also letting the students residing in tier-2 and tier-3 cities reap the benefits of quality education tools. On the other hand, however, offline learning also has its own merits, which definitely cannot be overlooked. Therefore, a seamless blend of both offline and online pedagogical approaches is now the need of the hour. http://www.businessworld.in/education-institutions/e-learning-becomes-essential-india#sthash.ZWBaZ5bo.dpbs Share on Facebook

By Ryan Robinson, Entrepreneurs Starting a business is no easy feat. Especially if you’re trying to pull it off while you hold onto your day job. From learning how to prioritize your efforts (and limited resources) on what matters most at the beginning, to becoming a stand-out marketer, and building the skills that’ll help your business succeed, these essential online business courses will teach you how to launch successfully today. Here are my picks for the 12 best online courses for starting a business. http://entrepreneurs.about.com/od/Technology/fl/12-Best-Online-Courses-for-Starting-a-Business.htm Share on Facebook

by Seth Stutman, Mass Appeal Why are college students taking courses online? What are the advantages? What are the disadvantages? College planning expert, Paul Hemphill told us more. "Taking courses online means taking a college course by sitting in front of your computer instead of sitting in a classroom. And the advantages of going online are… First, it’s convenient - you’re at home, you can role out of bed, get your cup of joe, and walk over to your computer. Second, you don’t have to take notes - hit the REPLAY button on your screen and you get what you need. Thirdly, you can pick and choose what course you want when you want to view it - very convenient, and lastly, you save time on travel and save money on gas and auto expenses. Just so you know, about a third of college students are taking online classes." http://wwlp.com/2015/10/06/online-college-is-it-for-you/ Share on Facebook

by Rob Kelly, Faculty Focus In their 1995 Change magazine article, "From Teaching to Learning—a New Paradigm for Undergraduate Education," Robert B. Barr and John Tagg described the Learning Paradigm, which emphasizes learning over teaching and student discovery and construction of knowledge over transfer of knowledge from instructor to student. They wrote: "A paradigm shift is taking hold in American higher education. In its briefest form, the paradigm that has governed our colleges is this: A college is an institution that exists to provide instruction. Subtly but profoundly we are shifting to a new paradigm: A college is an institution that exists to produce learning. This shift changes everything. It is both needed and wanted." The Learning Paradigm (as opposed to the Instruction Paradigm), emphasizes the students’ active role in learning and the purpose of that learning, which can be strong motivators for students. The challenge for instructors is to cede some control of learning to the students. http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/the-learning-paradigm-in-online-courses/ Share on Facebook

By: Erin Bamer, the Argonaut Like some people know they want to be a police officer or an astronaut, University of Idaho Senior Edwin Latrell has known he was going to serve in the military since before he can remember. "I have known since I was little that I would do the military," Latrell said. "There was not a doubt." Latrell enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2004, two years after he started his education at UI. He said he lacked energy and enthusiasm for school when he first enrolled at the university and ended up dropping out of many of his classes. "I was the best student at not being the best student," Latrell said. While he was enlisted, Latrell remained a student at UI and completed 40 courses online in seven different countries including Afghanistan, Iraq and Cuba. http://www.uiargonaut.com/2015/10/05/learning-and-serving/ Share on Facebook

by Justine Thomas, Observer-Reporter There are many myths about online training, and even more people who believe in them. Even so, it is a great pleasure to see that the number of students who prefer online education is growing. People aspire to get knowledge despite any myths and misleading ideas. This article contains most common myths about online training debunked and we hope it will help you to start and succeed in learning. http://www.observer-reporter.com/article/20151007/BLOGS20/151009558 Share on Facebook

By Heather Betancourth, Houston Chronicle Colleges across Texas have made it easier to attend class online than ever before. Not only is online learning flexible and convenient, but students actually are preferring it. San Jacinto College started a basic online learning program in 1998. During that time when the Internet was starting to emerge as a new technology, the program mainly offered VHS tape checkout. Today, students can do everything on the web: registering for classes, paying tuition and ordering books. The also can use the web to attend class, meet with professors and chat with peers. "People say students aren’t successful with online learning, but we’ve found that they are very excited about those classes," said Niki Whiteside, vice president of educational technology services at San Jacinto College. http://www.chron.com/news/article/Options-for-online-learning-abound-6556787.php Share on Facebook