by Chad Kainz
It is a question often asked during budget season and all too often, it crops up during a conversation that involves the learning management system. I know, I’ve been there and provided an answer to one of my former provosts. But upon further reflection, did I answer his real question?
As a former head of academic computing, I sought answers to the provost’s value question in data. I tracked adoption and utilization of all services I could measure, and not just the LMS. I cross-correlated computing lab logins with LMS traffic, media classroom use with electronic reserves, bandwidth consumption with faculty digital media support volume, and so on. What the data provided was a sense of return on investment: quantifiable measures that reflected short-to-medium benefit. But in terms of value, the data didn’t get to the heart of my provost’s question. (more…)
by Garen Singer
Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki visited President Obama at the White House on Monday to discuss regional security issues, as well as trade, energy, American investment in Iraq and education. Sadly, I was not invited, but I want to pose a question to PM Maliki about the last, and surely least, point of discussion: education.
First, a little background: As you may know, Saddam Hussein banned political and religious freedoms – and mobile phones. So my question, PM Maliki, is how you plan to use the relatively recent introduction of mobile technology to improve educational access, opportunity and outcomes. (more…)
by Katie Drossos
“These kids that are digital natives – we just need to meet them where they’re at, and the reality is technology is where they’re at.”
Marc Ecko, fashion designer, entrepreneur, and founder of Sweat Equity Education (SEE), an education innovation organization, is working at the intersection of education, workforce development, and entrepreneurship. At SEE, Marc uses the technology that excites kids today and combines it with real-world projects that teach real-world skills. SEE is focused on re-engaging and re-invigorating at-risk students and young adults to help set them on a path for success – in school, in the workplace, or in launching their own businesses.
I had the pleasure of meeting Marc in his New York City office:
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by Erin Tario
On September 30, 2011, Blackboard Student Services- Killeen, Texas hosted U.S. Congressman John Carter and his staff to discuss ways education technology is empowering students, teachers and parents in the state of Texas—and the important role Blackboard Student Services plays in the student experience at higher ed institutions throughout the country.
- Blackboard employs ~400 Texans at our Killeen Blackboard Student Services call center
- Blackboard learning technologies are used at 83% of all Texas higher education institutions and 21% of all Texas school districts
- 1 in 3 Texans who are in public education are using Blackboard technology daily (more…)
by Lauren Gelfound
We talk to senior technology officials all the time who tell us about the decisions they are making on their campus every day. Realizing that these are decisions that leaders face all across the country, Blackboard wants to bring these like-minded individuals together for a brand new event. We’re excited to invite senior technology executives and chief information offers to the CIO Networking & Symposium event this summer, at BbWorld 2011. (more…)
