Learning At Scale | March 2019: OPM, MOOCs, Blockchain, Coursera, Udacity, edX

MARCH 2019  –  NEWSLETTER #20 ON LEARNING INNOVATION   OPM • "The right question about OPMs is whether they are a good fit," stated expert Michael Feldstein. • "OPMs are the modern enrollment managers," said Harris Pastides, President of the University of South Carolina, and Randy Best, Chairman and CEO of Academic Partnerships. • 2U acquired a minority stake in Chicago-based Keypath Education, which provides a similar service. Additionally, it announced an MBA program with Tecnológico de Monterrey. • Michigan Ross School of Business selected Noodle Partners to launch an online MBA program.   MOOCs, DEGREES • "These are online learning's greatest hits," showed Robert Ubell. Also, this expert explained that "MOOC platforms will provide full credit programs for a fee". • "MOOCs are alive," stated Zvi Galil, pioneer of Georgia Tech's OMSCS affordable degree, on a video interview. • The OMSCS degree will graduate 1,500 students per year in 2021. • Five top U.S. universities will launch five more low-priced master’s.   RESEARCH • Educause released a preview of its 2019 Horizon Report. Redesigning blended spaces is one of the key trends. • Cryptocurrency company Ripple is expanding its blockchain research initiative with 11 new top universities. • These are the most in-demand hard and soft skills of 2019: cloud computing, artificial intelligence, analytical reasoning, creativity, persuasion, collaboration…   COURSERA, UDACITY, EDX • Coursera and HEC Paris introduced a stackable degree model with a new specialization in design thinking. • Udacity announced an AI-based program for matching candidates with its network of employers. • Sebastian Thrun initiated an aggressive plan to transform Udacity, after the former CEO left in October. The company reported revenues of $90 million and claimed 10 million registered students. • Job applicants should add online courses to their CV, explains an expert at edX.   BLOCKCHAIN • A Community College issued 1,479 blockchain-based certificates. • MIT issued 2,000 blockchain-based certificates.   INITIATIVES • UMass announced plans to launch a national online college focused on adults. It will compete with Arizona State University, SNHU, Purdue and Penn State. • Arizona State University (ASU) is expanding Education for Humanity, an initiative to educate online refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Irak, Uganda, and Rwanda. • Moodle unveiled Moodle Workplace, a subset of the features available in other products, notably Totara Learning, for organizational training. • Universities and colleges are teaming up with boot camp companies to deliver tech training in web development and coding, data analytics, and cybersecurity. Vanderbilt University is a good example.   INVESTMENTS • Turnitin, which uses AI to scan students' writing and code assignments to check for plagiarism, will be acquired by a media conglomerate for $1.75 billion. • Instructure / Canvas LMS bought the Portfolium digital portfolios company for $43 million.   2019 UPCOMING EVENTS • Education Calendar  –  MARCH  |  APRIL  |  MAY  |  JUNE – DEC 2019     This newsletter about learning innovation is a monthly report compiled by IBL News. If you enjoy what you read please consider forwarding it to spread the word. Click here to subscribe. Archive: IBL Newsletter #19– January 2019 IBL Newsletter #18 – December 2018 IBL Newsletter #17 – November 2018