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

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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