Access to the Internet seems to be everywhere these days and for many, it is no longer seen as a luxury, but a necessity. Free WiFi can be found at local grocery chains, coffee shops and public libraries. Many of today’s top cell phones are equipped with speeds comparable to home internet. However, according to […]

The rapid rise of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) has lit a flame under universities across the world, with many looking to adapt to the changing needs of distance learning. Now there is a new format being introduced with backing that includes Harvard University, an early adopter of the MOOC model. A partnership between current […]

Just six months into the partnership between Udacity and San Jose State University, the experiment has been officially put on hold. While the partnership between the two remains intact, SJSU Provost Ellen Junn called the temporary suspension a “breather.” Udacity, a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), provider has admitted that most students that sign up […]

In April 2013, the Instructional Technology Council (ITC) released it’s 2012 Distance Education Survey which highlighted numerous positives for distance learning. While the survey does highlight a slight decrease from previous years, distance learners still remain at the top of overall enrollment. The survey tracked data from fall 2011 to fall 2012 and found that […]

Growing concerns and challenges continue to face online education programs across the United States. The upsurge in distance learning has many institutions struggling to meet the needs of disabled students. In traditional classroom learning environments, the institution’s disability office would arrange the necessary accommodations for learners. Online instruction now has instructors carrying the burden of […]

Despite ongoing scandals involving the IRS and phone records, President Barack Obama is touring the country touting online education. The president continued his Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity Tour with a stop in North Carolina this week and spoke at Mooresville Middle School about technology and digital learning. The president’s initiative is called ConnectED, and […]

Is there a better way of teaching by harnessing technology and encouraging collaboration? Dr. Sugata Mitra, the TED Prize winner in 2013, believes there is. Dr. Mitra was recently awarded $1 million to build his vision for a “school in the cloud.” The goal is to allow children a new space to “embark on intellectual […]

What will the future of higher education in the State of Texas look like? A battle continues to rage in Texas between Gov. Rick Perry, academics and state legislators. Perry and his allies, including former University of Texas professor Jeff Sanderfer, want to reshape the way public universities operate. According to them, the university model […]

How will low-cost online courses address concerns over copyright infringement? The latest salvo in the ever growing uncertainty regarding Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) expansion has been raised in the form of questions regarding intellectual property rights of instructors licensing their courses to the providers. Since the emergence of the phenomenon, it seemed that most […]

Intense debate has been centered recently on how to remedy problems of accessibility and cost in higher-education. Frequently, in California at least, legislative action has been the most effective course of action in combating these problems. In order to increase access to higher education for more students and lessen the financial burden therein, lawmakers have resorted to […]