Although we tend to give out academic awards only to the highest-achieving students, research shows that recognizing excellence among lower-performing students helps them regain motivation and pursue their efforts toward…
Analyst
Using the Pandemic as a Springboard: 3 Actionable Takeaways
Bethany Simunich | Director of Research and Innovation, Quality MattersAlthough we have not fully emerged from the pandemic, institutions of higher education need to begin thinking about rebounding. A good plan for the future must prioritize online and remote…
Diversity and inclusion in postsecondary education must include student veterans, who often feel unwelcome and marginalized in higher education institutions. Support them in their transition by addressing their unique needs.Ā …
Americansā Shaken Confidence and Shifting Preferences Dominate Higher Ed Heading into 2021
Dave Clayton | Senior Vice President, Strada Education NetworkThere is so much uncertainty in higher ed as we anticipate the end of the pandemic, but some of the key lessons learned should guide us through it, including putting…
Ensuring relevance and excellent customer services for a re-imagined future requires a willingness to reshape higher education. Even before the outbreak of COVID-19, the writing was on the wall for…
Shaping the Workforce for the Lifelong Learner
Michelle R. Weise | Senior Advisor, Imaginable Futures Michael PalmerAs higher ed is moving towards serving the lifelong learner, itās important for both higher ed and the workforce to come together to provide solutions that will meet the needs…
The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has completely shaken up higher education. Institutions now find themselves with the opportunity to re-invent how they serve their learners by increasing access, flexibility…
Introducing Digital Learning Records to Learners
Mark McConahay | Associate Vice Provost and Registrar, Indiana University Tom GreenAs more student learning becomes advanced and outside the classroom, institutions can begin to look at digital records as a way to capture and record studentsā achievements. The student experience…
Assessment models today fail to acknowledge the key components to a learnerās experience and outcomesāincorporating them into the learning process will help both students and employers see the full potential…
Supporting Adult Students by Providing Flexibility and Resources
Kellie Macdonald | Research Associate, American Institutes for Research Jennie JiangTo better support their adult students, colleges need to begin offering the right resources that will help students balance the multiple responsibilities they have. The American Institutes for Research, in…
Creating a student-centered learning experience online means creating outlets for students to voice concerns, offering mental health services in light of increased stressors, and taking care of yourself so you…
Three Ways States Can Help Community College Transfer Students Complete Their Bachelorās Degrees
Alexandria Walton Radford | Director of the Center for Applied Rearch in Postsecondary Education, American Institutes for Research Aleksandra HolodTransfer credits often determine whether a student will complete a college degree, with many receiving little to none. But experts are starting to find that implementing statewide postsecondary education articulation…
The advent of COVID-19 is spurring innovation across higher education. But there is a common thread between the initiatives succeeding better than others: a focus on getting learners back into…
COVID-19 Writes a Prescription for Change: Unbundling/Rebundling Learning
Holly Zanville | Research Professor and Co-Director of Program on Skills, Credentials and Workforce Policy in the Institute of Public Policy, George Washington University Van Ton-QuinlivanStackable credentialing models provide the flexibility, responsiveness and student-centricity needed to support consistent engagement and employment outcomes, benefiting learners, employers and institutions alike. The traditional methods of higher education delivery…
As COVID-19 has been a wakeup call for institutions to prepare for natural disasters, itās critical to rethink education and workforce training that will allow people to continue working and…
Developing Skills That Lead to Jobs: Designing the New Normal with a Four-Point Plan
Holly Zanville | Research Professor and Co-Director of Program on Skills, Credentials and Workforce Policy in the Institute of Public Policy, George Washington University David LeaserLetās play a game of Jeopardy. The category is Learn-and-Work Ecosystem for $200. The answer: pandemic, future of work, and recession. The winning question: What is the perfect storm of…
Lumina Foundation recently awarded a grant to Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW) to partner with AAR, an independent provider of aviation services to commercial and government customers worldwide, to…
Conferences Need More Than Speakers: Leveraging Tools to Take Events from Good to Great
Theresa Anderson | Business Analyst, University of MinnesotaConferences and events have always been a hallmark of college and university offerings. Whether online or in-person, these events bring folks together, provide unique insight into professional development and support…
With the revamp in higher education in response to the pandemic, this could very well be the moment credential innovation was waiting for. Now is the time to use credentials…
Embedding Certifications into Bachelorās Degrees Could Improve Transitions into the Labor Market
Holly Zanville | Research Professor and Co-Director of Program on Skills, Credentials and Workforce Policy in the Institute of Public Policy, George Washington University Karen ElzeyThereās a growing interest in embedding industry-recognized certifications into college and university degree programs. Workcred is working on a Lumina-supported project with the goal of improving studentsā transition from college…
Based on statistics offered by UNESCO, 1.7 billion students and learners around the world are unable to attend school or university as of March 23rd, 2020. This number accounts for…
The Benefits of Being a Skilled Technical Worker and the Sub-baccalaureate Paths These Workers Follow
Susan Rotermund | Senior Research Associate, RTI International Xianglei ChenThe United States has a strong need for the skilled technical workforce (STW), a workforce that comprises workers in occupations that require significant science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) expertise…
Once labeled as flyover country, South Bend, IN, is having quite the renaissance. The city and surrounding communities forming the South Bend-Elkhart Region were recently designated as a 21st Century…
Evaluating Your Assessment Plan as You Move to a Virtual Classroom
Lauren Serpati | Assessment Specialist, Western Governors UniversityIf you are an instructor and you are faced with moving your course online due to COVID-19, you are not alone. Given the rapid shift we are experiencing, many may…
The learn-and-work marketplace is growing more complex and chaotic. If it were a highway, weād describe it like this: there is a lot of traffic, innovation cars are moving at…
Human Skills: Critical Components of Future Work
Glenda Stump | Education Research Scientist, Massachusetts Institute for Technology George Westerman, Katherine HallIt is no secret that the workplace is changing. The shelf life of new technical skills is estimated to be three years (Auger, 2019), with core digital skills changing even…
Competency-based education (CBE) programming is becoming increasingly necessary in higher education. But creating and expanding CBE programs can be challenging, with barriers that go beyond the administrative level. Institutions are…
Challenges and Solutions of Research into the Quality of Online Learning: A Quality Matters Lens
Barbra Burch | Manager of Research and Development, Quality Matters Stella PortoThe existing literature showcases a vast amount of research on quality in online learning. Studies abound, diving deep into specific elements of design and delivery and their impact on various…
There was a mock commercial on Saturday Night Live a few years ago, featuring actor Sam Waterston selling insurance in case of robot attacks. āRobots are everywhere,ā he warned, āand…
The Moral Imperative Driving Digital Credentialing
Kathleen deLaski | Founder and President, Education Design LabProfessional skills are becoming outdated faster than ever before and traditional education canāt keep up. So, what role must colleges and universities play in helping individuals keep up with the…