Rethinking and redesigning the learning space as a ritualized experience can provide educators and learners with the lifelines they need to each other, to their own autonomy and agency, and…
Educator
Individualized Emails Revisited: Putting the âWider Netâ Question to the Test
Brandi Falley | Division Lead and Associate Professor of Mathemathics, Texas Womanâs University Michael Stankey, Mark HamnerTo deliver the best student experience, personalization will be key to meeting a studentâs individual needs and help them be successful. Two years ago, when Mark and Michael prepared to…
Course sharing can be impactful in creating a harmonious learning ecosystem by establishing strong relationships across higher ed to create equal opportunities for learners. In March 2020 higher education institutions…
The Experimental University (Part 1)
James Fay | Former Dean, California State University - East Bay Jane O'NeilProperly preparing learners for their careers means dismantling higher education and reimagining it completely. An Experimental University uses data and research to analyze its student body and faculty and adapt…
There are currently more job openings than candidates, and higher education needs to train students to fill these employment gaps. By focusing on sectors of opportunity, institutions can prepare their…
How Do Microcredentials Stack Up? Part 1
Holly Zanville | Research Professor and Co-Director of Program on Skills, Credentials and Workforce Policy in the Institute of Public Policy, George Washington University Jackie PichetteMicrocredentials may very well be paving the way forward in higher education, but successful implementation depends on a common definition, stackability and industry relevancy. The Non-Degree Credential Network (NCRN) and the…
As some people caution their concerns around stackable credentials, itâs important to recognize them as bite-sized education that complements a learnerâs lifelong learning journey. The Non-Degree Credential Network (NCRN) and…
Three Ways to Improve Online Student Retention and Graduation Rates
Valerie Delleville | System Director, Credit for Prior Learning, Salt Lake Community CollegeHigher ed institutions need to focus on retaining the students they have just as much as (if not more than) acquiring new ones. By engaging their students, providing credit for…
Creating a model of higher education adapted to current needs means opening access to learning opportunities for all, taking into account social issues of racial, gender and sexual privilege. My…
A Review of Educational Pathways to Careers
Robert A. Scott | President Emeritus and University Professor Emeritus, Adelphi UniversityOur current higher education system is built on historical inequity that often makes marginalized students feel like they donât matter. Designing learning for the future means ensuring accessibility and affordability. …
As higher ed looks towards a post-pandemic normal, itâs critical to recognize the challenges underserved learners have faced to provide more equitable access to educational opportunities. This article is excerpted…
They Come for a DegreeâThey Leave Empowered
Lisa Myers | Assistant Professor of Adult Education and Leadership Studies, Texas A&M University-TexarkanaA common complaint of students in higher education is that their programs and assessments lack personal and professional meaning. Itâs critical for institutions to extend beyond just career placement, to…
The community college plays a central role in re-skilling the workforce and revitalizing the American economy, which the government recognizes. However, funding must be allocated to liberal arts programs to…
Reflections in Pandemic Pedagogy
Rebecca Cooney | Director of Murrow Online Programs in the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University Justin Barnes, Chelsea Newman, Ben PingelIn its second year of virtual instruction, itâs important for higher education to rethink the learning environment and innovate within it, to better engage students and prevent as many technological…
A four-year degree is losing relevance among potential employers. A higher education must not just provide the skills students need, but in a format that offers flexibility and quick access…
The Rapidly Changing Global Landscape of Microcredentials
George Lorenzo | Editor, Workforce Monitor Holly ZanvilleMicrocredential has been a buzzword in higher education for the last few years, but it gained renewed importance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Establishing them properly within higher education requires collaborating…
Although birth and high school graduation rates have fallen over recent years, institutions of higher education must improve their own retention and graduation rates by collaborating with their local communities…
Learning and Unlearning What It Means to Teach Virtually
Martin Lee | Adjunct Professor of Biostatistics, University of California Los AngelesAlthough the pandemic forced many instructors into a completely new-to-them learning modality, the best ones saw the change as an opportunity to re-imagine their teaching in a new environment. Iâll…
As travelling remains limited in todayâs world, institutions need to find alternatives for students to provide the internal and cultural understanding that studying abroad provides. The increasing convergence of information…
Thoughts on Rebuilding a Learning Community
Robert A. Scott | President Emeritus and University Professor Emeritus, Adelphi UniversityThe higher ed learning community at-large has been turned on its head by the COVID-19 pandemic. Rebuilding a learning community requires actively listening to everyoneâs needs and examining the contexts…
With the many crises facing higher ed today, itâs important to take a look at these emerging issues from a faculty standpoint to begin developing a stronger relationship with their…
Enhancing Economic Mobility Through Credential Pathways Integrated into Degrees
Vistasp Karbhari | Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The University of Texas at ArlingtonFlexible, accessible learning is the way forward in higher education, as non-traditional students become the dominant population. Institutions need to define pathways, create stackable degrees with entry and exist points…
As we enter the second year of the pandemic, it is vital for educators to recognize the trauma their students have experienced. Prioritizing engagement, connection and emotional regulation is a…
Coming Together to Understand Non-Degree Credentials
Stephen Crawford | Research Professor, George Washington University Kyle AlbertNon-degree credentials have gained a lot of traction in the higher education space, but much remains unknown in this relatively new space. The Non-Degree Credentials Research Network (NCRN) at George…
Properly serving the modern learner in higher education requires innovative and thoughtful collaborations between institutions and organizations that help students meet workforce needs. The age of the modern learner is…
Coaching is Not Academic Advising
Alicia Sepulveda | Academic Life Coach, Make College Yours, LLCHigher education has long confused the roles of advisor and coach, when they each serve different but equally necessary roles in helping students succeed both in school and after graduating. …
In a floundering labor market that is especially hitting low-wage workers hard right now, we need bold initiatives that confront issues of systemic inequity head-on. WorkRise is an innovative new…
Improve Your Teaching by Looking at it From the Studentâs Perspective
ZoĂŤ Cohen | Assistant Professor in the College of Medicine Tucson, University of ArizonaStudent engagement is paramount, especially in the world of online learning. Initiatives donât have to be effortful or time-consuming, even the small things like daily emails are a great way…
Teaching in the virtual classroom means prioritizing student needs above all else. Remain flexible, open to adapting, and willing to listen as we navigate these unprecedented times. On March 11th,…
Prior Learning Assessment: 2010, 2020, 2030
Holly Zanville | Research Professor and Co-Director of Program on Skills, Credentials and Workforce Policy in the Institute of Public Policy, George Washington UniversityDespite having been studied since 2010, and institutions having many assessment tools at their disposal, prior learning assessment (PLA) is still largely underutilized. In the next decade, it will be…