RPP #171: Virtually Inspired - Interview with Marci Powell

• Interview with Marci Powell, Project Director of Virtually Inspired powered by Drexel University Online, and Chair Emerita and Past President of the US Distance Learning Association. We discuss technology-enhanced teaching and learning and Virtually Inspired, a website where educators can come for inspiration on how creative professionals around the globe are infusing technology with learning. We discuss:

  

  Marci Powell                              Dr. Susan Aldridge

• The purpose and function of the Virtually Inspired website
• The scope of Virtually Inspired: K12, healthcare, corporate, higher ed, government
• How the inspirations are discovered
• The most impactful tech: VR, AR and Mixed Reality, Blockchain, AI
• The role of traditional publishers
• Some of the most impressive entries: 
• Singapore Management University - CSI (customer service index) Agent on a Mission, a game to teach statistics
• Oral Roberts University - VR using clip-on glasses for smart phones in developing countries
• Brazil: Online Education for the Deaf
• The Inspiring leaders section of the website
  
  
• Links
• Virtually Inspired
• US Distance Learning Association
• PA/DE/NJ Distance Learning Association

• Podsafe music selection
• Atomic Pebbles by Rod Murray - AI Music from Jukedeck - create your own at http://jukedeck.com

Duration: 34:23

RPP #170: The Horizon Report - Interview with Audrey Watters

• Interview with Audrey Watters, a self-described “education writer, an independent scholar, a serial dropout, a rabble-rouser, and ed-tech’s Cassandra.” We discuss the Horizon Report and The History of the Future of Education Technology, the special focus of her Hack Education Project. 

• Like previous Horizon reports, the 2018 edition identifies key trends, challenges and developments in ed tech that are likely to impact teaching and learning in the next five years.
• Since we don't delve into the details of the latest Horizon Report in this interview, here is a snapshot of the "important developments in technology." You can judge for yourself the real value of this report after listening to this interview. 

Ref:The 2018 Horizon Report Higher Education Edition

• Educause stepped in to continue the work of the Horizon project after the NMC unexpectedly declared bankruptcy and ceased operations at the end of 2017.

• Links
• Educause: 2018 NMC Horizon Report
• Watters: A Horizon Report History
• Watters: The Horizon Never Moves
• Watters: Historical Data from the Horizon Report (Higher Education)
• Inside Higher Ed: Educause Publishes Report on Tech Trends
• Inside Higher Ed: Educause Steps In to Save New Media Consortium
• RPP #140: Future Trends: Interview with Bryan Alexander (2016)
• RPP #138: Higher Education Horizon Report by Alex Freeman (2015)
• RPP #123: eLearning Tech: What's on the Horizon? (2014)
• Podsafe music selection 
• Don't Be Long: The Beatles v Elken, a mashup of George Harrison's Blue Jay Way by Elken, a 60's influenced band from Dublin, Ireland. 

Duration: 38:04

RPP #169: Harvard Innovation labs - Interview with Jodi Goldstein

• Interview with Jodi Goldstein, Executive Director at Harvard Innovation Labs, a three-lab ecosystem that supports Harvard students, alumni and faculty in exploring innovation and entrepreneurship. We discuss:

  

  Jodi Goldstein
  Executive Director

• The Harvard iLab, Launch Lab X, and Harvard Life Lab
• How these innovation centers supplement the academic curriculum with experiential learning
• Strategies that universities can use to effectively support students in their entrepreneurial endeavors
• Success stories: 
• Vaxess Technologies - transports vaccines without refrigeration
• Rapid SOS - links devices to 911 and first responders
• ArtLifting - ecommerce platform to sell art by the homeless and disabled
• Links
• Harvard iLab
• Lessons Learned from Scaling an Innovation Center
• Podsafe music selection
• "Something About Eve" by Falling You. Ethereal ambient new age music.

Duration: 33:54

RPP #168: The Blackboard Ultra (Conversion) Experience

• Discussion with Rob McCunney, Blackboard Sysadmin and Instructional Designer, University of the Sciences. We discuss our conversion from Blackboard Learn managed hosting to SaaS and then to the Ultra Experience and Ultra Courses. 
• We discuss:
  

  

  Adoption of Blackboard Learn Ultra

• Moving from Managed Hosting to SaaS:
• What were some of the conversion issues?
• How much time/effort was expended?
• Were there any surprises?
• What advantages did you see?
• Turning on Ultra Experience:
• What were the conversion issues?
• What are the limitations?
• Turning on Ultra Course View:
• What are the limitations?
• How was Blackboard support?
• Links
• Blackboard Learn Ultra Experience
• RPP #157: Blackboard Roadmap - Interview with Jim Chalex
• Podsafe music selection from Music Alley
• Concerto No. 2 in G Minor (Summer) from the CD entitled "The Four Seasons by Vivaldi" by the American Baroque Orchestra. 

[Disclaimer: The University of the Sciences is a customer of Blackboard.]

Duration: 31:13