CDC studies campus COVID spread; Using AI to improve teaching; Holding student attention in video lectures

No. 252 | 01/15/21 | Subscribe to this newsletter This issue is sponsored by As longtime readers of this newsletter know, we at EdSurge have a thing for robots. We've written about how they now deliver food on college campuses. We've pondered what they can teach us about how technology may change education. We've even interviewed one about its philosophy on teaching.    This week, we're geeking out about robots again. Because it turns out, they can dance.    That's right, robots have rhythm. Or at least, the ones at Boston Dynamics do. A new video from the engineering and design company that spun out of MIT shows several of its creations boogying to "Do You Love Me," a 1962 hit song by the Contours. See for yourself right here.     (No really, go watch the video. You will not be disappointed.)   There is an educational angle to all this. In a subsequent video, the company explains the software it uses to choreograph its robots' dance moves. The process requires careful coding, knowledge of a robot's physical limitations and, of course, musical skills.    There may be a business angle, too. As Popular Science reports, Hyundai just bought Boston Dynamics for $1.1 billion, and videos like this one may be an attempt to generate friendly feelings among consumers toward robotics products that may otherwise inspire fear.       It may be working. The video has been viewed more than 26 million times—and only about two dozen of those times can be traced to the EdSurge newsroom.   👂 EAR TO THE GROUND   STUDENTS ASKED TO REPORT PROFS: Some are calling it a "tattle button." The University of Florida added a new feature to its campus safety app that asks students to report if a professor moved an in-person class online. Some professors who requested to teach remotely had their requests denied, and so some administrators say they want to make sure courses scheduled for in person happen as planned. Many professors are outraged by the tactic.   GOING VIRAL: It's CDC official: Where college classes met in person, virus cases spread significantly. The national health agency's new study showed that counties where large colleges offered in-person instruction saw a 56 percent increase in COVID-19 cases within weeks of the fall semester's start. The report cautions college leaders to think carefully about plans for the upcoming term—but some view college virus data with pride, not apprehension.   PLAYING TO THE CAMERA: How important is it for the teacher to be visible on screen in lecture videos? Researchers at the University of California at Santa Barbara are testing that question with a series of experiments. The answer, it turns out, is complicated.   KNOW THYSELF: The abundance of student data now available offers instructors the potential to improve their teaching in real time, rather than waiting for final exam results or end-of-semester evaluations. For those who aren't trained data scientists, though, making sense of all the figures can be daunting. A little help from an AI tool can help, writes a Duke professor who uses machine learning to see where students are struggling.   Sponsored by StraighterLine START TO FINISH: "We think college should be affordable and low risk. Everybody should get to go. That's the DNA of StraighterLine," says Chief Learning Officer Dr. Amy Smith. Learn how her team is leveraging strategic partnerships with universities to boost degree completion rates, especially for non-traditional students. The following is a message from our sponsor The latest insights in online proctoring Many Higher Education Institutions adopted online proctoring in response to COVID-19 to protect the integrity of their courses and programs, while maintaining academic continuity for students. The pace and extent of change has been enormous, but we have learned a lot. In this infographic, you will see some of the key takeaways from our experience of online proctoring during COVID-19. Download now. ✍️ COLUMNIST CORNER    CLOSING THE CYBER GAP: The pandemic has accelerated the need for cybersecurity as we rely on digital tools for remote work and learning. Yet despite the fact that this is a high-paying, in-demand field, there's an estimated shortage of 3.1 million cybersecurity workers. Rethink Education associate Joanne Cheng looks at the obstacles in the way and opportunities for edtech solutions to close to the workforce gap. 🎧 ON THE PODCAST   PROCESSING THE CAPITOL MOB: Last week's violent riot at the U.S. Capitol raised many questions. Among them: How can schools and colleges foster a stronger sense of civic education and engagement? One history professor says higher education is partly to blame for last week's events. Here's why—and why he remains optimistic about the future of U.S. democracy. 📈 STAT-O-MATIC 38 percent The share of people who "stopped out" of community college in fall 2020 after having been enrolled in spring 2020 who said they could no longer afford their higher ed program, according to new research from New America. The survey of nearly 1,700 adults identifies challenges that students and prospective students are facing during the pandemic—and how those contribute to enrollment declines. 📣 SPOKEN WORD   "We in California have an obligation to disrupt that entire system nationwide." —California governor Gavin Newsom, announcing new funds to create free online alternatives to college textbooks. (Cal Matters) 💼 BYTE-SIZED BRIEFS   Open Syllabus Project reveals the most-assigned textbooks these days. (The Chronicle of Higher Education) Analysis of courses on anyone-can-teach platform Udemy shows bulk are about tech or business. (The Report by Class Central) 📚 FROM THE ARCHIVES    REVIVING DEMOCRACY: Research shows U.S. citizens lately have been feeling cynical rather than hopeful. That's a problem for democracy, a professor of education and philosophy told the EdSurge Podcast last year. Here's why she thinks educators should teach their students to hope, and how they can do it even during highly polarized times. Looking for a job in edtech? You've come to the right place. EdSurge has the leading edtech jobs board in the industry with openings from schools, nonprofits and companies. Post a job | See all jobs Director of Information Systems | Calbright College | Remote The Director of Information Systems leads the development of systems and solutions responsible for supporting student success and administrative operations at Calbright College.   Assistant Director, Center for Public University Transformation | APLU | Washington D.C. or Remote The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) is seeking an Assistant Director for the Center for Public University Transformation (CPUT), which aims to advance student success, equity, and university transformation.   Chief Information Officer | Mary Institute and Country Day School | St. Louis, MO MICDS seeks a chief information officer, starting July 1, 2021, to oversee all areas of technology: strategy, infrastructure, data and web applications, support services, and instructional technology.   Research Project Manager - Education Practice | Christensen Institute | Lexington, MA or Remote The Christensen Institute seeks a highly motivated individual to join the Social Capital R&D Project team immediately, providing essential project management, research assistance, and writing support to the project's co-directors.   Data Visualization Analyst | Edmentum Inc. | Minneapolis, MN or Remote Edmentum is looking for a Data Visualization Analyst who will support the execution of Edmentum's research agenda through contributions to the dissemination of research findings in graphical format via dashboards, reports and presentations.   Director, Learning Futures Initiatives | Arizona State University | Tempe, AZ The Learning Futures Collaboratory at Arizona State University is seeking a Director of Learning Futures Initiatives.   Events Post an event • See all events and meetups   Teaching Purposeful Minds Apr 17-18 | Online | More than $250  This virtual conference will explore the importance of purpose, connections (including love and belonging), and curiosity and exploration, and how they can help support learning, coping, and personal growth. THANKS FOR READING   ➔ Got any feedback? We love hearing from readers. Shoot us a note, critiques, a joke—whatever you've got! ➔ Interested in reaching our readers? Sponsor this newsletter. ➔ Event planners: Feature your in-person or virtual event on our calendar & newsletters. EdSurge covers and connects the people, ideas and technologies that shape the future of learning. We are an independent news and research initiative of the International Society for Technology in Education. International Society for Technology in Education, 621 SW Morrison Street, Suite 800, Portland, Oregon 97205, USA, 800.336.5191 (U.S. & Canada) or 503.342.2848 (Int'l) Unsubscribe Manage preferences