ED Negotiated Rulemaking: Thoughts, Updates, and New Position Papers from OLC, UPCEA, & WCET

February 27, 2019.Reading time 13 minutes.

The Department of Education has a long list of higher education regulations under consideration in its negotiated rulemaking process. As the calendar of meetings winds down, the path to agreement on most issues remains rocky, but not impossible. Lost in the reporting about disagreements has been the (at least modest) progress that has been made […]

Past the Point of No Return: The Not-So-Shadow Education Sector

February 1, 2019.Reading time 13 minutes.

Welcome to Sasha Thackaberry (Vice Provost, Digital and Continuing Education at Louisiana State University and member of WCET’s Executive Council) who authored today’s guest blog post. At a couple meetings of our Executive Council, we’ve had brief discussions about the growing sector of non-accredited providers. One of our worries is that traditional education institutions might […]

The value of micro-credentials and badging needs continual clarification

December 14, 2018.Reading time 19 minutes.

An image showcasing open badge concepts. The explanation reads: Knowledge isn't concrete; it can be gained in a wide variety of ways. Each day, valuable skills and expereince are attained by learners who get involved with activities outside of their formal classroom education. Sports teams and other extracurriculars can positively benefit a student's psyche. Unfortunately, traditional resumes and portfolio programs aren't typically formatted to shed light on the soft skills that are gained through this kind of involvement..

Welcome today to David Porter, CEO of eCampusOntario, who joins us to discuss the value of micro-credentials and badging. After an intriguing keynote presentation at an educational event, David reached out to several education colleagues who work and research in the micro-credentials and badging arena. Today he shares his observations from these discussions, and provides […]

Marketable Skills + Credentialing = the Value of Signals

December 6, 2018.Reading time 11 minutes.

Defintion of "signal" from oxford dictionaries: VERB Transmit information or instructions by means of a gesture, action, or sound. NOUN A gesture, action, or sound that is used to convey information or instructions, typically by prearrangement between the parties concerned.

What signals do you use to showcase your skills and expertise? Our students need a way to let future employers know about their collegiate experiences and accomplishments. Today we welcome Mike Simmons from University of North Texas to discuss their institutional solution to changing workforce and higher education needs when it comes to credentials. Thank […]

Comparing Credentials: An Update on the Credential Engine

May 24, 2018.Reading time 7 minutes.

showcasing how the credential engine works (starts with common credential description language, publishing the credentials to the Credential Engine Registry, ensuring the credentials are live on the Credential Finder (a search tool), and finally developing a comunity of organizations, developers, and users who will have support and resources from credential engine staff.

What does the “higher education of the future” look like? Will it be online? On campus? Virtual? Will we still have the same 4 – 7 year undergraduate degree programs? Or will alternative credentials change the higher education landscape? This future seems a bit complex! Luckily, today we’re joined by Carrie Samson, Communications Manager for […]

Rio Salado: Innovation Pushes the Boundaries of Tradition

May 3, 2018.Reading time 24 minutes.

Student population served vs. student population measured by IPEDS. Total unduplicated headcount 52,881, Unduplicated headcount (credit-seeking) 46,497, Part-time 41,339, Program-seeking 11,266, Full-time 5,158, IPEDs cohort measured 113

Today here on WCET Frontiers we are happy to welcome Stacey VanderHeiden Güney, the Director of the Digital Learning Solution Network. Stacey is here to discuss a recent study on higher education institutions implementing digital learning and follow-up conversations regarding one of the institutions included in the study. Thank you to Stacey for today’s post […]

Higher Education Act – Innovations, Definitions, and State Authorization

March 15, 2018.Reading time 18 minutes.

When passed in 1965, the Higher Education Act (HEA) was intended to “to strengthen the educational resources of our colleges and universities and to provide financial assistance for students in postsecondary and higher education.” Updated or “reauthorized” several times since then, the Act has historically housed most of federal resources and regulations for higher education […]

Senate Weighs Innovation and Access Options in Reauthorizing Higher Ed Act

January 26, 2018.Reading time 18 minutes.

The Senate is moving ahead with deliberations on its version of a bill to reauthorize the Higher Education Act (HEA). Yesterday morning, the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a hearing focusing on “access and innovation.” Much was said about such issues as competency-based education, distance education, accountability, supporting students outside the classroom, and […]

Digital Credentials for Faculty Professional Development

October 5, 2017.Reading time 10 minutes.

I’ve held many conversations with higher education professionals about how to encourage the use of instructional technologies in the classroom. Many times the conversation revolves around the newest innovations, what tool is the most user-friendly, or which new tech will capture student’s attention. Eventually, the conversation typically ends with us talking about faculty training and […]

The Military Advances on Credentialing and Quality Reviews: Pay Attention

March 13, 2017.Reading time 10 minutes.

Military personnel and veterans are eager to learn…and most of them do so using educational technologies and distance learning. Given that the United States has been involved in two wars for more than a decade, how do they defend the country and earn a degree in their spare time? Cheryl Dowd and I attended the […]