Show Me the Evidence: Getting Serious About EdTech Decision-making in Higher Ed

Concurrent Session 3

Brief Abstract

Higher education spends $25B annually on technology. Yet despite its market size, there is little information about the factors that influence technology decisionmaking. In this session, hear from panelists on the state of edtech decision-making in higher ed and how leaders can leverage research to ensure the best tools enter today’s classrooms.

Presenters

Lead Presenter: Todd Bloom, Jefferson Education Accelerator

Co-presenter: MJ Bishop, University System of Maryland

Dr. M.J. Bishop is Associate Vice Chancellor and inaugural director of the University System of Maryland’s William E. Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation, which was established in 2013 to create a collaborative culture of academic innovation that catalyzes new ways of thinking about student success, translates ideas into action, and scales and sustains promising practices. The Kirwan Center leverages the power of multi-institutional collaboration to increase access, affordability, and achievement of high-quality credentials for Maryland students. As Director, Dr. Bishop is leading statewide initiatives in open educational resources, analytics, digital badging, adaptive learning, high-impact practices, academic integrity, and online education. Since coming to the USM in 2013, the Kirwan Center has been awarded grants totaling over $5.6M in support of a variety of initiatives aimed at exploring the role that state-level consortia can play in advancing institutional efforts to improve student success. Prior to USM, Dr. Bishop was an Associate Professor and Director of the Lehigh University College of Education’s Teaching, Learning, and Technology Program where she led the institution’s graduate programs in instructional design and technology, taught graduate level courses, and mentored master’s and doctoral students. While at Lehigh, Dr. Bishop received several awards for her research and teaching including the 2013 Stabler Award for Excellence in Teaching for leading students to 'excellence in their chosen field' as well as 'excellence as human beings and as leaders of society.' MJ’s research interests include understanding the fundamental components and the psychology behind instructional media and delivery systems in order to discover their pedagogical capabilities and limitations and to devise more effective ways to design instructional technologies to enhance learning.

Co-presenter: Phil Hill, e-Literate

Phil Hill (@PhilOnEdTech) is Publisher of the PhilOnEdTech blog and Partner at MindWires, LLC. Market Analyst. Craft Beer Connoisseur. Dad and Grandpa. These are just a few of the hats that Phil Hill wears. Phil is a lifelong learner who transitioned to educational technology consulting after working in the engineering field for many years. Consulting was a natural fit for him, as he has a unique gift for providing practical, thoughtful advice, and he isn’t afraid to ruffle a few feathers. He is notorious in the EdTech world for his ability to spot and describe major trends and implications for the broader market, and his unique graphics and visual presentations have been widely used in the industry. Previously Phil was an independent consultant and worked with numerous clients, including Western Governors University, California Community College System, UCLA, Bournemouth University, Lumen Learning, Coursera, multiple investment firms, and others. In addition to PhilOnEdTech, Phil has written for EDUCAUSE Review, Inside Higher Ed, and the Washington Post. He has also been interviewed and quoted at National Public Radio, Inside Higher Ed, the Chronicle of Higher Education, the New York Times, Buzzfeed Education (10 Ways to Tell If Your LMS Is Cheating on You!), and Washington Business Journal.

Tags

OLC Accelerate 2017 Innovations Tools and Technologies Instructional technology Learning analytics Learning outcomes Personalization Technology Technology applications Tools

Extended Abstract

Today’s colleges and universities spend nearly $25 billion annually on technology and services, spanning from instructional technology and retention solutions to big data platforms and online program managers. Yet, in a nascent market flooded with products, it is often unclear what factors affect how technology purchasing decisions are made. In a world where technology is increasingly embedded in the learning experience, it is imperative that products actually deliver on their promise. Join us for a discussion on the state of edtech decision-making in higher ed, and how higher ed leaders can leverage research to ensure the best tools enter today’s classrooms.