OLDaily

Welcome to Online Learning Daily, your best source for news and commentary about learning technology, new media, and related topics.

Gamified e-learning platform Kahoot gets acquired in a $1.7B deal led by Goldman Sachs, Lego and more
Rebecca Bellan, TechCrunch, 2023/07/18

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I never had much time for Kahoot, which always seemed to me to be 90 percent sales pitch and 10 percent tech. Anyhow, it has been sold to the  Goldman Sachs led consortium "in an all-cash PE deal at 35 NOK per share, valuing Kahoot at $1.7 billion" (which suggests to me that something rather less than $1.7 is actually changing hands, but what do I know?). Kahoot makes educational games, though their front page is currently pushing a presentation tool that combines "AI-enhanced features, word clouds, and brainstorms" for $29 a month.

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Should colleges use AI in admissions?
Lilah Burke, Higher Ed Dive, 2023/07/18

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It will be hard for educational institutions to object to the use of AI in hiring decisions (instead of relying on, say, degrees) when they themselves are using AI in admissions decisions. This article introduces readers to Sia, "which provides speedy college transcript processing by extracting information like courses and credits. Once trained, it can determine what courses an incoming or transfer student may be eligible for, pushing the data to an institution's information system." Sure, a human will oversee the process - but over time I think we'll find the AI is trusted more and more to make the call.

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L’apprentissage en ligne dans le contexte de la quatrième révolution industrielle : le cas d’un module connectiviste en contexte universitaire
Emmanuel Duplàa, Béatrice Crettenand Pecorini, Jonathan Weber, Mario Blouin, Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 2023/07/18

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This post - 'Online Learning in the Context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution: The Case of a Connectivist Module in a University Context' - is in French, but the Google translation is serviceable. The paper doesn't always get connectivism exactly right (but who does, really?) but I like this account of the conversion (illustrated) of a course from a traditional to a connectivist model. Who cares about the definition if the practice embodies the principles? Ah, but did it 'work'? It definitely took students out of their comfort zones. But this stimulated a deeper consideration of the subject. "It has thus made it possible to achieve more transformational learning based on the development of curiosity and no longer on a program. In our view, a post-industrial education requires a great decentralization of curricula."

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Accessing Education: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Online Learning
Shelly Ikebuchi, Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 2023/07/18

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This paper makes three methodological points - "(a) online and hybrid learning presents challenges of access for students marginalized by 'race,' class, and location; (b) online and hybrid learning supports Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) by increasing access and flexibility; (c) pedagogy and course design are central to ensuring that online and/or hybrid learning supports EDI" - and one empirical point - "student experiences and expectations around online learning indicate a need for support and flexibility." I appreciate the placement of the term 'race' in quotes. As the author explains: "Given that the notion of biological races has been discredited, I am using 'race' to refer to the socially constructed category of race and the ongoing consequences of this social construction." More than a few researchers could learn from this.

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View of A Narrative Case History of Distance Education Before, During, and After COVID-19 in China and Iran
Mohsen Keshavarz, Li Yuan, Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 2023/07/18

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Though the focus of this article is on China and Iran, The authors are interested in the lessons learned about international cooperation as a result of the pandemic. In essence, they argue that more than just technological and pedagogical change is required. "It is not solely teaching approaches that need to be considered and met but also financial, technical, and pedagogical solutions which provide high-quality, flexible, and sustainable learning solutions."

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Reiew of Metaphors of Ed Tech
Brian Lamb, Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 2023/07/18

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Brian Lamb reviews Martin Weller's Metaphors of Ed Tech and captures his writing style perfectly. "Weller chooses the application of metaphors as a method, and the resulting book reads more like an enjoyable set of ruminations than rigorous investigation... He avoids hype, grand pronouncements and wild predictions, minimises jargon, and rarely goes deep into the weeds."

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We publish six to eight or so short posts every weekday linking to the best, most interesting and most important pieces of content in the field. Read more about what we cover. We also list papers and articles by Stephen Downes and his presentations from around the world.

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