Page 7 - Campus Technology, October/November 2019

THE RIGHT SIZE. There is no one-size-fits-all rule for figuring out how many students to enroll in an online course. However, according to a recently published research project, large class- es — those with 40 or more students — are best for “foundational and factual knowledge acqui- sition,” and smaller enrollments — 15 or fewer students — are better for courses intended “to develop higher order thinking, mastery of com- plex knowledge and student skill development.” As the researchers noted, “Pedagogical intent should dictate class size.” The five-year research project was undertaken by a trio of current and retired faculty members from two different col- leges of nursing at Kent State University (OH) and George Washington University (DC). READ THE FULL STORY ONLINE. A CC FOR WORKING ADULTS. California is taking on the skills gap directly by opening a community college dedicated to addressing the needs of working adults and hiring managers. Calbright College, which opened for course registration on Oct. 1, will use a combination of online classes, mobile apps and in-person apprenticeships to give its adult students the specific skills they need to get higher paying jobs. This is the 115th community college for the state. READ THE FULL STORY ONLINE. DATA-SHARING NETWORK. Workcred, a non- profit affiliate of the American National Stan- dards Institute, is looking to form a network of 25-30 credentialing bodies that will be “early adopters and influencers” in sharing data. The goal: to better understand the value or return on investment of non-degree credentials, including badges, industry certifications and other micro-credentials, according to a news announcement. The credentialing bodies will engage in discussions around the value of shar- ing their data, as a way of creating more trans- parency around their credentials. READ THE FULL STORY ONLINE. COUNTING CREDENTIALS. A recent report from nonprofit Credential Engine estimated that the number of credentials offered in the U.S. totals more than 738,000. That includes high school diplomas, postsecondary degrees and certifi- cates, registered apprenticeships, certifications, licenses, alternative degree programs and skills training “bootcamps,” the organization said. Interestingly, nearly half of those credentials — about 315,000 — are provided by non-academic organizations, such as employers, associations and other training providers. READ THE FULL STORY ONLINE. campustechnology.com 7