A majority of people in our Nation seem to be on “constant” high-alert after Parkland, FL fatal and tragic incident. Mental health, security, and safety just hit the tipping point as one of the most essential concerns of our time.

How can we foster trust and a healthy future if our youth feel unsafe at school?

Learn how to quickly update and inform your staff, colleagues, and students on the changing security and mental health protocols that affect your campus or company.

Join this Thursday, March 1 at 11:00am PST

Join our 30min Webinar in collaboration with CanvasLMS partner day, Collaaj Video Capture will showcase simple yet powerful training tools to quickly get your staff and students informed and aware.

The very fact we have an expanding population, delivering an average of 83 million people per year, not to mention a constant changing culture stewed from gamification, selfie’s, instant social gratification, just to name a few, somewhere we have lost touch with the health of our minds as an important factor to the health of our well-being.

Have we set the stage for a disconnected, disengaged and disfranchised human experience for our youth?

Tragedies like the Parkland, FL shooting on Feb 14 put some serious fire in the hearts of our youth. This unexpected tenacity has begun to spread like wildfire across our Nation proving there is a connected, engaged and empowered human experience taking heart in our youth.  

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“We’ve got to face the reality that we’re going to be exposed to the world you guys made for us, and it’s unfortunately, it’s killing us,” student Willie Weibe said. “Something has to change, and what these students are doing in parkland across the country has been very empowering. And I think a change is coming.

The students hope by speaking up and speaking out, they can continue a conversation that could lead to change.

“We can change the way we interact and treat each other. … We can be encouraging rather than hateful.”

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Be part of the change and join our 30 min webinar this Thursday, March 1 at 11am PST to learn how to quickly train staff and students on the changing security protocols and Mental Health concerns. Written by: Kati Mac

@collaajcorp @canvasLMS @Worldometers @KOB4

Powered by Collaaj: Try our FREE 30 day Trial  Type Less. Show More.

Month one of 2018 is almost complete, so we’re taking attendance on who recognizes the relationship status with Enterprise and Education – specifically how Technology is dancing independently and fiercely with the tech 4.0 movement “an end-to-end industrial transformation.”

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“What makes it all the more fascinating (and at first sight complex) is that convergence of two worlds which have been disconnected thus far: Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) with the hyper-connected digital industry, the bridging of digital and physical, cyber-physical production systems and the Industrial IoT as parts (and names) that describe this fourth industrial revolution.” i-scoop

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The future is now, right now.

So, how does this unique balance effect ‘now’ and the future of our global reality?

Let’s call-out some hot trends gracing our screens and affecting the daily grind; With a closer look at how quickly our grasp on technology is ever-changing, noting how these industries are adjusting to constant change.

•      At this very moment, Augmented Reality is expected to go mainstream.
•      Analysts also anticipate banks will derive over $1 billion annually from Blockchain based cryptocurrencies within the next two years, while mobile payment volumes in China already exceeding $5 trillion annually.
•      Facebook just purchased a Boston-based identity tech mogul, and IoT (aka BIoT) is influencing like an algorithm gone wild.
•      Pay attention… blink and you’ll miss the headlines.

Boldly stated… Technology is narrowing the margin and our grip on reality.

Whereas Enterprise has embedded itself into technology since the beginning, (think of the garage days ala Jobs and Wozniak)… certain factors are developing far past the point of growing pains. The prepubescent phase is complete, now in full-blown “Tech-Adulting.” It’s as though Enterprise fast-tracked directly to a Midlife Crisis.

Tesla is about to get wings,

Cars are driving themselves,

& Grocery Stores are suddenly being managed by… Machines.

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Downtown Seattle, Amazon Go. 

“The futuristic grab-and-go market represents a test of new technology that could soon spread nationwide, as Amazon and other grocery giants seek to win business from shoppers craving selection, ease, and speed.” – Chicago Tribune

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Machine learning algorithms are front and center with Amazon’s flagship “Just Walk Out” technology. Touting the same techniques found in self-driving cars, computer vision and face recognition, with image-processing-technology used in Facebook photo-tags.

We’ve undoubtedly hit the ‘Jetsons era’ of our generational experiences. It’s wild to accept our present-day reality, heavily echoing iconic childhood cartoons. Who would have thought? Astro surely knew. 

Education on the other hand, is getting slam-dunked with sudden change, happening faster than teachers can sharpen their pencils. For academics and book-worms alike, the Edu space is jumping from infancy to the mid-life crisis point, pushing the industry at large into a space of implosion, factors aplenty.  Budget cuts, security alarmists and political scrutiny the chosen few. On the upside, sudden change creates immediate opportunity.

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Purdue University, Indiana. 

“Today, technology enables forms of communication and collaboration undreamt of in the past. Students in a classroom in the rural U.S., for example, can learn about the Arctic by following the expedition of a team of scientists in the region, read scientists’ blog posting, view photos email questions to the scientists, and even talk live with the scientists via video-conference.” -Purdue University

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Purdue makes a great point. The classrooms of today, actually do not differ that much from yesteryear.  Pointing out a 14th-century illustration of medieval Italy depicts some students engaged in the lesson from the teacher at the podium, others not. Classrooms today do not look much different, with students focusing on smart-phones or tablets, books or stone slates.

Luckily, tech in both spaces will answer the call, and as the two dance at a different tempo, we can follow the trends in both education and enterprise to gauge worldly acceptance.

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“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

–Nelson Mandela

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It’s exciting. It’s revolutionary. It’s reality. It’s happening. Collectively, we shall educate ourselves and get down with the enterprise of this shift.

Just like any midlife crisis, quick and drastic lifestyle changes are made. A feeling of youthfulness, opportunity, sudden ambition is discovered. The industries and institutions that adapt to the ever-evolving changes of the tech 4.0 revolution will keep themselves from having a true midlife crisis regarding the IoT. The key will be graciously accepting our new role as collective futurists. 

Ready for the ride?

Written By: Chelsie Foster

@collaajcorp  @iscoopbiz @tesla @amazon @LifeAtPurdue @chicagotribune @HBcartoons @Forbes

Colab: Kati Mac

Unless you’ve been living under a polar ice cap, you’re aware of the powerful “Rawr” of today’s Women, commanding attention in all ways. Surpassing minority status, women are presently being righteously celebrated in Technology, Media, and all business, further franchising their strength in numbers.

And the world is listening.

Can we get a show of hands for all the ladies power-housing technology? Countless.

A worldwide vantage point shows a massive upswing for female influence in this marketplace, young and seasoned, leading the orbit of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. (STEM).

STEMettes – A popular Twitter crowd, encourages younger ladies to work in STEM, boosting confidence for the next generation of Women in Technology. Reaching up to their leading peers, the guidance is undeniable and social infrastructure… Powerful. 28-year-old math prodigy, Anne-Marie Imafidon started the UK-based social enterprise, initially inspired by her own successes having passed math and ICT GCSEs by the time she was 10, becoming the youngest girl to ever pass A-level computing, the following year.

Women in Technology.org  is a landing place, reigning it all in. Promoting associations: Girls in Technology, BlackGirlsCode.com STEM for Her, WomenWhoTech.com, Girls Who Code, (just to name a few); Also highlight mentoring programs, trade shows plus gatherings, with a bountiful following of women connecting on a multitude of hot topics aimed at the direct spin of technology.

Turns out, the Spice Girls had it right from the get. Girl Power is IN.

Alaina Percival, Contributor + CEO of Huffington Post writes 2018 Predictions for Technology; including a not-so-subtle showing of hands, of whose Industry Leaders in the forefront are: WOMEN.

Here are just a few female leaders making bold statements for the year ahead:

 “Connected internet will see explosive growth (from pure mobile internet) with more devices entering your home…many other industries will be trying their luck with monetization on mobile.” – Sudha Mahajan – Director of Product Management, eBay

“Big data will continue to mature at a blazing pace, with reliability becoming a key focus.”– Michelle Ufford – Manager, Data Engineering Innovation, Netflix

“Silicon Valley will be surprised with more growth from venture-backed companies in 2018.” – Mona DeFrawi – CEO & Founder, Radvision

In reference to the above quotes, how will Investments, VC’s and Women-Lead startups affect the industry at large? TechCrunch and the Harvard Business Review have an interesting spin on this idea… “The Comprehensive Case for Investing More VC Money in Women-Led Start-Up.” That said, what companies in the tech sector are doing right by their female employees? Entreprenuer.com has a lead on this.

Startups like Collaaj Video Capture which has roots in India and NorCal’s Tech hub supports female talent in the tech industry with gender equality honored and valued, featuring over 50% of the engineering team held by female talent.

Here are some other female Industry Leaders who need no formal introduction.

These women have been heading technology for many moons. Here’s a classic shout-out to these fabulous female leaders in technology Industry;

• Sheryl Sandberg – Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer
• Isabelle Olsson – Lead Designer at Google
• Whitney Wolfe – Founder CEO of Tinder/Bumble
• Lily Chang – Vice President, Strategic Transformation, JV, VMware
• Michelle Bonat – CEO, Data Simply
• Kelly Abuelsaad – Software Engineer, Watson Cloud Platform, IBM
• Dory Weiss – VP of Engineering, nCino
• Brittani Smalls – Accounting and Compliance Manager, Women Who Code
• Lauren Schulte – CEO & Founder at The FLEX Company

MIT’s Technology Review wraps it up nicely. Women today are anticipated to step into the tech world graciously, taking a foot-forward approach to shaping policy and thinking around Artificial Intelligence on the Federal Level. Even globally, UN Women are setting the stage for greater forward movement. The fact is, Women participating in Technology will promote innovation, matched by opportunity.

Time’s up, women are taking a stand and leading us to a promising future where the gender race to equality is honored.

Written by: Chelsie Foster

@Stemettes @WITWomen @HuffPost @eBay  @netflix  @radvision @sherylsandberg@mbonat  @datasimply  @IBMcloud @doryweiss  @WomenWhoCode @LMSchulte @GirlsinTech @STEMforHer @hackneygazette @WomenWhoTech @sudha_mahajany @MichelleUfford @MonaDeFrawi @HarvardBiz @Entrepreneur @collaajcorp @techreview @UN_Women @LilyLChang @kellyabls @GirlsWhoCode @BlackGirlsCode

Collab: Kati Mac

 

 

 

Deborah Kay, Tech, Code and Edu Twitter buff and Digital Futurist says it best:

A Machine Learning algorithm walked into a bar.

The bartender asked, “What would you like to drink?”

The algorithm replied, “What’s everyone else having?”

We are literally teaching machines what we like everyday through our smart devices and computers. As the name suggests, more data creates smarter algorithms.

In 2016, Google even initiated a ‘Machine Learning Ninja Program’ designed to pull coders from their teams to participate “in a regimen that teaches them the artificial intelligence techniques that will make their products smarter. It even makes the software they create harder to understand.”

This is a perfect example of a ‘Machine Learning’ pun if you will. Humans tricking the very machines they originally created. Clever!

Machine Learning operates like a new switchboard for Higher Education and a new infrastructure for all Enterprise businesses.

EdTech is quickly harnessing learning management tools, game-based platforms and flipped classrooms — including more technology with each coming school year. Basic factors build-out the differentiation on how Machine Learning will affect Education, directly.

“Capital One commits $3M toward machine learning education at University of Maryland College Park”

Self- driving cars and robots were not part of daily life when the idea of ‘Machine Learning’ was born. A few years ago, predictions were made about how our culture would be taken over by computers. However, this fear has been replaced by the reality that technology is even smarter than anticipated. “…Machine Learning is now successfully applied in our daily life from speech recognition apps in smartphones to YouTube recommendations.”

“Google just used machine learning to find the first solar system like our own.”

Keep in mind, technology has subtly been influencing and shaping parts of our culture, behind the scenes, for decades. Take the hip hop music scene of the 90’s, for instance…

Hip hop producer literally humanized a machine, with legendary status.

Watch this amazing story Vlog on the MPC60, the sampling tool of choice for top hip-hop producers in 1990’s influenced music — including the pioneer of this style, J-Dilla. In fact, Dilla’s MPC machine is so famous, it’s featured in the Smithsonian Museum along with Basquiat’s Paintbrushes and Jimi Hendrix’s Guitars.

As technology expands, security and risk also breach the comfort zone affiliated with Machine Learning. Bitcoin, Blockchain, Net Neutrality, and countless other terms highlighting 2017, distinctly advocate the power of Machine Learning and the foundation it is paving for our future.

Perhaps classic opportunity lies in Machine Learning. With enough past data and computational resources, learning algorithms, often produces surprisingly effective predictors of future events.

So are we humanizing the machines, or are the machines simply imitating us?

Over at IEEE, “a growing awareness about the ways AI can discriminate against users if designers don’t take diversity into account” is being reviewed.

However you choose to apply Machine Learning in your life, one thing is certain. Machines and humans are learning to live in harmony and the test of time will show who is teaching who.

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Written by: Chelsie Foster @chelsiefoster

Colab: Kati Mac

@collaajcorp @debbiediscovers @voxdotcom @gadgetlab  @WIRED @techradar @techreview

 

How an anonymous source is changing the world, one byte at a time. 

Hungry to Learn?

Cyberspace. An accelerated current of energy has clinched this society in its entirety, a digital web spinning, while interconnecting endless global systems. A network of networks, linking itself to devices, swiftly replacing analog devices of yesteryear.

We’ve cut the cord, unplugged completely, now floating in a world wildly granting anything to materialize.

Blockchain was first conceptualized in 1991 but is appearing in financial macrocosm, as a way to organize a public list of records, joined together through cryptography. Cryptography, the practice of encoding secret messages, dating back to Greek times, aka “hidden secret.” κρυπτός kryptós.

Modern cryptography is profoundly based on mathematical theory and computer science practice; cryptographic algorithms designed to be unbroken. Theoretically, these schemes are termed secure, however cybersecurity in this realm has recently raised eyebrows and is testing the possible infrangible system.

How can the orb of American Enterprise and Education, benefit from this creation? By expediting the process…

Micro-credientials are mini-degrees or certifications in a specific topic area. Using electronic badges – living on the blockchain. All of which, circle back around to the everlasting infrastructure that uses shared and open technical standards. 

Micro-Certification is a non-traditional learning path where students gain skill sets in a specific technical area and receive a credential in a matter of DAYS, unlike a multi-year program that requires both lengthy time and financial commitments.

Think of Micro-Certification as a time-stamped credential, living on the blockchain system, between the student and institution. Certifications are designed to be shared across Social Media, on LinkedIn or Edmodo as well as Company Collaborations, like Google, Facebook, IBM, Amazon, Coursera, PwC and more.

Let’s Coin them Cryptic Degrees or Cryptic Certificates (no pun intended ;)). We will continue to see video learning as the choice of teaching for these micro-credentials with intuitive Lecture Capture Tools enhancing the learning journey. Soon enough we will see blockchain find its purpose in an Open-source Digital Media blockchain platform, probably with its own coin or token. Thoughts, predications?

As the Harvard Business Review states, national competitiveness is in the forefront of these gains: “A tax plan that hurts education will hurt U.S. competitiveness.”

Which raises the question? How does Cryptocurrency, Blockchain and the Educational systems financial downfall, all piece together for the future success of Micro-Certification?

Phil Long from University of Texas, at Austin, says it best, “Instead of thinking of [credentials] as a fixed, static thing, it’s thinking of them as pieces of software that are dynamic and you can build on a number of them.” – EdSurge.

Pushing the point, employers are falling in love with the idea of streamlining the education experience, away from broad-based learning. For example, Udacity, an online education company, offers nanodegree programs in areas such as self-driving cars, AI, machine learning, mobile and web development and robotics, a popular micro-credential option.

“More than 10,000 people have graduated since the nanodegree program launched in October 2014, and there are currently more than 53,000 students enrolled.” – CLO/ Chief Learning Officer.

EdSurge is grasping the long-view on this conversation with ongoing webinars for higher learning, since the topic is taking flight.

Academia is facing a series of challenges in recent years, pushing standards out of the classroom into computers, libraries, STEM labs, and now online micro-certified courses.

Anthony P. Carnevale from Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce says,“Colleges and other post-secondary providers are responding to the newly burgeoning market with a blizzard of degrees, certificates, licenses, certifications, badges and other micro credentials, all of which purport to qualify the recipients to enter an occupation. Who really knows what they all mean?” 

How is an already imploding education system expected to sustain such change?

The world will have to wait to see how this incredible opportunity will unfold amongst America’s education institutions. We’ve already crossed the bridge of embracing technology in whole. We’re now sitting on the sidelines, watching it diversify and expand right before our eyes. These exciting days are loaded with promise. The future is now. Type Less – Show More

Written by: Chelsie Foster @chelsiefoster

@HarvardBiz @EdSurge @GeorgetownCEW @CLOmedia @collaajcorp @washingtonpost

#Collaaj #HigherEd #Microcredential #Blockchain

Collab: Kati Mac

At the end of each year, we start discussing which topics are on-trend, giving the year a theme, per se. If “2016 was the year of video, something that everybody is making as well.” And “2012 became the year of the MOOC.” (Mass Open Online Courses).

What will 2017 be known for?

Click, swipe and record, the digital sphere is tilting its influence heavily. Here is a list of some EdTech themes that have been shaping this years motif.

Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality.

Storytelling is getting a facelift. A massive facelift. From Kindergarten on, teachers are moving towards immersive learning, and in the digi world, the spin is quickly becoming virtual. All those years of watching Star Trek are not too far off. TED Talks, “ideas worth spreading,” boasts serious follower-ship, equally explaining how video will advance into holograms, full virtual reality, blending life into full-blown cyberspace.

How this will affect EdTech is anybody’s guess. However, the Teacher vs Technology debate seems to have run its course. Living in harmony, technology in the classroom is undisputed.

 

Makerspace.

Not a trend. Makerspace is here to stay. It’s a movement, a powerfully influential, hands-on mega-project. It’s the most exciting thing to happen to STEM learning, inside and outside the classroom.

It’s revamping libraries all over the world and allowing kids, adults, tinkerers, and do-it-yourselfers the actual ‘space’ to create anything in their wildest imagination. Legos on adrenaline. 3D Printers gone wild. Want to know more? Read about the “Makerspace Movement.”

Robotics.

Basically, if we can name a robot a “citizen” of a country, (Saudi Arabia) we’ll take that as a serious sign that robots are destined to be a large part of the future. Sophia, do you agree?

Forbes magazine says it best by pointing-out “human relationships will never go out of style… but as robotics gain greater “social” abilities we will form relationships with our robot helpers.”

Hanson Robotics is just the beginning. Telepresence robots, humanoid robots, and AI interfaces are all the buzz. Speaking of buzzwords, how about AI, Artificial Intelligence? As AI forces its way into our phones, homes, cars and lives, we redefine what an immediate Jetsons lifestyle may look like. 

Digital Literacy and Digital Citizenship.

Ahhh. More buzzwords for pop culture in the land of EdTech. Our friend Bryan Alexander, the ultimate wizard on all things Digital Literacy hit this one, right on the head. Leading several informative discussions, sessions, podcasts, Twitter convos and ideals, all under this proverbial umbrella, Sir Alexander enlightens us by saying,

“It’s not a new chasm, but a very old one, given fresh contours by new technology and practices.”

Ironically, (or possibly not so ironically), as we thumb-ball this idea, the very vehicle, of which we approach the open discussion, becomes evident. In short, Digital Literacy is, literally, shaping our world, one digital word at a time. 

Immersive Learning.

Deemed the next big thing in Corporate Training, and a cousin to Virtual reality, Immersive Learning creates stimulated and controlled learning situations. This empowers students and employees alike to literally go the distance mentally, without leaving their seat. Elvis may have left the building, but you won’t. Immersive Learning is “in” and it’s also the backbone to #FutureReady learning and projects.

 

Video Capture Tools.

Video-Capture was most definitely on-trend this year coming out of a strong 2016 the year of video. “Lecture capture became mature and campus video management and hosting services began to attract attention.”

“Video may feel like it has been here a long time. And it has. But it surged in big way in 2016, below the radar, but touching lives like never before.”

Lecture Capture and Video Training Tools have been helping schools rule in the online digital classroom by crafting lectures, presentations, tutorials, training, demos, how to’s, vlogs, and so much more.

Campuses and Companies are using these privatized YouTube like portals to store and share videos. However, the ongoing theme of video in 2016 continued to play out in 2017 with more people making videos. Lecture Capture and video recording tools are becoming the new pen and paper. 

Game-Based Learning.

Gamification as it’s commonly known, is the ultimate immersive learning experience. It’s not allowing students to space-out on video games. It’s not a teacher gamifying the classroom either. Instead, it applies effective game-based classrooms involving each of these components.

Students are provided with gameful learning experiences, driven by play. Its where real-world systems meet creativity. Using Models, Text and Shared Experience, this approach to learning spikes the students curiosity, through healthy challenge and calculated result.

What will give 2017 its namesake? 

Before we bust moves to finally decide what will potentially give 2017 its namesake, consider a few factoids about our developing video culture. Thanks, Infographic.

Last year alone, online video accounted for 64% of all consumer Internet traffic, and this number is expected to rise to 69% this year, and 79% by 2018.

• 78% of people watch videos online every week.
• 55% of people watch videos every day.
• 65% of video viewers watch more than 3/4 of a video.
• According to Forbes, more than 80% of surveyed senior executives watch more online video today than they did a year ago.
• 75% of senior executives watch work-related videos at least on a weekly basis, and 54% share work-related videos with their colleagues at least weekly.
• 59% of senior executives also agree that they would prefer to watch videos if both text and video are available on the same topic or page.

That said, how can we effectively bullet-point trends and decide what fits for 2017?

So what will it be? What theme would YOU give 2017? Leave your thoughts here in the comments on this blog, or Tweet or post on Facebook your ideas for what 2017 Edtech motif will brand for the year?

Written By: Chelsie Foster @chelsiefoster

@collaajcorp @TEDTalks @techinsider @Forbes @BryanAlexander @eschoolnews

Colab: Kati Mac