Episode #44. Saturday January 30, 2021, 5:30 pm EST
Abstract: Even before COVID-19, higher education was at the beginning of significant change. The societal landscape has been shifting during the 21st century: demographics, economics, longevity, and technology are changing how we work and interact. According to educators like Rovy Branon, there is a need for a “60 Year Curriculum.” During this session of Silver Lining for Learning, Dr. Branon will describe how the University of Washington’s Continuum College is approaching this future through five key change areas: (1) programmatic (the “meta-curriculum”), (2) digital credentials, (3) the new academic stack (technology), (4) learner services, and (5) policy/funding. He will discuss how projects like UW’s new Career Accelerator initiative are paving the way for more student choice in delivery format. Dr. Branon will also describe how several major research universities are forming a partnership to plan for this new lifelong learning future. A key focus of the hour will be the future of online earning in higher education and how the field of educational technology must evolve to serve students for lifelong learning. For this to occur, of course, there is a pressing need for innovative learning technology infrastructures well beyond the simplistic and often maligned LMS technologies we rely on today. He will discuss some of the emergent ideas that the University of Washington Continuum College is currently developing and contemplating. Those ideas include extensive use of CRM systems, blockchain, mobile technology, and digital credentialing systems. Clearly new leadership and visions like Dr. Branon are desperately needed. More info below the video.
From website
Dr. Rovy Branon, Vice Provost, University of Washington, Continuum College
https://www.continuum.uw.edu/story/employee-spotlights/rovy-branon
Rovy Branon is the vice provost leading University of Washington’s Continuum College in Seattle. UW Continuum College serves over 55,000 learners annually through 110 professional master’s degrees, 100 certificates, International English Language Programs, Summer Quarter, UW in the High School, Conference Services, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Dr. Branon holds a Master of Education in Instructional Systems Technology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Ph.D. in Instructional Systems Technology with a minor in Human-computer Interaction, from Indiana University. He has spoken at more than 100 conferences on the future of lifelong learning, technology and continuing education. Branon maintains an active social media presence in his widely followed Twitter feed which is educationally-focused. His advocacy for increasing access to higher education and workforce development has also been featured in a number of media outlets including: Geekwire, Fox Business, CBS Tech Republic, The Seattle Times, USA Today, Portland NBC affiliate KGW, and numerous regional publications. Dr. Branon is also the current volunteer board president of the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) 2020-2021. Previously Branon was the associate dean for online learning and the executive director of the Academic Advanced Distributed Learning Co-Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Extension in Madison. During his time at the University of Wisconsin-Extension, his research focused on educational technology and yielded a patented mobile learning framework. He was also instrumental in the development of the first competency-based programs offered through Wisconsin System.
http://continuum.uw.edu (Continuum College main site)
http://pce.uw.edu (UW Professional and Continuing Education Programs)
http://upcea.edu (University Professional and Continuing Education Association)
https://www.continuum.uw.edu/story/employee-spotlights/rovy-branon (Rovy Branon, University of Washington)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rovyb/ (Rovy Branon, LinkedIn)
https://twitter.com/rovybranon?lang=en (Rovy Branon, Twitter)
https://www.pce.uw.edu/career-accelerator-certificates (UW Career Accelerator Certificates)