Greetings to all,

For todays post we were asked to discuss one technology and one trend from the following website. 

One trend currently sweeping the field of education is that of the implementation of a long term impact plan to help bolster and benefit higher education. Discovery and innovation from research conducted at universities have the ability to impact not only the local communities in which they are based but also the world, depending on the findings. In order for these incubators of discovery to be bolstered and have a large impacting reach, education leaders are looking into ways in which they can move this process forward. One method being proposed is the application of a business based startup model that can be applied to the research universities to bolster discovery and innovation. What is known as the lean startup movement is a movement designed around technology, where technology is used a as catalyst for the purpose of promoting a culture of innovation in a more cost effective and widespread manner that is easier to manage (New Media Consortium, 2016).

One technology that is currently in widespread usage, and that ties into the trend of higher education adopting a startup model of management, is that of cloud computing. Cloud computing is a technology that has been around for some time now that allows users the ability to store, save, and retrieve data from online storage (New Media Consortium, 2016). This technology is beneficial when we discuss research universities trying to bolster discovery and innovation, as cloud computing makes the storage of files and sharing of data much easier since, depending on the setup, multiple users can have access to a cloud from anywhere at any time. Currently, however, one issue is the current state of digital literacy amongst students. With the technology boom that encompasses the internet, computers and others mobile devices, the digital world has invaded almost every aspect of modern life, to include academics. Academic leaders are looking into ways in which students can be educated and become digitally literate. One example of this is in the UK at Staffordshire University where the faculty there has developed a community-based online forum in which peer-to-peer learning of digital literacy is achievable. This is just a small example of information sharing to help foster a learning environment; and for many academic leaders this issue is considered to be a solvable one due to the fact that programs such as the Staffordshire University one are well under way (New Media Consortium, 2016).

One force that has impacted the trend for research universities to adopt a technology-based lean startup program to bolster discovery and innovation is the economic need for further development in innovation. There is a demand in our current economies for the latest and greatest technology and anything that can help bolster this will have an impact on that demand. A second force that is impacting this trend is that of the need and desire by research institutions to improve their processes and advance their technological capabilities to improve their output.   

For the technology of cloud computing, especially in the academic world, the desire for ease of access and sharing of data is a force that has impacted the adaptation of could computing at academic institutes. A second force that has impacted cloud computing is the demand for increased storage beyond that of local capacities; a problem that cloud computing is able to remedy.

References

New Media Consortium. (2016). Advancing cultures of innovation. NMC Horizon Report: 2016 Higher Education Edition, 8-9.

New Media Consortium. (2016). Cloud computing. 2016 NMC Technology Outlook: Internationl Schools in Asia, 10.

New Media Consortium. (2016). Improving digital literacy. NMC Horizon Report: 2016 Higher Education Edition, 24-25.