6 Ed Tech Blogs You Should Be Reading
These sites offer a variety of perspectives on the trends and technologies impacting higher education.
If you're like me, you don't have time to read many blogs — it's hard enough to keep up with the news in today's politically charged climate. But over the years, I've followed a handful of sites that offer a wealth of insights on technology in higher education. Here are six worth your attention.
e-Literate
Co-authored by consultants Michael Feldstein and Phil Hill, e-Literate covers a variety of education technology trends, with a leaning toward market analysis. In particular, it's a great place to gain a better understanding of the evolving LMS landscape. Other recent topics include personalized learning, higher education policy and data privacy issues.
Hack Education
Audrey Watters calls herself "an education writer, an independent scholar, a serial dropout, a rabble-rouser, and ed-tech's Cassandra" — descriptors that offer a peek into what her Hack Education blog is like. In addition to long-form essays, talks and research projects, Hack Education features a weekly roundup of ed tech news, categorized by topic and presented with smart, often acerbic commentary. Recent topics include education politics, ethics in the ed tech business, data analytics and open education.
Bryan Alexander
Consultant and futurist Bryan Alexander's eponymous blog explores all the ways technology is transforming education, from politics to infrastructure to pedagogy. He has a knack for dissecting current trends and understanding their potential impact on the future. Recent topics include digital literacy, the high cost of college, virtual reality and the Trump presidency.
Digital Bodies
Co-founded by Maya Georgieva, ed tech strategist and former associate director of the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning at NYU's Stern School of Business, and Emory Craig, director of e-learning at The College of New Rochelle, Digital Bodies focuses on virtual, augmented and mixed reality, wearables and other innovative technologies and their impact on media and education. In particular, the duo follows the cutting-edge devices and tech that seem like science fiction today, but may soon become part of everyday life in and out of the classroom. Recent topics include mind-controlled VR, VR headset hacks and Magic Leap.
ProfHacker
On The Chronicle of Higher Education's ProfHacker blog, a cadre of higher education faculty members and ed tech professionals offer tips and commentary on technology, education and university life. It's an interesting window on the faculty perspective — and freely available outside of the Chronicle's usual subscription wall. Recent topics include digital annotation, time management, note-taking and e-mail apps.
JCYCIO
From the IT perspective, executive digital advisor Joanna Young's JCYCIO blog covers topics such as leadership, digital transformation, tech purchasing and IT management. Young formerly held CIO positions at Michigan State University and the University of New Hampshire, and she is a prolific communicator on social media.
About the Author
Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].