Union

At the intersect between education and technology

  • Why Our Growing Dependence On Technology In Schools Is Not Always A Good Thing

    The Naplan failure – which saw up to 60 percent of the Australian school students undertaking the online test experience connectivity issues and other technicalRead More

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  • Education Technology Is Bigger And Better Than It Has Ever Been

      In the academic space that spans the globe, there is quite a lot of attention to detail and overall focus placed around how toRead More

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Philosophy Degree – why it is becoming necessary in a tech dominated world

You decided not to listen to your parents or peers who urged you to study something practical that would lead to employment and instead decided to follow your heart into studying  the great existential questions like who am I and why am I here. But, your studies are coming to an end and now the burning question you need to answer is what am I supposed to do now with the rest of my life. While some would argue that a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy naturally leads to a career of discussing the meaning of life with your customers as you drive for Uber, there are other ways in which you can use the degree as a foundation for a fulfilling and meaningful life.

As Socrates famous dictum that “an unexamined life is not worth living” you can also find a very worthwhile life helping others examine theirs. There is an entire school of therapy that seeks to help people deal with their problems through a rational examination of their own choices. Existential Therapy is used to help people deal with substance abuse issues as well as marriage counselling and life coaching as practiced by the Naya Clinics.

Law is an other natural adjunct for those concerned with the human condition especially if your attraction to philosophy was moral philosophy or you just enjoy a good argument. You could even do a postgraduate degree in the Philosophy of Law. The law is probably the most popular choice to give yourself a well paying career and also will allow you to pose various philosophical questions as you seek to apply legal arguments on behalf of your clients. It can also lead to judicial appointments which will let you apply your philosophy to settling legal disputes.

An area that also offers careers for philosophy majors is in government and is natural place for those that enjoyed the study of political philosophy. So whether your a fan of Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau or even Machiavelli a life in government may be your calling. While you may end up in bureaucratic position where you are powerless to effect change you will at least have the ability to understand the underlying philosophy behind it.

Another area that is becoming increasingly popular especially among logicians is information technology. Whole vast vistas of exciting careers beckon in cutting edge areas of information technology such as cognitive science, machine learning and artificial intelligence. These areas are really growing rapidly and offer the opportunity to be involved with technologies that are destined to change the future and provide a raft of philosophical problems that need to understood and wrestled with.

So if you are about to graduate with your degree of philosophy there is no need to despair, especially if you take the Kierkegaardian attitude that despair is dialectically both both a merit and a defect. There are lots of vital and interesting careers that remain possible for someone that has spent their time contemplating the great questions.

An ongoing battle – 3 ways to combat online exam cheating

An unfortunate reality of school testing is that there have always been students that take it upon themselves to cheat on their examinations. From using invisible ink (not as smart an idea as one may think) to writing answers into the inseams of their clothing, educators have seen it all. As the education industry has evolved, so have the cheating attempts and methods. Whether unfair or not, students have found themselves on the receiving end of the disciplinary consequences that come with being found guilty of cheating.

With online education becoming more popular by the day, there has been a renewed sense of panic among educators at all the new innovative ways that students can cheat on their online examinations. Luckily, technology has also made it easier to monitor students as they sit their examinations, making it easier than perhaps expected to see what they are doing. Education technology has proven to be revolutionary for the education industry – for both educators and students.

  1. Google-proof your questions

This may sound like an obvious one, but so often teachers and professors alike write their questions, double check them for errors, and simply post them to the test and let the students go from there.

What often happens is that educators that adhere to this method find, on the first page of Google, a question that is like their own or nearly the exact same one. The obvious drawback to this is that if they can Google their question and find the answer in a matter of seconds, so can their students. Google-proofing questions is a fantastic way to combat online exam cheating.

  1. Time limitations & order randomisation

There is a misconception that it is easier to cheat on online exams than it is in class. While students sometimes do feel it is easier to cheat online, the reality is that if you set a time limitation for the exam, they have less time to mess around trying to find the right answers online, making it in fact more difficult to cheat and have it pay off.

Additionally, it is hard for students to cheat online when the questions are entirely randomised, making them different to the content they learned in class. For example, the questions that directly correlate to the content in weeks 1-12, should not be set in chronological order of when the students learnt the content. Complete randomisation requires forethought and critical thinking on the students’ part.

  1. Proctoring services

One of the most brilliant combatants for online exam cheating among students is the introduction of proctoring services. New technologies have been emerging and gaining traction over the last few years, making them the perfect anti-cheating processes to use in the battle against online exam cheating.

In short, proctoring services essentially function by tracking mouse clicks and keystrokes of students, as well as screen sharing and webcam surveillance during examination times. Having a camera watch you, and having software tracking your movements online, not only is effective in its nature but it instils a sense of responsibility among students, driving them to be more honest even when they feel tempted to cheat.

EdTech websites that are transforming education

In the early years, education was a means to learn how to be literate, to be able to communicate. However, over time, it has become a means of gaining knowledge and expertise in one’s areas of interest. Technology has created a vast array of resources that can be used to gain an education as well as further understand difficult concepts. That is the reason why the education technology (EdTech) industry has started garnering so much attention. It has even been said that the EdTech industry had an investment of over $3 Billion in the last year. Every year innovation is driven towards these EdTech startups, whereby they utilize new technology to create incredible results. Even blockchain technology benefits have been seen directing a route of education. There are various websites leveraging the technology, innovation, and online education.

  1. Khan Academy

One of the leading websites in terms of online education, Khan Academy has transformed the way students learn. It has become an essential tool in outside-the-classroom education. Khan Academy, which also focuses on standardized testing, has made it simpler and more affordable for children all over the world to practice for the SATs. This is one of the many reasons that it is a pioneer in online education in the form of tutoring and is one of the most common websites high school students visit for notes.

  1. EdX

Edx, Coursera, and many other platforms have transformed the EdTech industry as well. In a different manner than Khan Academy, EdX promotes professional learning and offers online courses and certifications. It is the kind of platform that high school seniors, recent graduates, and college freshmen enjoy using. Platforms such as EdX have made it easier for students to understand their passion. On the other hand, such courses have also seen the interest of the corporate world. Many of the most elite of universities have also joined in with EdX to provide education. This helps validate platforms such as EdX and set students apart with extra knowledge.

  1. Test Innovators

This particular platform was created to ease the transfer of knowledge for standardized testing. Test Innovators is however still a little different from the priorly mentioned websites, as it uses innovation in technology to transform education. They have made use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in order to comprehend the student better and generate programs that suit them best. This use of AI has demonstrated that students using Test Innovators are scoring 70% above average. This website has used EdTech and innovation to transform standardized testing.

There is an endless supply of EdTech startups in the current world. Startups are consistently trying to be creative, be it by using blockchain technology or AI to create a transition in education.  Some of the big names such as Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are also focusing their investments towards EdTech startups. It can be said, therefore, that for a couple of years, the EdTech industry will continue to grow.

MBA Students headed towards technological advancements

Many MBA students are forgoing the financial industry and are becoming more attracted towards the tech sector.  The technology sector has become the “IT” field amongst the new generation – no pun intended.

Silicon Valley is recruiting MBA students from all over the world, whether it is from America or Australia. New statistics show that nearly 89 percent of tech companies are expected to hire MBA graduates this year. The demand for MBA students has increased in the energy, technology and health sector drastically.

A senior HR director at Microsoft says, “We hire MBA talent because we know that they have a degree of functional excellence and bring a diverse set of experiences and perspectives.” They seem to find MBA students to be more passionate about technology and data oriented.

In the United States it is estimated that roughly 200,000 individuals acquire an MBA degree annually, which has become the top graduate degree in the country according to the Department of Education. Due to the higher demand for MBA students, more universities across the world are beginning to offer more MBA graduate programs that cross paths with the technological sector.

The fun and relaxed work environment that tech companies offer attracts many MBA students. One MBA student stated that financial companies and consultant firms do not offer the type of “corporate culture” he is pursuing. MBA students have the education aspect of the job covered with all the technical skills, but most of them do not get a chance to brandish their creative, artistic and innovative mindset at these financial firms. These individuals want to make a difference in the world, bring a new technology to the world, and not just sit behind a boring desk or dining clients all day. People want to work in places where they can grow and enjoy.

Today technology has become the center of many industries; it enables MBA graduates to try different things and interests. Technology is influencing new opportunities in multiple fields.

As the Australian Federal government is looking to employ funding agreements with the Australian universities to ensure that science tech and mathematics are a priority in various degrees.

In Australia universities offer various courses and scholarship, you can find and compare bachelor degrees, MBA graduate programs, certifications and apply for different scholarships.

How has Cloud Computing revolutionized our lives

The word “Cloud” came into existence seven years ago when people were migrating over to a digitalized age. The cloud technology or commonly known as cloud computing is a bunch of Internet-based computing solutions and services.

This has spawned countless online academies, offering courses such as Xero courses that offers cloud accounting, to cloud development courses that can help expand and improve on the available technology.

The biggest key point about cloud computing is that it is not bound to our computers, laptops or other computing devices instead it is handled by huge data centers that requires its own premises. Cloud computing services are accessed easily by web browsers like Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer, etc on desktop pcs, laptops, tablets and even.

With the host of providers abound, cloud computing applications are situated at different geographical locations around the world in order to serve their customers with ease and security. Their main objective is to provide reliability and consistency in services so as to breakdown the percentage data or website failure. It has come to theknowledge of the cloud computing service providers that every user has different requirements. For this reason, providers have to be flexible in delivering such services where user enjoys the services with minimum data or service related issues. Enterprise service consumers with global operations have requirement of faster response time, and thus saves a lot of time by distributing workload requests to multiple cloud servers situated at different locations at the same time.

There are some of the best features that need to be highlighted:-

  • Capacity is flexible – Cloud computing services are the most flexible service that can be turned on or off anytime and in any situation. For instance, if you have arecently launched e-commerce website and want to reduce the traffic, you can switch to multiple servers for better performance and avoidcrashing of website or data at peak time.
  • Cost-effectiveness of cloud services – Cloud computing gives you handy options to reduce the cost of storing data as you need not buy other equipment or develop separate infrastructure.
  • Speed availability – It is interesting to know that cloud computing has ahigh-end bandwidth that makes it easy for consumers to handle a large amount of data.

Many organizations are trying to establish cloud technology as their platform and giving their employees exposure to latest technology and helping them to work efficiently. Cloud computing services give employees the ability to work independently anywhere, any time which is an integral part of increasing productivity. Using cloud services it is easy to work in a collaborative manner so as to reduce the travel time or pausing the processes of the business. Consistency in data, minimal chances of data loss by a power failure, natural disaster, and other issues that give a big to our organization can be controlled by using cloud technology.

Nowadays, hosting services, data sharing, researchers and many others use cloud-based services. It is predicted that this technology will gradually replace all other forms of technology and will make the things far better and much more efficient.

Technology is reshaping education

The evolution that is technology is the most transformative, revolutionary invention that mankind has brought to fruition. Practically every industry is being given a remodel in the wake of this digitized era. One of the most important industries in the world that is being affected is education. Technology and education are evolving together. Even education platforms with online courses are being upgraded with the latest blockchain technology. The mainstream way in which individuals learn will always have the same core values, but the focuses are already changing – and will continue to do so as time goes on. The way that individuals learn is not due to change any time soon – we will continue to learn from great educators. In saying this, the tools that generations to come will engage with to learn almost definitely will change. It is the way of the modern world – humanity is reliant (for the most part) on technological maintenance and advancement.

The impact that technology is having on the world is not limited to western society either. It is a global impact, and as such even countries with limited means are finding their education sectors being challenged and shifted to establish a move tech-driven approach to learning.

In the past, students’ parents were denied control over currency transfers, making even simple transfers difficult. For parents that have children attending school overseas, this can make things especially difficult. Seemingly simple school products like writing utensils and textbooks can become difficult for some families to get in a timely fashion. As technology in education is making waves all over the world, the issue of international money transfer Australia is beginning to remedy itself – with new systems being introduced that eliminate the waiting periods and delays in responses for international financial transfers.

Classrooms were once environments rich with tradition, but the changing advancements of the planet as we know it ensures that even the most traditional environments are changing, shifting focus to align themselves with the direction that the world is moving in. Textbooks are being replaced by PDF versions and eBooks. Blackboards are being replaced with PowerPoint slideshows. Rather than letters home, students and their families receive email updates from the education institutions at which they learn. For technology to have lasting impact in the education industry, those in the driving seats must have the understanding that they should be offering not only technology itself, but the concepts, values, and tools that work with technology and in alignment with the values at the core of the education industry.

Technology in education has proven to bring students together, rather than drive them apart – a concern that was sparked when technology began to make its way into classrooms and campuses all over the world. Weaving technology and education together will continue to become increasingly easier as the millennials of tomorrow’s generation (and all those that follow) climb the ladder and become the decision-makers in the field of education. As technological advancement continues to propel itself forward, it is practically impossible to know definitively how far technology will have expanded, even as little as ten years from now. What is certain, however, is that technology will not dissipate…much like the invention of electricity, technology is here to stay.

HR management at the heart of every company

Human resource management is literally the department at the heart of every company and institution’s core. Industries thrive on challenges and bumps in the road to success, but more importantly, they function more successfully and wholly when the people that work at the company are content and happy. Of course, keeping the peace and maintaining a harmonious work environment can be a tumultuous task, particularly if the institution or company in question is quite large. Educational institutions are some of the largest locations in the world, and the individuals that function as the professors, tutors, and dean (among the countless other individuals that are responsible in some way or another for the way that the institution runs) are vitally important to the longevity of the campus in question.

There are many questions that must be asked and addressed when HR representatives are brought into an educational institution, particularly if that institution is built on a foundation that has housed cracks and pitfalls outside of the realm of the ordinary and expected. But when a HR department functions wholly and successfully, even the toughest of kinks can be worked out. HR representatives are vitally important to healthy work environments – including universities – and so generating interest for potential students to be studying HR courses and degrees is in continuous demand. Individuals can choose from a variety of available programmes, including the HR Management Master’s Programme. The HR programmes are pillars of successful education, effectively turning students from eager learners into practiced team managers.

Throughout the duration of these kinds of qualifications, individuals learn how to construct strong teams and maintain coveted roles in whichever organisation they may end up operating within. Developing skills and qualifications that are required to be able to take on challenges from all angles, including ethical, economic, and environmental challenges. With the majority of courses being available online these days, it has never been easier to obtain a degree that can help one to make a difference in a company and thus, a difference in the lives of many. HR management qualifications are among the most important educational programmes in the world – without HR departments, harmony and ease within a company’s inner workings is not always easy, not to mention smooth.

Human Resources representatives are renowned for owning and wearing various different hats, but their primary goal is to assist whichever company they are in alignment with, in ensuring the longevity and safety of that company’s most invaluable asset… The people. The cores of the industry and the functions that a company or institution’s employees operate in accordance to, require in-depth understanding and a consistent approach to keep them running as smoothly as possible. Universities are “people enterprises”, and the way in which the individuals that work at said universities interact with one another and work together ultimately reflects on the university. HR professionals are one of the most important keys in play in regard to the long-term success of the institutions at which they operate.

The importance of GPA post-university

Many students have been in a classroom when an external client attends to give a presentation about their corporation or job. These jobs are considered the cream of the crop for the student who receives it. Frequently, the job is presented as a dream job that can catapult a career for whomever receives it. The problem is that these jobs or internship positions are never given to students with a below A or less an 80 average, much like being awarded scholarships. Therefore, the issue becomes, how to land a great job with an average GPA?

There is the option to hand in a resume or CV anyway and hope for the best. However, there is a 99% chance of that resume being filed away and forgotten. A more proactive route is to have the company take notice. Grades are the indicator that a student has certain set of skills, but there are other ways to showcase one’s talent or skills through their accomplishments. Even something as simple as throwing a party might land an events student into the industry. Find what you are able to do that goes well with the company’s vision and pitch it to the company to get their attention.

There are many employees who have landed their job simply by wowing their employers – through daring resumes or simply by creating a product or service and sending it their way. Many corporations understand that there may be extenuating life factors that result in lower grades, but it is not a reflection of creativity or drive, which is something that is highly sought after, especially in a world of consumerism where the new gets left behind and the fresh crazy ideas are received with celebration.

Another option to consider could be a volunteering opportunity. For example; if archaeology is the field that is desired, volunteering in the local archaeology society as well as at the local school lab can develop and lead to contacts in the field. These contacts likely having their ear to the ground with what is going on in the desired field and have the connections with hiring people. Another reason volunteering is important is this will enable someone to work full time and volunteer, showing an employer that they can manage two jobs at once, regardless of what their transcripts indicate.

Landing a great job with an average GPA does not have to be hard, nor should it be a situation filled with intimidation. It is essential to remember that many entrepreneurs did not attend school and are highly successful. But, they did have to work hard. In addition, the person across the table in an interview may also have had average grades. Be prepared to prove why you deserve the job and why your transcripts may not reflect your hard work, dream jobs are within your reach.

E-Learning: Education of the Future?

Traditional teaching methods are quickly becoming outpaced by e-learning and what this means for students is that they face a whole new set of challenges. These arise from the sheer variety of learning systems that can be found as well as the different types of learners that exist.

Some students’ preferences may reside in ILT (instructor-led training) while on the other hand, some may find that self-learning through technology has more to offer than traditional learning methods.

As information technology continues to surge forward, the brand new industry built around e-learning appears to yield more value and push the limits of what can be achieved.

Content is becoming more accessible, artificial intelligence is bringing about drastic changes and these days, there are even services that deal in writing custom essays for those looking for the easy way out of doing their assignments. As like everything else, the wide world of e-learning is a double edged sword.

Here are some of the more positive benefits that e-learning has to offer:

Varying types of content

With e-learning, learnersare able to bask in multisensory experiences and gain knowledge via multimedia, whether through videos, educational games, audio books or online courses.

Since there are a variety of different types of learners, a live classroom environment may not be the best solution for everyone. With e-learning, learners have more choices and can make the most out of their learning experience by finding and harnessing the learning style that best suits them. Through the use of multimedia, entertainment can also be brought into the process of learning.

Flexibility and accessibility

E-learners are able to learn at their own time and at their own pace, enhancing convenience.

They can access their content through a smartphone, a tablet or a laptop computer. These learners do not need to be tied down to a specific location and are able to learn remotely. This can also inculcate the habit of lifelong learning.

For learners who are also working, on a training program or are always on a tight schedule, e-learning is a great way to maximize time.

Cost-effective

E-learning can also be more cost-effective when compared to traditional methods. Travel, logistics and course materials can take up a fair chunk of a student’s often humble budget.

As such, with e-learning, a learner’s ROI (return on investment) can be significantly higher than traditional learners.

Quick delivery and updated content

With e-learning, a learner can begin a lesson quickly and follow through at his/her own pace rather than at the pace of a whole group. E-learners also often have the ability to repeat lessons at an unlimited rate.

This is different from learners in the traditional classroom that generally only have the ability to receive lessons in the classroom environment and will not be able to repeat the lesson at their convenience.

E-learners are also often able to access updated content at any time, ensuring that they are always in sync with modern learners.

Uses of a Virtual Data Room in the Classroom

It is understandable that virtual data rooms may seem like a complicated software when compared alongside generic online platforms such as Dropbox. Their extensive features and intuitive interface can leave a beginner feeling intimidated by the extent of tasks that can be accomplished and the amount of money they can potentially cost during a longer project.

While these concerns are valid for anyone dabbling in new software, the practicality of a VDR can outweigh the hesitation in the initial investment so that more functions are being performed with increased security and a higher sense of control on the part of the user. No one wants their important information divulged, even if it is as innocuous as corporate minutes or field notes. Security should be expected and easily attained for even the smallest tasks. This article will highlight a few practical uses of a data room for any inexperienced beginners.

Document Storage

The most basic use for a virtual data room, if for nothing else, is document storage. The key function to take note of with this is not just storing documents, but housing them somewhere safe and impenetrable so that they can be viewed by whomever you or your company invite onto the platform. Most commonly, this is implemented for mergers and acquisitions, from the buy side or sell side as they attempt to perform their due diligence on a certain company.

A VDR is the easiest way for information to be shared back and forth while simultaneously keeping track of whoever views it. For deals as arduous as M&As, it is evident why enhanced security is needed as vital financial and company information is being accessed by multiple users within the virtual data room.

However, a VDR is just as easily utilized in a more simplistic way for anyone who wants to ensure their information will remain safe. Perhaps by a marketing company sharing confidential client information with a remote copywriter. In this scenario the client’s data can’t be leaked without the marketing company’s knowledge and the copywriter is still able to do their job outside of a dedicated office.

This provides boundless opportunities for individuals to launch their careers from home or even from different countries. The cloud-based platform means we are no longer susceptible to the impact of space and time on our abilities to remain effective overseas. Projects can be completed faster and from the comfort of your own home if necessary, making virtual data rooms a contemporary alternative to the mundanity of traditional office life.

Global Document Exchange

This leads to another basic use of a virtual data room which is exchanging documentation on a global scale. More and more companies seem to be moving towards remote employees and attempting to expanding their reach to various countries around the world. With this change comes the unavoidable need for reliable and quick communication amongst colleagues and clients. A company’s strength lies with how cohesive its associates are and without an online platform working alongside them there is no way to facilitate their virtual success.

A VDR is one way to help a company remain connected even when working from different parts of the globe. The effortlessness of uploading important documents to be viewed at any time by only select individuals is a simple feature, but undoubtedly vital in keeping a company undivided in their ventures. Not only is information kept secure, but also easily accessible with templates that can be modified to a user’s preference.

The transition to online employment seems inevitable at this point and virtual data rooms are only the tip of the iceberg for how companies and clients will remain connected. The control of their vital and confidential data is left to their discretion and the details taken care of by their provider, ensuring that projects are completed smoothly.

Anyone who may be slightly intimidated by the notion of virtual data rooms should first discover the most basic uses of the software and understand how they can benefit their company in even the simplest of tasks. Whether it is exchanging company financials, sharing client data for internal use, or even safely storing years’ worth of company minutes – the capabilities are endless and the functionality of reputable VDRs and their providers is compelling.

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