Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/302559
53 BizEd May/June 2014 WAVE B R EAKM E DIA LTD/TH I N KSTOCK EMPOWEREDU, A MOBILE- BASED learning management system, has begun 11 pilot pro- grams at universities and col- leges throughout the U.S. These schools include Jacksonville Uni- versity's Davis College of Busi- ness in Florida, as well as Clem- son University, Texas Southern University, Southern Arkansas University, the University of San Francisco, and the University of California campuses in Irvine and San Diego, among others. Students who enroll in so-called "mobile first" courses in the pilot will access the EmpoweredU plat- form via smartphones or tablets to stream web-based video con- tent, view online lectures, access news, write essays, develop port- folios, and interact with peers on discussion forums. Students also can complete coursework offline when wi-fi access is not available. Faculty can use the platform to create course sites, administer tests, and grade assignments. The platform integrates iPad features such as push notifica- tions and FaceTime and supports competency-based learning. (See "Mobile Degree Options Hit the Market" on previous page.) EmpoweredU already has conducted a similar pilot at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. The Haas School has transitioned from pilot to full deployment of the mobile platform for its execu- tive MBA program. Visit www.empoweredu.com for more information. 'Mobile-First' Pilots Begin Report to Study Online Ed's Global Impact SEVERAL HIGHER EDUCATION and governmental organizations are collaborating to complete the Global Online Higher Education Report (GlobalOHER) to deter- mine the global impact of online learning. Although online learning is changing higher education, current global data is primarily anecdotal, say leaders of the effort. The report will provide data on global enrollments and number of pro- grams; information regarding the role of MOOCs, adoption of open education resources, and institu- tional strategies; perspectives on the challenges in delivering quality online programs; and recommen- dations of policy issues that still need to be addressed. GlobalOHER partners include the Sloan Consortium, the Inter- national Council for Open and Distance Education, UNESCO, the Babson Survey Research Group, the International Association of Univer- sities, the European Commission's Directorate General for Education and Culture, and StudyPortals. More regional associations are expected to participate. The report will follow the meth- odology that the Babson Survey Research Group has used to study the U.S. online higher education market for the past ten years. The initial global survey of institutions will be conducted in 2014. The GlobalOHER will be issued semi- annually thereafter. To read more about the report, visit sloanconsortium.org/sponsor ship-scheme-global-online-higher- education-report.