Over the holiday break, two pieces of writing coursed through my Twitter feed in successive order. The first was a Washington Post article by Drew Hartwell on the various tracking technologies higher education institutions are employing to surveil their students. As Hartwell reports, “Short-range phone sensors and campuswide WiFi networks are empowering colleges across the United States to […]

This report identifies talent acquisition challenges that employers face, provides examples of how employers are attempting to fill skills gaps, and explores ways for companies to partner with universities to prepare workers for changing skills needs. Six hundred human resource leaders were surveyed to examine the scope of workforce skills gaps and tactics that employers […]

In an effort to bring a more human dimension to the online-education experience, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Associate Professor Rob Miller has developed a new computer system that will help provide students with feedback on their homework assignments and create more interaction between students, teachers and alumni. MIT Press Release

“Self-employed professor” could soon be an actual job title, thanks to two companies that are helping a small group of college professors market their own online courses, set prices for them and share the tuition revenue. Inside Higher Ed Full Article

A startup called Duolingo taps the power of crowds to make learning a language free. MIT Technology Review Full Article

The basic currency of higher education — the credit hour — represents the root of many problems plaguing America’s higher education system: the practice of measuring time rather than learning. EDUCATIONSECTOR Download Report

The Toy Interface Construction Kit Learning Environment (T.I.C.K.L.E.) is a universal construction kit for the rest of us. It doesn’t require 3D printers or CAD skills. MIT Media Lab Press Release

Branch—a startup created by two Twitter cofounders—hovers in a space between a private, lengthy e-mail thread and a public stream of tweets. MIT Technology Review Full Article

A new computer interface can modify the feel of almost any surface—potentially adding a new dimension to games and augmented reality apps. MIT Technology Review Full Article

Professionals seeking to secure promotions and expand their careers are studying short courses in IT, finance and communication. Many understand that the right mix of skills on their resumes can give them an edge over their rivals in the job market. Susan Heron, chief executive of the Australian Institute of Management in Victoria and Tasmania, […]