Online and Professional Continuing Education News
See below for a listing of curated news articles of the day brought to you by Ray Schroeder, Senior Fellow at UPCEA.
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- ChatGPT became the most downloaded app globally in March - Sarah Perez, Tech CrunchChatGPT became the world’s most downloaded app in March, excluding games, topping the usual contenders for the No. 1 spot, Instagram and TikTok. This is the first time the app has topped the monthly download charts and ChatGPT’s biggest month ever. According to new data, ChatGPT’s installs jumped 28% from February to March to reach […]
- Northern Arizona University Profs Receive $5K Each to Study AI - Jesselle Ortegon, Arizona Daily SunSelect faculty members at NAU will use grant funding from the Transforming through Artificial Intelligence in Learning (TRAIL) program to study potential uses for AI in higher education and how students interact with it. The Transforming through Artificial Intelligence in Learning (TRAIL) program granted select faculty members at Northern Arizona University a reward of $5,000 […]
- Morehouse College Unveils AI Teaching Assistants - Eric Glick, Ed TechIn what is being hailed as a significant technological leap forward, Morehouse College is offering 3D avatars that can stand in for teaching assistants. These humanlike figures can answer student questions 24 hours a day. The school, regarded as a higher education innovator in immersive learning, notes that the artificial intelligence-powered instructors are trained from […]
- Google Issues Early AGI Warning " We Must Prepare Now," The AI GridThis YouTube video summarizes a Google paper emphasizing the urgent need to prepare for Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) due to its potential risks and transformative impact. The paper defines AGI as AI matching or exceeding the capabilities of highly skilled humans in non-physical tasks [01:22] and suggests there are no fundamental blockers to achieving this […]
- The Ripple Effects of Draining the Ph.D. Pool - Kathryn Palmer, Inside Higher EdDeep cuts to federal research funding and crackdowns on international students could mean far fewer graduate students next fall and beyond. If that happens, undergraduates, faculty and research productivity would all suffer. Under mounting financial and political pressures, universities have paused or rescinded graduate student admissions on an unprecedented scale, which could create cross-campus ripple […]
- How apprenticeships can broaden access to education and quality jobs - Marieke Vandeweyer and Vlasis Korovilos, OECD Ed TodayIn today’s economy, rapid changes such as the digital and green transition are creating a demand for specialised skills. But in many sectors, the demand for skills outpaces the supply of qualified professionals. This situation underscores the urgent need for accessible educational pathways – including in higher education. One promising option is the expansion of […]
- The Disruptive Future of Society as AI Dominates the Workplace - Ray Schroeder, Inside Higher EdGenerative AI’s rapid evolution has generated fear and anxiety among some observers and enthusiasm among others. The enthusiasm is for the many ways in AI will improve the lives of people and other life on Earth. The fear is generated by the awesome power and influence this technology may have over our very existence as […]
- These micro-credentials have taken over traditional degrees: Self-taught skills redefine learning in a digital age - Vera Emoghene, Rolling OutThe classroom is no longer confined to brick-and-mortar walls. A do-it-yourself education boom has taken root, driven by YouTube tutorials, coding bootcamps, and micro-credentials. These tools, fueled by digital access and a hunger for practical skills, are challenging the dominance of traditional four-year degrees. With college costs soaring and job markets shifting, learners are turning […]
- What is an AI agent? - McKinseyAn AI agent is a software component that has the agency to act on behalf of a user or a system to perform tasks. Users can organize agents into systems that can orchestrate complex workflows, coordinate activities among multiple agents, apply logic to thorny problems, and evaluate answers to user queries. If you’ve ever interacted […]
- Promoting AI-Enhanced Performance in the Online Classroom - Amy Winger, Faculty FocusOne way that online instructors can use AI in the classroom is to become a digital master and use generative AI, such as ChatGPT, to develop deeper content ideas or analyze student contributions within discussion (Mora and Semingson 2023, 57). Such tailored discussions add depth and rigor to courses, captivating students and bringing forth relevant […]
- Howard University Responds to Students' Demand for Digital Learning Modality - Christen Hill, HowardHoward University continues to demonstrate leadership in higher education innovation by expanding its digital learning infrastructure, responding to what research confirms is the fastest-growing sector in education. According to recent data published by Devlin Peck (2025), online learning has grown 900% since its creation in 2000, making it the fastest-growing market in the education industry. […]
- Honing leadership excellence in the public sector - McKinseyWhen asked what characterized the most outstanding leaders they had worked with, the respondents suggested that character is destiny: One of the most-cited traits was being respected for character, values, and integrity. As one interviewee put it, “Your integrity and ethics are the core of being in the public service.” This set the foundation for […]
- Artificial intelligence in educational leadership: a comprehensive taxonomy and future directions - Martin Sposato, International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher EducationThrough a systematic literature review and inductive analysis of publications from 2017 to 2024, the research synthesizes diverse AI applications into ten distinct domains: Administrative Efficiency, Personalized Learning, Enhancing Teaching Practices, Decision-Making and Policy Formulation, Student Support Services, Organizational Leadership and Strategic Planning, Governance and Compliance, Community Engagement and Communication, Ethical AI Leadership, and Diversity, […]
- Resilience and online learning emotional engagement among college students in the digital age: a perspective based on self-regulated learning theory - Dandan Ge, BMC PsychologyThe study was conducted on 2182 college students from China using questionnaires, and a structural equation model was established to test the mediating effects. The results showed that: firstly, resilience, self-regulated learning efficacy, self-control, cognitive reappraisal, and online learning emotional engagement were all significantly positively correlated with each other, while expressive suppression was significantly negatively […]
- This AI Clones Itself 999 Times Creating an AI Swarm Army! (9999% Faster)" - AI Revolultion, YouTubeThis podcast introduces Lindy AI's "agent swarms" feature, which is designed for their no-code automation platform [00:10, 00:29]. This feature allows a single AI workflow agent to clone itself, creating potentially hundreds of agents that can simultaneously handle large lists of tasks in parallel, such as researching conference attendees, preparing for meetings, conducting competitive analysis, […]
- Large Language Models Pass the Turing Test - Cameron R. Jones, Benjamin K. Bergen, arXivWe evaluated 4 systems (ELIZA, GPT-4o, LLaMa-3.1-405B, and GPT-4.5) in two randomised, controlled, and pre-registered Turing tests on independent populations. Participants had 5 minute conversations simultaneously with another human participant and one of these systems before judging which conversational partner they thought was human. When prompted to adopt a humanlike persona, GPT-4.5 was judged to […]
- One step closer to the Intelligence Explosion... - Matthew Berman, YouTubeMatthew BermanThis podcast discusses a recent OpenAI paper demonstrating that AI agents can replicate cutting-edge AI research, suggesting potential for self-improvement [00:00]. The core of this capability is the Paperbench framework, which allows AI agents equipped with tools like web Browse and coding environments to tackle the complex process of understanding a research paper, developing […]
- Revolutionize Your Work with Claude AI - HubspotTransform your workflow and unlock unprecedented productivity with AI. Learn how to harness Claude's powerful capabilities for content creation, data analysis, and strategic planning. This comprehensive guide shows you exactly how to integrate AI seamlessly into your daily operations for maximum impact. Upgrade Your Workflow with AI. Join forward-thinking professionals who are already using Claude to transform […]
- Everyday habits: How CEOs navigate their six core responsibilities - McKinseyEvery successful CEO cultivates habits and routines that infuse discipline into their daily schedules and allow them to perform at their best. While all chief executives must constantly juggle six core responsibilities (exhibit), how they prioritize them depends on a complex interplay between the business context and the CEO’s unique capabilities and preferences. How they […]
- Swarms of AI Agents JUST Got Unleashed... - Wes Roth, YouTubeThis podcast episode discusses the rise of AI agents, highlighting three specific platforms: Agent Village, Gen Spark, and Lindy. Agent Village allows users to watch four AI agents collaborate on a goal, such as fundraising [00:42]. Gen Spark showcases an AI agent capable of diverse tasks like trip planning, restaurant reservations [01:20], creating Instagram reels […]
Other Curated News:
News from UPCEA:
A big partnership for higher ed data analytics (eCampus News)
Data management software company TMMData joins UPCEA in a Gold Level Industry Partnership to guide its members’ emerging data analytics and reporting efforts. TMMData, a provider of flexible data management software, recently announced its Gold Level Industry Partnership with UPCEA (the University Professional and Continuing…
Media Contact: Kim Francois 410-581-5928 [email protected] Leading data management software company joins UPCEA in a Gold Level Industry Partnership to guide its members’ emerging data analysis and reporting efforts STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (May 16, 2016) — TMMData, a top provider of flexible data management software,…
No One Rule Fits All (InsideHigherEd)
The Online Learning Consortium, the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) and the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET) — three organizations that deal primarily with online education — previously commented to say the proposed rules focused too strongly on face-to-face programs. The department,…
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