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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- The Singularity, Black October and Other Lessons for Higher Education - Ray Schroeder, Inside Higher EdWhat happens when the exponential growth graph of a technology approaches the point at which it begins to go vertical? That is just where we are in the implementation of agentic AI. Change is now happening very rapidly as the capabilities of agentic artificial intelligence accelerate into a near-vertical graph of capabilities day by day, month […]
- Comparing self-regulation, anxiety, and willingness to communicate across blended, face-to-face, and online instruction in female EFL learners - Haige Shi, Vida Salimi & Siros Izadpanah, NatureTechnology-enhanced language instruction has expanded the range of instructional options available to EFL learners, yet evidence comparing blended, online, and face-to-face modes across multiple cognitive and affective outcomes remains limited, particularly among advanced EFL learners. This study compared self-regulated learning strategies (SRLSs), foreign language classroom anxiety (FLCA), and willingness to communicate (WTC) in English writing […]
- Roblox offers a way to use online games to study - Phil Lin and Emma Chu, the Classicith testing always around the corner, Townsend Harris students are finding new innovative ways to prepare themselves. For many, online games, like Roblox, have allowed for an unexpected outlet to study coursework. Roblox is an online gaming platform that allows users to explore the many existing games made by other players, or even develop their […]
- Closing the Completion Gap: Improving Outcomes in Online Skills Training - Toronto Metropolitan UniversitySmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are central to Canada’s economy. Still, their ability to compete depends in part on developing the skills required to respond to labour shortages, technological change, and productivity pressures. Despite the importance of workforce development, SMEs are less likely to participate in formal training and often have limited time and resources, […]
- Auburn Online collaboration brings innovative course design to Social Work Program - Katelyn Nelson, Auburn UniversityAuburn Online, a unit within Auburn University’s Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (Biggio Center), is bringing innovative teaching approaches to online education through its collaboration with the university’s Master of Social Work program. By working closely with faculty, Auburn Online is helping develop courses that connect academic concepts with real-world professional […]
- Critical infrastructure is under threat. Are organizations prepared? - McKinseyOrganizations may not recognize their exposure to conventional, cyber, and hybrid risks until a disruption occurs. Here is how they can anticipate and reduce risks associated with these threats. In January 2026, a suspected arson attack triggered a power outage in Germany, leaving over 45,000 homes without electricity.1 About seven months later, cyberattacks on water […]
- College Students Use AI Extensively, Survey Shows: A survey of AI use in colleges and universities has surprising results. - Cami Rosso, Psychology todayA new survey reveals college students' AI usage patterns, along with their views on AI's impact. Fifty percent of students say peers use AI text with little editing; only 8 percent admit doing so themselves. Researchers recommend AI guidelines for college students remain flexible to account for various disciplines. The disruption of education, especially higher […]
- BIGGEST HACK of all time just started - Wes Roth, YouTubeWes Roth analyzes a major wave of cyber incidents dubbed "Black October"—spanning a multi-billion-dollar cryptocurrency heist [10:06], disrupted military refrigeration systems [00:27], and massive government and healthcare data breaches—to argue that digital security has entered a dangerous new phase driven by hyper-automated scripts and AI agent swarms capable of rapidly chaining zero-day vulnerabilities [03:18]. Roth […]
- Man Who Identifies as a ‘Humanist’ Gets Religious Exemption From Using AI at Work - AJ Dellinger, GizmodoIf your boss asks why you haven’t integrated artificial intelligence tools into your workflow yet, tell them it’s because your faith forbids you from doing so. According to a report from the Religion News Service, a research administrator at the University of Kentucky successfully received a religious exemption from his employer, excusing him from any […]
- How Online Programs Can Close the Workplace Readiness Gap - Even Kropp, EdTech MagazineFor generations, a college degree was widely seen as a reliable path to career opportunities and economic mobility. But a recent report from Cornell University shows that students are increasingly anxious about the rising costs of college as well as how ready they’ll be for a workplace that is rapidly changing due to evolving technology. […]
- RA4KT: a causality-informed explainable reverse attribution framework for knowledge tracing - Lanlin Wang, Meihe Fu, Zhongheng Jian, Jianmei Tan & Xinyue Zhou, NatureWith the global digital transformation of education, Knowledge Tracing, the core cognitive modeling module in intelligent tutoring systems, has become a key research focus in educational data mining. However, existing deep learning-based KT models are inherently black-box: while achieving high-accuracy answer performance prediction, they fail to clarify internal decision logic or translate outputs into actionable […]
- How important are college degrees in the age of AI? - Matt Zalaznick, University Business60% of employers remain confident in higher ed.Just less than half say AI makes college degrees more valuable.80% of employers said they prefer job candidates with a bachelor's or associate degree.A majority of employers remain confident in higher ed, with just less than half saying college degrees will become more valuable as AI advances, according […]
- Updated HELP Online Course on Data Protection and Privacy Rights is Now Available and Opened for Enrolment - Council of Europe Data ProtectionThe updated course guides learners through foundational legal concepts, key principles and applicable standards under the Council of Europe and European Union data protection acquis. The course explores the data subjects’ rights and their enforcement mechanisms, as well as applicable rules on transborder flow of personal data. It also examines challenges posed by new and […]
- In the age of AI, learning still requires friction - Bruce Adams, University of IllinoisGrainger Engineering faculty are helping define the future of engineering education, setting new standards for AI fluency and responsibility through curricular innovation, human-centered teaching, and a commitment to ensuring AI strengthens learning without compromising rigor. As AI rapidly reshapes how students learn, the college is preparing students to do more than use the technology. They […]
- Understanding users’ intention to adopt AI avatars in online learning: an integrated model of TAM and DOI - Runqi Wang, Luying Yang, Mengge Dai & Jungho Jung, NatureThis research examines the key factors associated with users’ intentions to adopt AI avatars within online learning environments. By combining the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory, a comprehensive model was proposed to assess the relationships between four primary design elements—perceived personalization, feedback quality, transparency, and interactivity—on five key constructs: […]
- There is no 'average' young person: designing AI that works for different lives - Nessa Keddo and Zeqi Jia, AI Insights, Kings CollegeGenerative AI is already part of daily life for many young people, shaping how they learn, create, communicate, solve practical problems and seek advice. In September 2026, King's College London and OpenAI, supported by the King's Institute for Artificial Intelligence, convened the closed workshop, 'Youth Well-Being and Development in the Age of Generative AI'. Researchers, […]
- AI and Keeping University Learning Human - Elaine Maimon, Philadelphia CitizenOn October 6, the Graduate School of Education (GSE) launched the Penn GSE Living Laboratory for Human Agency and AI (Living Lab). Planning for the lab goes back to 2024. Katharine Strunk, GSE dean since 2023, saw clearly that AI and the future of education were inseparable. An economist of education, Dean Strunk is not […]
- Leading Without a Playbook - Russell ReynoldsOrganizations have long valued leaders who could draw on their experience to solve familiar problems. Increasingly, they need leaders who can make sense of problems no one has faced before. 57% of CEOs and CxOs believe their executive team has the capabilities needed to successfully lead their organization in 2025—down from 80% in 2021 - […]
- AI that serves society - Fan Yao, UNCAssistant professor Fan Yao uses statistical learning to study how humans and artificial intelligence-driven applications interact. When Fan Yao was a Ph.D. student at the University of Virginia, he had the opportunity to intern with Meta. Yao’s thesis research revolved around the responsible design of online platforms, including recommendation algorithms like the ones that provide […]
- UntitledAI + AU: How Alvernia is incorporating the technology - Alvernia UniversityAlvernia’s implementation of artificial intelligence aims to teach students to think critically about the technology while producing graduates prepared for the future of work. Pope Leo XIV commanded attention in May when he published his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, in which he laid out […]
Other Curated News:
News from UPCEA:
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By Chelsea Miller, UpSkill America, and Amy Heitzman, UPCEA Partnership is a key driver to unlocking opportunity in America, which is why UPCEA and UpSkill America are so excited to come together to help academic institutions understand one particular priority for employers: leveraging tax policies…
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