Supporting a network in a Higher Ed setting can be a daunting task. With the proclivity of mobile devices, video games, wearable technology, and laptops (just to name a few), Higher Ed IT users may not realize how their tech choices can impact the network at large. Generally, users at Higher Ed institutions assume they can have bandwidth on-demand, as much as they want whenever they want and take advantage of that regularly. These attitudes can mean that the university network becomes a traffic jam; difficult to administrate and nearly impossible to run smoothly.
Top 4 Uses for Blockchain in Higher Ed
As new technologies emerge, they often help make things more convenient for users. One such instance of this is the use of Blockchain in University IT. Blockchain, the technology behind Bitcoin, is a method of storing and tracking information that might change the face of Higher Ed as we know it. While Blockchain implementation in university settings is still in its infancy, there have already been several promising use cases that allow us a glimpse at how Blockchain might interact with a Higher Ed IT system. At a 2016 conference held at the University of Michigan, IT and Higher Ed innovators were brought together to discuss the future of the university transcript. The general consensus was that digital technologies would drastically impact the the future of credentialing. Based on these findings, here are four top uses for Blockchain in Higher Ed so far.
5 Ways to Use the Internet of Things in Higher Ed
There’s no doubt that the Internet of Things is developing swiftly, and that it can be used in many creative and innovative ways. Experts forecast between 20 and 100 billion connected devices will be on the market by 2020, with market expenditure increasingly accordingly. But what does the IoT mean for university Higher Ed? Here are five ways that the Internet of Things can be used on your campus to engage, interact, and connect with your users.
The Surprising Cost Savings of Hiring Higher Ed IT Contractors
As with any workplace, staff costs can make (or break) your budget. In Higher Ed IT, we are often asked to spin straw into gold; creating the most robust technology environment possible using minimal university resources. One way to produce under such pressures is to create the right balance of team member types, hiring independent contractors for certain roles and employees for others. While there are many benefits to hiring an employee, such as loyalty, continuity across projects, and the retention of years of knowledge, there are also many benefits to working with an IT contractor.
Top 5 Higher Ed CIO Myths
Being a Higher Ed CIO is a complex and often misunderstood job, as anyone who follows the blogs of any Higher Ed CIO can attest to. This misunderstanding has led to a few frequently propagated myths about the profession, myths that can be counterproductive to progress. Here are the top five myths about Higher Ed CIO’s that seem to be kicking about the edusphere, and the truth behind these myths that might have you thinking twice about how vital and difficult the Higher Ed CIO’s job truly is.