The latest news related to the meaningful and effective implementation of educational technology and e-learning in K-12, higher education, corporate and government sectors.
Watch this video to learn more about the fully online, accelerated, project-based Master of Education in Educational Technology at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. For more information, visit: https://www.utrgv.edu/edtech/index.htm
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
This 30-hour accelerated program designed to prepare persons in K-12, higher education, corporate, and military settings to develop the skills and knowledge necessary for the classrooms and boardrooms of tomorrow. Students in this program have the opportunity to earn one or more graduate certificates in E-Learning, Technology Leadership, and Online Instructional Design.
This is a fantastic program! Its practical, real-world based and applicable to many areas of industry where teaching and learning, training and development are used.
Soon AI may move beyond its role as a mere tool to function as a creative agent-potentally even as a virtual student or professor-capable of generating original artworks and contributing to research leadership.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"The metacognitive demands of AI-assisted learning highlight the need for institutional policies that not only regulate generative AI but also promote critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and iterative learning processes in higher education."
"Every product team is chasing the same dream right now — smarter, faster, more “AI-powered.” But in all that optimization, we forget the thing no model can predict: what it feels like to trust a system you can’t see."
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"[T]he real threat to user experience isn’t technology itself — it’s when we let convenience replace care."
Artificial intelligence tools need at least as much scrutiny as social media. They risk opening the door to a decline in students’ critical thinking skills and giving too much power to technology rather than teachers.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"AI is going to require at least as much scrutiny as social media. We’re already experiencing the consequences of allowing social media algorithms unfettered access to our children."
Australian Catholic University used an AI tool to falsely accuse students of cheating us an AI, taking months to clear their name.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"College students are being wrongly accused of using AI to cheat on their assignments by their university — based, in a headache-inducing twist, on the findings of another AI system."
Our data show stability, not disruption, in AI’s labor market impacts—for now. But that could change at any point.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"Despite fears of an imminent AI jobs apocalypse, the overall labor market shows more continuity than immediate collapse. The percent of workers in jobs with high, medium, and low AI “exposure” has remained remarkably steady over time."
In Chapter 15 of Teaching and Learning in the Age of Generative AI,Peter Cardon and Bryan Marshall introduce the AI Era Durable Skills Framework, helping educators align teaching with the competencies most critical for career success.
At its core, the framework emphasizes subject-matter expertise and adaptability, surrounded by five essential skill areas:
🔹 Technical skills
🔹 Communication skills
🔹 Leadership skills
🔹 Ethical reasoning
🔹 Problem solving & creativity
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
This chapter underscores the urgent need for educators to embed AI literacy into coursework, experiment with AI tools, and connect with communities of practice to ensure students thrive in an AI-powered workplace.
Across departments, Middlebury professors are grappling with the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education. Many professors, including Professor of English Megan Mayhew-Bergman and Lecturer in Chinese Mairead Harris, have modified syllabi to permit AI in specific contexts.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"Perspectives on balancing independent learning with AI vary across departments."
"[A]s AI interfaces start to take different forms, many of them are still kinda hard to figure out. Navigating them can be overwhelming. It doesn’t feel like you’re using these products so much as deciphering them. The engineering is powerful, but the flows don’t make sense."
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"As AI products move into the mainstream, the writing in the interfaces should evolve, too. The writing should become more readable. Respectful. Inclusive."
"You would be surprised how many times I've seen materials promoted as being inspired or modelled on Bloom's Taxonomy that don't come anywhere near demanding the higher order thinking skills that Bloom described. So if you want tasks that push your students to use those areas near the dusty summit, then give this prompt a try."
Discover how the M.Ed. in Educational Technology at UTRGV prepares educators to design engaging instruction, integrate multimedia, and use AI responsibly.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
With students navigating a world of streaming content, personalized apps, AI-powered tools, and instant feedback, traditional teaching strategies often fall short. Today’s classrooms are becoming more digital, and educators must be ready to design, deliver, and manage interactive instruction, but also to use AI ethically and responsibly in ways that enrich learning.
It can take years to collect evidence that shows effective uses of new technologies in schools. Unfortunately, early guesses sometimes go seriously wrong.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"[A]s AI spreads through schools, both historical analysis and new research conducted with K-12 teachers and students offer some guidance on navigating uncertainties and minimizing harm."
"We have begun a transformation in higher education that will make us more responsive, efficient and effective at achieving our multiple missions. This will not be easy or without trauma, but it is necessary."
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"AI is no longer a peripheral advantage but a nonnegotiable necessity for survival and growth."
"There's a shift happening in personal computing thanks to the rise of on-device AI. That's comparable to previous computing revolutions including the cloud itself, and mobile computing. Upendra Kulkarni, VP of product management at Qualcomm Technologies Inc , likens it to the shift he saw as PCs replaced mainframes."
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"[M]oving some or all AI processing to a local platform democratizes the technology and helps the environment. Instead of relying on power-hungry frontier models in the cloud, you can use power-sipping agentic AI to get jobs done faster, with fewer cycles."
Voice-enabled technologies promise to revolutionize learning, yet these systems often fail to understand their primary users – children.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"While speech recognition has made remarkable strides in recent years, the gap between performance on adult and child speech remains surprisingly wide."
Every school has an AI strategy — the only question is who’s really in control: people or AI.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"When schools fail to set their own vision, the system quietly sets one for them — through recommendation engines, productivity apps, and AI tutors that define what “good learning” looks like. The challenge now is not whether schools should have an AI strategy, but whether they will shape it intentionally or inherit one designed elsewhere. Perhaps by AI."
Phone bans are now well-established in many Australian primary and secondary schools. Have they made a difference?
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
“Phone bans aren’t a silver bullet,... But they are a critical lever, especially when paired with digital citizenship, mental-health promotion and positive playground programs.”
Examine the importance of human connection in the age of AI. Learn how educators can balance technology with engagement, reduce student loneliness, and foster meaningful learning in higher education.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"Without another person to offer insight and possible opposing views, the user will often be left with tremendous confirmation bias
"For months, the discussion around Gen-AI has been dominated by concerns over academic misconduct and the development of detection tools. However, as HEPI Director Nick Hillman OBE highlighted, this new report takes a different tack. Its unique focus is on how AI can support active learning, rather than just how students are using it."
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"By embracing a proactive, values-led approach that prioritises ethical development, equity and human-centric learning, universities can turn what was once seen as a threat into a powerful catalyst for positive change."
Enterprises report that they lack governance, visibility and controls for AI, which is putting data at risk.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"A lack of governance, visibility and established controls gives [AI] the ability to access or release data, adding to security and privacy concerns that can go unnoticed."
The findings indicate that while AI holds promise, particularly in the domain of language and writing, its effectiveness across broader academic disciplines remains uncertain due to its current predominant focus on writing evaluation.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Rene Corbeil – Championing Innovation in Education Technology at UTRGV 🎓
We’re proud to introduce Dr. Rene Corbeil, Ed.D., Professor in the College of Education and Program Coordinator for the Educational Technology Program at UTRGV. A lifelong tech enthusiast, Dr. Corbeil’s journey from middle school computer literacy teacher to leading one of the most recognized EdTech programs in the country is nothing short of inspiring.
Dr. Corbeil is not only a product of the EdTech program—he was actively involved in helping it become one of the first fully online master’s degrees in the UT System, setting a precedent for digital learning across Texas. Today, it’s recognized as a top-tier online program, even earning a #1 ranking in a recent AI-generated search.
What sets Dr. Corbeil apart is his commitment to quality, relevance, and impact. The program’s project-based curriculum is empowering students from wide-ranging industries—education, healthcare, law, government—to solve real-world challenges in their workplaces. Many students report promotions or new job opportunities before even graduating.
Dr. Corbeil’s work goes beyond instructional design. He emphasizes learning experience design, crafting courses that spark curiosity and engagement. His recent co-authored book, Teaching and Learning in the Age of Generative AI, reflects his forward-thinking approach to integrating emerging technologies responsibly and ethically.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, graduates of the program became the digital first responders in their districts, helping schools transition online swiftly and effectively. That legacy continues today as Dr. Corbeil prepares students to lead in a rapidly evolving educational landscape shaped by the rise of AI.
Please join us in celebrating Dr. Corbeil’s contributions to UTRGV and the broader field of educational technology. His work exemplifies the transformative power of innovation, passion, and purpose.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my story and to highlight the incredible work happening in our Educational Technology program at UTRGV. Our mission is to prepare innovative educators and leaders who are ready to thrive in today’s AI-driven, tech-rich learning environments.
A big thank you to the Office of Faculty Affairs for showcasing our program and helping us spread the word about the transformative impact of Educational Technology.
"The coming revolution may make the internet of today look clunky and dumb."
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"An intelligent UX and agents might play key roles in the websites of the future, or at least in the first phase of AI influencing how we access information online. From there, it could evolve to types of interaction that are hard to imagine right now."
Thoughtful AI integration in eLearning enhances outcomes by addressing real learner challenges with purposeful, targeted solutions.
EDTECH@UTRGV's insight:
"AI is powerful, but like any tool, its impact depends on how well it is aligned with specific learning goals. Too many organizations fall into the trap of chasing buzzwords, launching flashy pilots that never address real needs."
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"Technological adaptability is a growing focus for educators as they prepare students for future educational and career challenges."