📅 Welcome to the EdTech Connect January Edition This month, we're sharing top predictions how academia will use AI this year, digital transformation to streamline student experience, IT incident management strategies, our latest podcast episodes and more!

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What's Inside

• Top 5 Predictions How Academia will Use AI in 2025 - Jeff Dillon
• University of the Pacific champions student success with technology - Pathify
• Navigating it outages with status pages - StatusHub
• Latest episodes from EdTech Connect podcast
• Everything you need to know
• Trending companies to watch
• ETC by the numbers



How Academia will use AI in 2025: Top 5 Predictions

The rapid progress in artificial intelligence (AI) seen in 2024 has set the stage for an even more transformative 2025. This past year, companies like OpenAI have achieved groundbreaking advancements, particularly with their reasoning model "o3."

These tools will create more equitable learning environments, ensuring that all students can fully participate regardless of their abilities or backgrounds.

1. Hyper-Personalized Learning Pathways

2. AI-Driven Enrollment Optimization

3. Site Search will become the center of the digital experience

4. AI for Accessibility and Inclusion

5. AI-Enhanced Research Capabilities

University of the Pacific Champions Student Success With Technology 

At University of the Pacific, student success is a cornerstone of the campus experience, shaping how students connect, access information and achieve their goals. 

Guided by Rob Henderson, Pacific’s Chief Technology Officer, the university embraced digital transformation to create a more streamlined, intuitive and accessible student experience. Using Pathify’s Engagement Hub, Pacific replaced several outdated systems while simplifying processes like student registration and bill payments. 

The shift yielded significant results, including a reduction of over 80% in student registration holds and improved access to essential campus information, tasks and tools. Integrating campus systems like Canvas and Banner further positioned the hub as a one-stop-shop for all campus constituents, ensuring timely action and keeping students on track. 

Explore how University of the Pacific builds connected, modern and meaningful campus experiences below.

How Status Pages Help Educational Institutions Navigate IT Outages

Educational institutions rely on IT systems for online learning, administration, and communication. But what happens when an IT outage or system disruption occurs? Without a clear communication strategy, these incidents can lead to confusion, frustrated students and staff, and an overwhelmed IT support team.

That’s where a tool like StatusHub comes in. StatusHub provides educational institutions with an efficient way to communicate IT incidents and disruptions in real-time. With customizable public and private status pages, schools, colleges, and universities can keep all stakeholders informed about system performance, planned maintenance, or unexpected issues.

StatusHub offers an effective solution to streamline IT incident communication: 

● Real-time updates: Notify students, staff, and administrators instantly when an issue occurs. 

● Customizable status pages: Share updates publicly or privately based on your audience. 

● Automated notifications: Send consistent alerts via email, SMS, or web notifications with minimal effort. 

● Monitoring tool integration: Ensure your updates are accurate and synchronized. 

● Reduced workload: Cut down on repetitive queries and support tickets by proactively sharing information. 

Key benefits for Educational Institutions: 

● Build trust with transparent communication during outages. 

● Minimize confusion and maintain your institution’s reputation. 

● Reduce stress on your IT team, allowing them to focus on resolving issues faster. 

Most importantly, status pages create a central source of truth during outages. Everyone knows where to look for updates, reducing confusion and frustration during technical difficulties. This transparency helps maintain trust between the institution and its community, even when things aren't working perfectly.

 Learn how StatusHub can help your institution stay ahead during IT incidents below:

🔊 Catch Our Latest Episodes:



#Ep 14: Preparing Students for Real-World Creative Success with Meredith Bailey

#Ep 15: Using Data to Chart the Future of EdTech with Justin Menard

#Ep 16: Building the Future of Higher Ed Websites with Josh Koenig

#Ep 17: Exploring AI and Content Quality with Nick Burrell

Subscribe to EdTech Connect on your favorite platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and more.

Everything You Need to Know

🏛️ Futuristic Campuses

Arizona State University and Caltech are revolutionizing education are creating smart campuses and robotics labs that equip students with future-ready skills, ensuring competitiveness in evolving job markets. These institutions are fosteriing environments that encourage innovation and creativity, positioning themselves as leaders in our current educational transformation.

📲 AI's Academic Adventure

Despite more universities considering AI tools in 2024, only 9% of tech leaders believe higher education is fully prepared for AI's rise. Two years post-gen AI's mainstream debut, colleges are are still working to figure out AI integration and are focusing on AI's impact on academic integrity.

⏰ Improve Content Gaps

Modern universities face a complex web of challenges—from rising student expectations and layered content ecosystems to ensuring accessibility and inclusivity. Bridgewater State University (BSU) offers a case study in how leveraging site search technology can address these challenges while advancing institutional values of equity and access.

👩‍💻 Behind the Bytes

In a revealing look at IT staffing, research universities boast up to 9 tech experts per 1,000 students, driving innovation in sprawling academic landscapes. Meanwhile, K-12 schools and community colleges manage with five, balancing technological demands and budget realities. This study illuminates the pivotal role of IT teams as they navigate the shift to cloud-based solutions, redefining the digital infrastructure of education.

☀️ A Golden Opportunity

Microsoft plans to invest $80 billion in AI data centers in the U.S., while a national initiative seeks to train 2.5 million Americans annually in AI skills. The United States aims to solidify its tech leadership with a strategic focus on artificial intelligence to drive economic growth.

☁️ Cloud-Driven Revolution

Nearly 59% of higher education institutions have moved over 50% of their applications to the cloud, despite traditionally cautious tech adoption. This shift optimizes resources, enhances compliance, and modernizes IT infrastructures, creating a resilient educational framework that supports seamless operations and fosters innovation.

📍AI’s Campus Takeover

AI is reshaping higher education. Universities like the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Florida are embedding AI literacy across disciplines, aligning with industry demands and student interests. This approach addresses logistical challenges and prepares students for the AI-driven workforce, bridging education with industry needs.

🏫 Distance Ed Revamp

Starting July 2027, colleges must report federal aid recipients in distance education, according to new U.S. Department of Education regulations. While the rules now permit asynchronous courses, they ensure student-instructor interaction. Plans to expand TRIO access for undocumented students remain on hold following varied feedback.



Trending Companies to Watch

Here's a list top companies catching a lot of attention on EdTech Connect this month:

1. Watermark Insights: Unlock the full potential of your institution's data. With robust collection, analysis, and reporting capabilities, you'll streamline operations, optimize learning outcomes, and inform strategic decisions that drive progress towards your goals and accreditation excellence.

2. LiveWhale Calendar: Easily create, share, and track events with an intuitive platform, and foster a more connected campus community through streamlined communication and collaboration.

3. VoiceThread: Empower dynamic classroom interaction with this tool that allows instructors and students to engage in collaborative learning through video, audio, and text comments. 

4. Piazza: Spark lively real-time discussions between instructors and students with this Q&A collab platform. It will also help you promote collaborative problem-solving, foster instant feedback, and enhance your overall learning experience.

The EdTech Connect newsletter is the go-to resource for higher ed professionals seeking to discover and evaluate education technology solutions and news.

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Thanks for reading!

Until next month --

Jeff Dillon

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